Monday, November 10, 2008

Casino Review


Pictured are Walter and Joe Manno while visiting the Pacific Northwest for follow up on a Casino review. Joe is the former Senior Vice-President of Operations for Caesar’s World, where he oversaw both Paris and Bally’s properties. Joe leads Lamar Associates casino review teams and brings over thirty years of experience from industry leading companies with tenures in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Biloxi and internationally. For the most recent review he oversaw a team of five gaming professionals with a combined gaming experience of over 75 years.

Our goal is to always ensure tribal gaming revenue best serves the tribal membership.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

What a Difference a Day makes!


What a difference a day makes!
Living in DC I have seen much, this will be my second inauguration.
I have seen the funeral of two presidents, both glaringly different.
I have seen protest from a million strong to 20 Americans gathering to have their voices heard.
I have been one in a million.
I have seen gross wealth and poverty all within three blocks of each other.
I have seen the seasons change, year after year. Snow in the Nation's Capitol is beautiful against the white marble, but so is the Fall color-not sure which is my favorite.
I have seen impressive memorials.
I have stood at the feet of Lincoln.
I have seen where he was murdered, walked in the alley where his murderer fled, stood in the house where he took his last breath.
I have stood in civil war battlegrounds.
I have participated in honoring those who have fallen in the line of duty.
I have seen, as far as the eye could see, graves of those who served and died.
I have had the honor to lay wreaths on their graves.
I have seen young men guard a grave day in day out, in all weather, all times of the day for an unknown soldier.
I have witnessed burial after burial of soldiers,one every hour on the hour.
I have seen the horse drawn caissons carry their flagged draped coffins.
I have seen friends run in Marathons, along side men and women with artificial limbs.
I have seen WWI Vets and Al Jazerra TV .........at the same parade.
I have seen the sun rise and set over the Potomac.
I have seen caravans of elected officials roll through the streets, stopping traffic and people.
I have seen armed men, on every street corner, every day.
I have seen priceless pieces of art and Borf originals on walls of the subway.
I have seen Suffragist Alice Paul's headquarters where a handful of men many many years earlier attempted to hold off the British.
I have seen our Nation's Capitol and White House,
I have been in both.
I have been in the West wing, Senate and the House offices.
I have volunteered for the rights of women, to stop the violence against women and fed the hungry.
I have met a homeless man- know his story and his first name, Ivory.
I have been blessed by work that has forever changed my life, made me a better person.
I have seen things beyond my wildest imagination.
BUT What
I haven't seen was anything like last night, people pouring into the streets by the thousands, people carrying flags, cheering and running through the streets, people on their knees in tears, people in cars honking to the beat of Yes We Can, people in awe at what had just happened and that they were part of it, the atmosphere was palatable. I drifted to sleep to the sounds of the street.
I have been changed by my experience in Washington, DC.
Thanks for sharing a moment of reflection on my life and time in DC this amazing day, this new day - change is a foot, are you ready, can you feel it too?

Cyndi Davis-Dow (Lamar Associates Chief Operations Officer)
11-5-08

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Good Times on Capitol Hill


On October 28, 2008 Lamar Associates hosted a gathering of friends and colleagues at our Capitol Hill office. Among the group of professionals were Shana and Jeff Barehand. A topic of conversation was their baby boy Fiyero - pictured. We look forward to watching him grow into an Indian Country leader.

The Lamar Associates gatherings on Capitol Hill are always a fun time and a chance to network in a relaxed friendly environment.

Monday, October 27, 2008

65th National Congress of American Indians


Walter attended the 65th convening of the National Congress of American Indians' annual convention. He is pictured here with NCAI President - the Honorable Joe Garcia.

Walter's father, Newton Lamar, was an active leader in NCAI in the 1970's and up until his death in 1989. In 1977 Walter was a judge for the Miss NCAI pageant in Rapid City, SD and at the 1978 NCAI convention in Albuquerque, NM, he was recruited into the FBI. Since then Walter has attended the annual conferences and has spoken on topics related to law enforcement and homeland security.

President Garcia strongly supports Indian Country law enforcement.

John Fryar Hosts Randy'L Teton (Sacagawea Model)


John Fryar (Lamar Associates Director, Investigations) is pictured with Randy'L Teton while she was at the Albuquerque coin show October 11-12, 2008. John is an official in the Albuquerque Coin Club and sponsored her visit. Lamar Associates was pleased to have the opportunity to assist in the sponsorship.

Randy'L He-dow (Meadowlark) Teton is Shoshone-Bannock from the Fort Hall Reservation in Southeastern Idaho. She modeled for the Sacagawea dollar that debuted in January 2000. With the recent passage of the “Native American $1 Coin Act”, the reverse of this coin will undergo annual redesign starting in 2009. The new designs will be "celebrating important contributions made by Indian tribes and individual Native Americans to the history and development of the United States." She is living history as one of only two living people featured on current U.S. coinage.
Click on the Title to read more about Randy'L.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Pentagon Memorial


In October 2008, Walter and his good friend Sam Stanton visited the Pentagon Memorial as guests of Steven Calvery, Director, Pentagon Force Protection Agency. Sam and Walter were a team while both serving the San Diego office of the FBI. They shared many adventures and good times.

In 2007/2008, Lamar Associates worked on a contract to examine and assess the operations of the Pentagon Police Department. It was a challenging and meaningful project that gave our company a personal insight as we observed the dedicated men and women of our mighty military at work. Just as impressive, we learned, are the hard working men and women of the Pentagon Police Department who protect our military leadership who protect us.

The Pentagon Memorial is a solemn reminder of the incredible losses of 911. We must never forget.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Walter Lamar Inducted Into Alumni Hall of Fame


Walter was inducted into Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame on May 10, 2008 as part of SWOSU's convocation on the Weatherford campus. SWOSU President John Hays presents Walter with a plaque. Walter, who attended high school at Anadarko, was guest speaker at the SWOSU ceremony. Over 950 students were awarded diplomas - Walter was pleased and honored to be a part of the ceremony.

Click on the title to read more.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Missing From the Circle

With the knowledge and understanding there are many Native American families that search for loved ones we created Missing From the Circle to assist them free of charge.

In November 2007 we were contacted by a family that had been searching for their sister for nearly 30 years with no success. This message refers to our locating their sister:

This year is especially meaningful. I was adopted at 8 years old. I never expected that I would ever see any one that I was biologically related to ever again. As the years have passed one
by one I came in contact with my eight siblings. There was just one sister that was nowhere to be found. I finally turned to a private detective firm who specializes in finding missing Native Americans. Much thanks to Lamar and Associates and their program called "Missing from the Circle." My oldest sister was located but is in frail health.

My family has grown so much bigger and I am truly enjoying getting to know my brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews. We are sending pictures back and forth and so excited to learn who looks like who. On November 3, 2007, I, my husband Frank, and my son Matt will be traveling to Texas for a family reunion I never dreamed could happen.

Sincerely,
Kathleen Walker