2 MARCH 15, 2004
Smoke Signals
ATTENTION: ODS MEMBERS
CONTINUE TO USE YOUR ODS MEDICAL CARDS
On March 1, 2004, Tribal members were informed that the
Tribal Health Plan Administrator would change from ODS
to United Medical Resources (UMR).
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this transition will not
take place on April lf 2004 as originally planned.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO USE YOUR ODS IDENTI
FICATION CARD for all medical & dental services until
you receive notification of the new effective date. If you are a
Tribal member on the Tribe's employee health plan, this de
lay does not affect you.
Please watch future Smoke Signals for updated informa
tion as it becomes available.
Please call the Tribe's Member Services Department at 800-442-0346,
503-879-2490 or 503-2221 if you have any questions.
ATTENTION ELDERS
Beginning with your April 10th Elder Security monthly payment, we
will be offering the service of Federal Income Tax withholding. At this
time, no state income tax withholding is available. A sign-up form for
Federal Income Tax withholding is being mailed to all members receiving
Elder Security monthly payments. Please fill out and return this form to
the Tribe if you want Federal Income Tax withheld from your monthly
payment. This service is an option, so if you don't sign up, no tax
will be withheld.
If you have any questions, please contact your tax consultant or the
Tribal Elder Tax Consultant, Doris Rose at 1-800-422-0232 ext. 1477 or
503-879-1477. If you would like to request a form contact Amy Whisler in
the Member Services Department at 1-800-442-0346 or 503-879-2223.
Dear Smoke Signals,
I have recently began to receive your publication and enjoy the articles
very much. I'm incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
where we have a Native American Circle "The Four Winds of the Red
Road." About 40 brothers strung from various Tribes.
We give thanks to the Great Spirit for outside information such as yours
and keep all in our prayers.
Sincerely,
Robert Rawles
Gatesville, Texas
Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter to ask for your help. My 23 year-old son, Ricky
Young is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee. In No
vember of 2001 he was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. In
July of 2002 he had an unsuccessful Stem Cell Transplant. In order to
live, my son needs a bone marrow transplant.
His family has been tested and no match was found, so now we are
dependant on an unrelated donor. The problem we are facing is that
there are very few American Indians on the bone marrow registry. As of
December 31, 2002, there were less than 61,000 American Indians regis
tered. Only 66 American Indians received transplants last year. That is
not very many considering that more than 30,000 people each year are
diagnosed with a life threatening blood disease and over 70 percent of
those depend on an unrelated donor.
Thank you,
Glenda Young
P.O. Box 832
Oakridge, OR 97463
e-mail: lovefrogsl960aol.com
Dear Smoke Signals,
First, I would like to announce that my daughter Tiffany Hudson is
working very hard for her nursing license. She is studying to be a Regis
tered Nurse, and I know she would like to thank the Tribe for helping her
financially and the support and all the information she needed from the
ladies in the Education Department to get through with how far she has
gotten. She has made the Dean's List, all the while she has had a baby
and a very dangerous delivery and the baby had to be life-flighted to a
bigger hospital, (she lives in Clovis, New Mexico at the Air Force Base
there). The baby is fine now and a beautiful baby. But, Tiffany is still
struggling to make it, she along with her two brothers, Sam and Brad to
having lost their father of a tragic, unneccesary death. On top of all that
her husband just left for Iraq. I don't want to forget my other daughter
who had surgery on her arm and is recooperating at home. So ha, I re
membered you too. Lori....Get well....
Lana Takhar
Roll 807
mm
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
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flirt
BRENT MERRILL
PUBLIC INFORMATION
MANAGEREDITOR
503-879-2321
brent.menillgrandronde.org
1
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
503-879-2190
lustln. phllllpsgrandronde.org
ISSUE, PATE
Fri., Max. 19 APR. 1 .
Mon.,Apr. 5 .....APR. 15
Mon., Apr. 19 MAY. 1
Wed., May. 5 MAT. 15
Fri.,May.21 JUN. 1
Fri.,Jun. 4 JUN. 15
Fri.,Jun. 18 JUL. 1
Fri.,Jul.2 JUL. 15
Mon., Jul. 19 AUG. 1
Thuxs., Aug. 5 AUG. 15
Fri., Aug. 20 SEP. 1
Fri., Sep. 3 SEP. 15
Fri., Sep. 17 OCT.l
Tues., Oct. 5 OCT. 15
Wed., Oct. 20 NOV. 1
Fri., Nov. 5 NOV. 15
Wed., Nov. 17 DEC. 1
Fri., Dec. 3 DEC. 15
Thurs., Dec. 16 JAN. 1 , 2005
RON KARTEN
STAFF WRITER
503-879-4663
ron.lcarcengrandronde.org
TOBY MCCLARY
PRODUCTION
ASSISTANT I
503-879-1358
toby.mcdarygrandronde.org
I. ii ii i i iti i '
PETATINDA
PHOTOJOURNALIST
503-879-1416
peta.tlndagrandronde.org
SHELLY KENT
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-521 1
shelly.kentgrandronde.org
SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication of the Confederated Tribes or the Grand Ronde Commu
nity 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 re
quested.
SMOKE SIGNALS reserves the right to edit letters and to refuse letters that are deter
mined to contain libelous statements or personal attacks on individuals, staff, Tribal administra
tion 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.
3
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