President’s Report 37th Annual General Meeting November 12, 2026
I am honoured to present the President’s Report for the 2026 Annual General Meeting. As we gather here today, it’s a wonderful chance to reflect on the past year, celebrate our achievements, and look ahead to the future. Year of Appreciation RTAM started its first annual declaration for our members, volunteers, and staff. 2026 was RTAM’s Year of Appreciation. By declaring 2026 as the Year of Appreciation, everyone, members, volunteers, Board of Directors, and staff, associated with RTAM used this lens in their work. We are working on determining the declaration for 2027. Membership Over the past year, our membership remains strong. We continue to welcome new members who bring fresh ideas and energy to RTAM. It’s been great to see many of you participating in RTAM events. Your involvement is what keeps this organization thriving. Activities and Events We have had a successful year, including: • All work performed by the Executive and Board Committees and all Standing and Ad-hoc Committees are guided by RTAM’s vision, mission, and the Strategic Plan. • Monthly Meetings: We held 9 monthly Executive Committee and Board of Directors Meetings. • Chapters and Special Area Groups (SIGs): From teas to outings to book clubs, these Chapter and SIG events help our members be active and strengthen the bond within RTAM and their community. • Housing Project: RTAM continues to work on developing an apartment complex for RTAM members as well as others. Currently, we are looking for a suitable land with proper amenities. • Visit to Southwest Assiniboine Chapter: The Executive Director, Melissa, and myself as President were privileged to be invited to the Southwest Assiniboine Chapter by Laura Ellen Elliott, President, to address their membership. • On the way to Virden, we were happy to meet with BARTA’s President, Catherine McLaren and Vice-President, Doug Adams, in Brandon, Manitoba. • Centre on Aging Spring Symposium: Melissa Sitter represented RTAM at this Symposium. • IG Walk for Alzheimer’s: We were a proud supporter for the IG Walk for Alzheimer’s. Many retired teachers and others joined our team, the RTAM Staffroom Survivors, for a fun-filled walk. RTAM raised over $3,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society. • Manitoba 55+ Games: RTAM was proud to be a supporter of the MANITOBA 55+ Games. • RTAM’s Summer Swing Golf Tournament: The 3rd annual golf tournament was successful with players, guests, and organizers having a wonderful time. Proceeds from the golf tournament raised $6,700 that went towards the RTAM Endowment Fund which is held with the Winnipeg Foundation. 1
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The RTAM Endowment Fund supports our RTAM Student Awards initiative. Since its inception in 2013, the Initiative has supported nearly 60 students and I’m proud to share that the endowment has grown from the initial $50,000 contribution to just over $100,000. I sincerely thank all members who generously donated to the endowment fund this year.
Support and Advocacy As an association, we continue to support members with health, dental, and travel insurance offerings, representing our members at meetings with TRAF, ACER CART as well as the Manitoba Seniors Coalition. We continue to advocate for better retirement benefits and policies that affect retired educators’ lives with our politicians as well as services provided by other senior-serving organizations. Finances This year was a challenging year for our finances. While membership fees increased to $48 on July 1, 2025, we also knew that our forecast for 2,000 new education community members was significantly offtarget, leading to an estimated reduction in anticipated revenue by $125,000. Our Board and Executive Director were very cautious with planned expenses this year and adjusted plans accordingly. We also found ourselves with unplanned technology purchases in the face of the discontinued Windows 10 system support by Microsoft, which required upgrades to our hardware systems to ensure compatibility with Windows 11. Despite the challenges, we were able to fund all of our activities, support Chapters and SIGs, and ensure the financial stability of our association for the coming year. Thank you to all who have contributed, whether through membership fees or participation fees. Fitness Passes One of my mantras is for physical activity, mental focus and new learning. RTAM encourages all our members to pursue activities that enhance these on a regular basis. To this end, RTAM offers discounted City of Winnipeg Fitness Passes. Contact the RTAM Office for more information about these passes. Looking Ahead In the coming year, we plan to: • Continue to link our activities to specific goals of RTAM’s Strategic Plan • Continue to work on growing our membership • Encourage activities that encourage social connection and personal growth of our members • Strengthen our advocacy work on behalf of retired teachers with senior-serving organizations. • Pursue building an apartment building to add equity to and maintain long-term viability of RTAM Gratitude Finally, I want to express my deep gratitude to the staff, to all volunteers, and all of you, our members, for your continued support and dedication to RTAM. Your time, energy, and ideas are what makes our community so special. Let’s continue to work together to make our association a place where retired teachers can stay connected, supported, and inspired. Thank you. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Humbly, Jayesh Maniar, President 2