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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2007)
TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS Attention Veterans John Farrar, the Oregon Employ ment Department, Disabled Veteran Outreach Program (DVOP) representa tive, will be in Siletz every second Thursday of the month. His next visits will be June 14 and July 12. If you would like to make an ap pointment with him for the Siletz of fice, call 541-265-8891 and tell him you would like to set up an appointment for Siletz. Drop-ins also are welcome. John can help veterans free of charge with individual interviews, con fidentiality, vocational information, resume guidance, job placement assis tance, labor market information, job development, referrals to employers, career guidance networking, and job search workshops. He also can assist you with other problems with referrals to the correct agencies: Veterans Benefits, Medical, Discharge Upgrades, Crisis Support, Counseling for Drugs and Alcohol, Community Resources, Schooling, Training Programs, and Registration of DD-214. The Cultural & Heritage Commit tee is working on a cemetery project. It wants to purchase grave markers for the numerous unmarked and unknown X Summer Intern Program Returns »3 Applications have been mailed to higher education students but if you did not receive one, please contact Tina Retasket at 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1210, or 541-444-8210. Deadline to submit your applica tion is June 15. Students must include a copy of their unofficial transcript with their application form. ». TLC Attitudes of Gratitude by Lynn Whitlow Sometimes a reminder of an action that happened days, months, or years ago can elicit a response of gratitude today. During the summer of 2005, I made a phone call in response to a News-Times ad for free, mature rhododendrons in Newport. We had a tribal youth work crew at the TLC/A&D doing yard work, digging flowerbeds, trimming bushes, etc. Two of the youth were especially hard workers - Sam and Dell Hall. The rhody owners did not think we would be able to dig them out by hand. An adult male had already tried and given up. I had dug and transplanted a large rhody myself years ago from Lin coln City to my home, so I know it wasn’t easy, but was doable. Besides, we had a great team here! These young men, plus one other, agreed to attempt the task. So armed with a pick, an adze, a couple shovels, a “we can do it” attitude, and a big van from Fleet with the seats out, we as saulted that yard! Proof in the doing is three very much alive, mature rhodies that appear to have been growing on the hill for years. The two smaller ones put on color last summer. The primo specimen that took a lot more work and a pickup to transport with about a 1,000-pound dirt ball is very healthy and boasting gorgeous, deep The Siletz Tribe is collecting information in order to better serve our veterans. We are conducting a survey of the adult tribal population to gather information on who is a veteran and what needs they have, if any. Each household will receive a survey this month. If you are a veteran or if you have a veteran family member or a veteran non-family member living Help Needed on Cemetery Project « The Tribal Council once again has funded the summer internship program. A limited number of internships are available. College students can submit an application to work at one of the tribal sites or at a site where they will per form jobs similar to what they would find within the tribal organization. Fill Out Veterans Survey rose flowers. That long-awaited color is what has elicited much gratitude. Those young men not only did the TLC a favor, they also learned that a lot can be accomplished without earth moving power tools and with team work, a plan, and determination - even when folks are saying “it can't be done.” A lot of things that happen in our lives parallel this - people telling us there is no way we can accomplish some thing we are sure we can do with a lot of hard work and a little help from others. We are grateful for these young men who did not give up. I was there help ing and know how difficult it was. They graced this property with beauty that will only increase through the years. We can all be grateful for their re minder that if we believe we can suc ceed at a task, we should follow our vision, our plan, and do it! Nagel for hauling and stacking wood and for cutting the grass. You are an awesome support, George! TLC is always in need of women volunteers to be here at the house over night, weekly or on-call, just so the residents have an extra sense of secu rity and someone to talk with, laugh with, and learn from. If you think you might be inter ested, please call me at 541-444-8238 or 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1238. graves at the Paul Washington Cem etery. The committee is asking for tribal member input to identify as many graves as possible. The committee also is asking for tribal member artists to submit artwork suggestions for the markers. The art work would have to be very small as the markers would be rather small in dimension. The artwork should be about 5" wide and 10" long. For more information or to assist in identifying the graves, please contact the Cultural Office at 1-800 922-1399, ext. 1246, or 541-444-8246. under your roof, please fill out the survey and return it as soon as possible. Claire Wood, data coordinator: Margo Hudson, veteran Honor Guard coordinator; and a future veterans benefits coordinator will be the only people who have access to your informa tion unless you specify otherwise. Your participation in the survey is confidential and voluntary. If you decide not to take part in or stop participating at any time, it will not hurt your relation ship with the tribe or affect any services you currently or could receive in the future to which you are otherwise entitled. If you require assistance in com pleting the survey, have any questions about it, need one in a larger format, or need the survey to be read to you, please contact either Claire at 1-800- 922-1399, ext. 1276, or 541-444-8276; or Margo at 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1207, or 541-444-8207. Also please contact one of us if you have not received a survey by June 1.2007. Thank you very much for your participation. We look forward to hearing from you. Veteran Information by Margo Hudson I would like to say hello to Sgt. Sharlene Kingery (Fisher) who is serving in Iraq. She is a Siletz Tribal member who also served during Desert Storm. Thank you, Sharlene, for sending me the information I requested in Siletz News. You are in our prayers. If there is anything you might need in the way of a care package, please let us know. We are very proud of you for your contribution to our country, our tribe, and the U.S. Army. I also would like to thank those few veterans who have provided me with pictures and copies of their discharge papers. I have enjoyed reading the addi tional information that has been provided regarding your tours. As most veterans know, it’s not always easy to give this information. I am honored to create a database with the history of our Siletz Tribal veterans. If you are a veteran and still haven’t sent in your information, please take the time to do so. It’s important to have our history - your history - down for future generations. I also am requesting a copy of your discharge papers if you have them. Again, if you haven't done so, please fill out this information and mail it back to the tribe: Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Attn: Veterans Coordina tor, P.O. Box 549, Siletz, OR 97380-0549. Name:____________________________________ Address:__________________________________ Phone:____________________________________ Branch of Service(s): ______________________ ConflictZWar(s) Served During: Interested in Serving on the Color/Honor Guard Roll # No Yes Loans for American Indian Veterans Eligible American Indian veterans can obtain a loan from the VA to purchase, construct, or improve a home on federal trust land or to reduce the interest rate on such a VA loan. The loan amount may be limited to the lesser of the cost of the home or $80.(XX). unless the secretary of Veterans Affairs approves a higher loan amount. A funding fee must be paid to VA unless the veteran is exempt from such a fee because he or she receives either VA disability compensation or military retirement pay. The fee, which is 1.25 percent of loans to purchase, construct, or improve a home, and 0.5 percent to refinance an existing loan, can be paid in cash or included in the loan. The following cannot be included in the loan: VA appraisal, credit report, loan processing fee, title search, title insurance, recording fees, transfer taxes, survey charges, or hazard insurance. For more information, visit www.homeloans.va.gov/ or go to your nearest VA office. June 2007 • Siletz News • 9
