Smoke Signals
NOTICE Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE TIME
Wednesday, March 25 5 p.m.
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed. Call Dakota
Whitecloud, Tribal Council Relations Coordinator, at 503-879-1309 to confirm.
General Council meeting
Sunday, April 5 11 a.m.
Tribal Community Center
0(303330
2 MARCH 15, 2009
Dear Smoke Signals:
I would like to thank the Tribal Council and Timber Committee for
rewarding me with a logo blanket for the years I was on the Timber Com
mittee. It was a great honor to have served on the Timber Committee.
I am very proud to have been on a committee that did so much to restore
the Tribe to where we are today. I would like to specially thank Cliff Adams
for making forestry what it is today. In 1995, he was named Forester of
the Year at the ITC meeting in New Mexico.
Eugene R. LaBonte
Roll 1167
Dear Tribal members:
I like to consider myself amongst those next generations that our Tribe is
helping build a better future for. Overall, even working at Smoke Signals,
only recently have I taken a greater interest in the affairs of our Tribal
government. It has always seemed that you really have to be at most Coun
cil meetings to follow what is going on, which isn't always convenient for
me and many fellow members. Basically, I am writing this letter because
there are a number of observations I've made over the past year, and I
feel the need to share them.
Over the last six months, I've attended almost every General Council
meeting and most Wednesday night Council meetings. I have noticed
that with Tribal publications coming out less frequently, the useful and
pertinent information has been restricted from us, the membership. I do
believe there are more effective ways to communicate important issues
to the entire membership.
There seems to be a' lot of tension and unrest within the Tribe right now.
I attribute that to multiple reasons, including the economy, because it has
negatively affected some of our Tribal services, but also because members
do not feel they are being given a clear explanation of what is going on.
I wish every member could have been present at the Portland General
Council meeting during the closed session when the Council explained the
hit that the Tribe's portfolio had taken. I was shocked. It seems as if that
should be information given to the shareholders of this Tribe. It may not
make people happy, but it's better than leaving them in the dark about
our Tribe's financials. I suppose anybody with Tribal kids, myself included,
probably have already realized how dire the situation is since their trust
funds have been "under-performing," to put it politely.
Sadly, our economic situation has also resulted in either eliminating or
minimizing merit increases for both the Tribe's employees as well as those
of the casino. As somebody who has worked at the Governance Center
and Spirit Mountain Casino, I'm trying to figure out what good denying
or minimizing people's merit increases would serve other than hurting
employee morale.
I understand our economic crunch, but I also understand the increase of
employee productivity when acknowledged and rewarded for their specific
behaviors in a "job well done." An increase in productivity saves the Tribe
money in the long run.
My last observation is taken from the Eugene General Council meeting.
There was a petition presented regarding enrollment, and it was clear that
to the members down there this is far from a dead issue. Now I must profess
some ignorance on this issue, and to my knowledge it doesn't affect me one
way or the other. But it seems that this has caused a lot of pain to some
of our fellow members and their families. I don't support opening up the
floodgates to this Tribe, but I do support the Tribe assuring its members
that they have explored all possible solutions before making a decision.
Those are my observations and I thank you all for your time.
Toby McClary
Roll 1471
ATTENTION TRIBAL MEMBERS
COMMITTEE AND SPECIAL
EVENT BOARD VACANCIES
The following Committees and Special Event Boards have vacant
positions. If you are interested, please complete an application and
submit it to Dakota Whitecloud, Tribal Council Relations Coordinator,
CTGR, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347.
Ceremonial Hunt Board 3 Vacancies
Culture Committee 1 Vacancy
Cultural Trust Board 2 Vacancies
Education Committee 1 Vacancy
Enrollment Committee 1 Vacancy
Rodeo Special Event Board 2 Vacancies
Social Services Committee 1 Vacancy
Timber Committee 1 Vacancy
PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173
Web site: www.grandronde.orgnews
E-mail: newsgrandronde.org
SIOBHAN TAYLOR
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR
503-879-1920
slobtun.tjylorgrandronde.ort
SCARLETT HOLTZ
PUBLICATIONS
SECRETARY
503-879-1453
Scarlett, hoh2grandronde.0rg
GEORGE VALDEZ
GRAPHIC DESIGN
SPECIALIST
503-879-1416
georfe.valdeigrandrond.org
CARLA ROBERTS
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-1447
urU.robcrecrjiidrondc.ori
KRISTEN RAVIA
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
SECRETARY
503-879-1418
krfeten.rjvU(9gr jndronde.org
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
PAGE DESIGNER
503-879-2190
Kisdn.phllllpsgrjndronde.org
MICHELLE ALAIMO
PHOTOJOURNALIST
503-879-1961
mkMk.aiaimograndrond.org
DEAN RHODES
PUBLICATIONS
COORDINATOR
503-879-1463
dean.rhodesgrandronde.org
RON KARTEN
STAFF WRITER
503-879-4663
ron.kartengrandronde.org
SHELLY KENT
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-5211
shdry.kenrgrandronde.org
DEADLINE PATE ISSUE PATE
Friday, March 20 APRIL 1
Friday, April 3 APRIL 15
Monday, April 20 MAY 1
Tuesday, May 5 MAY 1 5 '
Wednesday, May 20 JUNE 1
SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Com
munity of Oregon, is published twice a month. No portion of this publication may be reprinted
without permission.
Our editorial policy Is Intended to encourage input from Tribal members and readers
about stories printed in the Tribal newspaper. However, all letters received must be
signed by the author, an address must be given and a phone number or e-mail address
must be Included for verification purposes. Full addresses and phone numbers will not
be published unless requested.
SMOKE SIGNALS reserves the right to edit letters and to refuse letters that are determined
to contain libelous statements or personal attacks on Individuals, staff, Tribal administration
or Tribal Council. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Letters to the
editor are the opinions and views of the writer. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the
opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS, Tribal staff, Tribal administration or Tribal Council.
Members of: Native American Journalists Association
The Associated Press
Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
2009 Tribal Council
1-800-422-0232 councilgrandronde.org
Cheryle A. Kennedy
Tribal Chairwoman
- ext. 2352
cheryle.kennedygrandronde.org
Reyn Leno
Tribal Vice Chair
ext. 2399
reyn.lenograndronde.org
Jack Giffen Jr.
Tribal Secretary
- ext. 2306
iack.g1fTengrandronde.org
Steve Bobb Sr.
ext. 2353
steve.bobbgrandronde.org
Chris Mercler
ext. 2305
chris.merciergrandronde.org
Wink Soderberg
ext. 1 444
wlnk.soderberggrandronde.org
D Kathleen Tom
ext. i 777
kathleen.tomgrandronde.org
June Sell-Sherer
ext. 2300
June.sherergrandronde.org
Valorle Sheker
-ext. 2355
val.shekergrandronde.org