2
S MOKE S IGNALS
JANUARY 1, 2015
NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE
TIME
Wednesday, Jan 14..............................................................................4 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan 28..............................................................................4 p.m.
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed.
Letters
Dear Smoke Signals:
Season greetings from our Grand Ronde Royalty. We wish everyone a
prosperous New Year. We would like to thank everyone who has supported
the Royalty Court throughout the year.
Our support from Tribal programs and also the girls’ parents and spon-
sors, including Spirit Mountain Casino and our Tribal Council, Veterans
Royalty, Dakota Whitecloud for her generous donations, Margaret Provost,
Social Services, Prevention and so many more.
Many blessings to all of our Tribal members. Thank you and Happy
Holidays.
Promise Rimer
Roll #4891
Dear Smoke Signals:
A big thank you to the community for coming together for the Tree
Lighting. Jack Giffen Jr., who is such a trooper for being Santa, Lisa Leno,
Dave Fullerton, Shannon Stanton, all Youth Prevention. Thank you, Youth
Education – Kendra, Tiffany, Kevin Simmons for all you do!
The Culture Committee, a big thank you, too! Jon A. George and Denise
Harvey, thank you also for helping with our vision of Christmas tree lights
in Grand Ronde for the community.
If I missed anyone, thank you, too!
Merry Christmas.
Linda Brandon
Roll #42
General Council meeting
Sunday, Jan. 4 — 11 a.m.
Tribal Community Center
Smoke Signals
PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
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Website: www.grandronde.org/news
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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
Tribal Council OKs
2015 operating budget
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Tribal Council approved the 2015 calendar year budget during its
Wednesday, Dec. 17, meeting.
The preliminary budget was sent to Tribal members in the November
Tilixam Wawa and the membership was briefed about its content during
the Nov. 2 General Council meeting by Finance Offi cer Chris Leno.
Tribal members had until Dec. 7 to submit written comments on the
proposed budget.
In other action, Tribal Council:
• Approved a purchase-and-sale agreement for acquisition of the Rattle-
snake 3 property. The Tribe has entered into an agreement to pursue
the acquisition of an additional 172 acres adjacent to the Rattlesnake
Butte property, which is managed for conservation of wildlife in Lane
County. If successful, the purchase would be 100 percent funded by the
Willamette Mitigation Program operated by the Bonneville Power Ad-
ministration and will bring the total to 269 acres of Tribal conservation
land ownership near Eugene;
• Appointed David Harrelson as the Tribal Historic Preservation Offi cer;
• Amended the Tribe’s Retirement Plan to only allow two pre-retirement
in-service distributions from fully vested accounts for participants who
have reached the age of 59.5 per calendar year;
• Approved an agreement not to exceed $382,752 with Advanced Security
for security services for the Tribal campus and Tribal Housing Authority
in 2015;
• Adopted the amended Tribal Government Operations Trust Fund policy;
• And approved the enrollment of six people, including one infant, into
the Tribe. n
ATTENTION
If you are currently receiving or are in need of SNAP benefi ts,
Social Services provides an Oregon Department of Human Services
caseworker who comes to Grand Ronde twice monthly on Wednes-
days. The caseworker may assist with applications, updates,
child care, etc. If you are in need of services, call 503-879-2034
to schedule an appointment or you can reach Michelle Carmona
at 503-879-4523. n
DEADLINE DATE
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-1447
scarlett.holtz@grandronde.org
ISSUE DATE
Monday, Jan. 6 ............................Jan. 15
Tuesday, Jan. 21 ........................... Feb. 1
Thursday, Feb. 6 ......................... Feb. 15
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
2015 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