VA urges veterans to sign up for direct deposits for safety, convenience
Treasury publishes final regulation to phase out paper checks by 2013; VA says changes should be made soon
WASHINGTON - The Department
and reliability of these vital payments,”
Comerica Bank as the financial agent of
change VA benefits to direct deposit - visit
of the Treasury announced a new rule
said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
the U.S. Treasury.
www.GoDirect.org. Information about the
in December that will extend the safety
Shinseki. “VA encourages veterans who
Another deadline affects people
and convenience of electronic payments
are now receiving their benefits in paper
receiving VA’s compensation or pensions
to millions of Americans and phase out
checks to set up direct deposits before
for the first time after May 1,2011. Those
Along with payments for VA benefits,
paper checks for federal benefits by
the deadline.”
people automatically will receive the
the change also will affect recipients of pay
benefits electronically.
ments from Social Security, Supplemental
March 1,2013.
On March 1, 2013, VA will stop
Officials at the Department of Veter
issuing paper checks. People who do not
Anyone already receiving federal
ans Affairs (VA) urge veterans to sign up
have electronic payments for their federal
benefit payments electronically will be
for electronic payment of their benefits.
benefits by that time will receive their
unaffected by the changes.
federal government’s “Go Direct” cam
paign also is available at 800-333-1795.
Security Income, Railroad Retirement Board
and Office of Personnel Management.
For more information about VA ben
“Receiving VA benefits electronically
funds via a pre-paid debit card. Called
To learn more about the federal gov
will increase the security, convenience
the Direct Express card, it is issued by
ernment’s switch to direct deposit - or to
efits and programs, go to www.va.gov or
call toll-free 800-827-1000.
Applications for OCF scholarships for American Indian students due March 1
The Oregon Community Foundation
annually awards $6 million in scholar
ships and reaches 2,400 Oregon students
through its statewide scholarship pro
gram. Two of these scholarship programs
are targeted specifically to American
Indian students.
Veri and Dorothy Miller Native
American Scholarship
Eligible students include American
Indian residents of Oregon attending or
planning to attend an accredited trade or
vocational school or community college
in Oregon. Students must be planning to
pursue a career in the technical or voca
tional fields. The awards are for $1,500
to $3,000 per year. Students can apply
and compete for the scholarship for up
to four years.
Howard Vollum American Indian
Scholarship
Eligible students include American
Indian residents of Clackamas, Mult
nomah, Washington and Clark counties
seeking post-secondary education or
training in science, technology, engineer
ing or mathematics. The awards are for
$3,000 per year for up to five years of
undergraduate study and two years of
graduate study.
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Open to students with a certification
of Tribal enrollment or descendants
of enrolled members
Students can apply at any point during
their post-secondary career
Criteria for both scholarships
•
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•
Participation in school or community
activities
Personal accomplishments or
achievements
Preference given to students who
have a demonstrated commitment
to and involvement in the American
Indian community
How to apply: Applications and
instructions are available on the OCF
website at www.oregoncf.org/receive/
scholarships/scholarship-opportunities.
Deadline: Scholarship applications are
due March 1 for the next academic year.
For more scholarship opportunities,
please check www.getcollegefunds.org.
HanwnwanannwHmi
Fire Fighting Jobs Available in McKenzie River Area
The McKenzie River Initial Attack
Hand Crew may have up to five crew
Please select McKenzie Bridge, Oregon,
Management) qualification standards
as a location you wish to apply for.
effective Oct. 1, 2010.
member positions open at the GS-03
($11.95) or GS-04 ($13.41) level and up
To qualify for a GS-3 position, you
For more information on
to one GS-05 ($15). Referral lists from
must have graduated high school or
IFPM standards:
AVUE will be pulled starting Feb. 1.
equivalent.
Housing is available and runs about $60
•
•
per pay period.
www.fs.fed.us/fire/management/
To qualify for a GS-4 position, you
ifpm/crosswalk.pdf
must have six months of wildland
These positions are being advertised
firefighter experience at the GS-03
under the Open Continuous Announce
WORK CAPACITY TEST (WCT)
USDA Forest Service,
Pacific Northwest
Region (R-6)
level or equivalent.
for wildland firefighters: This position
To qualify for a GS-5 position, you
participates in wildland firefighting activi
must have 12 months as GS-4, be
ties. Based on the type of work performed,
qualified as a Firefighter Type 1 and
taking and passing the Work Capacity
copy mail a resume to one of the contacts
have an S-290 (Intermediate Wild
Test at the arduous level is a condition of
listed above. Applicants should make an
land Fire Behavior) certificate. You
employment. The arduous fitness (WCT)
attempt to schedule a face-to-face intro
must attach a copy of your IQCS
test consists of a three-mile hike within 45
duction if possible.
master record to your application to
minutes while carrying a 45-pound pack.
Apply online at www.avuedigital-
document your qualifications and
You are strongly encouraged to begin
McKenzie River Ranger District
services.com and then search for the
classes. This requirement is because
training immediately if you are applying
57600 McKenzie Highway
announcement number(s) listed below.
of IFPM (Interagency Fire Program
for this position.
ments listed below.
Please put your application into AVUE
as soon as possible for consideration.
If interested, please e-mail or hard
•
Willamette National
Forest McKenzie River
Ranger District
McKenzie Bridge, OR 97413
Positions Available
Series
0462
0462
Specialty
Forestry Aid
Forestry Tech.
(Handcrew)
Grade
GS-3
GS-4
GS-5
Announcement Number
OCRT-462-3-FIRE-DT
OCRT-462-4-HANDCREW-DT
OCRT-462-5-HANDCREW-DT
TEMP-OCR-462-5-HANDCREW
Contact
Nick Beddow, Crew Supervisor,
nbeddow@fs.fed.us or 541-822-7249
Quinlan Anderson, Foreman
qanderson@fs.fed.us or 541-822-7277
February 2011
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Siletz News
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