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Notes to the Nation 2008 with comments |
NOTES TO THE NATION 8-5-08
WE SAW IT COMING
Blah, Blah, cry me a river
In the Notes to the Nation sent 8-3-08,
I predicted the Chief would try to turn public opinion against
Congress so that he might gain support to increase his budgets. Unfortunately, I was right. Yesterday
August 4, 2008, Chief Gray called a mandatory employee meeting and blasted the Congress. Some
people who attended the meeting notified Congress
(these employees should be reprimanded) on the contents and what was said. After listening to their summary of the meeting it is clear that the intent was to stir up resentment against Congress. The tone was negative and inflammatory.
(Printing second hand information is subject to truth or dare) Below I am paraphrasing some of the statements Chief Gray made
at the meeting. They are in quotations, but they are not direct quotes. The bold letters are my comments
about what he said.
-“Congress is cutting budgets to get at me- it is a personal attack on me.” - Chief Gray
Paraphrasing is not the real story- those that believe by tattling on the Chief of our Nation (from an employees meeting) should consider their position of continuing the lack of respect for our Chief and your responsibility to your fellow employees. Others know that Kugee Superrnaw is not the pillar of truth or conscience they believe him to be. He wouldn’t know the truth if it hit him in the face.
Nonsense This man lies! The following is shear bunk. You all should know that the Congress employees make more salary that those of the Executive Branch. You should ask the Congress to comply with the open Government and transparences of government and you will find out that they believe they are exempt, or do the same to you as they did to me making up trivia and believe by patronizing the people because they don’t want you to know of their abuses in spending.
“Congress is only giving $75 a year or a month or something like that”- it is not a step increase or cost of
living increase”
Congress is cutting all the budgets: This is a fact not fiction. Not only that they believe it is their right to close a department(s) because they have personal problems with not seeing the employee. I am expanding my comment in another writing.
The ongoing discussion favors an increase for all employees amounting to $75.00 per month. In
most
(could most cases be that of the Congress employees. Only!) cases this will be more than a step increase.
CHEEP
- “Congress didn’t set up the Merit Based system that is why the budgets were late”
Not true! Check your Constitution!
Congress is letting Anthony Shackelford write a Merit Based bill and it is full of contradictions and infringes on other laws. This would be controversial bill and one that would require many changes.
The budgeting process is late because the Executive Branch has missed two deadlines for delivering
departmental budgets-- Each time asking for another month extension. The Merit Based
commission is being considered at this time.
Spending more money of frivolous department in Congress. This should be addressed in a bill and enacting laws – this is what they are supposed to do. This is called the Blame Game, especially when one NEEDS an excuse for their behavior
-“Congress has cut all budgets by 25%”
Congress cut
budgets last year and the Executive Branches were left without funds to operate. I.E. In order to pay the monthly bills and keep some employees employed this Congress cut budgets and the Executive Branch had to use the peoples Burial Fund of some $30,000 to pay their bills. This money was not given to any department as Jerry Jean Branstetter accused the Executive Branch of doing.
No budgets have been cut—yet. Again another lie!
-College funds will be cut 25%
Shame on the Congress for this action. What gets me is that they actually believe they will go down in history as the Congress that broke the Osage Nation was to cut – cut – cut, which puts the Osage Nation in jeopardy of failure of the current programs and moneys for the Osage People.
No cuts expected. Chances are that this budget will be increased.
We will have to see about this in this next session.
-Social Services will be cut 25%- meals on wheels. .
Tell me does this make you proud?
This will potentially be disastrous to the elderly and disabled. I would like to know why in the world would they cut meals on wheels the basic needs of our people Instead of cuts there should be increases - if for nothing else subsidize the cost of living - there are employees that do not make a good wage and the minimum wage will not help.
.
ONCE AGAIN THIS IS NOT WHAT THEY WERE ELECTED FOR
No cuts have been made. There is no reason to think that there will be a reduction in the number of
meals delivered. DAH!
- “They spent money on finding out what the “people” want and are cutting budgets which is not focusing
on their wants and needs. (Referring to the strategic plan.)”
Rather it is the Congress doing all the cutting of budgets just read the above statements.
When the strategic plan survey was completed, the results were that the number one issue in the
people’s mind was the protection of the mineral trust
( Once again wrong the people main concern was cleaning up the reservation) and the last was economic development.
When the Chief published the Strategic Plan booklet, he put economic development first and
protection of the mineral trust last. In a public meeting a Congressman
(who, if your going to quote some at least include the persons name) asked the Chief why he did this and he couldn’t come up with a reasonable answer.
The only time I have seen the Strategic Plan mentioned by the Executive Branch is when they don’t
want to do something, when they do want to—they ignore the plan. The only other use is to for the
Chief to occasionally point at when making speeches.
I will stipulate that this strategic plan has come for not and have ignored the changes in business sense and should be corrected, due to the changes times, however, lets not forget the peoples right to enable the Executive Branch to reach out to the people.
-“The committees in Congress have changed three times and the chairs have changed at least that many
and things aren’t getting completed. Maybe by the time there is 6 months left in their term they will have
things in place and organized.”
Not the ones you are on, you are the problem not the cure.
-“The committees in Congress have changed three times and the chairs have changed at least that many and things aren’t getting completed. Maybe by the time there is 6 months left in their term they will have things in place and organized.”
Congressional rules require that committees change every year.
The Chief came over to Congress for a budget meeting immediately after this odious meeting. We didn’t
know about his previous comments until after our meeting adjourned. Since then,
we’ve had the chance talk with some of the employees
(employees are to be respectful to their employer, regardless of their feelings)
to talk with some of the employees who attended. Some were offended that he would do this
(Kugee repeating one side of the conversation before he checks to find this is a true and honest statement. However, that is how he operates with he said she said without the facts). Others have said: “shocked”, “inappropriate” and “I can’t believe he did that.” Fortunately, many didn’t buy it because they remembered he did a similar thing last year. We didn’t respond last year and I am not sure if Congress will make a response now. This response is not a we response, it is a me response.
( Of the worst kind)
Here you are again, talking about an erroneous suggestion from employees that are not happy with their jobs. When you are trying to make point it is best to put the resource of this objection in your writings so you do not misconstrue the truth.
How can the Chief have any credibility when he preaches unity and then deliberately incites division?
(Tell the truth it was Y.O.U. that started this instability in government)
( AH! the pot calling the kettle black and a ridicules comment coming for a Congress person)
Put the blame where it truly belongs, I have seen for a fact it is you and other Congress members that started all the mistrust by your actions and your words. You and your cohorts are continuing this fight between the branches. My comment to you is why don’t you resign – because you are always stirring up trouble where it doest not exist.
How can any director believe they are appreciated when, after years of dedicated service to the Nation,
there is an attempt to put high paid political appointees in a position to boss them around? I hope
Congress will stand together and not approve the funding of additional bureaucrats.
You all need to take a gander at your own Branch and the unnecessary departments you have formed this year that has resulted in a law suit (If the shoe fits)There are three proposed in the indirect cost budget at $62,000 salaries. With associated costs this is around $ 250,000
that could go to scholarships or other services.
Just above you stated that the scholarships will be cut by 25%.
There are those
(who) that are already worrying about the next election and may concern themselves with
buying votes with your money.
( this is a ball faced lie, it is the beginning of distrust in our people.) Our job in Congress is to be good stewards of the present and to worry not about future elections, but instead prepare the way for future generations.
S
ounds like you had another one of those dreams. I hope you and some other Congress members don’t run for any office. You are so full of yourselves – you have become a hindrance to the Osage People and the stability of our Nation.
The focus should not be on growing the size of the government but on the efficient delivery of services
now and protecting the assets of the Nation for your children and grandchildren.
Everyone already knows this, and making statements of this sort is already on the minds of all Osages. (
Practice what you preach! after all you continue to stick your nose where it doesn't belong for no other purpose that to spread assumptions and falsehoods or innuendoes.)
Last year we budgeted an additional $ 7 million dollars for tribal programs. However, in two years we
also increased the spending for government by roughly $7 million. The cost of administering the
government has gone from $ 4.8 million 2 years ago to $11.8 this last year.
You talk like there is no money in the till when there is a nice sum in the collective accounting.
It has worked like this: Here’s a dollar for the government and here’s a dollar for you, a dollar for the
government and a dollar for you, etc. Although some might try to convince you this is a fair split, they
don’t remind you that your dollar is divided 10,000 ways. We’ve got to whittle down the size of
government and move the money over to direct services.
You can start with All your perks and your OFPR department as it is redundant.
Someone has to make the decision to be responsible. ( and that's not you) Sometimes it isn’t pleasant. Sometimes we get
attacked for it. But, we just have to do it.
Complain, Complain – is there anything positive coming from this Congress except complain, invading the Executive Branch and con people to tell what they know which is usually an opinion and you take it back and build it up that the separation of powers do not exist, when in fact it does in the Constitution.
I bet there’s not a parent out there that hasn’t had to make the decision of whether to buy school clothes
and let a bill go, or agonized over paying a bill when you’d rather buy school clothes. Those of you who
saved for your kid’s college education, had to decide to get by on less at one time and you’re probably
glad now that you did. That’s the kind of decisions we’re making—only with larger amounts. We’re not
getting cooperation from the Executive Branch. –Kugee
Nor will you in this Congress – tit for tat. I say get over yourselves and work for the Osage People and not your assumptions and insecurities.
You know I had to truly look at this nonsense that Kugee is spilling out, I am sorry to say his statements are nothing but lies about what is actually going on here in the Osage. He is truly out of touch with what the Osage Nation Constitution with nothing but propangada and of his own mind. You can not listen to Kugee - He is all about himself; and to cause trouble, which he has been successful in. He is the headman of objections after objections with no common since or the will of the people. He continues to abuse and ignor the Osage Nation Constitution along with his supporters in Congress and others that are unhappy with themselves. The positive people have had enough and we believe something must be done and done N O W.
NOTES TO THE NATION MARCH 26, 2009
ANOTHER VIEW FROM CONGRESS
The following is a letter from Congresswoman Faren Anderson where she expresses her views on the Chief’s new protocol.
Chief Gray’s Protocol on Communication
While sitting in the Osage Nation all-employee meeting on Monday, March 23rd, I became both disappointed and disgusted. I had in my hand a copy of the “Executive Branch Protocol and Procedures for Working and Communicating to the Osage Nation Congress”, but I had in my heart pure sadness. I felt that it was a shame that the employees of this great Nation were told not to be “creative” but to keep their opinions to themselves and that fear for losing their job was at stake if they communicated to a Congress person anything other than the Chief’s opinion on any matter. All I could think were three words….CENSURE, DICTATORSHIP, and MICRO-MANAGEMENT. Words I would never want to use when describing the leadership of the Osage Nation. At once, I sympathized for the employees that work so hard to learn the skills of their job and become proficient in their departments. For under this new protocol, those employees would not have the opportunity to express their knowledge of their department when it came to communicating to the Congress, unless…it coincided with the Chief’s position.
It was stated by Chief Gray and his executive employees that this protocol was to insure that “Congress gets the correct and precise information.” What worried me is the fact that Chief Gray seems to be more concerned with the information Congress acquires from the Nation’s employees, than he is with the information that the employees are giving out to the people they serve….you, the Constituents. Not once have I seen an Executive Branch policy that states every bit of information that an employee gives out from their department must be documented and sent to the Chief for prior approval before a customer can be served. Maybe that policy is established and I just haven’t seen it. Or, maybe that is the next policy Chief Gray will put into place. If so, don’t be in a hurry to get anything from the Executive Branch of the Osage Nation….Congress Members have made official requests as far back as two years ago and have yet to receive an answer.
It concerned me the most when the current Interim Editor of the Osage News asked the question “what if this protocol inhibits an employee from completing his/her job correctly and in order to do the job correctly, cannot abide by this policy?” The answer given by Chief of Staff Hepsi Barnett was ‘if the protocol is not followed, then the employees’ job may be on the line.’ To which the Chief stood up and said to the Interim Editor “Well, maybe we will have to make exceptions to this policy”. If the policy of employees communicating to the Congress is to only state the Chief’s position, it should make you ask yourself what a policy like this would do to articles in the Osage News?
After the meeting, one quote I saw posted by an employee was the following…..
“AS AN OSAGE NATION EMPLOYEE….. I am Osage and I elected our officials in Congress and in the Executive Branch. I elected them based on their ideas for the tribe and what they believed in and I had full trust they would do the best for the Osage Nation. If I have a concern or idea about what I would like to see in the Government or what's going on, I will contact my officials, especially in Congress. I'm not signing any paper to talk to them. Free speech applies to us in the Osage also. Don't threaten myself or my fellow co-workers. Try to fire me. We will go to court, I (and many other employees) will win, and then people's true colors will be revealed."
And for that, I would like to say "More power to you, employee of the Nation! Keep voicing your opinion!!" Your Chief may not approve of it, but many other elected officials and Constituents do!
Micromanagement is a leadership style that breaks down the trust of employees, crushes the creativity in employees and in many occasions, results in a major decrease in productivity. Is this the type of management you expect from your leaders of the Osage Nation? I think not.
Below is information found on the web regarding “Micromanagement”. It’s a good reminder of why successful organizations do not use this type of leadership style.
~Faren Revard Anderson
A LESSON ON: Micromanagement
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
In business management, micromanagement is a management style where a manager closely observes or controls the work of his or her subordinates or employees. Micromanagement is generally used as a negative term.[1][2]
MICROMANAGE: Defined
Webster's Dictionary defines micromanage as: "to manage with great or excessive control, or attention to details".[3]
Dictionary.com defines micromanage as: "to manage or control with excessive attention to minor details".[4]
Encarta online dictionary defines micromanage as: "attend to small details in management: to control a person or a situation by paying extreme attention to small details".[5]
SUMMARY
In contrast to giving general instructions on smaller tasks while supervising larger concerns, the micromanager monitors and assesses every step, and avoids delegation of decisions.[6] Micromanagement is often easily recognized by employees, but micromanagers rarely view themselves as such. Micromanagers will also refute such claims by citing their management style as "Structured or Organizational", this is part of the denial process.
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The Notes to the Nation is sent out by Congressman Supernaw about one a week or whenever issues arise that warrant the attention of the Osage Nation.
If you or any other Osage citizen would like to be placed on the mailing list, contact me at the following address: Supernaw@flash.net
Thanks,
Kugee Supernaw
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