2
S MOKE S IGNALS
DECEMBER 1, 2014
NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE
TIME
Wednesday, Dec. 3...............................................................................4 p.m.
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed.
NOTICE TO ALL TRIBAL MEMBERS
ON THE SSI/SSD SUPPLEMENTAL
INCOME PROGRAM
Attention Tribal members;
It’s getting to be that time of year again. Time to remember to send
us a copy of your current (2014-15 preferably) benefi t statement from
the Social Security Administration so that we can update your fi le.
If you do not receive your current benefi t statement, you may order
one by calling the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213
or go online at www.ssa.gov. Your current benefi t statement must
reach our offi ce by Jan. 31, 2015, to avoid any future delays in your
benefi ts. For Elders age 55 and up, if you have been qualifi ed under
the SSA department as SSI (Social Security Supplemental Income)
or SSD (Social Security Disability) eligible, your pension checks may
qualify as non-taxable. We will need a copy of that document (SSA
award letter) on fi le in order for this to take effect.
We have updated our SSI/SSD application form and it will be
required that all Tribal members in the SSI/SSD Supplemental
Program have a new updated application form in their fi le. This ap-
plication form will be mailed to all current members of this program
within the next 30 days. Please complete and return the form at
your earliest convenience. If you are a new member to this program
(within the last 60 days), you have already submitted the updated
application and do not need to complete another, but you will need
to submit your new award letter for the year 2015.
Please mail copies of your benefi t statement to:
CTGR Member Services
Attn: Jolanda Catabay
9615 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, OR 97347
You may also e-mail or fax a copy to the following: Fax: 1-800-879-
2480 or e-mail: Jolanda.catabay@grandronde.org.
Note: It is the responsibility of the Tribal member to notify
the Tribe of any changes in your benefi ts from the Social
Security Administration SSI/SSD program. Failure to notify
the Tribe may result in an obligation to repay ineligible ben-
efi ts received, interrupt or delay your Tribal Supplemental
Security Income and Disability payments.
Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions or
concerns. My contact numbers are 503-879-2253 or toll-free 1-800
422-0232, ext. 2253.
Respectfully,
Jolanda Catabay
Enrollment Member Services Specialist
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
West Valley district
seeking Fire Explorers
The West Valley Fire District, which covers Grand Ronde, Willamina
and Sheridan, is seeking youths for its Fire Explorer Program.
Young men and women age 14 to 20 will become familiar with career
opportunities in the fi re service through classroom instruction, hands-
on training and volunteer work. The program encourages and promotes
accountability, safety, communication, teamwork, fi tness and leadership.
Participants must attend weekly drills from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays,
adhere to dress and conduct codes, perform weekly physical fi tness and
training specifi c to fi refi ghting skills, and demonstrate a willingness to
make improvements and show self-motivation.
For more information, contact Fire Explorer Post 908 adviser Seth
Bellarts at 503-437-2046. n
Correction — An out-of-date Save Our Skookum survey and article
were accidentally printed in the Nov. 15 issue of Smoke Signals. Tribal
members do not need to respond to the survey or the article. Smoke Sig-
nals regrets the error.
Tribal Offi ce Closures
Tribal offi ces will be closing on Wednesday, Dec. 24, at noon and
closed on Thursday, Dec. 25, in observance of Christmas. Offi ces
will also be closing on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at noon and closed on
Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, in observance of New Years.
General Council meeting
Sunday, Dec. 7 — 10 a.m.
Tribal Community Center
Smoke Signals
PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173
Web site: www.grandronde.org/news
E-mail: news@grandronde.org
Twitter: CTGRgov
Facebook: Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
SIOBHAN TAYLOR
CHELSEA CLARK
DEAN RHODES
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/
PUBLICATIONS
SECRETARY
PUBLICATIONS
COORDINATOR
503-879-1418
dean.rhodes@grandronde.org
503-879-1920
siobhan.taylor@grandronde.org
503-879-1463
chelsea.clark@grandronde.org
GEORGE VALDEZ
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
RON KARTEN
GRAPHIC DESIGN
SPECIALIST
PAGE DESIGNER
STAFF WRITER
503-879-2190
503-879-4663
503-879-1416
justin.phillips@grandronde.org
ron.karten@grandronde.org
MICHELLE ALAIMO
VALERIE COX
SCARLETT HOLTZ
PHOTOJOURNALIST
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-1961
503-879-1446
michelle.alaimo@grandronde.org
valerie.cox@grandronde.org
george.valdez@grandronde.org
DEADLINE DATE
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-1447
scarlett.holtz@grandronde.org
ISSUE DATE
Friday, Dec. 5 .............................Dec. 15
Friday, Dec. 19 ....................Jan. 1, 2015
Editorial Policy
SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Com-
munity 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 e-mail address
must be included for verifi cation purposes. Full addresses and phone numbers will not
be published unless requested.
SMOKE SIGNALS reserves the right to edit letters and to refuse letters that are determined
to contain libelous statements or personal attacks on individuals, staff, Tribal administration
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 refl ect the
opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS, Tribal staff, Tribal administration or Tribal Council.
Members of: n Native American Journalists Association
n The Associated Press
n Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
2014-15 Tribal Council
1-800-422-0232 — tribalcouncil@grandronde.org
n Reyn Leno
Tribal Chairman
— ext. 2399
n Denise Harvey
— ext. 2353
reyn.leno@grandronde.org
n Chris Mercier
— ext. 1444
n Jack Giffen Jr.
Tribal Vice Chair
— ext. 2300
jack.giffen@grandronde.org
denise.harvey@grandronde.org
chris.mercier@grandronde.org
n Cheryle A. Kennedy
— ext. 2352
n Toby McClary
Tribal Secretary
— ext. 4555
cheryle.kennedy@grandronde.org
toby.mcclary@grandronde.org
tonya.gleason-shepek@grandronde.org
n Ed Pearsall
— ext. 2305
n Jon A. George
— ext. 2355
ed.pearsall@grandronde.org
jon.george@grandronde.org
n Tonya Gleason-Shepek
— ext. 1777