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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
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