2012-2013 RTAM Executive and Directors-At-Large  Canadian Snowbird

2012-2013 RTAM EXECUTIvE AND DIRECTORS-AT-lARGE

Reprinted from 2012 AGM Booklet

Wayne Hughes

President

Winnipeg, Manitoba

I have been involved with RTAM for the past seven years as a committee member (7 years) and board member (6 years). Having chaired the political action committee for 2 years, in addition to being a member of the pension committee as well as a member on many ad hoc committees, I have been fortunate to gain a wide perspective on RTAM’s numerous activities. Due to this wide perspective I feel it is appropriate to put my name forward for the position of President.

The past year has been a busy one with the move to our new office and taking on additional responsibilities with the organizations’ finances, due to the Treasurer’s illness.

I am both honoured and excited about the upcoming year as President. I look forward to your support.

barbara McDole

Vice President

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Education Certification – 1966; B.A. 1974; and B.Ed. 1977 Retired in 1999 after 33 years of teaching •Two yeas of private tutoring • FouryearsasfacultyadvisorinEducation–University of Manitoba • Worked in Louis Riel S.D. Schools with my certified service dog, “Bear”, for four years • Presently working with Manitoba Search & Rescue to train my other dog, “Cargo”, to enter the school system as a qualified service dog • ServedontheRWTABoardasVice-President,President and Past President • Board Member with RTAM, serving on the Wellness, Benefits and ad hoc (New Office Space and Join Us brochures) committees • Presently organizing the 2012 RTAM AGM

I plan to remain on the Board, hoping to further strengthen the accomplishments we have been achieving to benefit our RTAM members.

Judy Olmstead

Secretary

Brandon, Manitoba

I taught in Thompson and then in Brandon. I also worked for many years as a faculty advisor in education for Brandon University, University of Manitoba and Inter University’s of the North (IUN).

I retired in 2007 and joined Westman Retired Educators Association. I have been Secretary of WREA for the past three years.

I have completed my first year as a Director on the RTAM Board serving on the Benefits, Travel and Public Relations committees. I have also been acting as recording secretary for RTAM Board meetings on alternate months this last year.

I hope to continue working on these committees for another year. I live in Brandon with my husband Ted, and I have three adult children and four grandchildren.

Carol Pelton

B.A.; P.B.C.E.; Med Treasurer

Thompson, Manitoba

As Owner/Manager of Travel Only Thompson, I am completing my seventh year as a travel professional after retiring from teaching in 2003. My formal education is special education and physical education and my professional associations included the Council for Exceptional Children and International Reading Association. I have completed my first year as a director on the RTAM Board, alternated secretarial duties with another director, chaired the Bylaws and Policy committee and was a member of the Educational Advocacy and Travel committees.

During my varied teaching career, I taught in Ontario and Northern Manitoba, as well as, in Australia on a teacher’s exchange and Papua New Guinea. My extensive travel experiences took me to every continent except Africa and South America. My range of teaching assignments included classroom, resource, and physical education teacher and Senior Department Head

I have been a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club (BPW) since 1991, is currently a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Citizenship Council and Citizens on Patrol. My volunteer activities within my teaching career and within the community have provided opportunities to develop leadership skills and to organize a variety of events/workshops in a collaborative setting that would be an asset to committee work with the Board. I was also the treasurer for Council for Exceptional Children (Manitoba) and the local BPW Club so is familiar with bookkeeping and accounting practices.

Future objectives for the RTAM Board may include: recruiting current non-member retirees; involving nonchapter members with the establishment of a virtual club; emphasizing and demonstrating the benefits of RTAM membership; providing value-added for members; more involved locally with potential retirees; using educational advocacy to inform members and the public about issues related to seniors and to use the web site more extensively to provide information to the members and the public.

Richard benoit

Past President

Winnipeg, Manitoba

I was elected to the RTAM Board of Directors in 2006. Since then I have been active on many committees including Public Relations, Benefits, Pensions, AGM, Political Action and Bylaws and Policy, having chaired the latter three for one year. From 2009-2012 I served as President of RTAM.

Born and raised in southwestern Manitoba, I was a teacher, principal, secretary-treasurer and superintendent of schools in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan. As well I taught Educational Administration at the University of Regina and retired as professor and administrator from the College universitaire de Saint-Boniface, affiliated to the University of Manitoba after twenty years of service.

I have enjoyed my experience as President of RTAM for the last three years and am looking forward to continued service as Past President.

Directors-at-large

Rosalie bornn

Dauphin, Manitoba

In June 2006 I retired from a 35 year teaching career in the Manitoba public school system. I held a Director position on the RTAM Board for three years previously and served on the Educational Advocacy, Chapter Formation and Liaison, Bylaws and Policy and Membership and Chapters Committees as well as proofreader for KIT. Then I stepped off the Board for 2011-2012 for family reasons.

I live in rural Dauphin with my husband of 41 years and my aging canine buddy, Kipper.

In my spare time enjoy community volunteering, reading, fishing, travelling and cottage life on Lake Manitoba.

I am the incoming President of our local Dauphin Area Retired Teachers' Association and look forward to continuing to advocate for the best interests of RTAM.

Peter Carney

Winnipeg, Manitoba

A native of Dunrea, Manitoba I began my teaching career in 1960 in Lundar High School followed by a year at Fisher Branch. Following three years at Provencher School in St. Boniface I came to St. JamesAssiniboia where I worked for 30.5 years. I was a principal at Buchanan, ButterworthKrawchyk, Linwood and Assiniboine Schools for a total of 22 years and I also served as Coordinator of French language programs for 5 years.

I retired on December 31, 1996 and in 1999 I was elected school trustee for the east end ward of the St. JamesAssiniboia School Division, serving until 2010. I was also Principal of Ecole Saint Malo in the Red River School Division from 2000 to 2002.

I have had extensive involvement with the Manitoba Teachers’ Society both at the provincial and local level and in 1970 I was elected Treasurer, a position I held for 4 years. In 1978-79 I was President of the St. James-Assini-

boia Teachers’ Association after serving as Treasurer and Negotiations Chair. I also served as local Negotiations Chair for several years in the 1980’s.

Over the years I sat on a number of Department of Education committees, both as a teacher representative or as a trustee rep, mostly in the area of French Language education: Immersion Administrators’ Conference, French Language Advisory Committee, Basic French Evaluation Committee, English Language Arts Committee, etc. I was named to the Board of the Manitoba Cancer Society (today CancerCare Manitoba) by the Government in 1986. The Government also named me to the Board of Regents of the University of Winnipeg where I served for 6 years.

I am looking forward to serving as member of the Board of Directors of RTAM. I volunteered to be a candidate for election at the last minute when it came to my attention that there were less than the 2 members running for election. I am grateful for the support I received and will, hopefully, be able to contribute to this important organization for the retired teachers of Manitoba.

Joan Dawson

Thompson, Manitoba

I was born in Red Deer Alberta but grew up in Winnipeg, MB. I began my teaching career in 1972 with Frontier School Division in Ilford, MB, where I taught grades 1 and 2 as well as supervising the kindergarten. I moved to Thompson in 1973 where I spent the next 35 years teaching grades one to four and Reading Recovery. Over the years I often served as staff representative for the Thompson Teachers’ Association and for two years I was the Grievance Chair.

I retired in June of 2008. I am now actively involved with our local association, TARE, and am on my third year as secretary/treasurer. I am looking forward to being a Director on the RTAM board and will be working on the Membership and the By-Law committees.

My volunteer efforts are mainly with the Thompson Health Auxiliary where I am the manager of the Thompson Hospital Gift Shop. My husband and I live in Paint Lake Provincial Park and I enjoy fishing, gardening, sewing, reading and socializing with friends at the local marina.

Guy Hansen

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Most of my teaching career was at R. D. Parker, Thompson where I taught Physics, and for 8 years was the Department Head. I was heavily involved in the Union movement through the Thompson Teachers’ Association; Steel Workers; and the Co-op gas bar. I felt particularly dismayed when the two groups (TTA – MTS and NDP) I had supported all these years let us down.

Since I retired, I worked for 10 years with the Thompson Recycle Centre as Manager, Job Creation and Job Training.

I have been on the RTAM Board for several years as a member of the Political Action Committee. I look forward to your support to serve another year.

Dolores Hebert

Winnipeg, Manitoba

I retired from the Winnipeg School Division nine years ago. I have had a varied and interesting career in Education - taught at all levels in British Columbia , Ontario and Manitoba. I was also lucky enough to teach in Germany for 2 years for the Department of National Defence. I also spent 3 years as a French consultant for the Department of Education. I finished my teaching career as a Principal in Winnipeg.

I was always involved as a teacher or administrator representative in my local associations. I was President of the Retired Women Teachers' Association this past year and will probably continue in that position this coming year. I spend my time as a volunteer at the Saint Boniface Hospital gift shop and walking my dog, Bijou!

I have just completed my first year on the Board. I was on the membership and political action committees as well as co-ordinator of the 2012 AGM with Barb McDole.

I never realized how much RTAM does for retired teachers! It has been a real learning curve.

I hope to continue on the Board to work for the interests of teachers.

Marvin krawec

Portage la Prairie, Manitoba

I completed teacher training at Manitoba Teachers' College (served as President of the student body). I graduated from the University of Guelph (Ontario) and completed study of Intermediate Level French at the University

of Laval.

In the Portage School Division, served as a member of a Steering Committee for the Talented and Gifted; served as a member of a province-wide assessment committee of grade eight Language Arts with the Department of Education; served as a marker and a referee for the assessment tests for the Department of Education.

I was a member of the Portage Regional Library board; served on the board of directors of CMHA for the province (Canadian Mental Health Association); and was a member of the Executive Policy Committee of CMHA for the province.

Upon retirement from teaching , I became a member of the board for Southport Aerospace; held the position of vice-chair of Southport Aerospace; chaired the Finance and Property Committee; and chaired the Human Resources Committee .

At present, I am serving as a member of the province's Advisory Committee regarding the disposition of the Manitoba Developmental Centre. My interests are History and music.

vel McAdam

The Pas, Manitoba

I retired from teaching in June of 1998 following 35 plus years of teaching, most of those years in Kelsey School Division in The Pas. Previous to that, I was blessed with a short-lived variety of teaching experiences which included one year in a good old-fashioned one room rural school and one year of teaching for the Federal Government in an Indian Day-school.

I am a returning Director, having served on the Board previously where I chaired the Educational Advocacy Committee and served on a variety of other related committees. I continue to proofread for KIT.

I reside in The Pas where I do bookwork and cleaning in my husband's business and love to travel, read, knit, crochet and attend Eastern Star functions.

Ted Poulter

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Following retirement from St. Vital S.D. #6 (at present Louis Riel S.D.) in 1990 after 30 years of service, I joined RTAM and have been a member ever since.

Last year, I was approached to run for the RTAM provincial board and I was appointed Chair of the Benefits Committee. I have gained a fair bit of knowledge about benefits and also the inner workings of the RTAM board. I look forward to continuing my involvement this coming year.

I am also President of the Riel Chapter of RTAM. We have a problem gaining interest of members in assuming positions on the Chapter board.

I am running for Director again this year and I look for your support.

Peggy Prendergast

Winnipeg, Manitoba

My commitment to RTAM is twofold: 1) assisting the Board in solving the COLA issue and 2) providing assistance to our members in the areas of social, emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual wellness.

I also have a commitment to ‘seniors’ in the community generally. I believe in the concept of Age Friendly Cities. I am a member of the Seniors’ Advisory Committee to the Mayor of the City of Winnipeg and am again a member of the Creative Retirement Board. I am also a member of the Manitoba Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.

I believe we, as retired teachers, are a significant part of a fast growing population of seniors in our Province. Retired teachers have a great deal of experience and energy to commit to our communities. We are living longer and are generally healthy. We also have needs and concerns that need to be recognized and dealt with by the governments

of our Province, our Cities, and our Country.

Formerly a teacher and an administrator in the Winnipeg School Division, I have been associated with RTAM for the past 12 years in various capacities, including: President and member of the MTS Pension Task Force Committee and thus on the Pension Task Force from 1999 to 2005; Member of the Pension Committee; Chair of the Wellness Committee since its inception; and Chair of the Educational Advocacy Committee this past year Doreen Sage

Neepawa, Manitoba

From Swan River, and after teaching in the rural area, I took a Business Education Course and worked for McLeods and Eatons. I went back to teaching and taught Business Education in Swan River and Neepawa.

I have been on the RTAM Board for several years, as a member of the Finance Committee and Group Benefits Committee. I was the Chair of the Finance Committee, but because of changing needs of RTAM members, the committee was renamed Wellness. I organized many Wellness Seminars throughout the province.

I moved to the job of Editor of KIT ten years ago. I have found this to be most rewarding and I hope to be able to continue.

I live in Neepawa with husband, Ed Sage. John Sushelnitsky

Portage la Prairie Manitoba

Boissevain is my hometown and I attended Brandon College. As president of the debating society and the international relations club, I gained an appreciation for the art of effective communication. In my third year I went to West Africa as part of a group called Crossroads Africa. Our role there was to complete the construction of a boys' dormitory in the town of Bo, Sierra Leone. Based on that positive experience, I went to East Africa with Canadian University Service Overseas (CUSO) following my graduation in 1964 and worked for two years as teacher in Bukoba, Tanzania.

On my return, I was contacted by Boissevain school officials who needed a teacher. Then, I took a year at the U. of Man. Education Faculty to get my formal qualifications. After practice teaching in Winnipeg, I drove out to interview for a job in Portage la Prairie. I loved the size of the town, bigger than Boissevain, smaller than Winnipeg.

Joining the Manitoba Teachers' Society, I served at the local and provincial level for my 37 years of teaching. I was on the MTS provincial executive for four years . Afterward, as a MTS representative, I served on the Minister of Education's Advisory Board for four years. After retirement in 2003, the Society gave me the honour of becoming a Honorary Life Member in 2004.

A high school aptitude test encouraged me to continue studying the French language and I have used it throughout my career, being editor of the French Journal for ten years for the Manitoba Association of French Teachers and also serving as its president.

I also served on several Department of Education committees and was the co-author of its French correspondence courses. In the classroom, I taught 29 years of junior high, eight years of high school and two years of elementary. In addition to teaching Basic and Immersion French, I coached basketball and other sports. In my five years of coaching grade ten boys basketball we had the good fortune to be ranked number one on two occasions. All in all, a very satisfying career!

I have now served on the RTAM Board for six years as a Director and have chaired the Public Relations and Membership/Chapter committees. I have also been a member of the Political Action Committee.

J. Norman Wiebe

Portage la Prairie Manitoba

I am married and live in Portage la Prairie; have 2 children and 4 grandchildren. I grew up on a farm in southern Manitoba and taught for 35 years starting in a 1-room country school. I taught all grade levels and was an administrator for a number of years.

I have always been active in the MTS local associations in various executive positions. After retirement I substituted at the Agassiz Youth Centre for 8 years.

I previously served as Director on the RTAM board and was a member on the Political Action and Travel committees. For the past year I served as the Political Action Chairperson and also served as a member on the Travel committee. I feel that RTAM must maintain a strong voice to protect the interests of retired teachers.