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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 2008)
DECEMBER 15,2008 Smoke Signals 1 1 Transportation to Grand Ronde The Portland Satellite office has a transportation day to Grand Ronde once a month for medical or dental appointments or enrollment cards. A minimum of three people must sign up. Call Lisa at 503-235-4230. We will leave at the Portland office at 8 a.m. Please call in advance for the scheduled monthly date. Important Tribal member health plan change We are pleased to announce that the Tribal Member Health Plan will be moving our claims administration and customer service to Shasta Administrators effective Jan. 1, 2009. Shasta Administrators, based in Bend, Ore., will be the new claims ad ministrator as of Jan. 1 and will take over all customer service and claims processing functions for the health plan. UMR will continue to administer claims and customer service for CTGR through Dec. 31, 2008. Over the next few months we will be holding community meetings and sending information explaining this change and the impact to Tribal members. What does this change mean? Basically, Tribal members should not see any changes to their benefits (i.e. co-pays, co-insurance, out of pocket maximums). But, it does mean that Tribal members will be receiving a new ID card. Please be sure to keep this new ID card and present it when you receive medical services or purchase prescriptions on or after Jan. 1. Please remember that the change does not go into effect until the first of the year; you will need to keep and use your current UMR ID card through the end of 2008. Claims billing for services provided through Dec. 31, 2008, will continue to be sent to and processed by UMR in Cincinnati, Ohio. Provider Network The Medical network will be changing from the current United Healthcare Network to a new provider net work; depending on where you live will determine your network. You will be receiving more information via mail on the provider network. Your prescription drug coverage will remain with Ex press Scripts and your Dental network will remain PPOUSA. ID cards will be mailed out on Dec. 15, 2008. Please remember to al low ample mailing time as mail is slower during the holiday season. Should you fail to receive your new ID card, Shasta Adminis trators customer service can be reached at 1-800-880-5877 from 6:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Pacific Standard Time. This also will be the same contact number for Shasta Customer Service beginning Jan. 1, 2009. We will have an information table on per-capita distribution day from 7:30 a.m. until noon. Also, please look for an informational notice with your per capita check. Should you have any questions regarding this change, please feel free to contact Barbara Steere at 503-879-2487 or Jim Hol mes at 503-879-2221. D n Ml Homa Energy EfTJcfcncy Prccrcm , Tht Grind RondtTrtod Housing AuSwcTi ntw TEEPO program provtetss nery tt eallonMrvloM.andfuncSnalbrhem nsrey saving projtcti, and hero ctcry , , gsnsraflon proftots - MuWnomrty VOtmooH ma ytrran court r.-y pply lor Sit wwgy pract kK."ji All Trlkal mtmhmtt aa allflMa Ut M r Utcr tnl Kit, avallaala nmI If ti in l:t:rt:t:l I:: Mahiag C7 rslrxt Laa-arlag ymt aaaatalr li:ilf at rlult aaatlaaaaa wltfc aaar7 -- Valag allaraatlva aaraa f mrr' y t at aa4 aaal ft tana Then xrm crcnt to f; iw vwwwmww mm wjj uSk. r j; yaaa a. at jX:r 4tZ-:::. n - r Tribal Council Christmas Party set for Dec. 21 The 2008 Tribal Council Christmas Party will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, in the Tribal gymnasium. Events will start at 11 a.m. with a visit from Santa Claus. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own camera. Lunch will be served at noon and at 1 p.m. children will be invited to sing and candy bags will be distributed. For more information, call Stephanie Grim at 503-879-2078. D (ESDI PROPOSED ELECTION ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS The Tribal Council, in consultation with the Election Board and the Tribal Attorney's Office, has proposed amendments to the Election Or dinance. The first reading of the proposed amendments was made at the Nov. 5, 2008, Tribal Council Meeting. The primary purpose of the proposed amendments is to reduce mis use of the Voters Address List. The proposed amendments modify the Voters Address List provisions to state that only a Voter's name, city and state will be provided to Candidates and that a Voter's name and complete address will be provided to a mailing service selected by the Tribe through which Candidates may send campaign material. Voters also still have the option of keeping their name off of the List by check ing the box on the Signature Verification Form. The proposed amendments also include the following: Elimination of the requirement that the Election Board oath be admin istered by the Tribal Council Chair at a General Council meeting; Modification of the time period when the Election Board must keep minimum office hours; Change the last day Absentee Ballots may be mailed by the Election Administrator from 3 business days before an Election to 5 business days before an Election to ensure sufficient time for receipt and return of Ballots; and Addition of provisions to assist with obtaining updated signatures on Signature Verification Forms. For a copy of the proposed Election Ordinance amendments, please contact the Tribal Attorney's Office at 503-879-4664. The Tribal Council invites comment on the proposed amendments. Please send your com ments to the Tribal Attorney's Office, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347, or by e-mail to legalgrandronde.org. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2008. Ad created by George Valdez Wood Ibog proves Help collect biological samples from deer and elk and your name will be entered into a drawing for six gift cards. 3 prizes for deer: $125 gift card to Sportsman's Warehouse 3 prizes for elk: $125 gift card to Sportsman's Warehouse Why: The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Natural Resources Division, in cooperation with Oregon Department of Fish and Wild life and USDA Veterinary Services, is collecting biological samples from deer and elk to learn more about diseases that may be affecting our deer and elk herds. Chronic Wasting Disease, if it shows up in Oregon, can have dev astating effects on deer and elk populations. Adenovirus I lemorrhagic Disease is not known to be present in the Grand Ronde area but has been detected in southwest and central Oregon. Bring hunter-harvested animals to the Tribes' Natural Resources office at 47010 S.W. Hebo Road, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Entries in drawing will be awarded as follows: Deer or elk brain stem and lymph nodes (1 entry for usable sample). Deer blood sample (1 entry for usable sample). Usable snmples collected from fresh deerelk road kills also will earn entries for the person who reports them to the Tribe's biologists. The Fish and Wildlife Committee and Natural Resources Division thank you for your help in gathering information to help us maintain our deer and elk populations. Happy hunting! (Drawing will be held at the April Vhh & Wildlife Committee meeting. Winners will be notified.) For more information, contact the Natural Resources Division, 47010 S.W. 1 lelw Road, Grand Ronde, Lisa Riley at 503-879-2395, Re beccn McCoun at 503-879-2396 or Kelly Dirksen at 503-879-2382. After hours or on the weekend, call 503-43 1-300 1.