Society of American Indian Government Employees

Register for the 2013 SAIGE Training Program Now! Updated –

https://www.etouches.com/SAIGE2013

Message from SAIGE Chair about 2013 NTP

SAIGE Chair, Susan Johnson, has issued a letter to address concerns about the sequestration and its effects on our 2013 National Training Program, June 3 – 7.

Please click on the link below to download the letter in PDF:

Chair Letter 2013 NTP

OPM Letter on SAIGE Training Program

Please see letter from the Office of Personnel Management which affirms that the 2013 SAIGE Training Program qualifies as Training in compliance with 5 U.S.C. chapter 41. Please use this letter in requesting training approval with your agency. Click on the link below. Thank you!

OPM Letter

Draft Agenda for 2013 Now Available

The Draft Agenda for the 2013 Training Program at the Northern Quest Hotel in Spokane, WA, June 3 -7, is now available!  Click on image below for full agenda (PDF).

Online registration for the Annual National Training Program is anticipated to be operational in early March. An announcement will be made at that time.

Thank you for your interest and please start getting those training approvals ready as soon as you can!

SAIGE Awards Application now available

Society of American Indian Government Employees
Annual Recognition Awards

The purpose of these awards is to recognize agencies and individuals who through their personal commitment, and  professional initiative, have made contributions in recruiting, retaining, and providing career advancement opportunities to American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) employees in the Federal workforce, and who have assisted with the advancement of AI/AN professionals.
Awardees will be recognized and presented the award by SAIGE at the Tenth Annual SAIGE National Training Program in Spokane, Washington, June 3 -7, 2013.

The following are the categories for the SAIGE Achievement Awards.  One award will be awarded for each of the categories:

1. Agency
2. Supervisory
3. Leadership (General Schedule Grades 11-15)
4. General Schedule Grades 10 and below
5. American Indian /Alaskan Native (A/AN) Committee member

SAIGE Award Committee
1340 So. Ventura Rd.
Oxnard, CA 93033

Or by email to:  vvmed4d@yahoo.com

For additional information,  please contact Veronica Vasquez, vvmed4d@yahoo.com or (805) 889-2866. Application can be found at link below.

 2013 SAIGE Recognition Awards Application

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Parting message from the past SAIGE Chair, Danny Garceau….

Danny Garceau

  10 Years ago I was just learning about an organization called SAIGE.  5 years ago with the encouragement and support of some of its leadership I became a member of the board.  4 years ago, again with encouragement and support I was elected Chairman.  Now it’s time to turn over the Chair.      

I wanted to thank all of the board members I have served with the last 4 years.  Your support, guidance, patience and efforts have meant so much to me.  You have all brought something to the table and made sacrifices on behalf of SAIGE.  I have greatly valued your input and cannot thank you enough both from me and on behalf of SAIGE.  Any credit that has been given to me is truly the reflection of all of you.  SAIGE has always been a special and needed organization; over the past four years we have established and built relationships, increased membership, we have added agencies and other organizations to our network, all which has increased our relevance.      

For the new SAIGE Board, thank you for volunteering to be involved with the evolvement of SAIGE.  As you help with that evolvement it will be important to never forget why there is a SAIGE.  You have plenty of work ahead, including growing membership, broadening our network and increasing our worth to membership and partners.  While serving on the board please stay responsive and involved, you all bring experience and have unique backgrounds which add to a needed fabric.  Keep open minds and don’t be afraid to play the advocate or have a different opinion.  We have a diverse membership and having diversity in thought on the board will best represent them.  Again thank you all for what you have done and what will do; for SAIGE, for Indian Country, for our governments.      

Over the past 10 years I have grown and became rich in experiences and friendships.  I would be remiss if I did not thank each and every one of you whose path I have crossed, Miigwech “thank you.”  We do not have a word for goodbye amongst the Annishinabeg as we believe our paths will always cross.  This is very true with me, I will stay involved with SAIGE, I consider it one of my families.  So with that I say, “Giga-waabamin menawaa”, till I see you again.

New 2013 Board of Directors

Utah Chapter brings Christmas joy to Hopi Head Start

Becky Lewis, SAIGE Board of Directors and SAIGE Utah Chapter President, led an effort by her Chapter to bring some joy to the Christmas celebrations of over one hundred children at the Hopi Head Start Program.

This Chapter did a fundraising effort that ultimately brought in over $8,000 in donations including toys, clothes, bikes and money to purchase items on the children’s “Wish Lists.” One 14-year-old boy made 60 blankets himself as an Eagle Scout project and put a stuffed animal in each one for the children. After it all was accumulated and organized, Becky and others of her Chapter drove to the Hopi reservation with a horse trailer packed full of wishes and dreams.

Congratulations to the Utah Chapter for bringing so much joy to many who had such modest hopes this holiday season! You are an inspiration to us all.

Here is an article in the Ogden Valley News announcing the toy drive in early December. SAIGEOgdenValleyNews

SAIGE BOARD ELECTIONS 2012 – Vote Now!

The election for new SAIGE Board Members are going on now.  Instructions can be found here.

The instructions and biographies link are also under the “Board Members” button on the menu bar at the top of the page.