I have read some very interesting material recently in regards to an employment relations matter within our Tribal workforce. I would first like to explain that Tribal Council directly supervises seven employees. Collectively, council has a responsibility to manage each of them as individual employees of our government.
As a manager, there is a responsibility to supervise employees and there is a responsibility to protect an employee's rights. This should be considered a very important responsibility for any manager, even if that manager is an elected government official.
In my opinion, there is a fine line between information considered to be confidential and information that is appropriate to be released to the public in an attempt to operate an open, honest and transparent government. Believe me, I am all for giving the Tribal membership the most information possible without crossing boundaries. However, I am also in support of keeping confidential information confidential as well as protecting the rights of our employees. There are state labor laws and policies that prohibit public notification of disciplinary action taken against an employee.
I commend those who have chosen to respect their Oath of Office and uphold their responsibilities as a manager. I believe we have done the right thing.
I can also assure each of you that if our tribal resources or the future of our tribe was in jeapordy, Tribal Council would have made a public statement to the entire membership.
I hope this gives you all a peace-of-mind. There are no secrets here, just a group of individuals acting in an ethical manner and in my opinion, doing their job.
Thank you for reading,
Toby
Monday, August 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Parent on the Roll....
At the beginning of the year, Tribal Council decided to begin ongoing discussions in three areas of great concern. The meetings are to be had on Fridays and the areas of concern were identified as enrollment, health care and economic development.
On Friday, April 2, we had our enrollment discussion. The fact that enrollment is a burning issue within our tribe was clear by the number of concerned tribal members in attendance. These meetings are open to the public and it seems that there are consistently tribal members who show up for the enrollment discussions. I am happy that they come and I feel it sends a clear message to the members of Tribal Council.
During the most recent enrollment discussion (April 2, 2010), the phrase "born to a parent who was a member of the tribe at the time of the applicant's birth" continued to rise to the surface as an area of concern. Every Tribal Council member in attendance agreed that this particular language was concerning and wanted to see a constitutional amendment to omit that phrase. I recommended to have an "Authorization to Proceed" (ATP) drafted by our Legal Department so we could get a resolution approved and sent to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for a vote by the membership to omit this unfair criteria. To pass an election for a constitutional amendment, it would require 2/3 of the registered voting membership to vote in approval of the amendment. Basically, before the election was held, everyone that wished to participate in the vote would be required to register. Of those registered, 30% would have to actually vote and 2/3 of those individuals would have to vote in favor of the amendment.
There was argument by the part of some council members. Their argument was that if we move forward with a constitutional amendment, we should amend all of the unjust criteria and not focus on one particular area. I completely understand this way of thinking and in a perfect world, I would support this 100%. However, my biggest fear is that Tribal Council will not come to an agreement on how to achieve this. I feel like there are areas of the enrollment requirements that members of Tribal Council take different positions on and we all know how long these negotiations have taken in the past. I feel we have a rare opportunity to take immediate action and not only prove to the membership that we are committed to working on enrollment but help a large percentage of those who have been wrongfully denied or disenrolled. I, along with many, am tired of Tribal Council meeting on this issue and never taking any kind of action. I guess I felt that this was our chance to prove the urgency of this issue and to help as many people as we can while we continue our battle in the other areas of enrollment.
With that being said, if this ATP fails, I will support the decision of this Tribal Council. I will wholeheartedly participate in fixing the unjust enrollment criteria as a whole or support taking some sort of other immediate action. I will contribute by sharing my ideas and concerns and regardless of the direction we go, I refuse to let this become a dead issue or let my pride get in the way of what is right.
As of today (April 7, 2010), the ATP has received three "approve" votes, three "deny" votes and one individual abstained. Two council members have yet to vote.
Keep your fingers crossed and your hopes high.
Thank you for reading,
Toby
On Friday, April 2, we had our enrollment discussion. The fact that enrollment is a burning issue within our tribe was clear by the number of concerned tribal members in attendance. These meetings are open to the public and it seems that there are consistently tribal members who show up for the enrollment discussions. I am happy that they come and I feel it sends a clear message to the members of Tribal Council.
During the most recent enrollment discussion (April 2, 2010), the phrase "born to a parent who was a member of the tribe at the time of the applicant's birth" continued to rise to the surface as an area of concern. Every Tribal Council member in attendance agreed that this particular language was concerning and wanted to see a constitutional amendment to omit that phrase. I recommended to have an "Authorization to Proceed" (ATP) drafted by our Legal Department so we could get a resolution approved and sent to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for a vote by the membership to omit this unfair criteria. To pass an election for a constitutional amendment, it would require 2/3 of the registered voting membership to vote in approval of the amendment. Basically, before the election was held, everyone that wished to participate in the vote would be required to register. Of those registered, 30% would have to actually vote and 2/3 of those individuals would have to vote in favor of the amendment.
There was argument by the part of some council members. Their argument was that if we move forward with a constitutional amendment, we should amend all of the unjust criteria and not focus on one particular area. I completely understand this way of thinking and in a perfect world, I would support this 100%. However, my biggest fear is that Tribal Council will not come to an agreement on how to achieve this. I feel like there are areas of the enrollment requirements that members of Tribal Council take different positions on and we all know how long these negotiations have taken in the past. I feel we have a rare opportunity to take immediate action and not only prove to the membership that we are committed to working on enrollment but help a large percentage of those who have been wrongfully denied or disenrolled. I, along with many, am tired of Tribal Council meeting on this issue and never taking any kind of action. I guess I felt that this was our chance to prove the urgency of this issue and to help as many people as we can while we continue our battle in the other areas of enrollment.
With that being said, if this ATP fails, I will support the decision of this Tribal Council. I will wholeheartedly participate in fixing the unjust enrollment criteria as a whole or support taking some sort of other immediate action. I will contribute by sharing my ideas and concerns and regardless of the direction we go, I refuse to let this become a dead issue or let my pride get in the way of what is right.
As of today (April 7, 2010), the ATP has received three "approve" votes, three "deny" votes and one individual abstained. Two council members have yet to vote.
Keep your fingers crossed and your hopes high.
Thank you for reading,
Toby
Monday, March 15, 2010
Respect
One of the earliest lessons in life that I remember was that I always respect my elders. To which I feel they deserve not only my respect but the respect of everyone. For these are the leaders and story tellers that have paved the path that I now walk upon. Not just in my professional life but in my personal life as well and not just tribal elders but elders from all ethnicity groups.
I have always cherished the time I spent with the elders of not only the tribe but elders as a whole. There are many lessons to be learned from their words. Their wisdom and patience are tools that I use almost every day as I continue in my journey of life.
As a child, one of my father's best friends was an elderly man from the Siletz Tribe. His name was Gilbert "Gib" Baker. He was a very large man and I remember him to be loud. One of the most important lessons I learned during those impressionable years of my life came from Gib. That was the ability to have a sense of humor even in situations when a sense of humor might not necessarily fit. I remember him smiling and cracking jokes even at the most inopportune times. I respected Gib and my respect for him came easy, along with the many elders that have played a role in my life. My respect for them has never been in question nor will it ever be.
Being the youngest member of Tribal Council means that all eight of my colleagues are considered my "elder". And six of the nine of us are over the age of 55 which in terms of the tribe is recognized as elder status. One thing I have noticed since being elected is that there is a fine line between "disagreeing" and "disrespect". As I stated earlier, one of the most important lessons of my life was to respect my elders. Now that I am in a position where I often have to disagree with my elders, I understand that it could be misinterpreted as disrespect. However, it has nothing to do with respect. It is simply a difference of opinion and I feel I need to share my opinions and participate in discussions to not only do this job but do it with integrity. I can honestly say that I have some level of respect for each of my eight coworkers and have never treated any of them disrespectfully. Whether or not they respect me, I do not know. I would hope that they do.
When I graduated high school, the most meaningful and important message given to me was from an elderly gentleman by the name of Lester LaBonte. He wrote in a card to me, "Make Big Tracks".
I don't know how big my tracks are or ever will be, Lester, but I hope they make you proud.
Thank you for reading,
Toby
P.S. The results of my most recent poll are as follows:
50% of the voters stated Healthcare should be the most important budget item while 50% felt Education should be the most important.
I have always cherished the time I spent with the elders of not only the tribe but elders as a whole. There are many lessons to be learned from their words. Their wisdom and patience are tools that I use almost every day as I continue in my journey of life.
As a child, one of my father's best friends was an elderly man from the Siletz Tribe. His name was Gilbert "Gib" Baker. He was a very large man and I remember him to be loud. One of the most important lessons I learned during those impressionable years of my life came from Gib. That was the ability to have a sense of humor even in situations when a sense of humor might not necessarily fit. I remember him smiling and cracking jokes even at the most inopportune times. I respected Gib and my respect for him came easy, along with the many elders that have played a role in my life. My respect for them has never been in question nor will it ever be.
Being the youngest member of Tribal Council means that all eight of my colleagues are considered my "elder". And six of the nine of us are over the age of 55 which in terms of the tribe is recognized as elder status. One thing I have noticed since being elected is that there is a fine line between "disagreeing" and "disrespect". As I stated earlier, one of the most important lessons of my life was to respect my elders. Now that I am in a position where I often have to disagree with my elders, I understand that it could be misinterpreted as disrespect. However, it has nothing to do with respect. It is simply a difference of opinion and I feel I need to share my opinions and participate in discussions to not only do this job but do it with integrity. I can honestly say that I have some level of respect for each of my eight coworkers and have never treated any of them disrespectfully. Whether or not they respect me, I do not know. I would hope that they do.
When I graduated high school, the most meaningful and important message given to me was from an elderly gentleman by the name of Lester LaBonte. He wrote in a card to me, "Make Big Tracks".
I don't know how big my tracks are or ever will be, Lester, but I hope they make you proud.
Thank you for reading,
Toby
P.S. The results of my most recent poll are as follows:
50% of the voters stated Healthcare should be the most important budget item while 50% felt Education should be the most important.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Rumor Mill
Since deciding to enter the world of politics, I have noticed that there is no shortage of rumors involving the tribe, Tribal Council and the operation as a whole. It seems that everyday there is a rumor that shows it's ugly face. I'm not saying that everything in question is false. However, in my short five months I would say that 95% of what I hear is absolutely inaccurate. More often than not, there is no truth whatsoever to the information being passed around.
With that said, please know that I was not blindsided by the amount and the inaccuracies of the rumors. Afterall, it wasn't that long ago that I was a concerned tribal member and relying on the information passed on to me as being the truth. Now I guess I am still a concerned tribal member, I just have access to more accurate information. Which, if you remember, was a platform of mine; getting more accurate information to the members of the tribe in as timely of a manner as possible. Please know that I am still committed to fulfilling that obligation and have, in conjunction with other council members, already taken steps in that direction. Also know that finding free or even inexpensive ways to distribute information to the entire membership comes with many challenges in itself. I do know how frustrating it can be at times to not have any insight on what is happening with the tribe. I have not forgotten and will not forget.
Now, back to my original point. It was not long ago that somebody asked the council at a Tribal Council Meeting if it were true that the membership was only going to get $300.00 for the March per capita payment. They had heard this rumor and were visibly upset about the amount. There was absolutely no truth to that rumor at the time it was asked. Please allow me to explain how the per capita distribution works in an attempt to bring some relief, or at least some answers.
Per capita is distributed quarterly to the entire membership with an amount based upon the revenue of the casino in a three month period of time (quarterly). Let's take this quarter for instance. The revenues from December, January and February will be added together and a percentage of those numbers will be distributed. So, it would be impossible for the amount to be decided upon before the first of March. the Finance Department will work diligently in the first week of March to crunch the numbers and present an amount to Tribal Council.
My point is that not even Tribal Council knows what the amount will be until about a week prior to the distribution date. Sometimes earlier depending on what that date is. But never before the end of the final month of the quarter.
So where do these rumors originate and why? I can not answer that question. I can only speculate that rumors like this are politically motivated or used for entertainment purposes. Either one brings a sense of unfairness to those who choose to believe what they hear.
I spend a lot of time explaining both the truths and the non-truths surrounding rumors that are brought to me. I have had to overcome many rumors about me and I know that there are more to come. It comes with the territory and I understand that.
I would like to take this opportunity to offer my time as a council member to any of you who may have heard a rumor or those that hear them in the future. I am not always available but guarantee I will return phone calls, emails or set up personal meetings to discuss tribal issues. I would also encourage anybody with concerns to contact any of the Tribal Council members in an attempt to better explain the issues surrounding our tribe. It is our job to listen to the concerned members of this tribe and we should all be committed to doing so.
Thank you for reading,
Toby McClary
Email: toby.mcclary@grandronde.org
Cell: 503-437-5368
Office: 503-879-4555
1-800-422-0232 ext. 4555
P.S. The results of my poll are as follows:
55% felt there would be less than 15 candidates
45% felt there would be 15 or more candidates
With that said, please know that I was not blindsided by the amount and the inaccuracies of the rumors. Afterall, it wasn't that long ago that I was a concerned tribal member and relying on the information passed on to me as being the truth. Now I guess I am still a concerned tribal member, I just have access to more accurate information. Which, if you remember, was a platform of mine; getting more accurate information to the members of the tribe in as timely of a manner as possible. Please know that I am still committed to fulfilling that obligation and have, in conjunction with other council members, already taken steps in that direction. Also know that finding free or even inexpensive ways to distribute information to the entire membership comes with many challenges in itself. I do know how frustrating it can be at times to not have any insight on what is happening with the tribe. I have not forgotten and will not forget.
Now, back to my original point. It was not long ago that somebody asked the council at a Tribal Council Meeting if it were true that the membership was only going to get $300.00 for the March per capita payment. They had heard this rumor and were visibly upset about the amount. There was absolutely no truth to that rumor at the time it was asked. Please allow me to explain how the per capita distribution works in an attempt to bring some relief, or at least some answers.
Per capita is distributed quarterly to the entire membership with an amount based upon the revenue of the casino in a three month period of time (quarterly). Let's take this quarter for instance. The revenues from December, January and February will be added together and a percentage of those numbers will be distributed. So, it would be impossible for the amount to be decided upon before the first of March. the Finance Department will work diligently in the first week of March to crunch the numbers and present an amount to Tribal Council.
My point is that not even Tribal Council knows what the amount will be until about a week prior to the distribution date. Sometimes earlier depending on what that date is. But never before the end of the final month of the quarter.
So where do these rumors originate and why? I can not answer that question. I can only speculate that rumors like this are politically motivated or used for entertainment purposes. Either one brings a sense of unfairness to those who choose to believe what they hear.
I spend a lot of time explaining both the truths and the non-truths surrounding rumors that are brought to me. I have had to overcome many rumors about me and I know that there are more to come. It comes with the territory and I understand that.
I would like to take this opportunity to offer my time as a council member to any of you who may have heard a rumor or those that hear them in the future. I am not always available but guarantee I will return phone calls, emails or set up personal meetings to discuss tribal issues. I would also encourage anybody with concerns to contact any of the Tribal Council members in an attempt to better explain the issues surrounding our tribe. It is our job to listen to the concerned members of this tribe and we should all be committed to doing so.
Thank you for reading,
Toby McClary
Email: toby.mcclary@grandronde.org
Cell: 503-437-5368
Office: 503-879-4555
1-800-422-0232 ext. 4555
P.S. The results of my poll are as follows:
55% felt there would be less than 15 candidates
45% felt there would be 15 or more candidates
Monday, January 25, 2010
Hot Topics
As many already know, there are concerns among the membership, as well as Tribal Council, that continue to surface at public meetings, private discussions and even at the Tribal Council table. Although these topics continue to be brought up, developing a way to enhance continuation and follow through seems to be our biggest challenge. It is very frustrating as a member of council to only discuss these issues when they are thrown in our face and then forgetting about them until they surface again later. They are legitimate concerns that we should all be passionate about and committed to finding resolve. And I know from experience how frustrating it is as a concerned individual of the general membership. I recently read a quote that I printed and hung in my office so I am forced to see it every day.
"A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken new action. If there's no action, you haven't truly decided." - Anthony Robbins
I want to constantly be reminded of that because I feel it rings very true and if we, as the governing body for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, are going to accomplish our goals, we have to take action. It seems that all too often we discuss the changes that need to be made, which I do feel is a good start. It's what we do with that discussion and information that proves our decision-making skills. If we do nothing with the information provided, our discussions mean just that, nothing.
With that said, Tribal Council has unitedly committed to focusing on three areas within the tribe we feel are very important. The three issues are enrollment, health-care and economic development. As Fridays are usually a bit slow around the office, we have now dedicated two hours of every Friday to each of these concerns. They have permanently been added to our scheduling sheets and will rotate throughout the month. Enrollment discussion will be the first Friday of the month, health-care on the second and economic development the third. The fourth and sometimes fifth Friday will be left open for further discussion needed in any of the three "hot topics" or any other areas identified as needing help. Trust me, I know there are other areas needing attention.
The beginning of the new year marked the implementation of these new work sessions. We had our first enrollment discussion on January 8, 2010. I felt the discussion was very productive. We had members of the Enrollment Committee, the Enrollment Department and Legal present. Each of the members of council presented a written or verbal explanation of what their personal goals were for enrollment. Each of the goals were written down in the council conference room and will be referred to in future meetings. Each of the committee members and staff members shared ideas and participated in the discussion. I feel like we are headed in a very positive direction. After our goals were presented, it seemed like there were a lot of commonalities among our statements.
On Friday, January 15, we discussed the ever-growing health-care costs and how we can stay ahead of the curve when it comes to the health and wellness of our people. There were members of the Health and Wellness staff and it seemed to be a little less organized than the enrollment discussion. It was basically just an open forum for Tribal Council to listen to future challenges and share their ideas and concerns. I am hoping that we invite members of the Health Committee for the next scheduled session.
We were unable to meet on the 22nd because of an off-site meeting in Warm Springs. Our next meeting scheduled is for January 29th and the focus will be economic development. I believe this will be a productive meeting as there are some very strong advocates for diversifying our portfolio.
Keep your fingers crossed and your hopes high.
Toby
Monday, December 21, 2009
My First 100 Days Resolved
As my first 100 days come to an end, I'm sure some of you wondered if I would follow through with updating you. Some of you may have wondered if I would remember and some of you probably didn't care or have forgotten yourself. The truth is I am committed to communication (as I hope you learned through my campaign) and here are the updates regarding the areas I committed to working on in my first 100 days.
I will address my two commitments surrounding "accountability".
1) I proposed to council that we hang a dry erase board in the atrium for several reasons. One, it would allow the Central Phone Operators to know which council members were available should someone need their assistance. Two, it would serve as an indicator as to who from council is in the office for anyone visiting the Governance Center. Three, it would allow for council to not only inform the general public of their absence but give an explanation as to where they are. I will say that when council is out of the office, we are often times out on business and not just "taking time off". After my proposal, a majority of council decided to not only approve but add it to our Tribal Council Operating Procedures (TCOP). The Legal Department created the language and the amended TCOP will be presented to Legislative Action Committee (LAC) on Tuesday, December 22, 2009. Given that LAC approves it to move forward, it will then move to the Wednesday, December 30, 2009 Council Meeting where we will hopefully approve and adopt the resolution. My guess is that shortly after the first of the year, there will be a dry erase board hanging in the atrium at the Central Phone Operator's station. As a positive side note, since we are doing a resolution to amend and approve the TCOP, they will become public information and my hope is to post them on the website.
2) The second issue was doing a daily roll call. As much as I would like to take the credit for this, a roll call was already being done upon me being elected. There have been many discussions regarding this particular issue and we are looking into having these roll calls posted on the website daily.
I will now address my two commitments surrounding "communication".
1) Since my being elected, we have established a "Website Enhancement Group" to brainstorm and share ideas on how we can pump more information through the website. We have made a lot of progress as far as identifying how we can enhance the website for little-to-no cost. Please refer to blog post "Latest Revelations" which was posted on November 20, 20009 and will explain in detail the areas our group has given attention. Although my push was to publish the Tilixam Wawa every month, budget restraints have allowed only six issues per year. We will work with the Publications Department to assure that the most information possible will be published including articles authored by Tribal Council, the Executive Staff and it is our hope that the presentations given at the monthly General Council Meetings will be minimized and published as well. It is a work-in-progress but with some commitment, creativity and teamwork, I'm confident that we will open up our communication line between Tribal Council and their boss, the general membership.
2) My second area of commitment was developing a Tribal Council blog. After speaking to the Information Systems (IS)staff, this would be possible to do on our tribal website. There would be some cost associated with this and it would obviously need to be implemented with its own set of policies. The research is being done by the IS Team and we will be meeting shortly after the holiday season to discuss this further. On a positive side note, we are also hoping to incorporate not only a Tribal Council blog but departmental blogs as well. This way the membership gets information from all areas of our government.
Again, as much as I would like to take all of the credit for any achievements in these areas, I can not do that. I simply introduced some of these ideas, it was a majority of council that approved them.
Keep your fingers crossed and your hopes high.
Toby
I will address my two commitments surrounding "accountability".
1) I proposed to council that we hang a dry erase board in the atrium for several reasons. One, it would allow the Central Phone Operators to know which council members were available should someone need their assistance. Two, it would serve as an indicator as to who from council is in the office for anyone visiting the Governance Center. Three, it would allow for council to not only inform the general public of their absence but give an explanation as to where they are. I will say that when council is out of the office, we are often times out on business and not just "taking time off". After my proposal, a majority of council decided to not only approve but add it to our Tribal Council Operating Procedures (TCOP). The Legal Department created the language and the amended TCOP will be presented to Legislative Action Committee (LAC) on Tuesday, December 22, 2009. Given that LAC approves it to move forward, it will then move to the Wednesday, December 30, 2009 Council Meeting where we will hopefully approve and adopt the resolution. My guess is that shortly after the first of the year, there will be a dry erase board hanging in the atrium at the Central Phone Operator's station. As a positive side note, since we are doing a resolution to amend and approve the TCOP, they will become public information and my hope is to post them on the website.
2) The second issue was doing a daily roll call. As much as I would like to take the credit for this, a roll call was already being done upon me being elected. There have been many discussions regarding this particular issue and we are looking into having these roll calls posted on the website daily.
I will now address my two commitments surrounding "communication".
1) Since my being elected, we have established a "Website Enhancement Group" to brainstorm and share ideas on how we can pump more information through the website. We have made a lot of progress as far as identifying how we can enhance the website for little-to-no cost. Please refer to blog post "Latest Revelations" which was posted on November 20, 20009 and will explain in detail the areas our group has given attention. Although my push was to publish the Tilixam Wawa every month, budget restraints have allowed only six issues per year. We will work with the Publications Department to assure that the most information possible will be published including articles authored by Tribal Council, the Executive Staff and it is our hope that the presentations given at the monthly General Council Meetings will be minimized and published as well. It is a work-in-progress but with some commitment, creativity and teamwork, I'm confident that we will open up our communication line between Tribal Council and their boss, the general membership.
2) My second area of commitment was developing a Tribal Council blog. After speaking to the Information Systems (IS)staff, this would be possible to do on our tribal website. There would be some cost associated with this and it would obviously need to be implemented with its own set of policies. The research is being done by the IS Team and we will be meeting shortly after the holiday season to discuss this further. On a positive side note, we are also hoping to incorporate not only a Tribal Council blog but departmental blogs as well. This way the membership gets information from all areas of our government.
Again, as much as I would like to take all of the credit for any achievements in these areas, I can not do that. I simply introduced some of these ideas, it was a majority of council that approved them.
Keep your fingers crossed and your hopes high.
Toby
Friday, November 20, 2009
Latest Revelations
Since my last update, there have been some very positive discussions and I believe that there will actually be some follow-through in the world of communication. We have put together a "Website Enhancement Group" and have met twice, to date.
First off, we are working on synchronizing the "Shared Tribal Council Calendar" with the website so members from anywhere will have access to our daily schedule. We presume that this will be relatively easy but it is moving forward and that is what I am excited about. There is research being done regarding the capabilities of blogging on the website. We are also discussing a blog page for any interested departments within the organization and this would obviously have to come with a set of policies. It is a work in progress with "progress" being the key word.
I believe that something we will all see in the very near future is the Legislative Action Committee (LAC) meeting minutes being posted on the tribal member side of the website. Another item from our list of website enhancements is using the email database in order to send registered users information in more of a timely manner. Another suggestion that I believe will move forward in the near future is posting all of the information sent to the membership via United States Postal Service (USPS) to the website immediately. This seems more timely than waiting to receive it in the mail.
It is our hope to put together "downloadable" press kits on the website that would allow individuals to download a kit that introduces Tribal Council (with photo) and explains the tribe's history, cultures and other pertinent information. We would also like to post the information provided at the General Council Meetings on the website as well as getting a PDF of the "Smoke Signals" online as soon as possible so the membership doesn't have to wait to receive it in the mail. One thing that I am pushing to move forward ASAP is providing all website users an extension from each department so users can easily obtain contact information and make communication with tribal staff more convenient. It has also been reported that changing the requirements to become a registered user is now being worked on. Basically, one would only have to submit the last four digits of their social security number rather than the entire number to become registered.
To me, these are great things and there are people who are committed to following-through and not letting these issues become dead issues. We all need to understand how important communication is and we will relentlessly continue our efforts.
Keep your fingers crossed and your hopes high.
Thank you for reading,
Toby
First off, we are working on synchronizing the "Shared Tribal Council Calendar" with the website so members from anywhere will have access to our daily schedule. We presume that this will be relatively easy but it is moving forward and that is what I am excited about. There is research being done regarding the capabilities of blogging on the website. We are also discussing a blog page for any interested departments within the organization and this would obviously have to come with a set of policies. It is a work in progress with "progress" being the key word.
I believe that something we will all see in the very near future is the Legislative Action Committee (LAC) meeting minutes being posted on the tribal member side of the website. Another item from our list of website enhancements is using the email database in order to send registered users information in more of a timely manner. Another suggestion that I believe will move forward in the near future is posting all of the information sent to the membership via United States Postal Service (USPS) to the website immediately. This seems more timely than waiting to receive it in the mail.
It is our hope to put together "downloadable" press kits on the website that would allow individuals to download a kit that introduces Tribal Council (with photo) and explains the tribe's history, cultures and other pertinent information. We would also like to post the information provided at the General Council Meetings on the website as well as getting a PDF of the "Smoke Signals" online as soon as possible so the membership doesn't have to wait to receive it in the mail. One thing that I am pushing to move forward ASAP is providing all website users an extension from each department so users can easily obtain contact information and make communication with tribal staff more convenient. It has also been reported that changing the requirements to become a registered user is now being worked on. Basically, one would only have to submit the last four digits of their social security number rather than the entire number to become registered.
To me, these are great things and there are people who are committed to following-through and not letting these issues become dead issues. We all need to understand how important communication is and we will relentlessly continue our efforts.
Keep your fingers crossed and your hopes high.
Thank you for reading,
Toby
Friday, October 30, 2009
FYI: Enrollment Requirements
I recently came across the enrollment requirements from 1936-present. I found them interesting so I thought I would share them with those who also may be interested.
1936:
1936-1954
(Pre-Termination Constitution)
1) All persons of Indian blood whose names appear on the official census rolls as of April 1, 1935.
2) All children born to any member of the tribe who is a resident of the community at the time of the birth of said children.
1983:
1983-1985
(Restoration Act)
1) Individual is living; and
2) Individual's name was listed on final membership roll published on April 6, 1956, in the Federal Register (20 FR 3636-3642); or
3) Individual was entitled to be on the membership roll of the tribe on August 13, 1954 (date of Termination Act) but was not listed; or
4) Individual is a descendant of an individual described in #2 or #3 and possesses at least 1/4 degree of blood of members of the tribe.
1985
1985-1999
(Restoration Constitution)
1) At least 1/16 degree Indian blood of a federally recognized tribe.
2) Descended from a member of Grand Ronde.
*Lineal descent from any person who was named on any roll or records of Grand Ronde members prepared by the Department of Interior prior to the effective date of constitution
3) Not enrolled in another recognized tribe.
1999
1999-2008
(1999 Amendment)
1) At least 1/16 degree Grand Ronde blood
*Grand Ronde blood means all Indian blood derived from a direct ancestor whose name validly appears on the official tribal membership roll prepared under the Grand Ronde Restoration Act.
*Two part requirement:
1. Applicant has to have a direct ancestor on the Restoration Roll.
2. Applicant must have at least 1/16 Indian blood derived from that ancestor.
2) Parent was a member of the tribe at the time of the applicant's birth and who, unless deceased, is a member of the tribe at the time the applicant files an application for enrollment.
3) Not enrolled in another recognized tribe and for one year have fully and unconditionally relinquished membership in another Indian tribe.
2008
2008-Present
(2008 Amendment)
1) At least 1/16 degree Grand Ronde blood
*Grand Ronde blood means all Indian blood derived from a direct ancestor whose name validly appears on the official tribal membership roll prepared under the Grand Ronde Restoration Act.
*Two part requirement:
1. Applicant has to have a direct ancestor on the Restoration Roll.
2. Applicant must have at least 1/16 Indian blood derived from that ancestor.
2) Parent was a member of the tribe at the time of the applicant's birth and who, unless deceased, is a member of the tribe at the time the applicant files an application for enrollment.
3) Not enrolled in another recognized tribe and for five years have fully and unconditionally relinquished membership in another Indian tribe.
Just so you all know, enrollment has not become a dead issue among the council and we discuss it often. It is my goal to make sure we continue to investigate critical areas of correction and to focus on the injustices of our enrollment requirements.
Thank you for reading,
Toby
1936:
1936-1954
(Pre-Termination Constitution)
1) All persons of Indian blood whose names appear on the official census rolls as of April 1, 1935.
2) All children born to any member of the tribe who is a resident of the community at the time of the birth of said children.
1983:
1983-1985
(Restoration Act)
1) Individual is living; and
2) Individual's name was listed on final membership roll published on April 6, 1956, in the Federal Register (20 FR 3636-3642); or
3) Individual was entitled to be on the membership roll of the tribe on August 13, 1954 (date of Termination Act) but was not listed; or
4) Individual is a descendant of an individual described in #2 or #3 and possesses at least 1/4 degree of blood of members of the tribe.
1985
1985-1999
(Restoration Constitution)
1) At least 1/16 degree Indian blood of a federally recognized tribe.
2) Descended from a member of Grand Ronde.
*Lineal descent from any person who was named on any roll or records of Grand Ronde members prepared by the Department of Interior prior to the effective date of constitution
3) Not enrolled in another recognized tribe.
1999
1999-2008
(1999 Amendment)
1) At least 1/16 degree Grand Ronde blood
*Grand Ronde blood means all Indian blood derived from a direct ancestor whose name validly appears on the official tribal membership roll prepared under the Grand Ronde Restoration Act.
*Two part requirement:
1. Applicant has to have a direct ancestor on the Restoration Roll.
2. Applicant must have at least 1/16 Indian blood derived from that ancestor.
2) Parent was a member of the tribe at the time of the applicant's birth and who, unless deceased, is a member of the tribe at the time the applicant files an application for enrollment.
3) Not enrolled in another recognized tribe and for one year have fully and unconditionally relinquished membership in another Indian tribe.
2008
2008-Present
(2008 Amendment)
1) At least 1/16 degree Grand Ronde blood
*Grand Ronde blood means all Indian blood derived from a direct ancestor whose name validly appears on the official tribal membership roll prepared under the Grand Ronde Restoration Act.
*Two part requirement:
1. Applicant has to have a direct ancestor on the Restoration Roll.
2. Applicant must have at least 1/16 Indian blood derived from that ancestor.
2) Parent was a member of the tribe at the time of the applicant's birth and who, unless deceased, is a member of the tribe at the time the applicant files an application for enrollment.
3) Not enrolled in another recognized tribe and for five years have fully and unconditionally relinquished membership in another Indian tribe.
Just so you all know, enrollment has not become a dead issue among the council and we discuss it often. It is my goal to make sure we continue to investigate critical areas of correction and to focus on the injustices of our enrollment requirements.
Thank you for reading,
Toby
Friday, October 16, 2009
Information
I would just like to inform everyone that there have recently been some, what I consider to be, important discussions regarding the information Tribal Council disperses to the membership. I am new to the whole "Tribal Council system of operations" but any discussion seems like a step in the right direction.
We have discussed putting together a "sub-committee" for the tribal website to include members of Tribal Council, members of the I.S. Department and members of the Public Affairs/Publications Department. In my opinion, this would be a perfect opportunity for those interested in utilizing the tribal website to its full potential to share ideas, develop policy and inform the membership at little to no cost. I feel there are ways we can better communicate for no additional dollars.
It has also been said that the requirements to sign in to the "tribal member only" side of the website will be modified in the near future. There have been many concerns over the years because to access the "tribal member only" side of the website, one has to enter their social security number. The modification would allow tribal members to only submit the last four digits of their social security number. I will follow up on that and inform everyone when that change has been made.
Also, as I stated during my campaign, I would like to see Tribal Council utilize the Tilixam Wawa more often. I do believe 100% that this will happen but due to budget constraints, I don't know it will get published as often as I would like. In addition, it has been suggested that not only council write articles but members of both Executive Teams (tribal and casino) as well. I think this is a great idea and feel it would give the membership information from many different levels.
Anyhow, we are working in other areas too but communication is something I feel we can take immediate action on for no money and limited obstacles. I am committed to making some changes and as promised, I will keep you all updated with my progress.
Keep your fingers crossed and your hopes high.
Thank you for reading,
Toby
Monday, October 5, 2009
Tribal Council
Well, I have officially been a Tribal Council member now for almost three weeks. It has been a lot of information, time and pressure. I will speak about all three issues.
First of all, I will speak about the information. I usually receive a packet containing between 100-200 sheets of paper every day. These packets have the information I need to review for the day's meetings. This information should be reviewed, researched and an opinion should be developed by the time scheduled to cover that specific topic. Each of us should be ready to voice our opinions when the subject is brought to the table. For the most part, everyone has input and some more than others...
Three days last week were devoted to budgets within the organization and due to time constraints, they have ran over into this week. There is a lot of time spent asking questions to the division managers as to why they are asking for the money they are requesting. It has been a very interesting process, to say the least.
Now that I have made mention of the word "time", allow me to speak briefly about the time demand that comes with this position. Some may think that it is a Monday-Friday, 8-5 job. In fact, I used to believe that very same thing. Let me just say, that is simply not the case. I receive about 100 emails every day. If I am lucky enough to only put eight hours per day in the office, it is usually in the meetings that I mentioned above. Which leaves no time to get caught up on the email situation. So, I am left trying to review that information on my personal time. Which is fine with me because I do understand that it is my job and it does come with the territory. I just want to say that it has been more than I expected.
There is also an expectation of Tribal Council to be present at Tribal events, functions and to be available to the membership. I agree with that 100% and will do my best to fulfill those obligations. However, that too demands a great deal of time. On the days of the Wednesday evening Council Meetings, I can just expect to put in a 12 hour day. Not to mention the three or four hours for the General Council Meetings on the first Sunday of every month. Enough about time. I'm sure you get the picture and I could go on and on about the time demands of this job. If you ever want to hear more, feel free to contact me.
Now let's talk pressure. In every aspect of being a politician, there are times when he/she has to make decisions. Or at least vote to help make decisions. It is those moments that can create incredible amounts of pressure. No matter what way that individual decides to vote, he/she has just made enemies. Whether it is with their family, peers or their constituents, there is an expectation of that person. So, there is a lot of pressure for that individual as he/she tries to do the right thing. Without giving details or getting into particulars, this pressure has already showed its ugly face.
Anyhow, please don't confuse my information for complaining. I am just trying to update you all about my experiences thus far. It has had some very positive and rewarding moments as well and I will make sure to post them in the future.
Thank you for reading and remember, TOBY12!!
First of all, I will speak about the information. I usually receive a packet containing between 100-200 sheets of paper every day. These packets have the information I need to review for the day's meetings. This information should be reviewed, researched and an opinion should be developed by the time scheduled to cover that specific topic. Each of us should be ready to voice our opinions when the subject is brought to the table. For the most part, everyone has input and some more than others...
Three days last week were devoted to budgets within the organization and due to time constraints, they have ran over into this week. There is a lot of time spent asking questions to the division managers as to why they are asking for the money they are requesting. It has been a very interesting process, to say the least.
Now that I have made mention of the word "time", allow me to speak briefly about the time demand that comes with this position. Some may think that it is a Monday-Friday, 8-5 job. In fact, I used to believe that very same thing. Let me just say, that is simply not the case. I receive about 100 emails every day. If I am lucky enough to only put eight hours per day in the office, it is usually in the meetings that I mentioned above. Which leaves no time to get caught up on the email situation. So, I am left trying to review that information on my personal time. Which is fine with me because I do understand that it is my job and it does come with the territory. I just want to say that it has been more than I expected.
There is also an expectation of Tribal Council to be present at Tribal events, functions and to be available to the membership. I agree with that 100% and will do my best to fulfill those obligations. However, that too demands a great deal of time. On the days of the Wednesday evening Council Meetings, I can just expect to put in a 12 hour day. Not to mention the three or four hours for the General Council Meetings on the first Sunday of every month. Enough about time. I'm sure you get the picture and I could go on and on about the time demands of this job. If you ever want to hear more, feel free to contact me.
Now let's talk pressure. In every aspect of being a politician, there are times when he/she has to make decisions. Or at least vote to help make decisions. It is those moments that can create incredible amounts of pressure. No matter what way that individual decides to vote, he/she has just made enemies. Whether it is with their family, peers or their constituents, there is an expectation of that person. So, there is a lot of pressure for that individual as he/she tries to do the right thing. Without giving details or getting into particulars, this pressure has already showed its ugly face.
Anyhow, please don't confuse my information for complaining. I am just trying to update you all about my experiences thus far. It has had some very positive and rewarding moments as well and I will make sure to post them in the future.
Thank you for reading and remember, TOBY12!!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
ATNI
As I sit at the desk in my room on the 18th floor looking out over the Port of Tacoma, I am left trying to process all of the information that has been thrown my way over the last two days. It's like diving for quarters in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
I have officially been a Council Member now for six days and on Sunday I left for Tacoma, Washington to attend the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) Conference. As some of my colleagues calmly stated, "it will be a good way to get your feet wet." Getting my feet wet was clearly an understatement. However, it has been a good way to measure how Grand Ronde is doing in comparison to the other tribes of the Pacific Northwest. Please allow me to give a very brief explanation of the information I have learned thus far.
After registration, the welcoming ceremony and the update reports given by the committees within ATNI on Monday morning, there was a series of presentations that consumed the rest of the morning. After lunch, there were "Committee Meetings" or what I like to call "breakout sessions". There were nine to choose from and my first interest was the "Law and Justice" session. Unfortunately the discussion was geared more for tribes that have their own independent Tribal Police Departments. I did however get to speak one-on-one with the Chief of Police from the Nez Perce Tribe regarding gang activity on tribal lands.
My second afternoon session was about economic development. There is an assessment tool structured specifically for tribal communities titled Tribal Self Assessment Tool (TSAT) that I would like to see Grand Ronde investigate. There was also discussion about the Colville Tribe who partnered with a major construction company as part of their particular growth in economic development.
Tuesday morning looked a lot like Monday morning and also had breakout sessions after lunch. My first afternoon seesion's topic was about Indian Child Welfare/Social Services. I learned some very interesting facts regarding these programs during one of the presentations. In addition, there were many statistics given related to the state of Washington. I did get contact information for some individuals who can provide me with the same statistics for the state of Oregon. It should be interesting.
My second session of the afternoon was put on by "Native Vote" and the U.S. Census Bureau. I received great information from them and you will all see more from me on the 2010 Census. Although there were only four people in this session, (compared to 20-30 in the others), I felt it was equally as important and more informative.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) will be another full day of information. And although this conference has been absolutely overwhelming, the knowledge, interaction and experience will help guide me through the next three years.
Thank you for reading and remember, TOBY12!! (Is it too early for that?)
I have officially been a Council Member now for six days and on Sunday I left for Tacoma, Washington to attend the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) Conference. As some of my colleagues calmly stated, "it will be a good way to get your feet wet." Getting my feet wet was clearly an understatement. However, it has been a good way to measure how Grand Ronde is doing in comparison to the other tribes of the Pacific Northwest. Please allow me to give a very brief explanation of the information I have learned thus far.
After registration, the welcoming ceremony and the update reports given by the committees within ATNI on Monday morning, there was a series of presentations that consumed the rest of the morning. After lunch, there were "Committee Meetings" or what I like to call "breakout sessions". There were nine to choose from and my first interest was the "Law and Justice" session. Unfortunately the discussion was geared more for tribes that have their own independent Tribal Police Departments. I did however get to speak one-on-one with the Chief of Police from the Nez Perce Tribe regarding gang activity on tribal lands.
My second afternoon session was about economic development. There is an assessment tool structured specifically for tribal communities titled Tribal Self Assessment Tool (TSAT) that I would like to see Grand Ronde investigate. There was also discussion about the Colville Tribe who partnered with a major construction company as part of their particular growth in economic development.
Tuesday morning looked a lot like Monday morning and also had breakout sessions after lunch. My first afternoon seesion's topic was about Indian Child Welfare/Social Services. I learned some very interesting facts regarding these programs during one of the presentations. In addition, there were many statistics given related to the state of Washington. I did get contact information for some individuals who can provide me with the same statistics for the state of Oregon. It should be interesting.
My second session of the afternoon was put on by "Native Vote" and the U.S. Census Bureau. I received great information from them and you will all see more from me on the 2010 Census. Although there were only four people in this session, (compared to 20-30 in the others), I felt it was equally as important and more informative.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) will be another full day of information. And although this conference has been absolutely overwhelming, the knowledge, interaction and experience will help guide me through the next three years.
Thank you for reading and remember, TOBY12!! (Is it too early for that?)
Monday, September 14, 2009
Election Results
Here are the results for the 2009 Tribal Council Election:
1. Toby McClary 359
2. Val Sheker 338
3. Cheryle Kennedy 337
4. Jack Giffen, Jr. 324
5. April Campbell 272
6. Shelley Hanson 248
7. Jackie Many Hides 188
8. Perri McDaniel 181
9. Denise Harvey 172
10. Brent Merrill 138
11. Bobby Mercier 122
12. Sam Henny 106
13. Harold Lyon 85
14. Lenny Logan 53
15. Mike Bolton 51
16. Alton Butler 46
17. Debbie Marrington 40
18. Stan Jeffers 38
Total ballots cast: 1132
I will continue to update this blog as I enter the next phase of my journey.
Stay tuned...
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Voters Confused??
I have been talking to many Tribal Members and asking them if they had turned in their ballots. Some of the responses I get are entertaining as they don't have the heart to tell me no and that it's from their own sheer laziness. Many, however, state that they did not vote because they didn't get their Signature Verification Form (SVF) notarized and sent in before they received their ballot.
There has been a lot of confusion about the "SVF" ever since it went out to the membership. It stated on the document that one either had to have it notarized before being returned OR a copy of one's picture identification needed to be attached and sent back with the completed form. Although that much is true, it was not mandatory for those forms to be completed in order for one to vote in this year's Tribal Election.
That is where the confusion sets in. Many people believed (myself included) that the "SVF" had to be completed in full with the required documentation attached to be eligible to vote in this year's Tribal Election. I was so confused that I had to call the Chairperson of the Election Board to find out if that was the case. That, in fact, is not the case. Basically, these forms are going to be sent out every five years (beginning this year, I believe) solely to update the voter's information. It is not a requirement for the voters to complete them in order to vote in the election.
Due to the confusion surrounding the "SVF", I believe we will have a very low voter turnout this year. My prediction is based on the amount of Tribal Members I have talked to that have opted not to vote because they felt their vote wouldn't count since they didn't complete the "SVF".
If you're reading this and you have not voted because you didn't complete the Signature Verification Form, please vote. It will count.
I will continue to talk with Tribal Members to get this message out. If everyone reading this could do the same and let their friends and family know that their votes will count, that would be very much appreciated. Again, our right to vote is currently the biggest voice we have.
Thank you for reading and remember, "TOBY09".
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Waiting Game
Through the month of July and the first three weeks of August, the "TOBY09" Campaign kept me on the run, to put it modestly. It seemed as if I was receiving a number of emails every day. On top of responding to emails, I would also get phone calls from concerned Tribal Members asking my opinion on certain issues and wanting to know what I could do to help if I were elected. Then there was the two (and sometimes more) hours I would spend on the computer daily to check some of the other candidate's websites and to read the posts written on public blog sites by the Tribal Members themselves. Attending local events is obviously a given. The Tribal Council meetings on Wednesday nights are a must. (If you're a Tribal Council candidate and you're not attending the Tribal Council meetings, I have to question your sincerity and your commitment.) Anyhow, trying to meet with Tribal Members I do not know was challenging but I also felt it should be attempted. Meeting with Tribal members I do know was another obvious commitment and was a good way to become familiar with some of the most concerning issues. In addition to everything listed above, I had to write my letters, hang up signs and design my postcards, campaign cards and t-shirts.
Now, I haven't listed all of the things I have done as part of my campaign but this gives you a good idea of the time commitment that this has been for me and my family. I did not mention the hurt feelings caused by my lack of participation in family events due to the rigorous campaign trail. That is probably a whole new blog in itself.
Since the Grand Ronde Pow-wow, it seems as though things have completely died. As if there is no longer an election going on. I receive no emails, no phone calls and my time on the computer has been cut in half. I see no other candidates campaigning and the public blog sites have turned more into private conversations among Tribal Members. Maybe this is happening because everyone has already voted and now they are just waiting to hear the results. Maybe it's happening because the last three weeks of an election have traditionally been just a waiting game.
Well, as many of you know, I have not ran the "TOBY09" Campaign as many have ran theirs in the past and I'm not about to start now. I am going to attempt to keep this election alive through these next couple of weeks. I am a "walk-in" voter and a lot can happen in two and-a-half weeks. I will continue to post blogs on this site and I am going to post some more video. It doesn't have to end like this and I don't believe it should.
Please don't stop emailing me or calling me. For the rest of you "walk-in" voters, this is a perfect period of time to see who is still working and who is now playing the waiting game. (That might show a bit of character...)
Thank you for reading and remember, "TOBY09".
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
What Is Grand Ronde Blood?
The question "What is Grand Ronde blood?" is one that has come up on several occasions during my candidacy. I heard it asked rhetorically at the Candidate Forum held in Portland, Oregon. Most recently it was asked of all the candidates present at the Candidate Forum in Grand Ronde on Saturday, August 15, 2009.
I was disappointed, embarrassed and ashamed of my answer, or the lack there of. I was unable to answer the question and stated that I would have to do some research to give a definitive answer. I do feel that my response was at least honest and I didn't try to fabricate an answer. However, I should know the definition of Grand Ronde blood. This is something that has been haunting me ever since it was asked.
So, you all can bet I did my research and I now know the answer. As it states in the Tribal Constitution, the definition of Grand Ronde blood is "All Indian blood derived from a direct ancestor whose name validly appears on the official tribal membership roll prepared under the Grand Ronde Restoration Act." Again, that is the definition as it is stated in our Tribal Constitution.
Now, I've been putting a lot of thought into the question as it was asked by the attendee at the forum. As I recall, it was actually phrased "What is your definition of Grand Ronde blood?" As you can imagine, I've also researched within myself for the answer to that specific question.
To me, Grand Ronde blood is the fuel for my fire. It is what drives my passion and reminds me that I have a responsibility to the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Grand Ronde blood is what my ancestors passed down to me to help guide me and to help the tribe prosper. It is what runs through my veins and reminds me of my heritage and the cultures of our people. Grand Ronde blood is what keeps me pushing forward and helps me to help us all.
That is my definition of Grand Ronde blood. Rest assured that if this question comes up again I will be firing on all cylinders.
Thank you for reading and remember, "TOBY09".
Thursday, August 13, 2009
"GROHL" Endorsement
As some of you already know and for those who do not, I was one of three candidates elected in a primary held by "Grand Ronde for Open and Honest Leadership" (GROHL). All 18 candidates were eligible for their endorsement. GROHL has already hosted two Candidate Forums. One was in Portland, Oregon and the other in Sisters, Oregon. There is one more on Saturday, August 15, 2009. It will be held at St. Michael's Church in Grand Ronde and begins at 3:00 p.m.
On the day of nominations, GROHL also sent all 18 candidates home with a questionnaire that contained 10 questions. The questionnaires were due back to them on July 19, 2009. After the footage of the two forums and the answers to the questionnaires were posted online, members of GROHL then had until August 5, 2009 to vote for three of the candidates they wanted to support. The results for those that received votes are as follows:
1. Toby McClary (39)
2. Perri McDaniel (23)
3. Shelley Hanson (22)
4. Denise Harvey (20)
5. April Campbell (15)
6. Jackie Many Hides (10)
7. Cheryle Kennedy (7)
8. Michael Bolton (3)
9. Debbie Marrington (2)
10. Sam Henney (1)
11. Val Sheker (1)
12. Stanley Jeffers (1)
(48 of 68 members casted votes)
The "TOBY09" Campaign is still going strong. As I've said in the past, I have no idea where I will come in as far as accumulating votes. I am hopeful and the majority of the feedback I receive is positive. I wish all of the candidates the best of luck but my campaign is still my focus.
I would like to thank GROHL and all of its members for having a primary as I think it is very important. I would also like to thank those who participated and especially those who voted for me and support me beyond the primary.
Thank you for reading and remember, "TOBY09".
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Political Dirt
As the "TOBY09" Campaign continues through the 2009 Election Season, most of the feedback I receive is very positive. Many people contact me and would like to know what they can do to help. I also receive many encouraging and motivating emails wishing me the best of luck. I appreciate the encouragement so much because it keeps me driven and helps me understand that there are people out there that believe in me. As I've said recently, the "TOBY09" Campaign would not have been possible without the help of my supporters.
With that being said, I will refer back to the title of this particular blog. Not all of my experiences have been so positive. Not that the negative experiences were unexpected because they were. However, just because we expect them does not make them any easier to hurdle when they pop up through an election season. I will say that this year, so far, has remained relatively civil and other than the claims of last year's election season, there has not been any occurrences of that caliber thus far. Let's keep our fingers crossed...
I would like my supporters (and everyone else) to know some of the negative scenarios I have experienced through my campaign so far.
My first obstacle was my age. There are still people concerned with electing someone who is not of the elder category. And that is fine. I understand that elders have always made up the majority of our Tribal Council. And to be honest, I am all for having elders on council. It makes total sense. I do believe, however, it should be a little more balanced. I feel that this tribe could benefit from having people of a different generation express concerns and share ideas.
Perception has been another major set back. When I originally announced my candidacy (back in February), there were many rumors about how I was being persuaded to run and that I would be a "puppet" for one side or the other. That I was just coming in to make up a majority or to tear down empires that have been built amongst our current council. These accusations and rumors were totally inaccurate as I want to see our council made up of independent people working together for the betterment of our membership. Trying to reverse people's perception is not an easy task and I continue to try every day.
I have also had my campaign signs defaced with spray paint. This actually occurred during the weekend of Veteran's Pow-wow and there were several other candidates who fell victim to this as well. Not that this was a major set back but I do consider it to be an obstacle in my campaign.
I have received several phone calls where people were upset that I sent them campaign materials in the mail. During these calls, I would listen to the complaints for multiple minutes just to be hung up on before I had the chance to respond. I would like to add that if you do not want to receive campaign materials in the mail, please contact the Election Committee and ask that they remove your name from the mailing list.
Most recently, I was accused of pushing down, hitting and kicking a female Tribal Member when I was a child. I apparently used to call her a "Squaw" as well. These accusations are completely absurd and there is absolutely no truth to them whatsoever. In fact, this particular Tribal Member is 10 years my elder. I would have literally been a child "picking on" an adult. As humerous as this may seem to some, I do consider it to be another hurdle in my campaign. I do not know who all this person has told these stories to but one is too many.
I will close by saying that this blog is not to complain about my hardships. In fact, this year has been less "back biting" than years past. I just want to make people aware of the negative aspects that come with running for public office. If you plan to do it in the future I would suggest growing a shell.
Thank you for reading and remember, "TOBY09".
Thursday, July 30, 2009
My First 100 Days
In national politics, there is always a lot of media coverage and attention put towards our newly-elected president's first 100 days in office. Many believe that our president's first 100 days can define him/her and determine what kind of job he/she will do for our country. I don't believe that to be true especially when taking into account what kind of mess he/she has to clean up. But I do feel that there are issues that can be addressed and, in some cases, resolved in the first 100 days.
As a potential leader of our tribe and our people, I would like to list some of the issues I would like to address in my first 100 days if elected to Tribal Council.
First, I would like to address the ethics and accountability issue. I believe that Tribal Council should set the example and should act in a way that best represents our tribe. I also believe that there needs to be a way that obligates our Tribal Council to be at work. I actually have a couple different ideas on how we can achieve this:
1). Hang a dry erase board in the middle of the Governance Atrium with a list of all council member names with an indication as to whether they are in or out and a reason for being out if they are. This would allow the membership, employees or anyone who needed to speak to council to see who was available and to know who is actually showing up for work and doing their job.
2). Do a roll call every morning and post or publish the roll call on our website, in "Tilixam Wawa" or in "Smoke Signals". We need to make our Tribal Council's attendance public to the membership. (The roll call was actually a suggestion from a current council member and I liked the idea. Making the attendance record public was my idea).
The second issue that I would like to tackle in my first 100 days is communication. I feel Tribal Council can better communicate with the membership. As I've stated many times before, I know what it is like to not have the information. I would like to be instrumental in correcting this. Here are some of my ideas:
1). Take advantage of the communication tools that we currently have. In my opinion, Tribal Council should make daily posts on the tribal website. Whether it is their agenda for the day or news that the membership has a right to know. The "Tilixam Wawa" should come out more often than it does. I would like to see it come out monthly at least. It should also include input from Tribal Council members themselves. I would like to see council author a percentage of the material published.
2). I like the idea of a Tribal Council blog. A way for the membership to ask direct questions to council. Council would then be obligated to responding in a timely manner. This would be a great forum for council to address the membership's concerns without having to organize a meeting.
Please remember that I am not promising that these things can happen in my first 100 days. What I am promising to do is introduce my ideas to council and push to have them implemented within my first 100 days, if elected. I can also keep the membership updated, via my blog, as to the progress I have made and whether or not my ideas were shot down or are being considered.
Thank you for reading and remember, TOBY09.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
The Troopers
When one runs for public office, they need those closest to them to be supportive. Here are my troopers. The ones that remind me of what life is really about...
Logan, Sandy, Landon and Abbey (The Dog)
Landon, Sandy, Me and Logan
Logan, Sandy, Landon and Abbey (The Dog)
Landon, Sandy, Me and Logan
Monday, July 27, 2009
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