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
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