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.