Tribal Ops employees honored during banquet

Observer Staff

2/24/2005 12:00:00 AM

While being employed by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan for about 21 years, Gail George said she's put the best interests of the people first.

Over her tenure with the Tribe, Gail has been a secretary, mail clerk, community health representative, Families First/general assistance manager, health director and chief.

"I like to work with Tribal members and help them anyway I can," she explained. "That's why I got into those health- and service-related areas."

She was one of about 150 employees honored for varying degrees of service of 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 years during the Seventh Annual Tribal Operations Employee Appreciation Banquet on Feb. 12 at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort.

Gail said she'd like to remain in her current position as health director "for a couple more years" before possibly retiring.

She said she is very proud of the Tribe's accomplishments and current prosperity due to the sacrifices made by many when organized gaming first started on the Isabella Reservation.

"It's been lots of hard work in the beginning," she stated. "There was a lot of volunteering when the business first began, especially with bingo."