NOVEMBER 1, 2005
Smoke Signals 3
Casino Update Highlights October General Council Meeting
Housing Program, director win top honors from National Indian Housing Authority.
By Toby McClary
The October General Council
meeting was held on Sunday, Oc
tober 9, at the Tribal Community
Center. Here are the highlights:
Tribal Chairwoman Cheryl
Kennedy called the meeting to or
der. Tribal member Jackie Provost
offered the invocation.
General Manager for Spirit Moun
tain Casino and Tribal member
Randy Dugger reported on casino
revenue from 2004 to 2005 and
major projects for 2005 such as lodge
expansion, remodels, new slot ma
chines, upgraded accounting sys
tems for new slots, slot replacements
and upgrades, table games expan
sion training area, HVAC system
replacements and a new marketing
system to track player activity.
Human Resources Director for
Spirit Mountain Casino and Tribal
member Camille Mercier provided
statistics on Tribal member employ
ment at the casino. Human Re
sources Employment Manager for
Spirit Mountain Casino Daphney
Colton reported on the hiring pro
cess and listed open positions at the
casino.
Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Di
rector Carina Kistler Ginter pre
sented Kennedy and Tribal Council
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Human Resources Director for
Spirit Mountain Casino & Tribal
member Camille Mercier
with the "Tribe of the Year" award
from the Northwest Indian Hous
ing Association (NIHA). Acting
General Manager and Tribal
member Chris Leno presented
Kistler Ginter with "Executive of
the Year" award from NIHA.
Kennedy introduced the Tribes'
new Public Affairs Director
Siobhan Taylor.
The discussion then turned to
wards Tribal Council salary raises.
Tribal member Deanna Johnston
asked if their raises were based on
the Oregon Tribes' market rate, in
which Human Resources Director
Judy Zettergren stated that she
would follow up on that question.
Johnston then asked what the
travel budget was for Tribal Coun
cil and BudgetTreasury Manager
Rick Anderson stated that he will
make that information available.
Tribal member Betty Bly had sev
eral concerns including Tribal Coun
cil term limits, administration of the
Meth Grant, reducing Tribal staff,
increasing Tribal member employ
ment and consideration of giving
Tribal Elders a cost of living raise.
Tribal Elder Val Grout expressed
her ideas and concerns. She feels
that Tribal Council salaries are fair
as long as the members are putting
in adequate hours. She also dis
cussed issues such as Tribal Elder
cost of living raise, safety problems
in Elder housing and disturbing
rumors she has recently heard.
Tribal Elder Chips Tom feels that
the Tribal Council salaries are too
high.
Tribal member Frank Hostler
stated that we can not afford to ar
gue amongst ourselves and asked
that the Tribal membership take
their thoughts out of our community
and look at the big picture from a
business stand point.
Tribal member Rebecca Crocker
asked about the General Manager
position and Kennedy stated that
Cliff Adams separated employment
with the Tribe and that Chris Leno
will serve as the Acting General
Manger. Crocker also stated that
Tribal Council members should be
treated with respect and given a
chance to answer questions.
Tribal Elder Sharon Hanson said
that she was happy to hear that
Tribal Council now reports on their
activities.
Tribal Elder Gloria Sundahl said
that she is extremely pleased with
the activities at the Eugene Satel
lite Office.
Albert Jeffers, Tawnya Reibach
and Alyssa Long each won a $50
door prize and Claudia Leno won
the $100 door prize.
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Bottom I line General Manager of Spirit Mountain Casino and Tribal member
Randy Dugger reported on casino revenue from 2004 to 2005 and major projects .
Tribe Of The Year Award Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Director Carina
Kistler Ginter (left) presented Chairwoman Cheryle Kennedy and the Tribal Council
with the "Tribe of the Year" award from the Northwest Indian Housing Association.
Linfield Players Visit Before & Aftercare
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"Show Me The Way" On Friday, October 14, members of the Linfield
football team visited the K-5 Education Program in Grand Ronde. Former
Linfield player and current coaching staff member Zach Flemming (above)
hands the football off to Tribal member Isabell Bobb while coaching staff
member James Yen helped Tribal member Michael Reyes with passing plays.
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