2
S moke S ignals
MARCH 15, 2017
NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE
TIME
Wednesday, March 22.........................................................................4 p.m.
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed.
Letters
Dear Smoke Signals:
My name is Angela Schlappie. I am a member of the Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde and a volunteer for the Tribal Member Review
Board. I always see the recruitment efforts of the court in Smoke Signals
and thought I would take the opportunity to share with you the reason
why I have been volunteering for this wonderful board since the program
began 12 years ago.
Initially, I planned to volunteer short-term. I believe the program be-
gan with nine volunteers. I hoped to help the program get started and
then move on after a few years. Unfortunately, the number of volunteers
dwindled over the years and we were left with just four board members
and an overwhelming need for volunteers to continue with a successful
Tribal Member Review Board program.
Upon discovering the personal satisfaction I gained from knowing I was
making a difference, I couldn’t bear the thought of quitting. I couldn’t
leave my team; even more, I couldn’t leave the families I had grown to
know so well.
While a lot of our children are placed in familiar homes, some displaced
children are very confused and not sure what to expect. I feel grateful
that I can be a part of a team of familiar faces to that child and reassure
them they are not getting lost in the shuffle. I love telling them that I am
a Tribal member and I care. I am proud to serve on a board of resourceful
members who offer their knowledge and express their passion to serve
our Tribal families.
Who can apply to volunteer? The only requirements to volunteer are
that board members must be 21 or older, live in the six-county service
area and participate in 24 hours of orientation/training in the first year.
What does the Tribal Member Review Board do? The panel consists of
three volunteers who are assigned to specific cases. These members review
cases of children who are wards of the court, attend hearings to review
the family’s progress and make recommendations to the family, Social
Services Department and the Tribal judge.
Feeling like you’re too busy to volunteer? So did I. Anyone who knows
me knows I have a hectic schedule! I work full-time while attending college
full-time. I’m a mother and a wife, and I still find time to volunteer. The
good news is that the Tribal Member Review Board rarely requires more
than 20 hours a year. Just think, you could make a difference with just 20
volunteer hours a year. Not only will you be supporting our families and
Tribal youth, you will promote personal growth as well as improve your
own self-esteem. Volunteering offers the chance to give something back to
the community while making a difference in our Tribal children’s’ lives.
Be the difference you want to see in our Tribe. Help me show our Tribal
families that we care.
I remain a volunteer because I believe the Tribal Member Review Board
makes a difference. We are committed to the families we serve. I believe
the Tribal Member Review Board allows me to be the voice for our families
and allows me to ensure the children are getting their needs met.
I sincerely hope this message encourages some of you to take time to
volunteer. If you’re interested in being a Tribal Member Review Board
volunteer, please contact the Tribal Court Programs Specialist, Annie
Schmidt, at 503-879-4623. If you want more information, Annie will be
holding a volunteer information session on Friday, March 17, from 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m. at the Grand Ronde Food Bank.
If the Tribal Member Review Board is not for you, don’t fret, there are
other opportunities to volunteer. The Tribal Court is also seeking volun-
teers for the Peacemakers and the Court Appointed Special Advocates
programs.
It’s up to us to be the voice for the future of our Tribe: our children.
Have a great day!
Hayu masi,
Angela Schlappie
Roll #2556
ATTENTION CTGR TELEPHONE SERVICE
If you have an emergency and need to dial “911” you must first dial a
“9” (9911).
The only calls that do not require that you dial a 9+ are those made
from the CTGR extensions within the CTGR campus and/or those who
use CTGR Tel for their home phone service.
General Council meeting
followed by the Community Input meeting
Valley River Inn, Eugene
11 a.m. Sunday, April 2
Smoke Signals
PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173
Website: www.grandronde.org/news
E-mail: news@grandronde.org
Twitter: CTGRgov
Facebook: Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
DEAN RHODES
CHELSEA CLARK
MICHELLE ALAIMO
PUBLICATIONS
COORDINATOR
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/
PUBLICATIONS
ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT
PHOTOJOURNALIST
503-879-1463
dean.rhodes@grandronde.org
Smoke Signals strives for 100 percent accuracy in its reporting. If you
see a factual error, contact Publications Coordinator Dean Rhodes at dean.
rhodes@grandronde.org or at 503-879-1463.
michelle.alaimo@grandronde.org
503-879-1418
chelsea.clark@grandronde.org
GEORGE VALDEZ
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
BRENT MERRILL
GRAPHIC DESIGN
SPECIALIST
PAGE DESIGNER
STAFF WRITER
503-879-2190
503-879-4663
503-879-1416
justin.phillips@grandronde.org
brent.merrill@grandronde.org
george.valdez@grandronde.org
SCARLETT HOLTZ
NOVALEE LANCOUR
CENTRAL PHONES
CENTRAL PHONES
503-879-1447
503-879-1446
scarlett.holtz@grandronde.org
novalee.lancour@grandronde.org
DEADLINE DATE
ISSUE DATE
Monday, March 20 ....................... April 1
Friday, April 7 ........................... April 15
Friday, April 21 ............................ May 1
Editorial Policy
SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Com-
munity of Oregon, is published twice a month. No portion of this publication may be reprinted
without permission.
Our editorial policy is intended to encourage input from Tribal members and readers
about stories printed in the Tribal newspaper. However, all letters received must be
signed by the author, an address must be given and a phone number or e-mail address
must be included for verification purposes. Full addresses and phone numbers will not
be published unless requested.
SMOKE SIGNALS reserves the right to edit letters and to refuse letters that are determined
to contain libelous statements or personal attacks on individuals, staff, Tribal administration
or Tribal Council. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Letters to the
editor are the opinions and views of the writer. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the
opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS, Tribal staff, Tribal administration or Tribal Council.
Members of: Native American Journalists Association
Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
2017 Tribal Council
1-800-422-0232 — tribalcouncil@grandronde.org
Reyn Leno
Tribal Chairman
— ext. 2399
Denise Harvey
— ext. 2353
reyn.leno@grandronde.org
Chris Mercier
— ext. 1444
Cheryle A. Kennedy
Tribal Vice Chair
— ext. 2352
cheryle.kennedy@grandronde.org
Correction — In the story on the Tribal Court Peacemaker Program
that appeared in the March 1 Smoke Signals, it was incorrectly reported
that the program is free only to Grand Ronde Tribal members. The pro-
gram is actually free to all community members.
Smoke Signals regrets the error.
503-879-1961
Jon A. George
Tribal Secretary
— ext. 2355
jon.george@grandronde.org
denise.harvey@grandronde.org
chris.mercier@grandronde.org
Brenda Tuomi
— ext. 4555
brenda.tuomi@grandronde.org
Tonya Gleason-Shepek
— ext. 1777
tonya.gleason-shepek@grandronde.org
Kathleen George
— ext. 2305
Jack Giffen Jr.
— ext. 2300
kathleen.george@grandronde.org
jack.giffen@grandronde.org