MARCH 1,2006
Smoke Signals 9
Rodeo Special Event Board Seeking Members
The Rodeo Committee has a vacancy and is now taking applica
tions. Interested persons contact Harold Lyon at 971-237-5775
or 503-550-4897 or Dakota Whitecloud at 503-879-1309. Rodeo
meetings are the first Thursday of each month and are open to all
Tribal members.
Attention Tribal Members
Participating Tribal Members will be
Entered into Drawing for Prizes!
Your participation is requested to complete a survey. The Tribe is
gathering information about Tribal members and access to health in
surance coverage.
Participating in the survey WILL NOT change current health benefits
to Tribal members, but will assist the Tribe in providing quality and
cost effective health care for all Tribal members.
Responses are strictly confidential and will be available only for the
stated purpose.
Deadline for completion and entry into the drawing is Friday, March
10,2006.
Online Survey:
You may complete the online survey and get more information at
www.grandronde.org.
Paper Survey:
You should have received a paper survey the week of January 16,
2006. If you choose to take the paper survey, please use the appropri
ate postage and mail to:
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Attn: Allyson Lecatsas
9615 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, OR 97347
You only need to complete either the paper survey or online survey, but
not both. Online participation is strongly encouraged and allows for:
JP Prompt drawing entry,
Reduced chance that paper survey may be lost in the mail, and
saved costs in time and mailing.
Successful submission of the paper or online survey will enter you into
drawing for the following PRIZES:
Thirty (30) $50 Gift Certificates!
If you have any questions regarding this survey, please contact Allyson
Lecatsas, at 503-879-2221.
UMR Appoints Service Representative For Tribe
Your opinion matters to us. At
community meetings you asked for
more accessibility. So we've made
it more convenient for you to get
answers to your claims or benefits
questions. On January 9, 2006,
Lynn Donnell, who is based in Sa
lem, Oregon, began working as a
UMR Service Representative dedi
cated exclusively to the Tribe. Lynn
is available by telephone until 7 PST
as well as by individual appointment
in the Governance Center.
With over 20 years of experi
ence in medical billing, human
resources, and insurancethird
party administration services, Lynn is well qualified to assist you.
A graduate of the San Diego College for Medical and Dental Assis
tants, Lynn began working in the medical field in 1984. She started
out working for a surgeon, but quickly discovered she preferred work
ing in the front office. "It was pretty obvious I wouldn't be much help
to the surgeon when I fainted during a procedure!" she says.
'There was an opening in the billing department due to a maternity
leave. I was able to fill in for her and discovered my niche."
In 1999 she joined UMR as a benefits administrator and later be
came an account manager. Lynn's professional background will be an
asset in her new position as UMR's CTGR Service Representative.
"Working in doctor's offices and hospitals has given me a good un
derstanding of billing practices," she says. "And my UMR experience
gives me insight into how claims are processed. The combination of
the two gives me a well rounded perspective." Lynn is looking for
ward to working with the Tribe. "My position here in Oregon is very
exciting to me," she says. "I really want to help people and make a
difference. Being exclusively assigned to one and only one customer
will allow me to focus on CTGR and SMC plan members. I think
that says a lot about UMR's commitment to CTGR, its members,
and valued employees."
You can contact Lynn by calling the current telephone number
on the back of your ID card (888-284-7236). Or you can schedule an
appointment to meet with Lynn individually by calling the Tribal
telephone number.
Lynn Donnell, Service
Representitive for the Tribe
Betsy Margarite Schaefer
Tribal Elder Betsy Margarite Schaefer beloved mother, grandmother,
great grand mother, aunt passed away February 1, 2006 at the age of
74. Born the daughter of John and Esther LaBonte in Glide, Oregon.
She is survived by her sisters Rosetta Manangan and Esther Borquez of
Portland, Oregon and eight sons and daughters. Betsy spent her retire
ment years in Astoria, Oregon after working for many years in filleting
fish in the local canneries. She made many life long friends who will
deeply miss her. We all miss her generous heart, mischievous wit, fiery
temper and dedicated friendship.
At her request there was no formal service. Remembrances if desired
may be made to the Tribal Elders' Housing project.
Donna Linton
Donna passed away at the home of her sons in Sheridan, Oregon on
Wednesday December 21, 2005. She was the 5th daughter of Albert
and Hazel Gillett. She is survived by her five children: Tom Linton of
Sheridan, Dennis Linton of Grand Ronde, Wendy Scott and husband
Leroy of Grand Ronde, Kathy Cawley and husband Bill of Prineville
and Terri Spittles and husband Mike of Prineville. 12 grand children,
4 sisters: May Donaldson, Louise Taggart, and Alberta Agaliotis of Til
lamook and Barbara Johnson of Yuma, Arizona.
ONABEN A Native American Business Network is offering:
Indianprenuership
A Native American Journey into Business
Participants will be offered professional assistance with:
Developing a Business Plan
Financing and Bookkeeping
Marketing
Legal Requirements
Classes will be held at the Grand Ronde Tribal Education Building.
Classes Start in April 2006 from 6-9 p.m.
For more information about ONABEN services and to register for classes
contact: ONABEN Main Office at 1-800-854-8289
Craft Class New Schedule
March 4 and 5 10 a.m.-4 p.m. cradleboards
March 11 and 12 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last class)
Sunday, March 12 will be our last class, so we will have a potluck
on that day. Everyone is invited and please bring your favorite
dish!
For more information please contact
Misty Blakely
Tribal Tourism Assistant
9615 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, OR 97347
Phone: 503-879-1618
Grand Ronde Low-Income
Home Energy Assistance Program
The Grand Ronde Tribe is operating its
own Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to
assist income eligible Grand
Ronde Tribal members with
energy payments (utility bills,
firewood, etc.), energy
emergencies and weatherization
(e.g. furnace repairs).
Households with an adult Grand
Ronde Tribal member are eligible to
apply within Polk, Yamhill, Marion,
Washington, Multnomah, Tillamook, and Clackamas counties.
CTGR members in these counties need to contact Grand Ronde to
receive assistance instead of from the community action agency in
their area. Grand Ronde's program enables more CTGR members to
be served than would otherwise have been possible.
If you are interested in obtaining services contact Social Services at
1-800-242-8196 for energy assistance and the Grand Ronde Tribal
Housing Authority at 503-879-2405 for weatherization. The Tribe's
LIHEAP program also serves all income eligible Indians on Grand
Ronde Reservation or trust land.