Committee Highlights

RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

Benefits Committee

Dave Najduch, Chair As the new Committee Chair, I have spoken with the former Committee Chair, at length to get updates on the work being done. Pat Bowslaugh has agreed to act as an advisor to the group and attend meetings when possible. I would also like to share the following information: • Reached out to the individuals whose names have been provided by the RTAM office and indicated an interest in serving on the committee in the coming year, and provided them with a draft calendar of possible meeting dates. • Worked with the RTAM President and Johnson looking at the possibility of including WTA retired members in the RTAM plan in the event the

Winnipeg School Division no longer exists after the provincial education restructuring in July 2022. If you have questions on this matter, they can be addressed by the RTAM President. • Johnson Insurance has been purchased by Intact.

It is my understanding at this time that the Johnson name will remain. This topic will be on the agenda for the first committee meeting in the fall. • The first meeting of the committee will take place in September of 2021.

Bylaws and Policy Committee

Jack Fraser, Chair The Bylaws and Policies Committee has met virtually since the May AGM to deal with some housekeeping items. The committee will begin regular meetings in September.

Communications (KIT Editorial Committee)

Beth Smith, Chair • The deadline for the next issue of KIT is

November 17, 2021, by 5:00 p.m. • The Summer 2021 Photo Contest submission deadline is October 6, 2021, by 4:00 p.m. The categories are Reflection and Shadow. • The Student Success Portfolio Project is well underway. The RTAM website, rtam.mb.ca, has information about the Portfolios and where you can find the application form to apply for a

Portfolio, which is filled with information in both

English and French. • ACER-CART has provided RTAM with information about issues important to seniors before we go to the polls to vote. • The Wellness Advocacy Committee has provided lots of choices for Webinars offered by Zoom over the next few months.

Communications (Public Relations Committee)

Guy Hansen, Chair The Honourable Murray Sinclair made a Zoom presentation to the Board in March on the background to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls for Action. In the light of the recent events in Kamloops, a news release was prepared and distributed to the media.

RTAM President Bill Cann wrote a letter to the editor of the Winnipeg Free Press linking this presentation to the recent tragic event in London, Ontario.

The PR Committee is also making plans for RTAM involvement in Remembrance Day Services on November 11, 2021.

Executive Committee

Bill Cann, RTAM President On May 9th, Patricia Thibodeau, President of the EMR Chapter (Éducatrices et Éducateurs manitobains á la retraite) completed the French translation of RTAM’s Bill 64 position, which was then posted on the website.

On May 13 and 15th, the RTAM President attended the Manitoba Teachers’ Society AGM as an Observer. I was impressed with the technology that the three independent chairs used to run the virtual meeting efficiently. The utilization of timed Breakout Room discussions of previously submitted Resolutions was an interesting method of engaging delegates.

On May 19th, the Executive and Alison Logan presented RTAM’s requests for legislative recognition as the official voice of retired teachers in Manitoba, COLA concerns as well as RTAM’s Bill 64 Position to Education Minister Cliff Cullen and Deputy Minister Dana Rudy.

On June 4th, Vice President JoAnne Hoyak (Director) and President Bill Cann (Observer) attended the ACER-CART virtual AGM. ACERCART President Gerry Tiede publicly thanked RTAM for the donation of $5,000 which was used to purchase software to facilitate an electronic election letter writing campaign in support of a National Seniors Strategy and a National Pharmacare program.

On June 7th the Executive initiated its Mentoring/ Succession plan by welcoming Directors Linda Blair and Alison Logan as observers to its monthly meeting. The meeting focused on a new budget format, Bill 64, refining the June 16 Board meeting agenda and the June 23rd MTS/RTAM Liaison meeting agenda.

Membership and Chapters Committee

Beth Smith, Chair • Chapter Initiative Grants (CIG) are available to Chapters. These grants are meant to help

Chapters with member engagement. Application forms are available on the website, rtam.mb.ca. • Wellness Initiative Grants (WIG) are available to Chapters. These grants are meant to help Chapters with member engagement, as well.

Application forms are available on the website, rtam.mb.ca. • Pre-Retirement Seminars will be planned for the coming year, via Zoom. Dates to follow. • Why Not Join a Chapter of RTAM? Check out the article in this edition of KIT. • Also, check out the article, Welcome to

Retirement, where Retired Teachers give their take on what they have done in their retirement. • Write an article for KIT about your teaching experience, there are a few in this edition of KIT.

Pension Committee

Alison Logan, Chair The Pension Committee will be meeting on September 1, 2021 via Zoom. At that time, we will be planning our goals for the 2021/2022 year. Jeff Norton and Brad Prokop, representing TRAF, will be in attendance in order to bring any updates as well as answer questions. This support will enable us to move in a direction that protects our defined benefit plan and improves COLA.

Political Advocacy Committee

John Sushelnitsky, Chair The Political Advocacy Committee will have its first meeting of 2021-22 in September. In the meantime, the Chair will continue to monitor issues that could receive the attention of the RTAM organization. In particular, we note the rise in hate-related actions as evidenced in the discovery of the burial plots of indigenous children by the Kamloops residential school and the anti-Muslim incident in London, Ontario that took the lives of four Islamic members of a family. The PA initiative to have the Honorable Murray Sinclair speak to RTAM has been preserved

RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

Committee Highlights

on the RTAM YouTube channel for our members and the public to access.

Student Awards Committee

Peggy Prendergast, Chair The 58 applications that have been received from 58 graduating Grade 12 students sponsored by RTAM relatives will be processed during the week of August 30, 2021 by the Student Award Committee. The results will be presented to the RTAM Board of Directors at the September Board meeting for approval. The four winners of $1000.00 each will be announced on the RTAM website following the September RTAM Board meeting and subsequently in the Winter edition of KIT. The funding for these awards is contained in the RTAM Endowment Fund located at the Winnipeg Foundation.

Student Success Portfolio Ad hoc Committee

Joan Zaretsky, Chair Since we were given our Ad hoc Committee status, we have posted many informative articles on the RTAM website, including “Monthly Discussion Starters” and “Frequently Asked Questions”. All the student Portfolio contents are being translated into French and will be placed on the website upon completion. In September, we will determine a Masters student to develop a research project looking at the value, successes and challenges of our Project. Grant funds have been allocated from the “New Horizons for Seniors” to support this research project. Lastly, Committee members are available to present the highlights of this Project to Chapter members at your upcoming Chapter meetings as requested.

Wellness Advocacy Committee

Linda Blair, Chair The Photography Workshops were held via Zoom on June 17th and 18th and were facilitated by Gayl Punzalan. Please see our article in this edition of KIT.

Refer to the Wellness Advocacy webinar schedule for 2021-2022 printed in this edition of KIT. n

Mental Health Support For Substitute Teachers

There was a question stemming from a Press Release that was held on April 23, 2021, concerning additional funding for mental health for teachers, staff, and students dealing with the impacts of COVID 19 pandemic. On behalf of The Honourable Cliff Cullen, Minister of Education, and Allan Hawkins, Executive Director, Inclusion Support Branch. “The Canadian Mental Health Association is providing mental health supports for all school division staff members under this new partnership. As substitute teachers are employed by school divisions, the supports would certainly be available to them as well." "Manitoba Education is proud to work with the Canadian Mental Health Association to plan supports that will be accessible and helpful to the school community, including substitute teachers. We look forward to making these available in the near future.”