8
S moke S ignals
DECEMBER 1, 2018
Beneficiaries receive more time
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Designated beneficiaries will
now have an extra six months
to claim funds after Tribal
Council approved amendments
to the Member Benefit Fund
Ordinance on Wednesday,
Nov. 28.
Previously, any benefits not
claimed by a designated benefi-
ciary within one year of a Tribal
member’s death were returned
to the fund for distribution.
With the amendments, benefi-
ciaries will now have 18 months
to claim the benefit before the
money is returned to the Mem-
ber Benefit Fund for Tribal-wide
distribution.
In addition, the Tribe will take
on the added responsibility of
trying to notify the beneficiary
by publishing a notice in Smoke
Signals for six months after the
first 12 months pass and the
funds remain unclaimed.
In other action, Tribal Council
also clarified the Enrollment
Ordinance to delineate what
the word “entitled” means when
referring to people who were
not listed on the August 1954
Termination Roll, but should
have been.
“Following many meetings,
Tribal Council believes the ap-
propriate criteria to establish an
individual was entitled to be on
the membership roll on Aug. 13,
1954, is that the individual was
living on that date and born to a
member of the Tribe,” states an
executive summary regarding
the clarification. “This action
does not alter the Enrollment
Ordinance requirements, but
rather provides an official in-
terpretation.”
In other action, Tribal Coun-
cil:
• Approved an emergency
amendment to the Guard-
ianship and Conservatorship
Ordinance that allows the
Tribe’s Children and Family
Services program to file for
conservatorship in Tribal
Court for children in state
court dependency care and
include the appropriate state
department as an “interested
person”;
• Approved the annual self-gov-
ernance funding agreement
with the U.S. Department of
the Interior;
• And approved the agenda for
the Sunday, Dec. 2, General
Council meeting that will be
held at 10 a.m. in the Tribal
Community Center. Spirit
Mountain Community Fund
will make the program report
and the Editorial Board also
will make a presentation.
Tribal Lands Department
Manager Jan Looking Wolf
Reibach provided the cultural
drumming and singing to open
the meeting.
The entire meeting can be
viewed by visiting the Tribal
website at www.grandronde.
org and clicking on the News
tab and then Video.
Turkey bowling
Photos by Timothy J. Gonzalez
Maintenance Supervisor Andrew Freeman , center , gets a high five
after his winning throw in the men ’ s division during the 15th annual
Tribal Turkey Bowling at the Youth Education building on Thursday ,
Nov. 15.
Employee Relations
Specialist Steve O ’ Harra ,
left , congratulates Deann
Dickinson on taking first
place in the
women ’ s
division.
At right , Curriculum Specialist Mercedes Jones participates in the 15th
annual Tribal Turkey Bowling held at the Youth Education building.
Clark joins Smoke Signals staff
By Danielle Frost
Smoke Signals staff writer
Tribal member and Grand Ronde
resident Jennifer Clark joined the
staff of Smoke Signals on Monday,
Nov. 26.
Clark will work in the newly cre-
ated social media/digital journalist
position, which includes expanding
media into various platforms such
as YouTube videos and podcasting
to complement the current print
and online product.
She currently produces podcasts
for the nonprofit online ministry
“Out of the Darkness” and writes
a monthly e-newsletter.
“I’ve always been interested in
journalism,” Clark said. “I like the
idea of getting to go out, talking to
people and learning more about my
Tribe and our culture. I have a real
interest in that.”
Clark, 31, has called Grand
Ronde home for the past four years.
She lives with husband, Wade, and
two children: son Logan, 10, and
daughter Arya, 5. Her mom is Tina
Leno, and grandparents are Victor
and Kristina Cureton.
“I’m looking forward to finding
local stories that connect with peo-
ple on a personal level,” Clark said.
She earned an associate degree
in general studies from Chemeketa
Community College. Previously,
Clark worked as a teacher’s aide for
the Tribal preschool and as an ad-
ministrative assistant at Chachalu
Museum & Cultural Center.
“We are looking forward to Jenni-
fer helping Smoke Signals expand
its media outreach to the mem-
bership via podcasting, videos and
other offerings on myriad social
Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez
Jennifer Clark is the new Social
Media/Digital Journalist for the
Confederated Tribes of the Grand
Ronde. She will be concentrating
on expanding Smoke Signals ’ social
media outreach to other platforms
beyond Facebook. Her first day was
Monday , Nov. 26.
media platforms,” Publications
Coordinator Dean Rhodes said.
“We are sure she will grow profes-
sionally as Smoke Signals grows
journalistically over the years. Her
interest in the Tribe will hopefully
help us make more connections
with the diverse and dispersed
membership.”
In her free time, Clark said she
enjoys hiking, spending time with
family and photography.
She can be reached at 503-879-
1461 or Jennifer.clark@gran-
dronde.org.