Page 4 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - December 2019

4
Wonderful
wreaths
Chehalis tribal departments
designed festive entries for the
holiday wreath contest. Judges
chose the top three based on
creativity, details and theme.
All departments received a
gift for showing their holiday
spirit. Below are the top three
department wreaths.
Thank you to all employees
who participated in this
delightful show of skills!
1 First place:
Law Enforcement
2 Second place:
Accounting
3 Third place:
Facilities
staff profile
Melanee Stevens
YOUTH SUPPORT SERVICES COORDINATOR READY TO WORK WITH FAMILIES
Hello! My name is Melanee in Alaska teaching indigenous games of the north to
Stevens and I am the new Youth youth from first grade to high school. I also worked
Support Services Coordinator with with our Dance and Drum group that was made up
the Behavioral Health Department. of members from the Aleut, Alutiiq, Yupik, Inupiaq,
I am working with the Suicide Athabascan, Tlingit and Tsimshian people.
Prevention and Native Connection I have worn many hats throughout my career from
Grant and traditional knowledge teacher to program manager to board member and
and teaching classes. educational advocate. My most important job has
I look forward to the plant been a mother and grandmother.
medicine classes with Winter Strong. I am happy I have lived in Maine, where I grew up, moved to
to be working here and look forward to meeting Alaska on the south central peninsula, traveled the
everyone.
ALCAN twice to Washington, lived in Colorado for
I have a background in education. I have been a a spell and finally came back to Washington to settle
teacher in regular classrooms and non-traditional down with my daughter and grandson.
classrooms for many years. I was a Native Youth I look forward to working here at the Chehalis
Olympic and World Eskimo Indian Olympic coach Tribe with youth and families.
Gerrie Sanders retires after 43 years
Accounts Payable Coordinator kept tribal transactions running smoothly
Gerrie Sanders is retiring after checks out using DOT Matrix on
more than 43 years of service as continuous feed forms and finally
the Chehalis Tribe’s Accounts updated to the laser-printed
Payable Coordinator at the end of checks used today.
January. We will miss her smile As the Chehalis Tribe began
and pleasant attitude. to grow, vendor payments and
complexity of transactions
Gerrie started as the Tribal
Center front desk receptionist. increased. Gerrie could no longer
She also provided clerical support handle all vendor payments
to the Business Committee and work and then trained Gerrie by herself so the tribe hired an
was responsible for preparing to handle recording program Accounts Payable Specialist to
the minutes. She managed the transactions. Without computers assist. We estimate that Gerrie
filing and became involved with or electronic technology, Gerrie has written nearly half a million
financial and accounting duties recorded transactions manually in checks during her 43 years of
such as cash handling. a green ledger notebook. service to Tribal Government.
She still remembers that her The tribe promoted Gerrie to Gerrie developed a schedule for
office originally was where the her current role after a number the process of vendor payments
current Business Committee of years. The job made her the that enabled her to meet deadlines
meeting room is today, which sole employee responsible for the and high volume. She has an
was a garage at one time. She tribe’s process of vendor payments, excellent work ethic and is calm
also recalls vividly how she elder assistance checks, per capita under pressure, approachable,
began working in Accounting. A distribution, etc. Checks had to patient and kind.
consultant traveled to the Tribal be written out by hand until the We extend big congratulations
Center to handle the Chehalis tribe updated to typing out checks to Gerrie for her years of loyal
on NCR paper. The tribe then
service to the tribe. She will be
Tribe’s accounting. The consultant
asked Gerrie to help her with some purchased computers and printed missed and we wish her the best.
WEAR RED Group photo 11:45 a.m.
for women Chehalis Tribal Wellness Center
When it comes to beating heart disease and
FRIDAY, FEB. 7 stroke, change can be the cure. Chehalis tribal
employees are asked to wear red to raise
Show your support awareness and help save women’s lives.
for fighting heart Go to GoRedForWomen.org/WearRedDay.
disease and stroke Contact: Christina Hicks at 360-709-1741