» Travel Seminar

coMMiTTee RePoRTs

wellNess seMiNAR

Lydia Heshka

RTAM's Wellness committee presented its fall seminar, on Wednesday, october 27, entitled "Manage life creatively." Three sessions were offered.

dietitian liz St.godard, from St. James/Assiniboia/Assiniboine South, Healthy Aging Resource Team, presented the first session, focusing on nutrition.

As teachers, we know all the right answers. We know and trust canada's Food guide - even as it has evolved over time, with more and more emphasis on fruits and vegetables. We know we should have less salt, less sugar, less fat and more fibre in our diet. But we also acknowledge that eating is a social affair. our memories of our "best meal ever" are never of ones we had on our own.

As many of us are living alone, or perhaps as a couple, we were encouraged to: have two or three-people pot lucks; join a cooking club; plan ahead; adapt our favourite recipes; stock our pantry with foods we enjoy (pasta, spices, lentils); shop judiciously (flyers, bulk, unit pricing); and to treat left-overs as "planned-overs."

liz told us about free nutrition information we can access by calling: "dial A dietician" (788-8248 in Winnipeg, or 1 877 830-2892 in rural areas).

Winnipeg also has three Healthy Aging Resource Teams serving: 1) River east/Transcona (940-2114) 2) St. James/Assiniboia / Assiniboine South (940-3261 or 940-2683) 3) downtown / Point douglas (9402269 or 940-2225).

over the last eight years, these resource teams have helped set up several cooking clubs. Members meet for more than cooking, eating and cleaning up. Socializing, fellowship, increased confidence, new recipes, new techniques and no pressure are all part of these cooking clubs. There are men-only, co-ed and women-only groups. evidently, the men's groups are quite lively! See phone numbers above, if interested, or start your own club. liz (at 9402683) has a cooking club manual to get you started. After a health break of delicious and nutritious muffins, cinnamon buns and different unique juices, Peggy Prendergast had us think about who we are, who we were, and who we are meant to be.

during her presentation, titled "living creatively in Retirement," we examined all our own needs - physical, emotional, spiritual, social and intellectual. We listed our goals and objectives in each. We were reminded that each of us has the same main resource - TiMe! 86,400 seconds each and every day! We can use them or we can lose them. There are variables - controllable and uncontrollable: health, money, etc. Regardless of our resources, we must have a plan. We must use our time wisely. We must separate the urgent from the non-urgent, and the important from the not important. We must learn not to sweat the small stuff

A bibliography of numerous books was shared to help us on our way to become who we were meant to be.

All participants then enjoyed a gourmet lunch, catered by All occasions catering, landmark. everyone enjoyed the two salads, the chicken and all the fixings. our afternoon session was titled ``Fashion For less." Midge, from Second Sensation Boutique (475-0457), described her consignment business, located on corydon Ave. Midge offers clients an opportunity to consign "like new" (less than two years old) label brands and quality items, or, to come and shop for unique clothing at a fraction of the cost of new retail. Sizes available range from zero to 3X. Models wearing outfits, available at Second Sensation, drove home the point that one can be stylish without breaking the budget. Another Wellness Seminar is tentatively scheduled for April, 2011. details to follow in kiT.

RTAM TRAVEL SEMINAR

When May 4, 2011, 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon Where Mcmaster House Manitoba Teachers' Society 191 Harcourt St. (Portage And Harcourt)

Featuring VOLUNTEERING IN HAWAII Working and relaxing on the beautiful island of Kauai THE MONGOLIAN EXPRESS Travelling through Russia by train HEALTH BREAK WITH SNACKS, COFFEE, TEA AND JUICE No registration required.

For further information call Maureen at 467-8518 after April 8, 2011.

eMeRGeNcY MeDicAl TRAvel – keY PolicY PRovisioNs

Pat Bowslaugh, Benefit Chair

A number of major plan changes were made to the RTAM Travel Benefit effective november 1, 2010: the Base Trip coverage was increased from 30 days per trip to 62 days per trip; the lifetime maximum per person was increased from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000; the Trip cancellation/interruption coverage was increased from $6,000 to $7,000; and a lost/delayed luggage benefit of $350 was added.

This article covers a number of pertinent emergency Medical Travel policy provisions you should keep in mind, when travelling. For full details, please refer to the certificates of insurance that are available on the website www.johnson.ca/rtam.

RTAM’s Emergency Travel is Comprehensive

RTAM’s worldwide emergency Medical Travel Plan covers sudden and unforeseen emergencies, outside your province/territory of residence or canada. The Annual Base Plan coverage reimburses 100% of eligible emergency medical expenses, up to a lifetime maximum of $2,000,000, for an unlimited number of trips, each up to 62 days in duration.

if the 62 day Base plan does not sufficiently meet your needs, supplementary coverage may be purchased, for each single trip longer than 62 days. Supplementary coverage, of up to 182 days total trip duration, is available for purchase, in 15 day increments.

RTAM’s Base Travel plan also includes coverage for Trip cancellation (before departure) and Trip interruption (after departure) of up to $7,000 per trip, per insured person, and a lost or delayed luggage benefit of up to $350.

Base Plan coverage starts the date you leave your province or territory of residence. it ends the earlier of the date you return to your province or territory of residence, or the 62nd day of your trip.

if you purchase Supplemental coverage, for a single trip, the departure date would be the day you leave your province or territory of residence. The Trip Termination date would be the earlier of the date you return to your province, or territory of residence, or the departure date indicated on your confirmation of coverage letter, as per your insured Trip agreement.

While many voluntary emergency travel policies include a pre-existing conditions limitation, which excludes coverage for expenses related to a pre-existing condition (i.e. if you were diagnosed, sought or received treatment within the year prior to departure), RTAM’s Travel coverage is not subject to a pre-existing condition limitation. However, a medical emergency, eligible for coverage under the Plan, must be sudden and unforeseen.

What is a Medical Emergency?

RTAM’s Travel Plan covers reasonable and customary (for the region in which treatment is provided) levels of eligible expenses resulting from a Medical emergency.

Medical emergency means an emergency service rendered for the sudden and unforeseen onset of a medical condition, manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity, that the absence of immediate medical attention could result in any of the following:

• Permanently placing the individual’s health in jeopardy • Serious impairment to bodily functions • Serious impairment and dysfunction of any bodily organ or part or • Other serious medical consequences.

What happens in the event of a Medical Emergency?

in the event of a Medical emergency, the travel assistance provider, Sigma Assistel, would direct you to the nearest appropriate medical facility. They would pay hospitals and other medical providers directly, wherever possible, except when you choose to pay the expenses yourself, or when the medical care provider refuses to accept payment directly from Sigma Assistel.

To ensure expenses are covered, and to benefit from the cost management and other assistance services available, you must contact the 24-hour Sigma Assistel centre: at the first onset of symptoms of a medical emergency, before seeking emergency medical treatment (or as soon as possible if medically incapacitated); in the event of a Trip cancellation claim, prior to departure, or a Trip interruption, post departure.

You may call Sigma Assistel directly, any time of day