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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 15, 1995)
Smoke Signals July 15, 1995 Page 3 Intake Specialist provides a helping hand to tribal members By Sheila Elliot As Intake Referral Specialist, I would like to explain the process of applying for services with my program. Since 1 work within the Community Services Block Grant Budget, I am under the guidelines set forth by the grant outlines. This grant assists tribal members in need of rental or deposit assis tance, and utilities assistance if a shut-off notice or eviction notice has been issued. The grant also assists tribal members with cloth ing and transportation assistance when they are enrolled in a train ing program or beginning a new job. When applying for assistance, the sooner that an appointment is made the better. If you feel that you are going to need assistance, make an appointment as soon as possible. The assistance process takes three days to a week, after all other available resources have been researched. We are an al ternative resource, which means that other resources such as Adult and Family Services or YCAP must be checked out before we can provide assistance to any body. Waiting until the last minute can only add to the level of stress that you're already feel ing. We have to refer you to the state programs first, and they can take some time to process your request. If you find yourself in need of an intake with our pro gram, please make an appoint ment to see me as soon as possible. Pow-wow parade and camping Parade: Everyone is welcome to join the parade starting at 1 1 a.m. on Saturday, August 19. If you have horses or old cars, come join the fun. There will be prizes for different divisions. Parking & Camping: Parking will cost $1 and include a raffle ticket. There will also be two additional RV campgrounds set up for people who want to camp. For information call 1-800-422-0232. Surveys provide valuable information Members of tribal staff working on the Community Health Survey and the Resource Manual would like to thank all tribal and community members who took the time to complete the recent surveys mailed out to them. You have provided these teams with valuable information which will be used to determine the needs of tribal members. The winners of the Resource Manual survey drawing were: David Thomas, Jessie Peone, and Sylvia Madoris. It is very important that the people who have not returned the Health Survery to please to so now. , 1 " mm i 1 mm f I i 1 - wm.. ' J y- 1 1 1 Finally, just as you would can cel a doctor's appointment if you find you are unable to attend your appointment, please contact our office to let us know that you will be unable to come. We can al ways reschedule. It is very im portant to our program that we provide the best possible service to all tribal members in need of our services. In order to do this, we must ask that you call and can cel your appointment rather than just not show up. We currently schedule intakes in the Portland and Salem area offices for tribal members who have no transpor tation to Grand Ronde. A new policy has been devel oped that if a client does not show or call to reschedule an appoint ment twice, they will have to come to Grand Ronde for assistance. I need to utilize my time in the most effective manner when serving our tribal members. If you have any questions or concerns, please call our office at 1-800-775-0095 ext. 3 for Tribal Family Action Program or 879-2034. Elder's Spotlight Vernon Mercier spent career as educator Vernon B. Mercier was born in 1913 in Grand Ronde, the eldest son of Harry and Pearl Mercier. His mother was the granddaughter of Martha Jane Sands, who was the model for the bronze statue that will be erected and available for public viewing at the entrance of the Spirit Mountain Casino. Vernon is the eldest of four siblings. The others are Opal, Vincent, and Blanche. Blanche passed away a few years ago, but Opal and Vernon are still living in Sheridan and Beaverton. Vernon followed in the footsteps of his uncle, Emanuel Hudson, and his two aunts, I la Dowd and Eula Petite, in his decision to be come an educator. He spent the bulk of his adult life as a teacher in the Lincoln County School District, spending the last twenty-five years as a school prin cipal in Lincoln City. Vernon received his college training for his teaching career with a certificate from Oregon Normal School, now known as Western Election Board Hours Questions about the upcom ing election? Call the Elec tion Board! They receive phone calls every Tuesday and Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. at 879-5600. (Please call 879 2381 on August 22 and 24.) USDA Update: The USDA Program is now distributing frozen ground beef. Deliveries are made monthly to the warehouse to assure that the beef is fresh . If you are choosing the frozen ground beef, please be sure to bring your own coolers. This will help to insure that the beef will stay frozen until you reach home, especially with the sum mer weather. , , V .V f I 1 . s vis r r . ' Lfa ,l . iSfr , Gaming classes offered The Tribal Education Division in collaboration with Chemeketa Community College will begin to offer training classes during July. Classes will be held in the Education Division classroom. Classes to be offered are: Customer Service July 18: 1 to 4 p.m. July 25: 6 to 9 p.m. Cash Handling July 20: 1 to 4 p.m. July 27: 6 to 9 p.m. Additional classes will be scheduled in August as needed. Classes can also be scheduled for weekends if necessary. All classes are open to the public. Tuition Fees: Tribal member fees will be paid for by the Edu cation Division, Short Term Training Program. Non-tribal member fees are: Customer Service: $45 per person. Cash Handling: $45 per person. Food Handling: $12 per person. For more information, please call the Tribal Education offices at 1-800-422-0232 or 879-5211. Oregon State College. Heat tended the University of Or egon, Pacific University, and Washington State University in Pullman. He has a Master's of Education from the University of Oregon. Vernon was married to Berylle Blosser in 1944. They had no children. She was called home to Heaven in 1991 after 47 years of wed ded bliss. Vernon has lived in Oregon all his life, except for a period of time when he was in the military during World War II. He spent al most four years in the United States Marines with combat experience in the South Pa cific. He returned to the United States in 1944. Vernon had a massive heart attack in 1973, which terminated his teaching career. His place of residence has been Salem since his re tirement, but he spent eleven winters in Yuma, Ari zona when he first retired. He now spends all of his time in Salem, and travels to the Mealsite once a week to have lunch with the elders. Wedding Announcement Congratulations to tribal member Candi Henry and Justin Koehler. They were wed Saturday, July 1 on the community center laivn. Best wishes to them. Food Handling To be rescheduled for early August.
