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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2016)
S moke S ignals FEBRUARY 1, 2016 7 44 employees recognized for their years of service By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Forty-four employees with a combined 571 years of service to the Tribe were honored during an Employee Recognition Breakfast held Thursday, Jan. 21, in the Tribal gym. Leading the way and setting a record with every work anniversary she celebrates was Tresa Mercier, Health & Wellness Clinic Business Office manager, who reached her 31st anniversary of employment with the Tribe. Reaching the coveted quarter-cen- tury mark were Public Works Co- ordinator John Mercier and Tribal Librarian Marion Mercier. Both received $250 gift cards in appreci- ation for their years of service. The breakfast started with Tribal Artisan Travis Stewart performing a blessing song on drum. Nutrition Program employees Kristy DeLoe, Patti LeClair and Charles Neujahr served a breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage and waffles with all the fixings. They were assisted by Public Affairs Administrative As- sistant Chelsea Clark and Tribal Council Administrative Assistant Shannon Simi. After the employees ate, General Manager David Fullerton welcomed those in attendance and presented certificates and bonus checks to employees reaching employment milestones of five years or more. He was assisted by Compensation/ HRIS Specialist Becky Mode, and Tribal Council member Brenda Tu- omi and Human Resources Depart- ment Manager Patrick Dempsey shook recipients’ hands. In addition to the three Merciers, those honored were: Five years: Assistant Chinuk Wawa Teacher Jeff Mercier and Tribal Employment Rights Office Photo by Dean Rhodes Tribal Employment Rights Office Secretary Keri Kimsey shakes hands with Human Resources Department Manager Patrick Dempsey after receiving a certificate and bonus check in recognition of her five-year employment anniversary with the Tribe on Thursday, Jan. 21, in the Tribal gym. General Manager David Fullerton read off the list of 44 Tribal employees who were honored at the breakfast. Secretary Keri Kimsey. Six years: After Care Adviser Jessica Lillard, Radiology Lab Tech- nician Niki Mosley and K-5 Chinuk Wawa Teacher Esther Stewart. Seven years: Foster Care Re- cruitment Specialist Amanda Mer- cier, Cultural Education Specialist Flicka Lucero, Pharmacy Clerk Isa- iah Sherwood and Patients Account Specialist Desiree Allen. Eight years: Cultural Artisan Brian Krehbiel, Compliance Tech- nician Misty Thorsgard, Housing Authority Administrative Program Manager Joan Dugger, Senior Staff Attorney Jennifer Biesack and Driver Assistant Arnoldo Moralez. Nine years: Contract Health Specialist Tauni McCammon and Telecommunications Technician Joe Loomis. Learn about Southwestern Stuffed Potatoes and Spinach and Black Bean Enchiladas! Free Hands-on Cooking Class BONUS! Tak e home ingredients to make one of th eome. Southwestern Stuffed Potatoes Spinach & Black Bean Enchiladas Tuesday, February 16 5:30pm Iskam MǝkʰMǝk-Haws Sign up TODAY! ! Oregon State University Extension Service offers educational programs, activities, and materials without discrimination based on age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran's status. Oregon State University Extension Service and Marion-Polk Food Share are Equal Opportunity Employers. 10 years: Early Head Start Teacher Jessica Cruickshank, Children and Family Services In- vestigator John Genera, Housing Improvement Coordinator Loyal Hamilton and Gaming Commission Audit Manager Rose Smith. (People reaching the 10-year mark also re- ceived a Pendleton blanket). 11 years: Cook Rebecca Gro- serich and Education Home Visitor Shawn Bobb. 12 years: Employee Relations Specialist Eva Simmons and Cul- tural Education Department Man- ager Kathy Cole. 13 years: Police Chief Jake McK- night and Web Designer Willie Mercier. 14 years: Housing Improvement Coordinator Donald Coon. 15 years: Planning and Grants Development Manager Kim Rog- ers, Auditing Specialist Michelle Manso, Health & Wellness Accred- itation Coordinator Jill Hafliger and Shipping and Receiving Clerk Nathan Rolston. 16 years: Chinuk Language Spe- cialist Crystal Szczepanski. 17 years: Health Information Technician Supervisor Lillian Engel. 18 years: Senior Dental Assis- tant Donnette Spaulding. 19 years: Ceded Lands Program Manager Michael Karnosh. 20 years: Social Services De- partment Manager Dana Ainam, Member Benefits Administrative Assistant Hollie Mercier, Asset Inventory Specialist Jerry George, Compensation/HRIS Administra- tor Candy Scranton, Recruitment/ Employee Relations Administrator Daphney Colton and Benefits Ad- ministrator Tammy Gould. “On behalf of Tribal Council, we thank you for your service,” Ful- lerton said. “I’ve attended a couple of these. Years ago, it was a lot of five- and six-year employees. Now we’re moving up to where we have the 12- and 15-year employees and 20-year employees, and that’s real- ly nice to see.” After the certificates and bonus checks were handed out, a raffle for a Chrome Notebook, coffeemaker, kitchen mixer and 48-inch TV was held. n Elders seeking help in making jam Tribal Elders are seeking small jelly jars, donations of sugar and vol- unteers to help make jam for Elder Honor Day in July. Drop off donations at the Elders Activity Center, 48940 Blacktail Drive. For more information, call 503-879-2233. n
