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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 2009)
Smoke Signals 5 JANUARY 15, 2009 (VlemlbeErs commemitt odd cflirafftt Stiraftegjik I? Da mi By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Following the Jan. 4 General Council meeting held at the Mon arch Hotel & Conference Center in Clackamas, Tribal members in at tendance received their first chance to comment on the draft Tribal Strategic Plan. About 25 Tribal members split into four groups to review the draft plan, which is being updated for the first time since 1995, and comment on its current list of Strategies and Goals. The draft plan is broken into five broad strategies Sovereignty and Self-Sufficiency; Tradition and Cul ture; Healthy Individuals, Families and Community; Community and Involvement; and Resources. Each strategy has a varying num ber of goals. For instance, Sover eignty and Self-Sufficiency has six identified goals, such as asserting the Tribe's rights in its ceded lands, while Tradition and Culture has three, including educating Tribal members on the Tribe's history and culture. 'The goals that follow each strat egy are overall actions that will lead to accomplishment of the strat egies," the draft plan says. Seeking Tribal member input is the next step in a process that started in October 2007 with the Strategic Futures Conference held in the Tribal gymnasium. The con ference brought together more than 100 Tribal members, employees and Elders, along with community and government leaders, to review the Tribe's vision and offer ideas about what the Tribe might accom plish over the next 10 years. This past summer, Tribal Coun cil worked on the draft plan's Vi sion, Principles and Strategies and approved a draft in August 2008. Then, Tribal departments developed draft plans to support the strategies. The Tribal Execu tive Team reviewed the draft plans and developed overall goals for each strategy and identified the department or team that had lead responsibility for each goal. In November, the Strategies and Goals were sent to Tribal commit tee members for review and com ment. And in December, the Tribal Council by consensus agreed to release the draft Strategic Plan for Tribal member comment. At the Monarch, Tribal members were asked to review the five strate gies and their accompanying goals, and provide input that was written down by a Tribal employee sitting at the table. "You are in a different place, as Mi Op KA1 : 'i- -Z -isss Photo by Michelle Alaimo Tribal member Joseph Brisbois, left, gives his input on the draft Tribal Strategic Plan as Tribal member and the Tribe's Director of Operations John Mercier, right, takes notes during the Community Membership Meeting at the Monarch Hotel & Conference Center in Clackamas on Sunday, Jan. 4. a Tribe, than you were in 1995," said consultant Vicki Willis, who moderated the input event. "We are seeking Tribal member input to ensure it reflects your interests, to make sure the right things have been mentioned. We're trying to get lots of ideas today." Tribal members were asked three questions: Do you have any concerns about the strategies andor goals? Are there major strategies or goals that should be added? Do you have any other sugges tions for the plan? At a table that included Tribal members CeCe Kneeland and Toby McClary and transcribed by Public Affairs Director Siobhan Taylor, the comments were numerous. McClary, eyeing the Healthy Individuals, Families and Commu nity strategy, asked how the Tribe can promote healthy lifestyles for Tribal members who live outside of the immediate Grand Ronde area. McClary suggested taping Healthy Thursdays events and streaming them on the Tribal Web site, as well as encouraging Elders to get involved in quality-of-life decisions. McClary said that the only way to get Tribal members involved is by keeping them well-informed. Both McClary and Kneeland said they liked the "Our Foundation" addition to the draft Strategic Plan that stresses a "tradition of mutual responsibility" in Tribal values. "All plans and aspirations of the Tribe are built on and depend upon the active demonstration of mutual respect and responsibility among all Tribal members," the draft says. "According to Tribal tradition, the Tribe has a responsibility to look out for the well-being and interests of each Tribal member. In turn, each Tribal member has a unique contribution to make, and shares the responsibility to contribute to the welfare of other Tribal members and the Tribe as a whole." "I liked adding the personal Tribal member responsibility," Kneeland said. "It addresses the individual." McClary added that he was hap py to see Tradition and Culture listed prominently as the second strategy. Willis said Tribal member feed back will be solicited at four more Community Meetings. They will be held Feb. 8 in Grand Ronde, March 1 in Eugene, April 19 in Yakima, Wash., and May 17 in Bend. She also said copies of the draft Tribal Strategic Plan will be mailed to Tribal members in mid-January. From there, a summary report will be written and there will be a 60-day comment period on a final Strategic Plan before it is considered for adoption by Tribal Council. Tribal General Manager Chris Leno said the goal is make the Stra tegic Plan "a working document ... to keep it alive." D Food Bank seeks help The Grand Ronde Community Resource Center is seeking additional part-time volunteer help at the Food Dank in Grand Ronde. Help is needed in various activities, such as unloading freight, stocking and labeling shelves, food distribution activities and clerical work. Duties will be assigned based on volunteers' skills and abilities. If you have the time and would like to volunteer a few hours per week, call the Resource Center on Monday or Friday at 603-879-6731 for more details or to obtain an application. B Tribal Committee and Special Event Board vacancies Culture Committee 1 vacancy Education Committee 2 vacancies Fish & Wildlife Committee 2 vacancies Powwow SEB 2 vacancies Rodeo SEB 4 vacancies Veterans SEB 2 vacancies Social Services Committee 1 vacancy Transportation to Grand Ronde The Portland Satellite office has a transportation day to Grand Ronde once a month for medical or dental appointments or enrollment cards. A minimum of three people must sign up. Call Lisa at 603-235-4230. We will leave the Portland office at 8 a.m. Please call in advance for the scheduled monthly date. D
