Page 2 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - January 2020

2

Fred Shortman retires

Writer and artist documented
Chehalis Tribe’s community
events, culture in newsletter

After working for the Chehalis Tribe
for 37 years, Fred Shortman officially
retired on Jan. 31.
Margie Youckton, the Chehalis Tribe’s Payroll In the early 1980s, Fred began his
Coordinator, served the tribe for 37 years. career with the tribe as the Elders’
coordinator. He held many other
Congratulations positions leading up to his retirement in
2020 following 12 years of keeping the
tribe updated by publishing the monthly
Margie Youckton Chehalis Tribal Newsletter.
Fred has held many titles. He was
the Human Resources coordinator,
provided security at the tribe’s bingo hall, Fred Shortman filled multiple roles during
Margie Youckton, the Chehalis Tribe’s Payroll dispatch for law enforcement, worked 37 years with the Chehalis Tribe, including
coordinator, retired in February after more than the streams and waterways with the working with elders, in law enforcement
37 years of service. When Margie started work Fisheries Department and spent a brief dispatch and on the Business Committee.
in 1982, there were about 80 employees. Margie period of time in water quality. Fred even
said Tribal Government employees came to the served multiple terms on the Business and festivities throughout the years,
Tribal Administration Building on payday back Committee. including the Canoe Journey, employee
then and lined up against the walls in a circle As dispatch, he would get incoming picnics, Tribal Days, holiday parties,
graduation ceremonies and many more.
so the chairman could hand out checks to each information and relay it to officers on “I love meeting new people,” Fred
employee. duty. He focused on delivering messages said. Working for the tribe allowed
Getting the payroll out on time every two in a clear and concise manner, which him to interact with a majority of tribal
weeks has sometimes proved quite a challenge. helped as he transitioned into writing the members.
newsletter.
Margie can remember one time when a flood cut Fred’s outgoing personality and ability He said he spent his childhood in
off the reservation and the power was out. She to connect with most people of the tribe a foster home off the reservation but
was instructed to get the payroll processed any and all age groups made him a great fit came back when he was 18. He has been
possible way. Margie ended up on the phone for for the job. He started working on the reconnecting with his tribal people
hours to work out a solution where the processing newsletter in June of 2008. Fred found ever since. Fred said he met most of the
company ran payroll at the same hours as the it a way to do more than just witness and elders when he started working as the
previous payroll. On payday, checks were available be a part of the tribe’s growth. department coordinator in the early
even if they were not 100 percent correct. 1980s.
Floods, snow, sleet, power outages and Witness to tribe’s growth Fred reconnected with the traditional
downed trees interfered with the payroll Fred has had the privilege of ways as he spent time fishing the river. He
schedules at various times, but that did not stop documenting the Chehalis Tribe’s ongoing also created various forms of tribal art.
Margie from delivering for employees. events and significant accomplishments Time for art, river, fireworks

Dedicated to her work through the years. Many individuals, both Moving forward, Fred will be seen all
tribal and nontribal, have worked together
Margie’s payroll experience with the tribe to get the tribe to where it is today. around the Chehalis Reservation as he
began with manual calculation and hand-typed Fred acknowledged that teamwork plans to continue attending community
checks. Until 2013, all Tribal Government created successful development. events.
employees would clock in and out using a heavy, “The economic growth of the tribe has He will be seen driving to and from
yellow, paper punch card stamped by a machine been huge,” Fred said. the river, watching baseball during Tribal
in the Tribal Admininistration Building. Margie He witnessed multiple grand openings Days and selling fireworks during Fourth
had to review and input time worked by hand before his tenure with the newsletter, of July celebrations. He is carrying on
each pay period. This required a great amount of such as Lucky Eagle Casino and End of with his artwork and is now delving
the Trail 1.
into wood carving. Fred donates much
accuracy and hard work. The process was lengthy. Once he was officially hired as
The tribe now has almost 300 employees. a documentarian, he was able to of his art work to the Chehalis Tribal
The process has evolved into a technological photograph and write articles about Government.
Fred is an avid Mariners fan and
application with automated data processing that events such as the groundbreaking of believes every year is their year. He has
captures time electronically and easily calculates the Marriot Hotel in Grand Mound and two sons and enjoys singing karaoke with
net checks. opening of the End of the Trail 3 store. friends and family. He said he will miss
Margie took her job seriously and very seldom working with tribal employees on a daily
went on vacation or had time off during payroll Interacting with the community basis and that his nearly 40 years of work
processing. Retirement will finally allow her to As for the non-economic side, Fred has been an “experience.”
enjoy her time and not worry about completing documented the Wellness Center He explained that as a tribal employee,
payroll on time every time. and Community Center openings. He it’s important to remember that the staff
Please extend congratulations to Margie now attended hundreds of events and took is responsible for serving the people of
that she has clocked out for the last time. We thousands of photos. the tribe. The newsletter is about serving
wish you the very best. Thank you, Margie! He participated in annual events the people and keeping them informed.