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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 15, 2012)
Smoke Signals NOTICE Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings DATE TIME Wednesday, July 25 4 p.m. Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed. Tribal Council Candidate Forum Wednesday, July 25 6:30 p.m. Tribal gymnasium 2 JULY 15, 2012 Dear Smoke Signals: I wish to send my deepest appreciation and heartfelt thanks to my brother, Chuck Haller, and his son, Charles, for all of their hard work, money and patience in getting the Haller-Menard Family Reunion together on the 23rd of June, 2012. He worked so hard, so faithful for all of us, and he rented such a nice hall for it all, the Mill Creek Park Hall. I met so many of my family that I haven't seen for years. How proud I was as I looked around and saw so many there and thought how happy and proud my mom would be to see us all. I know if God has granted her a glimpse, she must have been standing on the edge of a cloud with her hands folded and thanking God with her soft smile on her face, so proud of her children, each and every one. When I left, I didn't want to cry, but I looked around and thought, "Will I be here again, with all of my family?" I'm 90 years old. Time does pass. So again I say, thanks, Chuck and all who helped him. Thank you from my heart. Geneva M. Haller Handsaker Roll 64 Dear Tribal Council and Tribal members: I am very disappointed that Tribal Council has used Tilixam Wawa as a vehicle to dismiss Tribal member concerns over unnecessary spending and redundant sponsorships. (Tilixam Wawa, June 2012) 'The Grand Ronde Tribe is a giving people." Yes, indeed, we are. "We donate about $3 million every year to local programs and services that benefit citizens striving for self-sufficiency through the Spirit Mountain Community Fund, the Hatfield Fellowship and the Oregon Tribal Grant program. We fund projects in the areas of Arts & Culture, Education, Health, Historic Preservation, Public Safety, Environmental Preservation and Problem Gaming." (www.thecommunityfund.org) Built into these donations are opportunities for strategic partnerships, education regarding our Tribe and Tribal history, and "enhancing our reputation throughout the local community and statewide." We are the Tribe that gives back; do we really need additional sponsorships to show this? "Communicate with other business leaders, non-profit organizations, government officials and Oregonians." The above information regarding nonprofit organization funding through the Spirit Mountain Community Fund notwithstanding, it seems that there could be more cost-effective ways of communicating with business leaders and government officials without throwing money at them. Strategic alignment means important partnerships, and those are not simply formed through contributions or sponsorships, but from dedicated cooperation and continued (non-monetary) support. I'm still not sure how sponsorships can increase communication or make it more ef fective and meaningful to community partners and stakeholders. I fully recognize the leverage to be gained through strategic sponsor ship, but I also recognize the fact that not all sponsorships are strategic, and many times it seems that we are indulging these sponsorships for the sake of the sponsorships themselves, regardless of partnership or coalition building. This really flies in the face of struggling Tribal members who do not look at this as a "small investment"; this "one-half of 1 percent" is yet another slice of spending that, although relatively small by itself, is com bining with other unnecessary spending to contribute to more and more waste, detracting from benefits and services for Tribal members. I would also like to point out that the line item for "Donations" within the Tribal Council budget increased by $100,000, and is now 21 times the amount that it was last year. At the same time, the Public Affairs' combined budget for "Public Relations" and "Government Relations" is slightly lower than last year, but is still at $859,865. Without meaningful narrative regarding the reason these two line items are sectioned out, and without outcome measures attached to each line item, it is impossible to know what they are used for. Intuitively, though, it would seem that they could be used as part of our government budget and public relations strategies to "enhance our repu tation throughout the local community and statewide," "communicate with other business leaders, non-profit organizations, government officials and Oregonians," "educate all Oregonians about the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde" and "build strategic coalitions with important stakeholders." What's more wearisome is a full page of justification for continued spend ing when it is clear that the membership wants more responsibility and diligence from our leaders regarding our finances. I understand that any thing can be defended as necessary, but innovation and creativity and more importantly, conscientious budget management in spending to achieve our desired outcomes are absolutely necessary, and will not require this type of rationalization. With all due respect to Mr. Justin Martin, "the strategic application of sponsorships" may make "us more visible, educated and involved as a vi tal government and business within the state of Oregon and through the country," but with so many Tribal members suffering the effects of the economy and circumstances of life, the value of those sponsorships is lost in translation, to me and many others, I'm sure. Charles G. Haller II Roll 1032 PUBLICATIONS OFFICE 961 5 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347 1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173 Web site: www.grandronde.orgnews E-mail: newsgrandronde.org Q Twitter: CTGRgov Facebook: Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde SIOBHAN TAYLOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR 503-879-1920 ikMun.tjylof$nndronde.Oft SCARLETT HOLTZ PUBLICATIONS SECRETARY 503-879-1453 KvtetLholtzfrandn)ndt.or GEORGE VALDEZ GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST 503-879-1416 (rorge.valdezgrandronde.ori VALERIE COX CENTRAL PHONES 503-879-1447 valeriexoxgrandrondc.org KR1STEN RAVIA PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECRETARY 503-879-1418 krittmjafrandronde.orf JUSTIN PHILLIPS PAGE DESIGNER 503-879-2190 ustln.phinips(rjndronde.or( MICHELLE ALAIMO PHOTOJOURNALIST 503-879-1961 micMte.aliiniopKJronde.oft DEAN RHODES PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR 503-879-1463 dean. rhodest? grandronde.org RON KARTEN STAFF WRITER 503-879-4663 ron.lutfmigrandronde.org CAR LA MAY CENTRAL PHONES 503-879-1447 ttrb.roteregnndnnk.O(f DEADLINE DATE ISSUE DATE Friday, July 20 Aug. 1 Monday, Aug. 6 Aug. 1 5 Monday, Aug. 20 Sept. 1 (MPs? 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 2012 Tribal Council 1-800-422-0232 councilgrandronde.org Cheryle A. Kennedy Tribal Chairwoman ext. 2352 cheryle.kennedygrandronde.org D Reyn Leno D Chris Mercier Tribal Vice Chair ext. 2305 ext. 2399 chris.merciergrandronde.org reyn.Ienograndronde.org q june Sherer D Jack Giffen Jr. ext. 1 444 Tribal Secretary june.sherergrandronde.org ext. 2300 d Toby McClary jack.giffengrandronde.org ex 4555 Steve Bobb Sr. toby.mcclarygrandronde.org ext. 2353 n Kathleen Tom steve.bobbgrandronde.org ext. 1 777 kathIeen.tomgrandronde.org
