S moke S ignals
APRIL 15, 2016
3
Food Bank provides Membership evenly
boxes, seeks help split on building pool
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.
No one will be turned away in need of a food box.
Upcoming food box distribution dates are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday,
April 15; 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 20; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday,
April 29.
Those who are unable to pick up a food box may fill out an authorized
representative form and that person can pick up a food box on your
behalf. The authorization is good for one year.
The Grand Ronde Food Bank – iskam mfkhmfk haws – is run by
Marion-Polk Food Share, which has been leading the fight to end
hunger since 1987 because no one should be hungry.
“We believe that everyone deserves to have enough to eat,” says
Food Bank Coordinator Francene Ambrose. “You are welcome to get
a food box at each of our regular weekly distributions. No one will be
turned away in need of a food box.”
The Food Bank continues to seek volunteers to help with repacking
food, putting food on the shelves, handing out food boxes and end-of-
the-month inventory. All volunteers must attend annual mandatory
training once a year. The next training, which will cover safe food
handling, non-discrimination and warehouse safety, will be held from
1 to 3 p.m. Monday, April 18, at the Food Bank.
Call on non-distribution days to ensure someone is available to as-
sist you. You also can sign up for a monthly e-mail for the Food Bank
calendar and events, as well as follow the Food Bank on Facebook.
The Food Bank is an equal opportunity provider.
Contact Ambrose at 503-879-3663 or at fambrose@marionpolkfood-
share.org for more information or to volunteer.
Official 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/CTGRRoyalty
• 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
• Grand Ronde Food Bank: www.facebook.com/GrandRondeFoodBank
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 Hunting Board meets as needed. Chair: Marline Groshong.
• Culture Committee meets at 1 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at
Chachalu Museum & Cultural Center. Chair: Betty Bly.
• Education Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the
month in the Adult Education building. Chair: Tammy Cook.
• Elders Committee meets at 10 a.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
Center. Chair: Michael Mercier.
• 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.
• Housing Board meets at 3 p.m. the third Thursday of the month in the
Housing Department conference room. Chair: Matt Thomas.
• Powwow Special Event Board meets monthly at noon at the Community
Center. Dates vary. Contact Dana Ainam at 503-879-2037 or Kalene Con-
treras at 503-879-2165. Chair: Dana Ainam.
• 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 first Tuesday of the
month in the old Elders Craft House. Chair: Steve Bobb Sr.
To update information on this list, contact Publications Coordinator Dean
Rhodes at 503-879-1463 or dean.rhodes@grandronde.org.
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
A survey of the Tribal member-
ship found an almost 50-50 split
when it comes to building a com-
munity swimming pool in Grand
Ronde.
The survey, which was distrib-
uted on Feb. 2 and allowed Tribal
members until March 18 to respond
either via mail or the Internet,
received 824 responses. Of those
who responded, 425, or 51.6 per-
cent, said they support the Tribal
government building and operating
a pool in Grand Ronde while 399,
or 48.4 percent, opposed the idea.
Interestingly, the surveys that
could be identified as coming from
the local or regional area also re-
sulted in a close vote: 252 in sup-
port and 230 opposed.
The idea of building a communi-
ty pool in Grand Ronde has been
around for a while, but received
added impetus when Tribal mem-
ber Rex Haller began a serious push
for its construction, citing the lack
of recreational and exercise oppor-
tunities for Tribal members living
in the Grand Ronde area.
Haller submitted a petition to
Tribal Council in 2015 with more
than 250 signatures in support of
building a pool.
In reaction, Tribal Council au-
thorized a feasibility study and
then a survey that was sent to all
Tribal members 18 and older. Tribal
members were given three options
to consider that ranged in construc-
tion cost from approximately $4.5
million to $7.4 million and operating
expenses from $171,345 to $346,574
annually. In all three options, pro-
jected annual revenues fell far short
of annual operating expenses.
Those who supported a pool said
the three most important benefits
or uses would be recreation, health
and well-being, and swimming les-
sons. They also favored a pool built
on the Tribal campus, 55.3 percent,
instead of at Spirit Mountain Casi-
no, 40 percent.
When pool supporters were asked
if they support using Tribal rev-
enues to fund construction and
annual operating costs if that
funding might cause a reduction in
per capita payments or funding for
other programs, 64.9 percent said
no and 35.1 percent said yes.
The survey also found that Tribal
members would support use of the
pool by Tribal members and family,
community members and the pub-
lic, but favored Tribal members and
their family members not having to
pay to use the pool while all others
would have to pay.
Overwhelmingly, most of the
paper surveys came from Oregon:
478 or 669 returned.
At the Sunday, April 3, General
Council meeting held in Eugene,
Tribal Council members said a final
decision has not been made about
whether to build a pool based on
the survey results and that another
work session will need be held to
discuss the issue.
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
Grand Ronde Head Start Preschool is accepting applications for
the upcoming 2016-17 school year.
We are now recruiting expectant mothers and children ages 0-5
for our home-based and center-based programs.
The application deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 5, and selection
will take place on Friday, July 15.
Please stop by the school or call 503-879-2161 for an application,
or go to our website: www.grandronde.org/departments/education/
early-childhood-education.
The first day of school is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 12.
Children with special needs are strongly encouraged to apply.
Transportation may be provided in the Grand Ronde/Willamina/
Sheridan area.
ATTENTION
TRIBAL MEMBERS
COMMITTEE AND SPECIAL EVENT BOARD VACANCIES
The following Committees and Special Event Boards have vacant
positions.
Ceremonial Hunting Board
Election Board
Powwow SEB
1 Vacancy
1 Vacancy, 1 alternate vacancy
2 Vacancies
Please send completed applications to Stacia Martin,
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347.