Smoke Signals
May 1992
Page 2
;V , ( j
Chairman's
Report
By Mark Merrier
ATTENTION: All tribal members should
read this notice carefully. '
There have been changes made
to the existing election process.
Please note:
1) No write-in candidates will be
accepted, therefore anyone who
wishes to be a candidate for the up
coming 1992 Tribal Council elections,
must be physically present at the May
General Council meeting, to be
nominated for Tribal Council.
2) All tribal members wanting to
vote in this election and all future
elections must have a signature
verification card on file. Signature
verification cards will be available
from the Enrollment Office begin
ning June 1, 1992.
On April 15, 1992, the Tribal
Council adopted a resolution amend
ing the Election Ordinance with the
above changes.
Therefore, if anyone wishes to be a
candidate for the up-coming 1992
Tribal Council elections, they must be
physically present at the May General
Council meeting to be nominated for
Tribal Council.
: Another important provision
pertaining to Tribal Council elections
this year and for all subsequent
elections is the Signature Verification
Registration System. In order to
maintain the integrity of the Grand
Ronde election process, the Election
Committee and Tribal Council
established the signature verification ;
registration system.
Each Tribal member who desires to
vote in a Tribal Council election, or a
referendum, initiative or recall
election, whichever is relevant, whether
by walk-in or absentee ballot, must have
a verified voter signature card on file
with the Grand Ronde Tribal Enroll
ment office. If a member does not have
a verified voter signature card on file
with the Enrollment office by the close
of the polls on an election day, he or she
will not be permitted to vote in that
election, or, if he or she is voting by
absentee ballot, his or her vote in that
election will not be counted.
The signature verification cards will bd
available from the Enrollment program
beginning June 1, 1992. Each tribal
member wanting to vote must sign the
card, have it notarized and then return id
to the Enrollment program.
During the May 3, 1992, General
Council meeting, three (3) Tribal
Council positions will be open for
nomination. Elections will be held in
September, 1992 on a date to be set by
the Election Board in consultation with
the Tribal Council. When the actual
date for election is selected, the notice
will be published in "Smoke Signals."
Besides the two above mentioned
changes, tribal members must also
beware of the following existing required
ments:
Any duly enrolled member who will bd
18 years of age or older on the date of
the election is qualified to be a candi
date. Any eligible voter may nominate a
candidate from the floor at said May
meeting. The candidate must be present
at the meeting and either accept or
decline the nomination.
Northwest Indian Veteran's Association UPDATE
By Michael J. Larsen
Co-Chairperson
On April 2, 1992, we had the monthly
meeting of the Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde NIVA Chaper Veteran's
Group. ' :;
We discussed the "Returnto the WalT
in Washington, D.C. coming up in
November.
established, we will list them in our
monthly report.
One other very important subject.
r When a tribal member, who is a veteran
passes on we would like to find out as
soon as possible if the family would like
for us to.be of service at the funeral. As
'.' an honor guard, or present the family
with a U.S. flag or whatever else that
Also, we discussed what our chapter . , would fall Into this category.
policy will be on attending powwows arid.
what are responsibilities will be at ' ' "
funerals, powwows, etc.
There was discussion on making a
chaper logo and putting it on caps and
T-shirts. We will bring ideas and
drawings to our May meeting.
We are in the process of finding out
what we can do to provide services of
our group at meetings, powwows,
funerals, etc. When we get these
Please remember that we realize this
is a very hard time for the family who
has lost a loved one and that we only
want to do whatever the family wants us
to.
Our next meeting is Thursday, May 7,
1992, at 6:30 p.m. in the Tribal Council
chambers. Remember our meetings are
open to non-tribal veterans as well as
tribal member vets.
Dear Fellow Tribal Members and Friends,
Our tribal enrollment now totals 2926 with approximately 50 applicants waiting
for final approval. As all members must meet the same eligibility requirements, our
tribal bond may be viewed as one of the most important factors of our lives. When
an applicant submits an application, the individual is asking for approval to be
identified as a member of our sovereign nation. The tribe provides services for our
clients, but in turn, members should participate in the governmental structure.
All enrolled members who are 18 years and older on any given election date are
eligible to be nominated for a Tribal Council position, and are eligible to vote.
To maintain the integrity of the Grand Ronde elections, the Tribal Council has
adopted a registration policy by Election Ordinance amendment. All eligible voters
who will be 18 years of age, or older, on September 12, 1992, must submit a voters
signature card prior to casting their ballot. The Election Committee shall be
provided with all signature cards on the day of the election. All signature cards will
be copied and placed in the individual client file, which are stored in a fireproof
cabinet in the Enrollment Office.
The voter signature cards will require the member's signature to be witnessed by a
Notary Public, along with the Notary Public's signature, seal and commission
expiration date. Tribal members who have submitted a notarized signature in the
past year are NOT required to re-submit a voters signature card. Please contact me
to verify that you are currently registered as having a voters signature card on file.
The cards are available on request from the Enrollment office or the Election
Committee. All signature cards must be returned to the Election Committee for
their stamp of date received. Their address is posted on the signature card.
I am a Notary Public, and will be available on a reasonable basis to provide the
notary service. The administrative assistant to the Tribal Council, Jackie Whisler, is
also a Notary Public. Due to our job duties, we may not be available at times. I
suggest a call to myself or Jackie prior to visiting the tribal office for notary service.
I will be present at the Election site for notary services on September 12 for walk
in voters, but remember, pre-registration will save time on election day. If you have
any questions, please contact myself or Election Committee member, Connie
Monson, in are of the tribal office.
Sincerely,
Margo Mercier
Enrollment Director
Mealsite open to
everyone for less
The Elders would like to invite
everyone to come and eat at the
mealsite. They have dropped the meal
price in half, the meals will now only be
$1.50 for anyone who is not an elder. If
you are an enrolled elder of the Confed
erated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the meal
will be free.
The meals are served from noon to
1:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.
Please check the May Monthly Calendar
on page 12 for exact dates.
If you have any questions or concerns
please call Tracy Hubbell at 879-5211.
Indian Church opens for all
Indian Church Services are now being
offered in the Grand Ronde area every
Sunday at the Tribal Community
Center.
The services will be held from 12:00 to
2:00 on Sunday and a potluck will
follow. Everyone is welcome and
encouraged to come. For more informa
tion, please call 879-5932.
$$$$EARN CASH DAILY$$$$
Spirit Mountain Development
Corporation is looking for
pickers. Call Ron Jordan at
876-2064.
Smoke Signals
Program Operations
Greg Archuleta
Editor
Cathy Cline
Smoke Signals is pub
lished monthly by the Con
federated Tribes of the
Grand Ronde Community of
Oregon, 9615 Grand Ronde
Rd., Grand Ronde, OR
97347.
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