Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2004)
APRIL 15, 2004 Smoke Signals 3 - - - -, ,. ... r . , A S o ----- -- - - - - - - 1 - Gathering Of The Elders Grand Ronde Tribal Elders were gathered together for a group photograph on Wednesday, March 3 1 . The 60 Elders in the photo make up about 1 0 percent of today's Tribal Elders. 612 Grand Ronde Tribal members are over the age of 55, the official age of Elder status. Elders have traditionally been priceless storehouses of traditional culture, wisdom and knowledge. Casino Reports To The General Council At April Meeting Story & Photos by Ron Karten The April General Council meeting was held on Sunday, April 4, at the Tribal Community Center in Grand Ronde. Here are the highlights: Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle Kennedy called the meeting to order; Tribal Elder Kathryn Harrison offered the invocation. A report from Spirit Mountain Ca sino General Manager Richard Kline included a look at revenues, net income and Tribal member dividends esti mated through the end of March. Despite two weeks worth of storms in January, the casino is already ahead of last year's figures, Kline said, on its way to reaching this year's goals, which are five percent above last year's numbers. In addition to increasing profitabil ity this year, 2004 goals include mak ing sure that the casino gets value for every dollar spent, managing by ob jective, increasing mid-week business, refurbishing the casino's interior as the lodge expansion moves forward and reorganizing departments for effi ciency. Dubbing 2004, a "Year in Transi tion," Kline also emphasized plans this year for monthly customer promotions, a work environment that promotes job satisfaction, customer service, con tinuing the successful theme, 'Your Place to Play,' and a 10-percent in crease in market share, along with new efforts to reach Asian and Hispanic markets. Kline provided details on the Lodge expansion. There will be 163 rooms including 12 two-room suites and 151 regular rooms on five floors; The lobby remodel will include a new check-in facility, gift shop, continental breakfast setup, small business center, lug gage room storage and laundry ex pansion. Completion date for the $19.9 million expansion is March, 2005. Seattle-based Howard S. Wright Construction Company, contrac tor on the project, has made a com mitment to hire all Tribal mem bers who are interested in and qualified to work on the expansion, according to Kline. Currently, 35 Tribal members are registered to work on the project; and 10 local non-Grand Ronde Native Americans also are registered. An outdoor pool and fitness center along with a 500-room conference cen ter also will be a part of the current lodge expansion. In addition, the fu ture may hold an Asian-themed res taurant, expanded gaming opportuni ties and a new parte cochere (overhang extending from above the door to the street) at Legends. Concerns were raised about many casino employees, including top man agers, resigning to work at the new Three Rivers Casino going up now in Florence. Some were given professional career opportunities that they would not be likely to have here, said Kline. Some received more money to work there. "I would never hold anyone back" from successful career moves, he added. Kline acknowledged that many em ployee tracks at the casino leave little room for employees to move up in a timely way, but indicated that the ca sino is "trying to train Tribal mem bers" so that they are ready to move up when opportunities present them selves. "Someday," he said, "I hope you have a Tribal member as General Manager." Related to that, Kline indicated how pleased he was with his new assistant, Tribal member James Buxman, who now is working for Kline through the Tribal mentorship program. Kline in- r vl L )i I SMC General Manager Richard Kline t S ) W4 Former Polk County Commissioner Mike Propes dicated his interest in hiring Buxman when his stint with the Mentorship Program ends in August. And while questions simmered about these casino programs, poli cies and issues, Tribal member Monty Parazoo took the discus sion in the opposite direction. "A lot of us have a concern," said Parazoo. "How long do you plan on staying? We've had so many people in your position." Many Tribal members ex pressed support for Kline. Kline indi cated that he and his wife had just pur chased a house in Salem and were mov ing in "I'll be here as long as everyone in this room wants me here," he said. "I'm very passionate about this property. It's a very exciting time to be part of this property. I hope I'll see you all back here in five years." Former Polk County Commissioner Mike Propes, who retired last Septem ber from the County Commission in response to health problems, attended the meeting to announce that his heart surgery had gone so well that he was running for his old seat again. Propes has served in the Com mission for 15 years. Tribal member Linda Olson announced that her son, Tribal member Frank Hostler (see story on page one), "has been in Iraq and he's home and I want to say how really proud I was (that he served) and how grown up he's become." Tribal member Les McKnight sought clarifi cation about why Tribal members need state li censes to gather in the Trask area. After some discussion, Tribal mem ber Perri McDaniel said that the Tribe, through the Natural Resources Divi sion, had licenses that Tribal members could use. Tribal Housing Au thority Executive Di rector Carina Kistler Ginter, announced resident meetings as follows: Grand Meadows, Tuesday, May 1 1 at 4 p.m.; Chxi Musam HUM (low income rent als), Thursday, May 13 at 5 p.m.; and Hip Tilixam (Elder housing), on Thursday, May 20 at 2 p.m. at Com m u nity Cen ter after lunch'. Other lo- cations to be determined. J Those interested in a presentation to help Tribal members prevent identity theft, can sign up at the Authority of fice, j Applications for Tribal housing and a list for ideas for future housing de sires are also available at the Housing Authority office. i Door prize winners included $50 win ners: Tribal members Ron Davis, Donna Stronach and Joannie West; and the $100 winner was Tribal member Kathy Tom. 5 Among other announcements: ' The next general Council Meeting will be May 2 at the Tribal Commu nity Center; Memorial Day Dinner is scheduled for Saturday, May 29, 2004 at noon in the Tribal Community Cen ter; nominations for Tribal Council will be heard on Sunday, June 27, 2004 at 11 a.m. at a Special General Council meeting in the Community Center; and from the prior meeting, it was an nounced that meetings seeking input and ideas from the membership will Ixj held from 6 p.m to 8:30 p.m. on May 4 at the Sweetbrier Inn in Tualatin, May 13 at the Red Lion in Eugene and May 25 at the Community Center here in Grand Ronde.
