MARCH 15, 1999
11
Get involved! Tribal Safety Day proves to be rewarding for staff
The Polk County Commission for
Children and Families invites com
munity members to join in the ef
forts of improving the lives our
friends and neighbors in Polk
County.
Your involvement as a volunteer
is vital to a healthy community.
There are many opportunities for
volunteers that vary in flexibility,
duties and location.
Some current volunteer openings:
Visiting new mothers and babies.
Mentoring people of all ages.
Juvenile crime and prevention.
Hunger and homelessness issues.
Fighting child abuse and neglect.
Special one time projects.
ClericalAdministrative tasks.
Senior services.
Alcohol and drug issues.
Domestic violence issues.
Other the Volunteer Coordina
tor can find opportunities tailored to
your interests.
For more information, please call
Molly Wollschlaeger, Polk County
Volunteer Coordinator at (503) 623
5526, ext. 246.
By Mary Alice Bowen
Co-Chair, Safety Committee
On February 19, the Tribe's
Safety Committee sponsored the sec
ond annual Tribal Safety Day for
the staff of the Grand Ronde Tribe.,
Guest speakers included represen
tatives from Worker's Compensation
who spoke on ergonomics; and from
Oregon OSHA who spoke about Gen
eral Safety in the workplace and in
the home. Lunch was provided for
staff and door prizes were given to
those who were there. The big prize
winner was Margo Mercier who won
the Emergency Road Side Kit.
Plaques were presented to two
departments. Cliff Adams accepted
a plaque for Natural Resources. The
second plaque was awarded to Ruth
Adams and John Casale for the
Health and Wellness Center's efforts
and promotion of active safety pro
grams within their areas.
The Safety Committee is comprised
of employees representing tribal de
, partments and programs. They
share their interests and concerns
regarding safety in the workplace.
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From left: Ruth Adams and John Casale accept a safety plaque awarded
to the Health and Wellness Center staff from Mary Alice Bowen, Safety
Committee Co-Chair.
Committee members who helped
in planning the Safety Day include
Jan Michael Reibach, Chair; Mary
Alice Bowen, Co-Chair' Curtis
Rentsch, Treasurer; and Gayla Tu
lensru, Secretary; Pearl Mekemson,
Valorie Sheker, Winema Wolf, Cleve
Brooks, Lenny Logan, Phil Adams,
and Melvin Brisbois. The Safety
Committee will plan other events
and contribute articles to Smoke Sig
nals in the future.
Youth gain basketball skills with the help of YMCA
A huge thank you to Matt Wallace and the West Valley YMCA from the kids Earlier this month, he took the team of 15 older kids to play a "real" basketball
and parents at the Grand Ronde Elementary After School Sports program!! game with Myers Elementary School in West Salem. Learning the fundamen
Matt has gone well beyond his duty as West Valley YMCA Program Director, tals of sports and teamwork is a great experience for the youth of today.
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Pictured, front row (from left): Cody Blanchard, Nathan Mueller, Lucien Davidson, Leah Brisbois, Orin John Allen, Cameron Sabey, Curt
Sabey, and Benny Davidson.
Kids standing: Matt Williams, Amber Engel, Caleb Maxwell, Alec Palanuk, Jared Biller, Matt Haller, Rebecca Haller, and Casey Blanchard.
Adults standing in back: Pearl Mekemson, Tribal Wellness staff; Kathy Sumners, Grand Ronde principal; Matt Wallace, West Valley YMCA
Program Director; and Vernon Kennedy, Tribal Wellness staff.
Grand Ronde tribal member - , -