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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 15, 2021)
sNok signflz JULY 15, 2021 7 Thomas discusses casino operations during Facebook Live event By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor Spirit Mountain Casino Interim General Manager Bruce Thomas briefed the Tribal membership on myriad changes occurring at the Tribe’s gaming facility during a 33-minute Facebook Live event held on Wednesday, July 14. Thomas took over at the casino on June 16, almost two weeks after Stan Dillon’s resignation took effect. Previously, Thomas was the chief executive officer at Spirit Mountain Casino from 1993 to 2000. Since taking over, Thomas has instituted several changes at the casino, including the controversial closure of the Cedar Plank Buffet as of Sunday, July 11. In addition, youths are now al- lowed back at Spirit Mountain Lodge for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic became a public health emergency in March 2020, valet parking has ended and employees have seen their mini- mum wage increase to help remedy a critical employee shortage at the casino. The Facebook Live event was the 19th held by the Tribal government since March 2020. Approximately 140 people logged on to watch the broadcast, which included Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy and Human Resources Director Camille Mercier. After giving a brief summation of his resume, Thomas detailed the reasoning behind closing the popu- lar buffet, which included staffing restaurants, which were about 100 employees short, and are helping to keep those eateries open. “We really had a crisis situation,” Thomas said. Thomas said a “food hall” will take the place of the buffet and feature multiple food outlets, including authentic Asian of- ferings. He also explained the cessa- tion of valet parking. It cost the Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez casino $760,000 a year or more Spirit Mountain Casino Interim General than $2,000 a day to park an Manager Bruce Thomas gives an update average of 46 cars daily, or $45 on casino operations during a Facebook per car. Thomas added that af- Live event held in Tribal Council Chambers ter the top 230 customers were on Wednesday, July 14. questioned, only two said they used valet parking. “It’s important, I believe, for the shortages, losing money and new Tribe and the Tribal members who public health concerns. are our shareholders that we make Thomas said that the buffet lost all of our decisions in a way that $2.2 million in 2019 and $4.6 mil- maximizes the long-term benefit lion between June 2020 and May to the casino,” Thomas said. “That 2021 as the price of protein, such makes us competitive, desirable as meat, chicken and seafood, sky- and maximizes profit.” rocketed during the pandemic. To Mercier said other changes at the break even, the casino would have casino are aimed at attracting and had to increase its buffet charge to retaining casino employees, includ- $60 per person for dinner. ing an increase in the minimum He also said the COVID-19 pan- wage to $16, offering a $250 quar- demic has changed attitudes to- terly perfect attendance incentive, ward buffets. paying bonuses for referrals and “Buffets generally and multiple new hires, and offering gas cards to people touching utensils and food employees who must drive to work. … people look at issues like germs, “We’re looking at some things bacteria and viruses differently that benefit the employees because today than they did a few years we are in a market where it is im- ago,” he said. “There was nothing portant to attract and retain our positive about it that we could see.” team members,” Mercier said. The approximately 100 employ- “And it’s not going to be inexpen- ees who worked at the buffet have sive,” Thomas added. been transferred to other casino TRIBAL VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE VETERANS CORNER, JULY 1, 2021: 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 Veterans Newsletter Distribution List and periodic e-mail information updates. 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 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 SAVE THE DATE CALENDAR: July 21 & 22, 2021 (Virtual) Veterans Virtual Claims Clinic Aug. 2021 (Date/Time TBD) Paint with a Vet event (only 22 spots available) E-mail CTGRTVSO to register. Bringing the VA benefits home event into your commu- nity. 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 July 24, 2021 Veterans Service Office – Gun Lock Event TVSO will have a booth at this event handing out gun locks to veterans. There will be opportunities to win priz- es and meet some of our veteran partners. Another COVID-19 relief payment Kennedy also announced that Tribal Council has decided to dis- tribute more COVID-19 Relief Program funds to Tribal members on Aug. 13. Adults 18 and older will receive $4,000 and minors 17 and younger will get $1,000. Tribal members and parents and legal guardians must request a form from Member Benefits Admin- istrator Liz Leno at 503-879-2082 or Member Services at 503-879- 2116 to receive the payment. Dead- line to submit the form is July 30. The one-time distribution will be a general welfare payment and nontaxable, Kennedy said. “This general welfare payment is to help ease the continued financial burden of COVID-19,” Kennedy said. “We’re very pleased that we are able to assist our Tribal mem- bers. We know that the pandemic has hit our members very hard.” In 2020, adult Tribal members received eight COVID-19 Relief Program payments that totaled $4,400. In closing, Kennedy again en- couraged Tribal members to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 coronavirus especially since the Delta variant is increasing case numbers throughout the country. Ramona Quenelle, Tribal Veterans’ Service Officer, (TVSO)US Navy Veteran (IT2 SW) Phone: 503-879-1484 | CTGRTribalVSO@grandronde.org UPCOMING EVENTS: Brought to you by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Your Service. Our Mission. In response to the lone question, Thomas said the casino will not reinstitute the bus shuttle that brought customers from Portland to the casino because it was not cost-effective. 2. Did you serve aboard a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia? 3. Do you have one or more of the Agent Orange pre- sumptive conditions listed below: IHD, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, respiratory cancers, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, multiple myeloma, soft tissue sarcomas, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, hyper thyroidism, etc. Contact the Tribal Veterans Service Office for more information. 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 ANNOUNCEMENTS: VIETNAM VETERANS - AGENT ORANGE EXPOSURE? The list of conditions presumed to be caused by Agent Orange exposure has recently expanded. Whether you were on land, air or sea, you may be entitled to com- pensation from the VA. Blue Water Navy: Agent Orange Presumptive Exposure in the Republic of Vietnam. 1. Are you a Vietnam veteran (includes military, naval, or air service) who served in the Republic of Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975? www.grandronde.org/services/social-services/veterans-services | www.benefits.va.gov/vso | www.facebook.com/CTGRTVSO Ad by Samuel Briggs III