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