2 DECEMBER 1, 2001
Smoke Signals
Casino Revenue Distribution 2001
The Tribal Council has passed a resolution allocating the distribution of 25
percent of the casino revenue to Tribal members through the Member Services
division. Members who will be 18 years of age as of December 13, 2001 will be
automatically generated a check. Those under the age of 18 will have their
distribution directly placed into their Trust accounts.
D The date of distribution will be December 13, 2000.
D If you have moved you will need to contact our office with the correct informa
tion. We cannot distribute a check without a Social Security Number on file; this
includes your minor children's trust account disbursements.
D There is NO Request Form required for this distribution; it will be automatic
for all members 18 and over as of the distribution date.
B Members will be able to pick their checks up in person at the Tribal Gover
nance Center Atrium or if notarized instructions are received by the Member
Services staff, we may release your check to another person. You should have
already received payment instructions. All remaining checks will be mailed out
at 4:30 p.m. on December 13, 2001.
D When calling to update your information with the Tribe, please contact Valorie
Sheker-Robertson, Amy Justen, Liz Leno, Margo Mercier, Sharon Grout or Holly
Larsen at 1-800442-0346 or 1-800-422-0232. Please note: we will only accept
information changes for members 18 and over by the member only, this rule is
strictly enforced.
D Per capita payments from Casino revenues are subject to federal,
and where applicable, state income taxes. Each Tribal member is
responsible for any tax due as a result of this payment.
Dear Smoke Signals,
Having the security of medical in
surance in these perilous times is a
great blessing. I want to thank all
the leaders, past and present, of the
Tribe, who realized the importance
of medical coverage for all Tribal
members.
I do as much as possible to keep
myself healthy. A diet high in fresh
foods, low in fat, lots of beneficial
exercise, drinking water, rest and
trying to think positive thoughts.
But things happen and the knowl
edge that I have this insurance,
especially now, relieves a lot of
stress.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Judith Pettibone
Roll 717
To the Tribal Council, Executives
and Board Members of SMDC and
those in attendance at the General
Council Meeting on Nov. 4, 2001,
I apologize! I apologize for the
conduct of those whose personal
agenda supercedes the good man
ners and common sense to address
their grievances in a more effective
manner. I apologize for those mem
bers who fail to recognize that so
much has been done on their be
half as a member of the Grand
Ronde Tribal Community. I hope
for patience and wisdom as our
leaders subject themselves to the
abuse of those who would claim
righteous indignation as some in
herent ritual cause.
Daniel S. Stroebel
Roll 1580
Attention Tribal Members
Checks will be distributed December 13th this year. Those wishing to cash
them at Spirit Mountain Casino read the following. In order to simplify the
handling of Tribal checks, Spirit Mountain Casino has made this arrangement:
D The first four windows of the island cage will be open for Tribal members
wishing to cash their checks. The island cage is located across from the front
security podium. To get there, simply enter through the main entrance, take a
right at the Martha Jane Sands statue, enter the smoking section and the cage
will be located to your right. Though minors (those people under 21 years of age)
are not normally allowed into this part of the casino, an exception will be made
for Dec. 13. Cage workers will be ready to assist you in the easiest and most
efficient possible way.
R In order to cash checks, Tribal members must bring valid identification.
Driver's Licenses, Social Security Cards, and Tribal ID's are acceptable, but
must be signed and not expired. No exceptions will be made.
Safety Hints for Member's Distribution
D Pick up your mail early on the day you know your dividend will arrive.
D Have someone trusted pick up your check for you after filling out the proper
paperwork with the Tribe's Member's Benefits department.
R There will be extra security at the Tribal Offices and at the casino.
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SMOKE SIGMALS, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, Is
published twice a month. No portion of this publication may be reprinted without permission.
Our editorial policy Is Intended to encourage Input from Tribal members and readers about stories printed In the
Tribal newspaper. However, all letters received must be signed by the author, an address must be given and a phone
number or email address must be Included for verification purposes. Full addresses and phone numbers will not be
published unless requested.
SMOKE SIGNALS reserves the right to edit letters and to refuse letters that are determined to contain libelous
statements or personal attacks on Individuals, staff, Tribal administration or Tribal Council. Not all letters are
guaranteed publication upon submission. Letters to the editor are the opinions and views of the writer. Published
letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS, Tribal staff, Tribal administration or Tribal Council.
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE 9615 Grand Ronde Road Grand Rondo, OR 97347
www.grandronde.org 1-800422-0232 FAX: 503-879-2173
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Corrections:
Tribal Elder Pearl Lyons was misidentified
in the November 1st Issue of Smoke Sig
nals. The staff relied on misinformation
and apologizes for this error.
The- late Minnie Reibach was
misidentified as a Tribal member in the
November 15th issue of Smoke Signals.
The Editor apologizes for this error. Minnie
was the wife of a Tribal member, the
mother of Tribal members and the grand
mother of Tribal members.
TRIBAL
CHRISTMAS
PARTY
Saturday, December 8
Community Center
1 lam - Photos with Santa
(9 years and younger)
Noon -Lunch
Hatfield Townhall Meeting in Portland
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Leading the Way Former
Senator Mark Hatfield, one the local
political figures that helped lead the way
for the Tribe in Its fight to achieve rec
ognition, visited the Grand Ronde ear
lier this year. Hatfield spoke to mem
bership at a General Council meeting
about his relationship and friendship
with the Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde Tribe. After the meeting,
Hatfield pointed to Spirit Mountain as
he shared memories of time spent in
the area as a youth.
Continued from front page
Hatfield recounted his own visit
to Israel many years ago and re
membered specifically being ap
proached by a young Palestinian
boy asking for money.
"I asked him what he would do
with the money," he continued.
"And he told me he would buy a gun
so he could go kill a Jew."
The crowd was clearly shocked by
Hatfield's anecdote and he quickly
pointed out that the U.S. has been
"a progenitor to this kind of activ
ity, either through the sale of arms
or indifference."
Eliminating terrorists, he said,
won't come close to solving the prob
lem, simply because through the
sale of weapons they will arm and
further other like-minded groups.
"One of our major contributions
to terrorism has been our peddling
of arms," he said. "We are awash
with arms."
Of the world's 193 countries,
Hatfield said, 154 presently get ei
ther contracts or deliveries from the
U.S. for American arms. And this
practice has continued unchanged
under Republican and Democratic
aclministrations.
"U.S. Armed Forces policy was
originally established to protect
national security, to arm our
friends, to make alliances," he said,
disgustedly. "But it's increasingly
obvious we're focused on commer
cial and economic profit."
One solution to curbing terror
ism, he proposed, would be the
creation of a multinational law
that states no arms can be sold to
a country guilty of human rights
violations, particularly against its
own people. Much of U.S. arms
sales, he stated, goes to countries
that haven't even developed a
sufficient agricultural base from
which to feed their own people.
The governments of such coun
tries clearly are more focused on
remaining in power.
"We've done a lot of de-civilizing
in the world because we've
used other countries as economic
parties in which to sell our arms,"
he said.
Moderator Phyllis Edmundson,
later fielded questions from the au
dience. One person asked Hatfield
why it was the U.S. hasn't paid
its United Nation dues? ;-
"One reason," he replied, to
laughter. "Jesse Helms."