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.
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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.
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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.