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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2016)
S moke S ignals MAY 1, 2016 Tribal Council approves moving Elders payments to irst of month By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor It’s oficial. Starting in June, Tribal Elders will start receiving their retirement payments on the irst of the month instead of the 10th. The new payment date was ap- proved by Tribal Council during its Wednesday, April 20, meeting as part of amendments to the Elders’ Retirement Program & SSI Program Ordinance. The primary purpose of changing the payment date is to avoid the ad- ministrative burden of having Elders’ payments conlict with quarterly per capita payments. In addition, the ear- lier payment date should help Elders who use the money to pay bills, such as rent, that are due on the irst of the month. Tribal Senior Staff Attorney De- neen Aubertin Keller said during the Tuesday, April 19, Legislative Action Committee meeting that there were no comments received from the mem- bership regarding the amendments. Tribal Council also approved creat- ing a new bank account with Wells Fargo through which the Tribe’s Finance Department will start pro- cessing Elders’ payments in-house starting on June 1. In other action, Tribal Council: • Approved the agenda for the Sun- day, May 1, General Council meet- ing to be held at 11 a.m. in the Tribal Community Center. The program report will be from the Food Access Community Team; • Adopted an amended and restated 401(k) retirement plan for the Tribe; • Amended the Hotel Occupancy Tax Ordinance to increase the tax from 8 percent to 10 percent for occupa- tion of rooms at Spirit Mountain Lodge; • Approved a transportation pro- gram agreement with the Bureau of Indian Affairs that will bring the Tribe approximately $1.086 million in funding for transportation proj- ects and activities; • Approved a contract with MacKen- zie, a irm with ofices in Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, for land use planning assistance at the 31-acre Multnomah Greyhound Park site in Wood Village purchased by the Tribe in 2015; • And approved the enrollment of two infants into the Tribe because they meet the criteria established in the Tribal Constitution and the Enrollment Ordinance. Also included in the April 20 Tribal Council packet was a summary of directives that, among other actions, appointed Tribal Council Vice Chair Jack Giffen Jr. to the Tillamook For- est Heritage Trust Board, approved the addition of another optometrist position at the Health & Wellness Center and approved additional funds for the burial benefit meal service for Tribal Elder Richard “Mushy” Ray. Tribal Culture Department mem- bers Bobby Mercier and Travis Stew- art and Tribal youth Nokoa Mercier performed the cultural drumming and singing to open the meeting. Yamhill Community Action Part- nership Executive Director Jeff Sar- gent also presented Tribal Council members with artisan-made wooden bowls in appreciation for the Grand Ronde Tribe’s longtime support for the charitable organization. To watch the meeting in its entire- ty, visit the Tribal website at www. grandronde.org, click on the News tab and then Video. 5 Nutrition Program plans Fun Walk The Tribal Nutrition Program will hold its irst annual Fun Walk and Field Day starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 4. There will be a 1-mile walk, 5K walk and family fun activities in the ield across from the Governance Center in Grand Ronde. Walks will start at 10 a.m. and ield activities at 11 a.m. Lunch will be served at noon. “Please join us for a family fun day of good nutrition and outside activities,” said Nutrition Program Manager Kristy DeLoe. For more information, contact DeLoe at 503-879-2018 or Kristy. deloe@grandronde.org. Seeking your donations for 4 organizations! G RAND R ONDE H ELPING H ANDS I SKAM M ƎK ʰM ƎK -H AWS , T HE C LOTHES C LOSET , E MPOWERMENT O UTREACH MINISTRIES , AND A C AUSE FOR P AWS ARE WORKING TOGETHER You’ve got it. We want it! Saturday, May 14 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Give to 4 organizations in one location! Iskam is seeking children’s birthday kit items: cake mix, frosting, candles, and children’s birthday cards. The Clothes Closet is seeking school supply items: new or gently used backpacks, messenger bags, paper, pencils, crayons, copy paper, colored pencils, glue, rulers, markers, tissue, and cleaning wipes. Empowerment Outreach is seeking camping equipment, bedding, sleeping bags (broken zipper ok) for homeless. A Cause for Paws is seeking pet food, toys, and beds. We will take books for our lending library. Clean out your food pantry, we’ll figure out the expiration dates! If you are not sure, bring it or give us a call. Iskam MǝkʰMǝk-Haws 9675 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, OR 97347 503-879-FOOD (3663) Follow us on Facebook Bike helmets available The Tribe’s Social Services Department has bicycle helmets available for distribution. Those needing a helmet need to visit the department and sign a helmet application, as well as get itted. For more information, contact Social Services at 503-879-2034. free gardening course where Iskam Mek h Mek Haws 9675 Grand Ronde Rd. Taught indoors with possible visits to onsite garden Seed to Supper: Growing Veggies on a Budget Mondays how Registraion is required. Contact Surabhi at 503-581-3855. Contact Francene Ambrose at 503- 879-3663 for more informaion. details Please plan to atend all 6 classes. Paricipants get a free gardening book, seeds, and other goodies! Ad created by George Valdez April 4th-May 9th 6-8 pm Learn low-cost ways to build healthy soil, plan your growing space, choose your crops, care for your growing garden, and harvest your bounty!