Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2015)
S MOKE S IGNALS OCTOBER 1, 2015 13 Board and council credited for success of casino CASINO continued from page 12 The dividend we give has turned our Elders’ lives around.” Based on the Community Fund’s 6 percent distribution of $67 mil- lion, Spirit Mountain Casino has earned more than $1 billion since it opened that has gone to support the Tribal government and its pro- grams for members. Dr. Katherine Spilde, who is an associate professor at the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tour- ism Management at San Diego State University, says revenues at Spirit Mountain Casino place it among the most successful Tribal gaming oper- ations in the United States. “Gaming revenues are a function of numerous factors, including operations expertise, good man- agement, location and marketing,” says Spilde. “As important as the revenues, however, is the Tribal government investment strategy. Your Tribe invests these revenues into endowments, which is a true commitment to institutionalizing the social and economic recovery that Tribal gaming has stimulated across Indian Country.” Spilde says that according to the National Indian Gaming Commis- sion’s 2014 statistics on Indian gaming revenues, Spirit Mountain Casino is in the top 25 percent of Indian gaming operations. The commission’s statistics show that 50 of the 459 Tribally owned gam- ing operations generate revenues between $50 million and $100 mil- lion annually. “The benefi ts from the casino are just unmeasurable to the people in this community and especially to the Grand Ronde Tribal mem- bers,” says Gleason-Shepek. “You look at all of the programs that we offer and a lot of that is supported Spirit Mountain Casino general managers 1. Bruce Thomas – May 27,1993, through Feb. 8, 2000 2. Michael Moore – Nov. 28, 2000, through Nov. 28, 2002 3. Doug Pattison – May 1, 2003, through Oct. 13, 2003 4. Richard Kline – Dec. 31, 2003, through Oct. 10, 2004 5. Gary Stopp – March 28, 2005, through April 8, 2005 6. Randy Dugger – April 25, 2005, through Oct. 5, 2007 7. Rodney Ferguson – Oct. 10, 2008, through Aug. 1, 2012 8. Randy Dugger – Sept. 16, 2012, through Aug. 1, 2014 9. Stan Dillon – July 29, 2014, to present Also serving as interim general managers: Bob Watson (Tribal member), Mike Larsen (Tribal member), Bill Pierce and Roy Rhode. by gaming dividends and I really support that. “The early Tribal Council had a wonderful vision and without the gaming we would have none of that. It’s brought so many people back to the Reservation and it has provided so many jobs and opportunities.” ‘It’s a benchmark’ Current Spirit Mountain Casino General Manager Stan Dillon says he has seen casinos open and close in less time during his long career. “It’s a benchmark,” says Dillon. “I look at it like 20 years of success is a long time for a casino. So when you think of the casino not only as still there, but thriving 20 years later, it says a lot about the people and the company that is running it.” Dillon says much of the credit for a successful casino operation goes to Tribal leadership. The fact that Spirit Mountain is competing with another casino nearby and the Oregon Lottery’s 12,000 machines says a lot, he adds. “Our board and our council have done good things to keep the com- pany where it’s at,” says Dillon. “It’s a huge moment for us and we expect to continue to be the premier destination with the best machines, the best food and the nicest appear- ance. So that’s what it means to me in my position.” Dillon attributes much of the property’s success to the employees who work at the casino. “Casinos are a refl ection of the people who work in them, I think any good business is,” says Dillon. The casino is now 100 percent coinless. When players cash out of their slot machines or video poker games, they are issued a paper ticket that can then be fed into any other machine. Players can move freely from one machine to another without having to cash in at the cashier window each time. When players are ready to receive their cash, they can go to the cashier window or cash in at exchange machines placed throughout the casino – usually next to the ATMs. Casino visitors can play Texas Hold’em in the poker room, three- card poker on the gaming fl oor along with pai gow, Let It Ride, craps, roulette, blackjack, keno, bingo and the largest variety of slot machines in Oregon. Selected video slot ma- chines are considered progressives and they are connected nationally to other Native-owned and -operated casinos throughout the country. Guests playing these machines have a chance to win major jackpots of as much as $500,000 or more. “I think the Tribe has managed the casino great,” says Gleason-Shepek. “I think the casino has grown with the community and the needs. I think they have done a good job man- aging the growth. I think they have done a good job of keeping it nice and fresh and updated, and I absolutely love the hall that tells our story.” “One of the goals for any council, whether it was 20 years ago or today or hopefully in the future, is self-sustainability for our Tribal members,” says McClary. “And I think the revenues driven by the casino allow us to help build those steps to self-sustainability for our membership. It really provides us an opportunity to get people moving in the right direction. Take educa- tion, for example. We spend a por- tion of our revenues from the casino every year to educate our people, which helps them go on to become positive infl uences in society.” Mercier agrees that the casino has had a huge effect on the Tribe and the surrounding community. “It’s more than a casino,” says Mercier. “It’s been a catalyst for change. It’s brought the Gover- nance Center. That is something we wouldn’t have without the casino. We have sidewalks now on Grand Ronde Road – remember seeing people walking in the ditches? It’s brought so much to the community. Who would have ever seen this at Restoration? It’s phenomenal. It’s put our people on the map.” Leno says he sees a 30-year or even a 40-year anniversary coming. “When I drive by the casino every morning I guess I don’t see the glitz and the glamour and all the cars and the excitement and everything, I see the future of the Tribe,” says Leno. “I see our education program. I see our Elders’ pension. I see our health plan. I see all of that in the casino.” Seeking your donations for 3 organizations! G RAND R ONDE H ELPING H ANDS I SKAM M ƎK ʰM ƎK -H AWS , T HE C LOTHES C LOSET , & A C AUSE F OR P AWS ARE WORKING TOGETHER You’ve got it. We want it! Wednesday, October 21st 2 pm to 6 pm Give to 3 organizations in one location! Iskam is seeking warm clothes and blankets. Items to create a Bed-in-a-bag. Please consider donating: tent, tarp, pillow, sleeping bag, blankets, sheets, or a foam mattress for homeless families. The Clothes Closet is seeking Halloween Costumes! Consider recycling gently used costumes for local youth. Clean out your food pantry, we’ll figure out the expiration dates! A Cause for Paws is seeking pet costumes, food, pet toys, and beds. We will take books for our lending library. If you are not sure if we can take it, bring it or give us a call. Iskam MǝkʰMǝk-Haws 9675 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, OR 97347 503-879-FOOD (3663) Follow us on Facebook