RTAM’s Distinguished Service Award - Presented in 2022

RTAM’s Distinguished Service Awards

Presented in 2022

Complied by Dorothy Young

Due to CovID-19 and RTAM Annual General Meetings being held mainly virtually, three Distinguished Service Awards were finally presented in person this year.

2020 Chapter Member Distinguished Service Award

Emily Williamson

Emily Williamson has been a member of the Retired Women Teachers’ Association since she retired from teaching and has served on the RWTA Executive Board for 20+ years. She has held many positions including Social committee rep. Membership Chair, and presently serves on the visiting committee.

Emily is compassionate, dedicated, incredibly talented, full of ideas and personality, fun loving, organized, creative, and is RWTA’s “go to person” always willing to help and go the extra mile for RWTA and its members.

RWTA thoroughly enjoys when Emily dresses up as “Mrs. Claus” at each December’s luncheon bringing joy to our members.

Emily was nominated for this Award by the RWTA and the award was presented to Emily by Dorothy Young at the RWTA luncheon on September 29, 2022.

2020 Distinguished Service Award

Joan Dawson

Joan Dawson retired from the School Division of Mystery Lake in June 2008 after thirty-six years of full-time teaching. She began her teaching career in 1972 with the Frontier School Division, teaching grades one and two as well as supervising the kindergarten in Ilford, MB. Joan moved to Thompson in 1973 and spent the next thirty-five years teaching grades one to four and Reading Recovery. She was a gifted mentor both for needy students who fell through the cracks and for struggling teachers.

Since retiring, she has been a strong supporter of the Thompson Association of Retired Educators (TARE), having served as Secretary/ Treasurer, Vice President, President, and Past President.

Joan joined the RTAM Board in 2012 and served on many committees, as either a committee member or the Chair of committees: • AGM and Elections (Member and Chair) • Bylaws and Policy (Member and Chair) • Educational Advocacy, Student Awards and

Wellness (Member) • KIT Editorial Committee (Member) • Membership and Chapters Committee (Member and Co-Chair) • Strategic Plan Ad Hoc Committee (Member) On the RTAM Executive, Joan served for six years as: • Secretary (2015-2018) • President (2018-2019) • Past President and Chair of the AGM and

Elections Committee (2019-2020) Joan assumed the Presidency of RTAM in 2018 at a time of significant change. She was instrumental in supporting many organizational changes such as: • RTAM’s pathway to change with a formal

Strategic Plan. • Significant change in the mandate of the

Officer’s Committee. • Continued training of Board members and

2020 Distinguished Service Award Joan Dawson continued

Staff by offering Volunteer Manitoba seminars. • Continued the practice of securing the services of an independent Chairperson during the Annual General Meeting. • A member of the Committee to hire an Office Manager and additional new staff, to better serve our growing membership. • Meet with the members of all three political parties to advocate for RTAM’s concerns prior to the 2019 Provincial and

Federal elections. Throughout her eight years on the RTAM Board, Joan mentored new Directors and encouraged them to take on the role of chairing a standing committee. Joan’s dedicated service to the retired teachers of Manitoba is exemplified both by her eight years on the RTAM Board and her commitment to drive eight hours each way to RTAM Board meetings, often in inclement weather.

This award was presented by Bill Cann on behalf of the Board at the RTAM dinner on May 4, 2022.

2022 Distinguished Service Award

Bill Cann

Bill’s many varied teaching and administration roles prior to joining RTAM prepared him for the successes and challenges he has faced in his role as President. His volunteer service on Manitoba Education committees, St JamesAssiniboia School Division Committees, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and others offered him snapshots of unique aspects of education and leadership practices to facilitate his effective running of an organization such as RTAM.

Bill served the Retired Teachers Association of Manitoba in the following capacities: • President 2020-2022 • Vice President and ACER-CART delegate, 2016-2017 • Board Member 2007-2011, 2016-2020 • Pension Committee 2007-2010, 2018-2022 • Benefits Committee 2019-2022 • Public Relations Committee 2015-2022

When running for election, he made the following commitments which he has more than fulfilled:

“As your President, I will continue to provide effective, team-based leadership which relies on consensus decision-making. I remain dedicated to further empowering RTAM Chapters and enhancing relations with The Manitoba Teachers’ Society, TRAF and with other organizations.

My second term priorities will include lobbying the Government to secure legislative recognition of RTAM as the official voice of Manitoba retired teachers, a seat on the TRAF Board and improved annual COLA grants; increasing membership; defending Defined Benefit Pensions; addressing the proposed changes to the education system in Bill 64; and providing enhanced member benefits with Johnson Insurance and Union Savings as well as discounted travel programs with Trip Merchant.”

In the past two years, Bill has established bimonthly ZOOM meetings with Chapter Presidents to ensure regular communication and a feeling of inclusion in the issues RTAM has been addressing. He regularly meets with the MTS President to keep the lines of communication open and flowing which has resulted in a positive relationship. He helped plan a trip to Haida Gwaii with Trip Merchant, a discounted travel program, for RTAM members. He has encouraged strong ties with ACER-CART and the Manitoba Seniors Coalition to improve the lives of retired people in general but with our membership in mind.

Bill took over the duties of RTAM Executive Director in January until a new ED was hired in April, while carrying on with his Presidential responsibilities.

This award was presented on behalf of the Board by Linda Scott and Joan Zaretsky at the RTAM AGM dinner on May 4, 2022.