President's Message

Bill Cann

RTAM President 2021 - 2022

RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

Many important developments have transpired since the last edition of KIT. I remain indebted to the Executive Officers, Office Staff, individual Directors and Chapter Presidents for their valued assistance in successfully addressing emergent issues and moving our organization ahead.

RTAM continues shifting to a more focused political advocacy stance. On Nov.22, 2021, a registered letter was sent to Premier Stefanson containing the Five Requests for Action document. On December 2, a press release was sent to media outlets and to the leaders of all three political parties supporting the Liberal Caucus Private Member’s Bill (#208) which recommended that RTAM be given a seat on the TRAF Board. In the next two months, RTAM needs to effectively mobilize our 10,000 members to contact their local MLA and urge them to support this Private Member’s Bill (#208) which will be voted on in the Spring session of the Legislature. To that end, RTAM will use ACER-CART’s New Mode software to initiate an electronic letter writing campaign to all MLAs. RTAM has also engaged a professional lobby firm, Prairie Sky Strategy, to develop more effective strategies to achieve our political and pension goals. Michael Juce, Vice President of Prairie Sky Strategy, has already provided valuable guidance.

Solutions to the Board Succession/ Leadership Crisis remains a major focus for RTAM over the next three months. In addition to appeals to Chapter Presidents and current RTAM Directors, I will start personally lobbying over 20 potential Director candidates in February and encourage them to run for election at the May 2022, AGM.

Effective January 14, 2022, the RTAM Board terminated the contract of Executive Director, Gordon Fardoe. This termination is a confidential personnel issue. In the meantime, the Executive was authorized to initiate the search for and hiring of a new Executive Director. In addition to a Winnipeg Free Next page →

Photo by Donna Gamache RTAM Photo Contest Entry