Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Interesting...

I find it very interesting that Rick Morano's resume can be found on the popular professional network Linked In. In his profile Rick says to contact him for career opportunities. See for yourself. Follow the link or I've posted it here for you. Rick spends more time in the band office than any other employee and can often be seen working Saturdays or Sundays, his brand new red pickup parked at the band office. What's he doing in there with all that access to Rama's financials? And how come now, he's put it out there in the public domain that he can be contacted for career opportunities? The same goes for Rob Furlonger, the supposed Economic Development Manager. If these two grossly over paid senior employees are 'open' to finding work elsewhere, you have to honestly ask yourself what they know, that we don't. When a ship is sinking, the rats abandon. Or maybe that's just pure speculation on my part, but I invite you to think about it....

Experience

April 1997 – Present (14 years 11 months)
- Oversee the planning, developing and controls of the accounting system, the financial reporting and co-ordination and presentation of the budget for the First Nation and related business enterprises
- Oversee directly or indirectly 27 finance, purchasing and information system staff
- Ensures that the financial assets and interest of the First Nation and the related business are protected through design and implementation of systems and procedures with in the approved policies
- Deal with all levels of government with respect to the financial reporting and negotiation for the First Nation
- Oversee and review the preparation of financial statements, financial analyses, government and management reports
- Formulate and administer the organization’s overall financial plans and policies
- Develop, recommend and implement the both short and long-term financial strategies
- Advisor to all senior committees within the First Nation with respect to the financial and administration process and procedures
- Oversee the investment of funds for the First Nation
- Negotiate capital financing of all capital projects and most of the other business agreements for the First Nation
Partnership; 1001-5000 employees; Accounting industry
April 1986 – April 1997 (11 years 1 month)
- Planned and conducted financial compliance audits on large non-profit organizations
- Prepared financial statements, corporate and personal tax returns for a wide range of businesses
- Prepared detailed files for these audits
-Identified, analysed and researched problems arising from these audits and files, and provided the necessary actions to resolve them
- Prepared operational, financial ratio and trend analyse for various businesses
- Assisted clients with special needs such as budgeting, cashflow projections, reporting requirements, internal control systems, software installations and trained staff in accounting procedures
- Supervised and reviewed work of co-workers

Honors and Awards

  • 2005 Excellence in Leadership Award (Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Canada and Xerox Canada Ltd)

    Aborginal Financial Officers Association of Canada and Xerox Canada Ltd
    • February 2005

Certifications

  • Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

    • The Society of Management Accountants of Ontario
  • Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager (CAFM)

    • Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Canada

Contact Rick for:

  • career opportunities
  • consulting offers
  • new ventures
  • job inquiries
  • expertise requests
  • business deals
  • reference requests
  • getting back in touch

Friday, February 3, 2012

Indian Elder Speaks - Point of No Return

Chief Isadore Day comments at Crown-First Nations Gathering

Open Council Meeting

On Jan. 30,2012 we had are evening open council meeting at the Band office. Tracey had the parking lot on the agenda and i had the Shark Fin soup on the agenda along with  a Pesticide ban, We were told the soup is now off the menu at the casino . I will be checking to make sure that is the case and it stays off. As far as the parking lot goes and a vote , when you vote for  the casino you also vote in the master plan. I asked what will happen if Toronto gets a casino and the Chief said there goes 300 jobs well that's what happens when you put all your apples in one basket.  They did say they are fighting that, i think it will happen as i have all ways said. In the financial state we are in i doubt f we have a lot of money  for development.   In the future i would like to see the members have a say on land that gets leased out as it belong to us all . The people and Chief Yellow head put there money together to buy Rama lands. Now are people cant even afford a lot.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Meeting.

I remember being at a meeting after the casino got here and they said all the land had been bought up a long the Rama Road..   That there would be businesses.  They must be invisible. At yesterdays meeting Sharon Henry said that there would not be a new  Heath  center  of  Excellence. Yet another failed venture money for the consultants tho.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Meeting

To days meeting was well very disappointing., With only 13 members the , The Chief said it was because everyone is  satisfied with every thing. All that was said about the Cold water treaty wa s they the chiefs would be meeting in a few weeks. And there had to be i few things ironed out . We will be paying Orillia to take our compost why i don't no. The Parking Lot was talked  about    and  we will be talking about it more on Mondays open council meeting. , Hope to see you all there

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Sacred Plants

 When you are walking in the bush you think of many things.  The smells bring back different memories. Of Rama as a child and the grandparents now gone. When  iam at Chief island a total clam comes over me i go there to be near the plants. I walk around Rama now and i wonder who will teach the next generation of how we used our sacred plants for medicine.  I have had the opportunity to have tea with some of our Elders and the have shared with me how we used the plants long ago.  More and More  there habitat is being destroyed and this must stop because  as an Elder once told me if we do not use them they will leave and they are leaving.  I no people are upset with the parking lot that will be in the center of  our community, that means more pavment and less trees, and likely more lights . The people who make these decis

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Coldwater Narrows Claim

When the claim first started it was all about compensation for Chief  Yellowheads people for the lose of land and lively hood, Now is all about  buying land and economic development. Rama has enough land that can be change over to Band land with the purchases the band has made over the last 12 years ,and without us knowing. Now they want ten million back  for that land out of our treaty money i don't think so. Our children all ready have a trust so i feel it should go to the people here and now.At 100% pay out what are we looking at 30 or 40 .000 that's not much today. Iam sure most of us would pay our bills, maybe start a business,  get the things we need.. I no most of us want a 100% pay out BUT i feel Chief and Council will work with the government and it will not happen.As they have become the Modern Day Indian Agents

Friday, November 25, 2011

JOBS FOR OUR PEOPLE

 As welfare is going up in Rama,  i  one would like to see job shadowing for are members. OK not that does not mean that i am racist, I just feel that our members who don't have jobs and want to work, could be trained to full fill some of the position that some of the non natives hold , Don't you think it has to happen some time? I don't mean the people that are members, We have members that cold be doing some of these jobs  or could be trained . Every time there is an election this is promise but it never happens.  It has to happens don't  ya think? This isn't being racist this is wanting jobs for my people. And for the next generation, that is going to school , Our members on and of have so much to offer , lawyers , accountant, engineer, The need to no that they will have a job here one day.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Letter from Hon. Duncan, Minister of Indian Affairs

October 12, 2011

I am writing on behalf of the Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, in response to your correspondence of August 5, 2011, regarding the Coldwater-Narrows specific claim.

On March 24, 2011, Canada made an offer to the Chippewas of Beausoleil, the Chippewas of Rama, the Chippewas of Georgina Island and the Nawash First Nations to settle the Coldwater-Narrows specific claim.  In April 2011, all the First Nations agreed by band council resolutions to recommend Canada's offer to their respective membership, and to engage in the process of a ratification vote, which requires time to prepare.  The date of the ratification vote has not yet been set.

With regard to the compensation, Canada is not involved in the development of the First Nations' trust agreements nor is it reviewing or approving them.  For further information on this matter, I suggest that you contact your Chief and Council.

I trust that my response addresses your concerns.

Sincerely,

David McArthur
Chief of Staff

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Cut Backs

Where do you think we can cut back and save money? And where do you think we should be spending more money? I think we need more councillors , i would like to see one for every hundred people.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

TAX COMPLAINT

To complain about a retailer not honouring the PST exemption off - reserve, call Toll Free 1-866-6688297.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Is it like this on EVERY First Nation?

Hello to all our readers,

Just a quick question, what is it like on your First Nation reservations?  Does your Chief and Councils answer your questions without changing the subject or throwing in sarcasm and rude comments?  Do they answer your e-mails and letters?  Do the Councillors speak at meetings?  Do your Councillors have to ask the Chief before answering your questions at community meetings?  Do your Chief and Councils inform you when they take a wage increase or implement astronomical severance packages and bonuses?  Does your Chief and Council structure your community like a corporation and a municipality?  Does your Chief and Council keep leasing out your land, while someone else makes a profit and without taking into consideration the devastating impacts to our mother earth?  Does your Chief and Council surround themselves with a staff who do not understand the needs and wants of our people, along with knowledge of our culture and beliefs?  Does your Chief and Council spend money on large investments without consulting with you?  Is there nepotism on your reserve?  Is your Chief and Council involved in every aspect of your life?  Do Chief and Council require a written letter before answering any of your questions?  Do your Chief and Council have the address of each and every single age voting band member?  Do your Chief and Council travel with an entourage of staff, to numerous meetings and conferences without reporting on the outcomes to the membership?  Does your Chief and Council let your Chief Financial Officer have final say in all financial matters without consulting with the band members first?  Is your community newsletter censored?  Do your Chief and Councils have a time clock to justify their high paying wages?  Do Chief and Council listen to your ideas and even ask for your opinion?  Does your Chief and Council have to sign a confidentiality clause?  Is your Chief and Council run fairly?  Do your Chief and Council allow slanderous letters to be written by a member about another member who is a candidate for the Chief and Council election, during election time.  Do your Chief and Council allow a candidate for Chief, who withdrew from running in the election, to publish a support letter for another Chief candidate during the election?  Does your Chief live on the reserve?  Do each of your members have to pay $1000s for land you already own?  Do you have to sign in and out when entering and leaving your band office?  Do you have cameras watching your every move?  Are you allowed to use a sweat lodge without being shut down by your Health & Safety Dept?  Do you have to show your status card for every purchase at a band owned business?  Does your Chief wear an authentic Plains war bonnet at every public function and swearing-in ceremony?  Is there tree planting on your reserve?  Do you have "No Trespassing" signs everywhere with locked gates?  Do your Chief and Council respect your First Nation name and your history?  Do they train and job shadow on your reserve?  Does your Chief and Council deal with the high drop out rates in high school?  Do Chief and Council implement drug and alcohol programs for the youth?  Do Chief and Council help members living below the poverty line?  Do your Chief and Council provide your mentally challenged with recreation programs?  Do your Chief and Council have open Community meetings on a regular basis or are they structured with an agenda?

In other words, do your Chief and Council really deal with the problems or is it just lip service?

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Meeting

Coldwater Land Claim Update  Rama Hall August  11, 2011 at 5:30 Thurs. For Members ONLY.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Finance Meeting - June 11, 2011

- no economic development for this year and next
- Marina restaurant - not this year, maybe next year
- businesses at the casino not making any money, except for Biindigen store on gaming floor, still running in the red!
- according to Rick Morano, CFO, housing is revenue, so there is no rent to own and there are strictly rentals, therefore band members will never own their own home and land.  Cost of a lot is $14,000.  Why should our people have to pay for our land twice?  We already own it because former Chief Yellowhead and his people purchased the land we now live on.
- The financial information should be given to the people in hard copy form, so this information can be reviewed because the information pertains to their money.  Instead of viewing the information on a slide projector. 
- There were a few instances where a department showed a certain number of employees, but the band has not hired them yet. 
- In the financial statements, people in the on-call positions were classified as part-time workers, which is misleading to our employment numbers.  We should know how many on-call, part-time, full-time, and band members and non-native people fill these positions.  Why is this such a big secret?  Obviously, if there is no economic development, there is no job creation.
- There were only 17 people in attendance from the Rama membership, and the rest were staff members.

BALANCE by Spiritual Advisor Dave Chief

RESPECT MEANS LISTENING UNTIL EVERYONE HAS HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD ONLY THEN IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF BALANCE AND HARMONY.