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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2009)
6 JULY 1,2009 Smoke Signals By Daniel Ham Elder Activity assistant The Elder Committee Fundraiser Yard Sale will be held Friday and Saturday, July 17-18, at 28830 S.W. Salmon River Highway (the former site of Spirit Mountain Casino's Human Resources Department). Any donations will be gladly accepted. Please call 503-879-2233 for information. Money raised will be used for an overnight road trip that is yet to be decided. On June 19, we had our combination Mother's DayFather's Day lunch. Pictured is Grace Engelhardt, who will be 97 in August, and her granddaughter Kathy Werst, who came from Tillamook for the party. Tribal Elder Nora Kimsey, who is 100, also attended the event. These mothers give us all inspiration. On Monday, June 22, we had a busy day at the Elders' Activity Center. Volunteers came by for a work day followed by a potluckbar becue. We had as many as 15 volunteers who pulled weeds, watered, raked and planted the flower beds around the center. We hope to have more of these days in the future; hopefully once a month. Planning for this year's Elder Honor Day is going along well. We still need gift donations for the bingo activity. It will be held Friday, July 10, at Spirit Mountain Casino's Events Center. Some of the other activities the Elders participated in this month include the June 4 Rose Festival float decoration and the June 13 Paddle on the Willamette. i V. . "1 ' v I Photo by Louise Medelros Tribal Elder Grace Engelhardt, who will be 97 in August, and bar granddaughtar Kathy Wartt from Tillamook attandad tha Mother's Day Fathar's Day party on Juna 19 at tha Elders' Activity Cantar. SMGI Board of Directors position Spirit Mountain Gaming, Inc. invites dynamic business orientated individuals to apply to the Spirit Mountain Gaming, Inc. Board of Directors. There is one position open for a qualified candidate who possesses the appropriate business knowledge and experience. The SMGI board of directors is responsible to the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Tribal Council and oversees fiscal account ability, budgets, policies, procedures and business operations of Spirit Mountain Casino. The SMGI board meets monthly and each board member receives a stipend for their participation in board meetings. Qualifications should include general business knowledge and experi ence in a hospitalitycustomer service driven environment. Knowledge of Native American owned and operated organizations preferred but not mandatory. There also should be a demonstrated ability to be responsive to the goals of the business and its increasing dynamic character with appropriate analytical and communication skills. Abil ity to pass a thorough background check and obtain a gaming license is necessary. This position is open to Tribal and nonTribal members. Applicants may submit a letter of interest, resume and three references to: Camille Mcrcier Director of Human Resources Spirit Mountain Gaming, Inc. IX) Box 39 Grand Ronde, OR 97347 Deadline to apply Is July 24, 2009. tT ..... W " T- I I k I . '; 9 ITIVI n nT lmmmtm mmmM il IMaiill II 1 uk linilllllllinHllill ii If I Photo by Michelle Alaimo Tribal members, from right, Hannah Green, Myriah Shandy and Justine Colton departed on June 6 for a three-week internship at tha American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Green, a sophomore at Nestucca High School, is the daughter of Dan and Linda Green of Cloverdale and Timber and Tribal member Trina Pesterfield of Cloverdale. Shandy, a sophomore at West Albany High School, is the daughter of Tribal member Todd and Tammy Shandy of Albany. Colton, a junior at Willamina High School, is the daughter of Tribal member Mike and Daphney Colton of Willamina. USDA food distribution r " The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde's Social Services Department has been meeting with the USDA program from the Siletz Tribe. In an attempt to provide better service and meet the specific indi vidual needs of Tribal members, our department is asking if Tribal members have an interest in receiving USDA distribution of food here at a local distribution center in Grand Ronde. We would like to know if there are enough Tribal members to measure the interest of delivery of USDA once each month. Please contact our Social Services office if you feel you are eligible for the program and would utilize it here at Grand Ronde. We will need your name and address to meet program guidelines. Please contact Social Services at 503-879-2034 or 1-800-242-8196. D Veterans build the homes and support them LABONTE continued from front page he is the committee's vice chair. "It's just overwhelming right now," LaBonte said. The group continues to work to ward building a second veterans' home in the state. The existing facility in The Dalles "is great," LaBonte said. The home's contin ued funding is among the Advisory Committee's responsibilities. The Advisory Committee also is considering the best location for a second facility. Veterans build the homes and support them with private contributions. LaBonte also is seeking legisla tion that equalizes payments to all veterans. The so-called "a vet is a vet is a vet" bill will mean that whether one serves in a battle zone or at a base in the United States, all share equally in the benefits of being a veteran. "When you sign that dotted line," LaBonte said, "you're there." "I've worked with Gene long before he was on the committee and saw his dedication and energy with regard to helping veterans and their families," said Jim Willis, director of the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs. LaBonte will be leading the com mittee as it begins work on the de partment's 2009-11 budget, Willis said. I le will have to focus on efforts in three areas: veteran services, the state veterans' home loan program "one of the most successful in the nation," Willis said and for senior veterans, continued funding of the Or egon Veterans' Home in The Dalles. "I lis plate is full," Willis said, "but Gene can do this job." For LaBonte though, the oppor tunity boils down to this: "I get to be boss," he said. B
