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.
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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.
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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
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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