6
S moke S ignals
september 15, 2014
Leno elected to third year
as Tribal Council chairman
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Tribal Council selected Reyn Leno as
its chairman for the third year in a row
at the Wednesday, Sept. 10, meeting.
Leno, who was re-elected to Tribal
Council for his seventh consecutive
three-year term during the Sept. 6
Tribal election, received five votes
while Tribal Council member Cheryle
A. Kennedy, who has served previously
as chair, received three votes.
Tribal Council member Denise Har-
vey nominated current Tribal Coun-
cil Secretary Toby McClary for the
chairmanship, but McClary declined
the nomination. Harvey abstained in
voting for a chair candidate.
Jack Giffen Jr. remains in the po-
sition of Tribal Council vice chair.
In other action on Sept. 10, Tribal
Council approved Land and Culture
Department Manager Jan Looking
Wolf Reibach to execute license
agreements with area farmers for
the 2015 harvest season and OK’d
three engine/crew bosses in the
Natural Resources Department to
be issued Tribal credit cards.
Tribal Council also appointed Ken-
nedy as its representative to the Af-
fi liated Tribes of Northwest Indians
and the payment of $2,400 in annual
dues to the organization.
Also, Tribal Council approved the
enrollment of 11 non-infants and
four infants into the Tribe.
The Sept. 10 meeting was the fi rst
for newly elected Tribal Council
members Chris Mercier and Tonya
Gleason-Shepek.
Tribal Council member Jon A.
George and Jade Unger provided
the cultural drumming and singing
to open the meeting.
The meeting can be viewed on the
Tribal website, www.grandronde.
org, under the Video tab. n
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
Ekias Sabin scoots across the pavement while playing in a box during
the fi fth annual community barbecue.
Having a bash
On Friday, Sept. 5, the Tribe’s Youth Prevention Program held
its fi fth annual Community Barbecue at the fi re pit in Tribal hous-
ing. About 120 people attended the end-of-summer event.
OHP re-application process
In October 2013, the Oregon Health Plan sent out a one-page application
to sign up for health benefi ts called “Fast Track.”
Any recipient on SNAP (food stamps) received a Fast Track letter. All Or-
egon Health Plan members who qualifi ed for coverage through Fast Track
must re-apply within the fi rst year of coverage or risk losing their coverage.
If it has not been a full year, you still need to re-apply to continue receiving
health benefi ts. In July, the Oregon Health Authority began sending letters
to Oregonians who received the Oregon Health Plan through Fast Track ex-
plaining the re-application process. The Grand Ronde Health and Wellness
Center Community Partners want to help Tribal and community members
make sure they retain their health coverage. If you do not re-apply, you will
lose your health benefi ts through the Oregon Health Plan.
Please give us a call for information and assistance.
Loretta Meneley,
Cover Oregon Certifi ed Application Assister at 503-879-1359
Sydney West,
Cover Oregon Certifi ed Application Assister at 503-879-2197
Or call 800-775-0095 and ask to speak with Loretta or Sydney.
Christyan Ingram uses his sister Shaiyla
Krebs’ head to write as he takes a survey
during the fi fth annual Community Barbecue
held in Tribal housing.
COMING IN 2015
Grand Ronde Health and
Wellness Center is excited to offer
this new feature…
Adult Foster Program
The Patient Portal
The Patient Portal is a
convenient, secure, online tool
available 24/7 that will help you:
Request Medication Renewals
Request Appointments
Access Your Health Record
And… Much More!
Watch for details on how to register
and access… The Patient Portal
The Tribe’s Adult Foster Care lodges are committed to offering quality
care to our Elders and helping them remain as independent as possible, while
providing the personalized assistance they need. At our lodges, a wide range
of services is available in a comfortable setting where privacy is respected
and maximum independence is supported. For information, contact the Adult
Foster Program Director at 503-879-1694. n