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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2004)
TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS Annual Circle of Wisdom Elder Council Meeting Siletz Elder Honor Day April 6, 2004 Chinook Winds Casino & Convention Center March 13,2004 Chinook Winds Casino & Convention Center 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. For information, please contact Kathryn Dick 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1261 541-444-8261 To the editor: As a 2002 applicant to the Over Income Rehabilitation Program, I’m concerned about the lack of ethics or recognition of written procedures by our Tribal Council and CTSI staff members who guide policies within this program. As one of 38 tribal members on the waiting list to receive services as determined by a lottery drawing in 2002,1 was shocked to find out that the Tribal Council changed the policy rules without any regard to the formal policies that were adopted. I contacted the Housing Department and proceeded to follow the formal griev ance procedure, which was specifically written for the Over-Income Rehabilitation Program. To initiate this process, I wrote my first letter to the Housing director. After 30 days and no response, I followed up with a letter to the Housing Committee. I received a written response notifying me that I was added to the Housing Committee meeting agenda in November 2003. I was required to confirm my attendance at this meeting and complied by contacting staff the day of the meeting. Upon arrival to the meeting, the Housing director failed to perform any basic professional protocol. He didn’t have any seating arrangements avail able or offer the common courtesy to provide space for my husband and me in the meeting room. We had to locate the chairs and set them up with no direction or assistance by the Housing director, which was very awkward. 4 □ ' Siletz News □ Alice Keene, Vera Lafferty, and Gladys Bolton head into Wal- Mart to spend the gift cards received hy the elders, funded from the Tribal Council! Government budget (photo by Maria Westervelt). I reminded the committee that the initial Over-Income Rehabilitation Program was established by the Tribal Council and published in the tribal newsletter. I noted that subsequently, the council changed the process without notifying the initial applicants of its adverse impact to these applicants. During the meeting, I was disturbed by the assertions from Tribal Council representative Reggie Butler regarding the council’s policy on the use of gaming money. Reggie denied ever voting or establishing the initial program rules and advised that there was no need to inform the applicants, as Tribal Council can do anything they want with gaming money. This lack of accountability is not only unprofes sional, but also very disturbing, both legally and ethically. What type of society or government do we have when no one is accountable for their actions? Since this experience, I have had an opportunity to speak with another tribal member who received a letter confirming his application for the drawing in the 2003 Over-Income Rehabilitation Program. After some time, he called the Housing Department about his application, only to be told they could not find his application and his name was not included in the drawing. This can only leave a question as to how many other applications were lost and not included. Laurie Brown-Godfrey March 2004 Another Year of Wisdom Happy Birthday! Judy Baker, 3/22 Donald Bellinger, 3/23 Gerald Ben, 3/4 Elouise Case, 3/23 Donald Claghom, 3/22 Phyllis Covey, 3/17 Joel Engstrom, 3/15 Howard Fleming, 3/27 Gary Freeman, 3/18 David Goodell Jr., 3/24 Gloria Ingle, 3/17 David John, 3/10 Andrea Kaiser, 3/18 Arlen Kentta, 3/18 Alfred Lane Jr., 3/3 Gaylene Miller, 3/25 JoAnn Miller, 3/10 Robb Pearson, 3/28 Delores Pigsley, 3/29 Mary Potter, 3/8 Diane Service, 3/9 Ernest Simmons, 3/8 Elaine Smith, 3/12 Judith Sohler, 3/7 Ronald Strickler, 3/16 Dennis Tufts, 3/19 Melvin Viles, 3/4 Albert Wallace, 3/18 Richard Woods, 3/21 Join Elders Work Experience The Elders Program has funding available from 2002 excess pledge revenue for the Elders Work Experience (WEX) Program. This is open to all Siletz Tribal elders regardless of where they reside. The pay is $6.90 per hour (state of Oregon minimum wage) for a maximum of 20 hours per week. The total number of hours available per slot is 360. This is 90 workdays at four hours per day; it doesn’t include vacation, sick leave, or other benefits. The types of positions are depend ent on the field of work the elder is willing and capable of performing. There’s no limitation on the type of placement. If you would like to participate, call Angela Ramirez at 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1225, or 541 -444-8225 to make an appointment to complete an application. Eligibility Requirements • The elder must be listed on the of ficial Siletz Tribal roll and older than age 55 on the date of application. • The elder must supply an original Social Security card. • The elder must supply a current state-issued identification/dri ver’s license or Siletz Tribal ID. • The elder must be unemployed or underemployed (currently working at a job that pays less than Elder WEX would) for at least 30 days prior to the date of application.
