The annual Tribal Administration Employee Appreciation Event and BBQ luncheon returned on May 18 for an in-person gathering at the EQC Tacoma Event Center. Employee appreciation kicked off with Tribal Council acknowledging all the hard work the Puyallup Tribe is doing to serve its members. “You start out as employees but in no time at all you become family,” said Chairman Bill Sterud, the now longest serving Councilmember for the Puyallup Tribe.
Vice Chairwoman Sylvia Miller shared her appreciation, “I appreciate every single one of you. The ones that have been here for only one day. The ones that have been here for forty-some years.”
Employees were gifted a Puyallup Tribe hat and windbreaker jacket upon entering and were served a complimentary Famous Dave’s B-B-Que lunch. The event also included live music, cash drawings, and raffle giveaways for two RAD Power Bikes.
Employee Vernetta Miller in the Elder’s Care Department and Roberta Basch from the Grandview Early Learning Center won the new bikes.
Employees with 25 plus years of service were eligible for a grand finale drawing for a 4 day and 3 night stay round trip to Las Vegas for two including a dinner and show. Employee Donnie Black from Puyallup Tribal Gaming Regulatory Office (PTGRO) was the grand prize winner.
Councilman James Rideout spoke on the impact of all employees, “I love when our people are successful and we’re not successful without you and all the things that you do in all of the programs.”
Councilwoman Monica Miller noted how much the Tribe has grown since its humble beginnings, “We have raised so high. We have now just in our Admin over 600 employees, and over 60 departments.”
Employee Barbara Richards from the Enrollment Department was blanketed by Councilwoman Monica Miller and Councilwoman Annette Bryan for her years of service to the Tribe.
All Tribal Administration employees received a Spring Appreciation Payment and Tribal Council approved to close all Tribal Buildings beginning at noon to allow staff to attend the event. The Tribe is now open to the public following former Covid-19 protocols and Councilwoman Annette Bryan thanked staff for their dedication, “I truly from the bottom of my heart want to thank each and every one of you for helping us through this pandemic.”
Councilwoman Anna Bean echoed her gratitude for Tribal employees, “Thank you all for providing service to the membership through some of the most difficult times we’ve had here as a Tribe, as a leadership.”
Councilman Fred Dillon concluded the opening speeches by emphasizing the integral role of all staff, “Each department, you all play a key role in who we are, what we are. This government.”
JoAnne Webb from Administration and Marsha Pluff from Funeral/Medical put together the slideshow of employee photos for the event.
Tribal Employees can download photos from the Employee Appreciation Day event by clicking on this link: https://share.puyalluptribe-nsn.gov/nextcloud/index.php/s/GLeJKXTDQbzo5Yn
