Brandon Pre-Retirement Seminar

Pat Bowslaugh

March 14 was to have been our seminar but the evening before our scheduled event a simple phone call ruined our plans of having 21 people from Western Manitoba including

Brandon, attend a “Let’s Think about Retirement” event. It suddenly came to an abrupt halt; access to our proposed meeting space was unexpectedly withdrawn. COVID-19 had delivered its punch . . . one of many challenges to come! Our recovery from postponing this event, which is designed to provide information regarding life beyond the classroom for pending retirees, required time to take stock and think of a “Plan B." Meanwhile, all of your RTAM Board was facing a thunderous interruption to our monthly routines. How do we move forward on behalf of our 10 000 members?

Suddenly we became aware of a technology platform called ZOOM! This program allows us to have a “virtual“ meeting whereby every Board or Committee member answers an invitation that is received at our home with our computer, iPad or iPhone. We get to see and hear the members once they have signed on to the invitation. Once everyone takes the few seconds to sign on, the meeting proceeds. On May 2, this is what we did to provide our informational forum. Hosted by our Executive Director, Gordon Fardoe, and welcomed by the RTAM organizers, Brian

Paterson and Pat Bowslaugh, we asked each of the participants to introduce themselves. Consequently, our forum had participants from as far apart as Plumas to St. Claude, Killarney and Forrest connected to Winnipeg and Brandon! Amazing! RTAM President, Peggy Prendergast, began our presentation when she shared her extensive experiences as a veteran retiree. Jessica Simpson, our Johnson contact via ZOOM, from her living room in Edmonton, presented her information regarding some of our Benefit Plans. Whether our participants had questions about our Travel Insurance, Dental Insurance or Extended Health Care, Jessica with her Power Point illustrations, could provide the answers.

Brian’s information on our new connection with Trip Merchant allowed our participants to envision themselves on dream vacations available at greatly reduced rates.

Pat’s concluding information referenced the many new windows that open when becoming a retiree, whether it be travelling, volunteering, a new hobby or even a new career. The presentation was not without warning that exercising for physical health as well as attending to social and emotional needs are very important. Retirement requires budgeting your money and your time. Yes, retirement has the potential to be the time of your life! Trade in your Day Book for an itinerary of exactly what you dreamed to have the time to do.

Thanks to Jessica and Johnson for the assortment of prizes and shwag for all our attendees on RTAM’s first ZOOM forum. This trial effort with ZOOM has illustrated the potential opportunity for more of our RTAM members to become connected to their organization. Just as KIT does a phenomenal job to Keep In Touch through reading, a platform such as ZOOM can move us to the next level of seeing and hearing our colleagues in person. Be ready to come on board!