S MOKE S IGNALS
JANUARY 15, 2015
Food Bank provides
food boxes
If you receive SNAP, TANF, SSI or LIHEAP assistance, you auto-
matically qualify for assistance at the Grand Ronde Food Bank, 9675
Grand Ronde Road.
Upcoming food box distributions are scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16; 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 30. No one will be turned away in need of a food box.
Call on non-distribution days to make sure someone is available to
assist you. Please contact Food Bank Coordinator Francene Ambrose at
503-879-3663 or at fambrose@marionpolkfoodshare.org. n
Food bank seeking
volunteers
The Grand Ronde Food Bank – iskam mfkhmfk haws – is run by Marion
Polk Food Share, which has been leading the fi ght to end hunger since
1987 because no one should be hungry.
“It takes a community to fi ght local hunger,” says Food Bank Coordi-
nator Francene Ambrose. “Your gift of time and talent means so much
to individuals, families and children who are struggling. We are looking
for assistance putting food on the shelves and handing out food boxes on
distribution days.”
If you are interested in volunteering, contact Ambrose at 503-879-3663
or at fambrose@marionpolkfoodshare.org. The food bank is at 9675 Grand
Ronde Road. n
Offi cial Tribal Facebook pages
• Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde:
www.facebook.com/CTGRgov
• Grand Ronde Tribal Council:
www.facebook.com/TheConfederatedTribesOfGrandRondeTribalCouncil
• Grand Ronde Higher Education:
www.facebook.com/grand.r.ed
• Grand Ronde Youth Education:
www.facebook.com/CTGRYouthEducation
• Spirit Mountain Community Fund:
www.facebook.com/SpiritMountainCommunityFund
• Grand Ronde Station:
www.facebook.com/GrandRondeStation
• Grand Ronde Royalty:
www.facebook.com/TheConfederatedTribesofGrandRondeRoyalty
• Veterans Special Event Board:
www.facebook.com/pages/Veterans-Board-of-the-Confederated-Tribes-of-
the-Grand-Ronde-Community
• Community Garden: www.facebook.com/GrandRondeCommunityGarden
3
Tribal Council amends
its own travel policy
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Tribal Council amended the pol-
icy governing its members travel
during the last meeting of 2014
held on Wednesday, Dec. 31.
The appendix to the Tribal Coun-
cil Travel Policy allocates $9,000
annually for each Tribal Coun-
cil member for business travel.
However, travel expenses directly
attributed to unavoidable travel
delays caused by bad weather, me-
chanical issues, national disasters
and any other cause outside of the
control of a Tribal Council member
will not be applied toward the trav-
el allowance.
In addition, newly elected Tribal
Council members who take offi ce in
September will have $6,000 for busi-
ness travel from the date of their
election until the end of the year.
If a Tribal Council member ex-
ceeds the annual limit and no ad-
ditional funding is approved by the
rest of Tribal Council, he or she will
be billed for the expenses incurred.
In other action, Tribal Council
approved the 2016-17 funding
application for a Performance Part-
nership Grant to the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency.
Fish and Wildlife Program Man-
ager Kelly Dirksen said at the Dec.
30 Legislative Action Committee
meeting that the Tribe has received
the grant since 1999 and the funds
help pay for a portion of the wages
of four Natural Resources Depart-
ment employees to ensure the Tribe
is in compliance with federal envi-
ronmental rules.
Tribal Council also approved the
2015 annual funding agreement
with the U.S. Department of the
Interior, which will bring almost
$4 million in federal funding to
the Tribe.
In addition, Tribal Council ap-
proved the enrollment of four infants
into the Tribe because they have
been found to meet Tribal member-
ship eligibility requirements.
Also included in the Dec. 31
Tribal Council packet was an au-
thorization to proceed to continue
the Tribe’s membership in the
Oregon Tribal Gaming Alliance for
2015 and appointing Tribal Council
member Chris Mercier as the del-
egate with all other Tribal Council
members designated as alternates.
Bobby Mercier, Brian Krehbiel,
Jan Looking Wolf Reibach, Tribal
Council member Jon A. George, Les-
lie Riggs and Travis Mercier led a
large contingent of Tribal members
performing the cultural drumming
and singing to open the meeting.
The meeting, in its entirety, can
be viewed on the Tribal website,
www.grandronde.org, under the
“Video” shortcut. n
St. Michael’s off ers weekly brunch
St. Michael’s Catholic Church offers an open house brunch every Sunday
following Mass. The brunch is free to the community.
Brunch begins at about 11:30 a.m. following the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Mass
attendance is not required for brunch attendance. For more information,
contact Janelle Justen at 503-550-0923. n
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: Marline Groshong.
• Cultural Trust Board meets at 4 p.m. on the fi rst Tuesday of each month
at the Elders Activity Center. Chair: Perri McDaniel.
• Culture Committee meets at 1 p.m. the fi rst Wednesday of the month at
the Chachalu Museum & Cultural Center. Chair: Betty Bly.
• Education Committee meets at 5:15 p.m. on the fi rst Monday of the
month in the Adult Education Building. Chair: Tammy Cook.
• Elders Committee meets at 1 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month in
the Elders Activity Center. Chair: Julie Duncan.
• Enrollment Committee meets quarterly in Room 204 of the Governance
Building. Chair: Robert Schmid.
• Fish & Wildlife Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of
the month at the Natural Resources building off Hebo Road. Chair: Harold
Lyon.
• Health Committee meets at 10 a.m. the second Wednesday of the month
in the Health & Wellness Center. Chair: Patti Tom-Martin.
• Powwow Special Event Board meets TBA at the Community Center.
Chair: Dana Ainam.
• Social Services Committee meets at 3 p.m. the third Wednesday of the
month in the Social Services conference room. Chair: Alan Ham.
• Timber Committee meets at 5 p.m. the second Thursday of the month
at the Natural Resources building off Hebo Road. Chair: Bob Mercier.
• Veterans Special Event Board meets at 5 p.m. the fi rst Tuesday of the
month in the Community Center. Chair: Steve Bobb Sr.
For Who:
Native American youth
Reading Program for K-5th grades
Tutoring for 6th-12th graders
including Home School
Where:
CTGR Youth Education
Building
Dates/Days/Time:
s Thursdays 5:15 p.m.-7 p.m.
s Jan. 15 – March 12
Dinner:
Provided for those
attending the tutoring and
culture activities only.
Cost: FREE
To update information on this list, contact Publications Coordinator Dean
Rhodes at 503-879-1463 or dean.rhodes@grandronde.org.
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