sNok signflz
MAY 1, 2024
3
Tribe purchased 51% of
Shasta in November 2012
SHASTA continued
from front page
qwinǝm-mun (May)
• Wednesday, May 1 – Tribal Council meeting, 4 p.m., in-person at-
tendance in Tribal Council Chambers and via Zoom. 503-879-2304.
• Thursday, May 2 – Tribal Veterans Service Office beginner guitar
class, 2-3:30 p.m., Tribal Community Programs Building. Lunch is
provided. 503-879-1484.
• Sunday, May 5 – General Council meeting, 11 a.m., Tribal Council
Chambers and via Zoom. 503-879-2304.
• Tuesday, May 7 – Tribal Veterans Service Office research room
tour, 11-2 p.m., Chachalu Tribal Museum & Cultural Center. 503-
879-1484.
• Thursday, May 9 – Tribal Veterans Service Office beginner guitar
class, 2-3:30 p.m., Tribal Community Programs Building. Lunch is
provided. 503-879-1484.
• Wednesday, May 15 – Tribal Veterans Service Office yoga, 2-3 p.m.,
Tribal Community Programs Building. Snacks provided. 503-879-
1484.
• Wednesday, May 15 – Tribal Council meeting, 4 p.m., in-person
attendance in Tribal Council Chambers and via Zoom. 503-879-
2304.
• Tuesday, May 21 – Tribal Veterans Service Office “Romance Scams”
presentation, 10-11 a.m., Tribal Community Programs Building.
Lunch provided. 503-879-1484.
• Monday, May 27 – Tribal offices closed in observance of Memorial
Day.
• Monday, May 27 – Memorial Day Ceremony, 1 p.m., West Valley
Veterans Memorial, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. Meal served at noon
in the Tribal Community Center.
• Wednesday, May 29 – Tribal Veterans Service Office yoga, 2-3 p.m.,
Community Programs Building. Snacks provided. 503-879-1484.
• Wednesday, May 29 – Tribal Council meeting, 4 p.m., in-person at-
tendance in Tribal Council Chambers and via Zoom. 503-879-2304.
taXam-mun (June)
• Wednesday, June 12 – Tribal Council meeting, 4 p.m., in-person
attendance in Tribal Council Chambers and via Zoom. 503-879-2304.
• Wednesday, June 19 – Tribal offices closed in observance of the
Juneteenth commemoration.
• Sunday, June 23 – Tribal Council nominations, 11 a.m., in-person
attendance in Tribal Council Chambers and via Zoom. 503-879-2304.
• Wednesday, June 26 – Tribal Council meeting, 4 p.m., in-person
attendance in Tribal Council Chambers and via Zoom. 503-879-
2304.
will continue to provide updates as
they become available.”
On the business side, the Tribe
still owns 51% of Shasta, pur-
chased in November 2012 with Ha-
waii-Western Management Group,
which owns 49%. The purchased
price was not disclosed.
Then-Tribal Economic Develop-
ment Director Titu Asghar said the
purchase made sense in the Tribe’s
pursuit of diversifying its non-gam-
ing businesses because the company
was already processing claims for
the Tribe’s self-funded health plans.
The Tribe has made several loans
to Shasta through Upqwena LLC
since 2022 to help the company
with ongoing operational expenses
and alleviating backlogged claims.
To date, it has provided nearly $2
million. Upqwena is owned by the
Tribe for the purpose of funding
small business enterprises.
Shasta has sent notice to all cli-
ents that they will be closing oper-
ations. If the company is liquidated,
the Tribe’s 51% ownership will end.
Liquidation is the process of
bringing a business to an end and
distributing its assets, an event
that usually happens when a com-
pany cannot pay all of its creditors.
As operations cease, any remaining
assets are used to pay creditors and
shareholders, depending on the
priority of a claim.
“It is unlikely that the Tribe will
get all its money back,” the email
said. “The Tribe has made contribu-
tions to Upqwena LLC to be loaned
to Shasta in an effort to keep oper-
ations going and claims processing
while the Tribe transitions its plans.
We want our plan participants’
claims processed and paid. Any and
all contributions have been made
in an effort to minimize processing
delays and plan disruption.”
Tribal Communications Director
Sara Thompson added that it is
unknown at this point how much
will be available to repay the debt
to Upqwena.
“The Tribe’s focus right now is
minimizing the impacts of Shasta’s
closure on those covered by our
plans and making the transition to
the new (third-party administrator)
as smooth as possible,” she said.
Employees are asked to contact
Benefits & Risk Manager Tammy
Gould at 503-879-2031 for more
information.
Tribal members with questions
about Skookum coverage should
call Health Benefits Specialist
Barbara Steere at 503-879-2487 or
Business Office Manager Melody
Baker at 503-879-2011.
MARRIAGES IN TRIBAL COURT
Tribal Court is issuing marriage licenses and able to perform
marriage ceremonies for a filing fee of $40.
Contact the Tribal Court at 503-879-2303.
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
To stay informed of future Tribal events,
visit www.smokesignals.org/calendar.
Now Hiring Lodge Caregivers
• Full Time and On Call Positions available.
• No Experience Required, 8 week training provided.
• CNA/CMA certifications eligible for $1 bonus/hour.
• Starting pay with no/minimal experience $22.36.
• Benefits for eligible teammates.
www.grandronde.org/employment/
EmploymentTeam@grandronde.org
503–879–2109
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