Letters to the Editor -- July 15, 2012

Dear Smoke Signals:

I wish to send my deepest appreciation and heartfelt thanks to my brother, Chuck Haller, and his son, Charles, for all of their hard work, money and patience in getting the Haller-Menard Family Reunion together on the 23^rd of June, 2012. He worked so hard, so faithful for all of us, and he rented such a nice hall for it all, the Mill Creek Park Hall.

I met so many of my family that I haven't seen for years. How proud I was as I looked around and saw so many there and thought how happy and proud my mom would be to see us all.

I know if God has granted her a glimpse, she must have been standing on the edge of a cloud with her hands folded and thanking God with her soft smile on her face, so proud of her children, each and every one. When I left, I didn't want to cry, but I looked around and thought, "Will I be here again, with all of my family?"

I'm 90 years old. Time does pass. So again I say, thanks, Chuck and all who helped him. Thank you from my heart.

Geneva M. Haller Handsaker

Roll #64

Dear Tribal Council and Tribal members:

I am very disappointed that Tribal Council has used Tilixam Wawa as a vehicle to dismiss Tribal member concerns over unnecessary spending and redundant sponsorships. (Tilixam Wawa, June 2012)

"The Grand Ronde Tribe is a giving people." Yes, indeed, we are. "We donate about $3 million every year to local programs and services that benefit citizens striving for self-sufficiency through the Spirit Mountain Community Fund, the Hatfield Fellowship and the Oregon Tribal Grant program. We fund projects in the areas of Arts & Culture, Education, Health, Historic Preservation, Public Safety, Environmental Preservation and Problem Gaming." (www.thecommunityfund.org)

Built into these donations are opportunities for strategic partnerships, education regarding our Tribe and Tribal history, and "enhanc[ing] our reputation throughout the local community and statewide." We are the Tribe that gives back; do we really need additional sponsorships to show this?

"Communicate with other business leaders, non-profit organizations, government officials and Oregonians." The above information regarding nonprofit organization funding through the Spirit Mountain Community Fund notwithstanding, it seems that there could be more cost-effective ways of communicating with business leaders and government officials without throwing money at them. Strategic alignment means important partnerships, and those are not simply formed through contributions or sponsorships, but from dedicated cooperation and continued (non-monetary) support. I'm still not sure how sponsorships can increase communication or make it more effective and meaningful to community partners and stakeholders.

I fully recognize the leverage to be gained through strategic sponsorship, but I also recognize the fact that not all sponsorships are strategic, and many times it seems that we are indulging these sponsorships for the sake of the sponsorships themselves, regardless of partnership or coalition building. This really flies in the face of struggling Tribal members who do not look at this as a "small investment"; this "one-half of 1 percent" is yet another slice of spending that, although relatively small by itself, is combining with other unnecessary spending to contribute to more and more waste, detracting from benefits and services for Tribal members.

I would also like to point out that the line item for "Donations" within the Tribal Council budget increased by $100,000, and is now 21 times the amount that it was last year. At the same time, the Public Affairs' combined budget for "Public Relations" and "Government Relations" is slightly lower than last year, but is still at $859,865. Without meaningful narrative regarding the reason these two line items are sectioned out, and without outcome measures attached to each line item, it is impossible to know what they are used for. Intuitively, though, it would seem that they could be used - as part of our government budget and public relations strategies - to "enhance our reputation throughout the local community and statewide," "communicate with other business leaders, non-profit organizations, government officials and Oregonians," "educate all Oregonians about the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde" and "build strategic coalitions with important stakeholders."

What's more wearisome is a full page of justification for continued spending when it is clear that the membership wants more responsibility and diligence from our leaders regarding our finances. I understand that anything can be defended as necessary, but innovation and creativity - and more importantly, conscientious budget management - in spending to achieve our desired outcomes are absolutely necessary, and will not require this type of rationalization.

With all due respect to Mr. Justin Martin, "the strategic application of sponsorships" may make "us more visible, educated and involved as a vital government and business within the state of Oregon and through the country," but with so many Tribal members suffering the effects of the economy and circumstances of life, the value of those sponsorships is lost in translation, to me and many others, I'm sure.

Charles G. Haller II

Roll #1032