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JUNE 15, 2021
Dillon was under contract
until September 2022
DILLON continued
from front page
only manage the daily operations
of the casino, but assist the board
in completing a recruitment search
for a new general manager.
“This past year has been chal-
lenging with the COVID/pandemic
restrictions, temporary close down,
the local fires, national unrest and
wearing masks,” Jenness said. “We
know how hard you have worked
and we wish to acknowledge and
thank you.”
When contacted by Smoke Sig-
nals on Monday, June 7, Jenness
said he was not fully surprised by
Dillon’s resignation.
“There were some issues going on,
personnel issues, that I thought we
were making strides to work it out
and he would stay,” Jenness said.
“But he decided to resign. We were
saddened about that. He’s done a
great job for the casino.”
Jenness said Dillon was under
contract until September 2022 and
was probably going to retire then.
Jenness said the Spirit Mountain
Gaming Inc. board has been in con-
tact with an interim general man-
ager candidate who has expressed
interest in the job. However, he or
she will not be able to take over for
at least three weeks until a gaming
license is obtained from the Grand
Ronde Gaming Commission.
Former Tribal Council chairman
and former Spirit Mountain Gam-
ing Inc. Board member Reyn Leno
posted on Facebook that he was
concerned that Dillon has resigned.
“That’s a big hit for us,” Leno wrote.
He also said that Tribal Council
member Jack Giffen Jr. resigned
from the board after almost two
decades of service.
“I would like to both thank and
acknowledge Stan Dillon and Jack
Giffen for all they have done for the
Tribe and the casino,” Leno wrote.
Giffen said that he resigned for
personal reasons and that his res-
ignation was not related to Dillon’s
departure.
“While change is not fun and the
unknown can be scary, change al-
ways brings growth,” Jenness said.
“We have a great management team
at the casino and we are looking
forward to continued prosperity.”
Dillon became general manager
at Spirit Mountain Casino in Sep-
tember 2014, succeeding Randy
Dugger in the position. He previ-
ously worked at gaming facilities in
Reno, Nev., and Prior Lake, Minn.
He joined the Spirit Mountain Ca-
sino staff in 2008 as the director of
gaming.
For the purposes of full disclo-
sure, Jenness also serves on the
Grand Ronde Editorial Board,
which oversees the editor of Smoke
Signals.
TRIBAL VETERANS
SERVICE OFFICE
VETERAN’S CORNER:
E-mail CTGRTribalVSO@grandronde.org
to register for events and training!
All CTGR veterans send us your e-mail address so we can
include you on the monthly CTGR Veteran Newsletter
Distribution List and periodic e-mail information updates.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
June 8, 2021 at 2 p.m. (Virtual)
Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
Behavioral Health Training #2
E-mail CTGRTVSO to register.
The impact of trauma is far reaching and shapes the
lives of survivors as well as the community that holds and
cares for them. For the Veteran community, military sex-
ual trauma is particularly impactful as this type of trauma
occurs at the hands of those survivors often trust most.
We will discuss the impact of trauma and, in particular,
military sexual trauma. We will also discuss resources and
support to place survivors and their loved ones on the
path toward recovery.
June 15, 2021 at 2 p.m. (Virtual)
Blue Water Navy Informational Meeting
Bi-monthly veterans meeting #2
Go to: zoom.us/join and Enter meeting ID: 966 1654 4977
Calling all Veterans from the Vietnam Era. If you served in
Vietnam or during that era, please sign up for our virtual
meeting! Featuring our guest speaker, Frankie Williams.
Frankie is a United States Navy Veteran and the Tribal
Veterans’ Service Officer from Warm Springs. Frankie has
an extensive background as a Director / Drug and Al-
cohol Counselor and is involved in all of his tribal cultural
7
Camas in bloom
Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez
A camas plant that Tribal Council member Michael Langley planted in the
fall is now blooming outside of his home in Tribal Housing on Thursday,
May 20. The approximately 40–by-4-foot area is a test garden and also
brings traditional first foods to families in Tribal Housing.
GRAND RONDE HOUSING DEPARTMENT
28450 Tyee Road – Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 – 503-879-2401 – Fax 503-879-5973
ATTENTION ALL HOUSING TENANTS AND GUEST
PLEASE SLOW DOWN IN ELDER HOUSING
Also, please make sure and maintain low levels of music in the Elder community.
Ramona Quenelle, Tribal Veterans’ Service Officer, (TVSO)US Navy Veteran (IT2 SW)
Phone: 503-879-1484 | CTGRTribalVSO@grandronde.org
CTGR Social Services Department, Attn: Tribal Veterans’ Service Officer
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
VETERANS CRISIS LINE, CALL 1-800-273-8255 AND PRESS 1 OR TEXT 838255
activities. We are looking forward to presenting informa-
tion about Blue Water Navy and hope you will join us.
July 8, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.
Paint with a Vet event (only 22 spots available)
E-mail CTGRTVSO to register.
July 21 & 22, 2021 (Virtual)
Veterans Virtual Claims Clinic
Brought to you by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Your Service. Our Mission.
SAVE THE DATE CALENDAR:
Sept. 2021 (Date/Time TBD)
VISN Network Presentations – Meeting #3
Oct. 2021 (Date/Time TBD)
Native Wellness Behavioral Health Training #4
Dec. 2021 (Date/Time TBD)
Veterans End of the Year Event
Bringing VA benefits home event into your community.
Contact Event POC to schedule an appointment.
During the event, you can:
• Speak with a VA representative.
• Get answers to VA claims and benefit questions.
• File your claim.
Event Point Contact of Virtual Claims Clinic:
Ramona Quenelle
Tribal Veterans’ Service Officer
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
To schedule an appointment Phone: 503-879-1484
or Email: CTGRTribalVSO@grandronde.org
Sept. 2, 2021 at 2 p.m.
Mindfulness Behavioral Health Training #3
Sept. 17, 2021 at 2 p.m.
Cultural Class #2 – Cattail Cordage
Nov. 12, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.
Veterans Day Dinner
www.grandronde.org/services/social-services/veterans-services | www.benefits.va.gov/vso | www.facebook.com/ctgr.tribalvso
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