Smoke Signals 3
APRIL 1,2013
Tribal Council OKs Elders'
Retirement Trust Fund policy
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Tribal Council voted 7-0 on
Wednesday, March 13, to approve
a Tribal Elders' Retirement Trust
Fund Policy.
The policy sets a minimum
amount of money that will remain
in the Elders' Retirement Trust
Fund to ensure payments continue
in the future as the number of Trib
al Elders potentially increases.
In response to an audience mem
ber question, Tribal Chairman Reyn
Leno said the policy does not affect
current Tribal Elder pension pay
ments, but puts in writing a policy
that did not previously exist.
"This basically identifies a core
that will guarantee an X amount of
money if something would happen,
say a fire at the casino," Leno said.
"It would identify what the core is
in our Elders' endowment and guar
antee that we would be able to give
that even though we wouldn't have
the gaming dollars coming in."
Tribal Council member Cheryle
A. Kennedy said that the creation
of the policy ensures longevity "into
perpetuity" for the account.
'The idea is make sure this con
tinues on," she said.
In other action, Tribal Council:
Approved the Upper Coast Thin
Logging Unit timber sale. The
contract was awarded to the
Tribe's Round Valley LLC.
Approved an intergovernmental
agreement with the state Bureau
of Labor & Industries agreeing to
have the state fund a construction
training course in Grand Ronde.
Approved applying to the U.S.
Department of Justice for a
Coordinated Tribal Assistance
Solicitation grant, which is a com
bination of four grants (COPS,
Indian Alcohol Substance Abuse,
Violence Against Women Act and
Tribal Youth Program) worth
$1.2 million.
Approved membership for one
adult and five infants.
It was the first meeting in which
Tribal Council implemented its new
consent agenda, which allows blan
ket approval of items that received
unanimous support during the Legis
lative Action Committee process, fl
2013TiribaD
RlairkeltpOace dalles
D April 5-6, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; April 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
B May 3-4, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; May 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
D June 7-8, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; June 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
D July 12-13, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; July 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
D July 19-20, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Elder Honor Day) i
Dates subject to change due to conflicting Tribal or SMC events.
Located across from Cedar Plank Buffet.
Committee & Special Event
Board meeting days and times
Below is the most current information on the meeting days and times for
Tribal Committees and Special Event Boards:
Ceremonial Hunt Board meets as needed. Chair Shonn Leno.
Cultural Trust Board meets at 4 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month
in Modular No. 2. Chain Perri McDaniel.
Culture Committee meets at 1 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month
in Modular No. 3. Chain CeCe Kneeland.
Education Committee meets at 5:15 p.m. on the first Monday of the .
month in the Adult Education Building. Chair: Tammy Cook.
Elders' Committee meets at 10 a.m. the third Wednesday of the month
in the Elders' Activity Center. Chair: Gladys Hobbs.
Enrollment Committee meets quarterly in Room 204 of the Governance
Building. Chair: Sharon Hanson.
Fish & Wildlife Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of
the month at the Natural Resources Building. Chair: Harold Lyon.
Health Committee meets at 10 a.m. the second Wednesday of the
month in the Tribal Wellness Center. Acting Chain Patti Tom-Martin.
Powwow Special Event Board meets at 5 p.m. the first Thursday of
the month at the Tribal Community Center. Chair: Dana Ainam.
Rodeo Special Event Board meets at 6 p.m. the first Thursday of the
month at the Tribal Rodeo Office. Chair: Harold Lyon.
Social Services Committee meets at 4 p.m. the second Monday of
the month in the Social Services Conference Room. Chain Jenny San
chez. Timber Committee meets at 5 p.m. the second Thursday of the month
at the Natural Resources Building. Chain Bob Mercier.
Veterans Special Event Board meets at 4 p.m. the first and third Tues
day of the month in the Elders' Activity Center. Chain Gene LaBonte.
Annual fish distribution
Attention Enrolled Grand Ronde Tribal members
CTGR Annual Fish Distribution
Powwow Weekend
Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013, 1-5:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 16, 2013, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, 9 a.m.-Noon
Tribal members in the Portland Area - Portland Satellite office
Tuesday, Aug. 20
Look for detailed information in future articles.
Veterans SEB schedules meeting
The Tribe's Veterans Special Event Board will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday,
April 9, in the Tribal Community Center.
For more information, contact Chair Gene LaBonte at 503-583-5222. D
NonTribal spouse premium
contribution increase
The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon
will be increasing the nonTribal member spouse's premium contri
bution from $50 monthly to $100 monthly. This change will become
effective May 1, 2013
Amendment: Because of insufficient time to notify the affected
members in a timely manner, the change in premium for nonTribal
spouses covered under the Skookum Health Program will begin May
1, 2013. The premium is billed out a month ahead of time so your
new invoice will show the new premium amount beginning with your
April billing.
For those members using ACH, the automatic withdrawal will begin
in April as well. Health Plan staff apologizes for any inconvenience.
This change was approved by Tribal Council during the 2013 budget
process. The premium contribution increase from the current $50 to
$100 monthly will be for all spouses on the Skookum Health Plan
and any new enrollees to the Plan.
The effective date will be 5012013.
Thank you for your understanding of this change. The Tribe con
tinues to be committed to providing care to its Tribal members and
Elder spouses.
If you should have questions or concerns you may contact either of
the staff members Barbara Steere at 1-800-749-2928 or 503-879-2487
or Jim Holmes at 503-879-2221. B
ATTENTION TRIBAL MEMBERS
COMMITTEE AND SPECIAL EVENT BOARD VACANCIES
The following Committees and Special Event Boards have vacant
positions.
Education Committee 4 Vacancies
Health Committee 4 Vacancies
Cultural Trust Board 1 Vacancy
Culture Committee 3 Vacancies
Education Committee 3 Vacancies
Election Board 4 Vacancies
Enrollment Committee 4 Vacancies
Fish & Wildlife Committee 2 Vacancies
Powwow Special Event Board 3 Vacancies
Rodeo Special Event Board 2 Vacancies
Social Services Committee 2 Vacancies
Timber Committee 3 Vacancies
Please send completed applications to Stacia Martin, 9615
Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347.
Transportation
for Tribal members
The Portland Office has transportation
day to Grand Ronde once a month for
medical, dental appointments or
enrollment cards. We need a minimum t
ot 3 people to sign up. Hiease call Lisa
Please call in advance for the scheduled monthly date
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