By Shaun Scott, Puyallup Tribal News
Tribal employees took a break from their daily tasks and gathered together in a newly constructed tent outside of the Tribal Administration building for Employee Appreciation Day on May 15.
Heritage Division Manager Connie McCloud gave the opening prayer and speech to kick off the event. Tribal Council recognized Jean Berys, Barb Richards and McCloud for their 50 years of service to the Tribe with a gift of a personally engraved Movado watch.
Throughout the day, a raffle featuring cash prizes and tickets to a Seattle Sounders game were doled out to employees. Just before lunch, employees made their way to the grass field adjacent to the tent participating in tug-of-war, gladiator jousting, volleyball, cornhole and more. Employees gathered around the tug-of-war station, cheering their fellow employees loudly while they gave maximum effort in the activity.
Here is an excerpt from what each Tribal Council Member said to employees at the event. Councilman James Rideout was unable to attend the event.
Chairman Bill Sterud
“Thank you for all you being here. We are celebrating you guys. … I’m really proud to be a part of our team. We’re all a team. … We’re the No. 1 team. … Each and every one of you, I’d like to personally thank. Thank you for being a part of us. You’re a part of us as far as working with us, socializing with us, being a part of what we are and that’s all of us here today.”
Vice Chairwoman Sylvia Miller
“I just want to say how amazing it is to sit up here and look and see how many employees we do have. … I sure hope in your heart because you’re still here, that you know how much we love each and every one of you, and we appreciate each and every one of you for everything that you do. … It’s really important that you feel that the gratitude that we have for each and every one of you, not just in that paycheck you get, but every day when we see you.”
Councilwoman Annette Bryan
“I just really love now thinking about, you are the medicine. What a beautiful way to describe how we take care of each other. I just really want to really raise my hands to each and every one of you for taking care of our members, for taking care of our Tribe, for taking care of our government. It really is, as Councilwoman (Monica) Miller was saying, we can’t do this without you. You guys are the fuel that powers the engine of the Tribe.”
Councilwoman Anna Bean
“I just want to say thank you in gratitude and I honor you as individuals, as departments and as a collective. Each one of you have an extremely powerful position whether you know it or not. You are somebody that one of our nearly 6,300 members makes first contact with here at the Puyallup Tribe and what a beautiful thing that is. … Thank you for showing up every single day, not only for yourselves and your families and your careers, but for the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and all of our members and our surrounding communities.”
Councilwoman Monica Miller
“I wanted to say to each and every one of you from every department, every entity, no matter where you work, how important each and every one of you are. We appreciate everything that you do for this Tribe. Without you guys, there is no Tribe. You guys are making this Tribe what it is, so I want to thank you and I want you to give yourself a big hand for everything that you guys do.”
Councilman Fred Dillon
“I just want to say I appreciate you guys. To me, it’s always family. I look around here and if you’re an employee, you’re family. You are a part of the Puyallup Tribe family. … We have some great things that are happening. We got FIFA coming out here. We are going to be on the global stage here. … All of us are going to be out there and just being on the global stage is truly amazing. … It’s all because of all of you guys.”
