S moke S ignals NOVEMBER 15, 2016 Food Bank provides boxes, seeks help NOTICE TO ALL TRIBAL MEMBERS ON THE SSI/SSD SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME PROGRAM The Grand Ronde Food Bank – iskam mfkhmfk haws – is operated by Marion-Polk Food Share, which was been leading the fight to end hunger since 1987 because no one should be hungry. Recipients of SNAP, TANF, SSI or LIHEAP assistance automat- ically 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 distributions will be held 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18. The Food Bank will be closed Thanksgiving week from Nov. 21 through Nov. 25. “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.” Those who are unable to pick up a food box can fill out an autho- rized representative form and that person can pick up a food box on your behalf. The authorization is good for one year. The Food Bank continues to seek volunteers to help with repacking food, putting food on the shelves, handing out food boxes and end- of-month inventory. In addition, the Food Bank is participating in a program called Fresh Alliance in which volunteers pick up food donations directly from area stores. Volunteers with a truck who could pick up at these stores at least once a week and a partner to ride and help load are being sought. Call to ensure someone is available to assist. People 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@marionpolk- foodshare.org for more information or to volunteer. Attention Tribal members on SSI or SSD Programs: 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 Education Committee Veterans SEB Culture Committee Fish & Wildlife Committee 1 vacancy 1 vacancy, 1 alternate vacancy 1 vacancy 1 vacancy 1 vacancy 1 vacancy 1 vacancy Please send completed applications to Stacia Martin, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347. 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 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the Grand Ronde Food Bank/iskam mfkhmfk haws, 9675 Grand Ronde Road. 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 Board 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: Tyson Mercier. • 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. 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. 3 It’s getting to be that time of year again. Time to remember to send us a copy of your current 2017 benefit statement from the Social Security Administration so that we can update your file. This is a requirement for members between the age of 18- 54 who are wanting to re-qualify for this supplemental program. The SSA benefit statements should start to come out to those Tribal members who qualify starting around the month of November with most receiving these statements in December. If you do not receive your current benefit statement you may order one by calling the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772- 1213 or go online at www.ssa.gov. Your current benefit statement must reach our office by Jan. 31, 2017, to avoid any future delays in your benefits. For Elders age 55 and up, it is a requirement that we have an updated Social Security Administration (SSA) letter of eligibility once every two years. Please note: We will be contacting every Elder on the supplemental program (SSI) to verify that we get a copy of your SSA statement. Failure to provide this document may result in your Elder tax status being changed from non-taxable Elder pension to taxable Elder pen- sion. We will need a copy of that document (SSA award letter) to update your file. Please mail copies of your benefit statement and the application to: CTGR Member Services Attn: Jolanda Catabay 9615 Grand Ronde Rd. Grand Ronde, OR 97347 You may also e-mail or fax a copy to the following; fax: 1-503- 879-2480. E-mail: Jolanda.Catabay@grandronde.org Note: It is the responsibility of the Tribal member to notify the Tribe of any changes in your benefits from the Social Security Administration SSI/SSD program. Failure to notify the Tribe may result in an obligation to repay in- eligible benefits received or interrupt or delay your Tribal Supplemental Security Income and Disability payments. Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions or concerns. My contact number(s): 503-879-2253 or toll-free 1-800- 422-0232, ext. 2253. Respectfully, Jolanda Catabay Enrollment Member Services Specialist Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde 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 • Grand Ronde Youth Council: www.facebook.com/CTGRYouthCouncil/ Clothes Closet open Monday, Friday The Clothes Closet is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday and Friday on the Tribal campus near the Elders Activity Center at the end of Blacktail Drive. It accepts clothes, small appliances, small pieces of furniture, elec- tronics and household goods that are clean and in good condition. It does not accept books, large TVs or large furniture, but there is a community board where people can post those items. Donations are accepted during regular business hours. For more information or emergency clothes, contact Lori Walker-Her- nandez at 559-847-7565 or Daniele Powley at 503-917-8732.