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)
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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!