40037581PN RETIRED TEACHERS’RETIREDASSOCIATIONTEACHERS’OFMANITOBA Vol. 26 | No. 1| Summer 2014 206 - 1555 St. James St. Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5 | 1-204-889-3660 | Manitoba Toll Free: 1-888-393-8082 | rtam@mts.net | .rtam.mb.ca RTAM Members: Hear My Voice “Good government means listening to all voices. In a healthy democracy, decisions should be accompanied by respectful consultation and ongoing dialogue with all sectors of the population – not just with those few who share the same ideology.” Paul Taillefer, President, Canadian Teachers’ Federation Join with teachers, both active and retired, from across Canada to express your concern about how politicians respond to their constituents. Read more on page 30 and fill out the “Hear My Voice” postcard.
Published by 206-1555 St. James St. Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5 Phone 889-3660 • 1-888-393-8082 Email: rtam@mts.net • www.rtam.mb.ca Editor-in-Chief: Doreen Sage Box 252 Neepawa, MB R0J 1H0 Phone: (204) 476-5772 Email: Administrativedsage@mymts.netAssistant: Carol Gillis Office Assistant: Grace Reimer Privacy Officer: Wayne Hughes 82 Whiteshell Avenue Winnipeg, MB R2C 2R9 204-222-4011 lwhughes@mymts.net Board of Directors 2013-2014 President: Wayne Hughes Vice -President: Marvin Krawec Secretary: Judy Olmstead Treasurer: Carol Directors-at-LargePelton Alex RalphPeterBoyesCarneyCibula Joan Dawson Frank Fiorentino Guy Hansen Jag Malik Barbara McDole Peggy JohnRayDoreenPrendergastSageSitterSushelnitsky Art Direction & Layout: Gayl Punzalan Images are licensed from fotolia.com, except the ones provided by the contributors. Copyright © 2014 by RTAM All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: RTAM, 206 - 1555 St. James St. Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5 KEEP IN TOUCH Summer 2014 • Vol. 26 No. 1 RETIRED ASSOCIATIONTEACHERS’OFMANITOBA UPCOMING EVENTS July 15, 2014 - RTAM Student Award Application Deadline Mid-October 2014 - Wellness Seminar May 2015 - AGM, Portage La Prairie RTAM PLANS ADMINISTERED BY JOHNSON INC. If you require information and brochures, or if you have any questions concerning these plans (Dental, House Insurance, Long Term Care, Life, Emergency Medical Travel) contact: Johnson Inc. Claims and Administration Information 11120 178th Street, Edmonton AB T5S 1P2 Toll Free 1-877-989-2600 | Phone (780) 413-6536 Fax (780) 420-6082 | Email: edmonton@johnson.ca NOTICE TO PAID KIT ADVERTISERS Please send your hard copy ad and cheque payable to RTAM. Mail to Doreen Sage, Editor. Box 252 Neepawa, MB R0J 1H0. Note: The Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba does not endorse or promote any products, services or events presented in paid advertisements, the Announcements or Volunteer Opportunities sections unless specified. The Editorial Committee reserves the right to print, reject and/or edit for clarity, all materials received. HAVE YOU MOVED OR CHANGED YOUR ADDRESS? Contact TRAF at 204-949-0048 or toll free at 1-800-782-0714 or mail to Room 330 Johnston Terminal 25 Forks Market Road, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4S8. RTAM can not change your address. RETIRED ASSOCIATIONTEACHERS’OFMANITOBA All materials for the next issue of KIT must be emailed to dsage@mymts.net and received by September 3, 2014, 5:00 p.m. Materials published here do not necessarily represent the policies nor views of RTAM. 2 n KEEP IN TOUCH | Summer 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS RETIRED TEACHERS’RETIREDASSOCIATIONTEACHERS’OFMANITOBA 18 FREE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTSSERVICE Not-for-profit organizations who wish to place public service announcements, volunteer opportunities with service groups, school or teacher reunions are encouraged to do so. Submissions are printed free of charge. THANKS FOR CONTRIBUTIONSYOUR We would like to thank all those who contributed material for KIT. When sending in files please use Word, black ink only and no formatting. Please keep writing. Photos: 1500 pixels or professionally developed. President’s Report ...................................................................................................... 5 ACER-CART 6 RTAM Benefit Updates 7 Eldercare 8 Travel Insurance: Limitations and Exclusions ....................................................... 9 MHCSI Supplementary Pharmacy Benefit Program ............................................ 10 Wellness Seminar 11 RTAM, Phillipe Mailhot Presentation 13 Winnipeg Pre-Retirement Seminar 14 Educational Advocacy Report ................................................................................. 14 In Memoriam............................................................................................................... 15 AGM 2014 Financial Motions 16 James Allum, From a Family of Educators 17 AGM Photos 18 MLAs Join Retired Teachers in a Celebration ...................................................... 21 Happy Birthday RTAM ............................................................................................... 21 Calgary Chapter 22 Okanagan Chapter 22 RWTA 23 RTAM Past Presidents .............................................................................................. 23 Ghost Town Bus Tour................................................................................................. 23 Our Natural Sleep Cycle 24 The Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam (SAGE) 25 Obituaries 25 Bear’s Journey ........................................................................................................... 26 TRAF Notice ................................................................................................................ 28 Letters to the Editor 29 Hear My Voice 30 RTAM | RTAM.MB.CA n 3
RTAM STUDENT AWARD APPLICATION FORM The Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba (RTAM) awards annually up to four (4) post secondary STUDENT AWARDS of $500.00 each for relatives of RTAM members. THE DEADLINE FOR 2014 APPLICATIONS IS JULY 15, 2014. Criteria for selection: Th e applicant must be: 1) A relative of a RTAM Member 2) A Grade 12 Graduate 3) Involved in school and community activities FIRST NAME: ________________________ LAST NAME: ______________________________________________ Please print Please print ADDRESS____________________________________________________________StreetCity/Town Postal Code PHONE SCHOOL EMAIL________________________________________________________________________________________ NUMBERS_______________________________________________________________________________HomeCell (Graduated fromGrade 12): Year Graduated: ____________SCHOOL ADDRESS_______________________________________________________________________________StreetCity/townPostal CodePOST SECONDARY PLANS: Program:Location: RTAM SPONSORING MEMBER INFORMATION: ADDRESS_______________________________________________________________________________NAME_________________________________________Please printCONTACT INFORMATION__________________________________________________________________ To be completed by RTAM member: I confirm that the applicant, , has the following relationship to me ____ _ RTAM MEMBER’s Signature Phone Number Date Applicant’s Signature Date Contact Information for RTAM: rtam@mymts.net or www.rtam.mb.ca or #206 – 1555 St. James Street, Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5 Phone: 204 889 3660 / 1 888 393 8082 The RTAM office is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Submissions to include the following: 1. __Application Form 2. __Applicant’s Description of school and community activities (one page) 3. Letter of reference/support from a non family member 4. __Final Grade 12 report card (copy only) Application Form also on Website www.rtam.mb.ca 5. 4 n KEEP IN TOUCH | Summer 2014
1) Communications with Members
a. Office Facilities: Our office has followed the “Build It and They Will Come” ap proach. The office became too small for the many meetings and activities with
to attend this AGM to help us cele brate our 25th year.
2) Services for Members
c. Renewal of Benefit Plans: All our benefit plans require annual review by our Benefits Committee to en sure that we receive good value for our premium dollars. This involves extensive consultations with John son Inc., who serve us very well. Al though we were able to maintain all our plans with no premium increas es last year, it probably comes as no surprise that we have some modest premium increases this year. (see Benefit Committee report)
d. Our Chapter Initiative Grant con tinues to be very popular with our membership. We are planning to continue this initiative.
ucational Advocacy Committee started their year very early after last year’s AGM. They began their meetings in July and August in order to be ready to give the awards in Sep tember. The response was very en couraging which resulted in moving forward with the establishment of an Endowment Fund with the Winnipeg Foundation
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
b. We welcome Grace Reimer to our office staff. We are now open five days a week from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
3) Evolving Maturity as an Organization
RTAM | RTAM.MB.CA n 5
ast year, I reported around the themes of 1) communication with members; 2) services for members and 3) the evolving maturi ty of our organization. It is interest ing that these themes have contin ued for the past year.
b. KIT: Our KIT has seen major changes in appearance by going to a full color presentation and using a different printing company. All these changes were accomplished at the same price as we were previously paying.
e. Post-Secondary Awards: The Ed
I will briefly outline our activities under these headings:
Wayne Hughes
a. Website: We have continued to work with our webmaster to make the website interesting, responsive and easy to use.
a. Our Administrative Assistant, Car ol Gillis, has obtained her licence as a Commissioner for Oaths within the province of Manitoba. This free ser vice is available, by appointment, for all RTAM members.
c. RTAM’s 25th Anniversary: This year we are celebrating the 25th year of our formation. We have evolved from the original 116 members at tending the inaugural meeting to now approaching 9000 members. In celebration of our 25th we are mail ing out two small momentos to each member with the Summer KIT. We have also invited all Past Presidents
f. Eldercare Pilot Project: We were able to finalize a 15-month pilot project with First Health Care for all RTAM members participating in the Extend ed Health Care Plan. The costs for the project are being covered by John son Inc. While EHC Plan members are receiving these services with no increase in premium, they are being asked for extensive feedback so we can evaluate the program and deter mine if it should be offered to some or all our plan members. We are looking forward to the evaluation of this service.
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b. Technology Updates: Over the past year we have upgraded our comput ers and computer programs.
e. Volunteer Survey: The Board es tablished an Ad Hoc committee to conduct a survey on the number, amount and extent of volunteer ser vices provided by retired teachers in Manitoba. We have been very for tunate to use the services of Prairie Research Associates to conduct and analyse the results when the survey ends June 30. The results of the sur
f. “Hear My Voice” is a national cam paign sponsored by the Canadian Teachers’ Federation to express con cerns about the state of democracy in Canada. Our national organiza tion, ACER-CART, as well as RTAM, endorses this campaign. Members are encouraged to visit the CTF website to see the wide number of concerns being addressed. Our 25th anniversary mailout has given us a method to circulate postcards to all RTAM members to al low them to register their concern with their federal MP. Whether your con cern is excessive government secrecy, attack on unions or decline of democ racy, make your voice heard and join with colleagues across Canada to state “Good government means listening to all voices.”
3) I have had a number of meetings with the President and Vice Presi dent of Manitoba Teachers’ Society. We have agreed to work together on a couple of projects as a beginning step to enhance and improve relations be tween active and retired teachers. Finally, I wish to give my sincere thanks to all our current board members for their hard work over the past year. While some are planning to take a break from RTAM, I am very pleased to see there is a solid core of members indicating their willingness to serve another year. We will always welcome and encourage new members to the Board.Iagain
Continued on page 7 REPORTSCOMMITTEE
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2) We had a very positive meeting with the new Minister of Education, The Honourable James Allum. Our main focus was on the remaining three years of Bill 45 and the need to have discussions with all the parties to our pension plan. We also made reference to two other defined bene fit plans that are successful, namely Ontario and British Columbia, both of which are jointly trusteed plans.
vey will become an integral part of presentations to outside groups.
he executive of ACER-CART has called an annual general meeting slated for June 5th to 7th in Ottawa.Throughout the year, the members kept a dialogue going via the internet. The topics of conver
MarvinPensionKrawecChair
look forward to the coming year and thank the membership for your continued support.
As with any organization, we have a number of ongoing challenges such as: 1) Continued low COLAs. For the second consecutive year the low CPI together with the 2/3rds cap has caused additional funds being di verted to the restricted surplus that cannot be used until 2017. The reg ulations for the use of the restrict ed surplus are to be formulated by TRAF. However, we were pleased to hear RTAM will be included in con
sation dealt with issues on a Federal level, such as: the $13 billion cutback to provinces for Medicare next year; the democratic deficiency and the lack of transparency of the present Federal government; the silencing of
ACER-CART 6 n KEEP IN TOUCH | Summer 2014
sultations prior to the regulations be ing finalized.
constructive criticism by this govern ment of researchers and scientists in many fields of national interest. Per haps the most disconcerting issue is that of pensions, which includes CPP. The net invested assets of CPP, as at
d. In consultation with our auditor, we have established an investment strat egy of rolling term deposits, where we have a term deposit coming due every six months. In this way we are able to have access to funds if needed, while earning much higher interest.
which we are involved. In December, the Winnipeg Minor Hockey Association moved to a new location. Thus be gan approximately three months of negotiations and as of May 1, we have moved upstairs to Suite 206, at the same address and telephone num bers. Our new office has additional meeting space and storage to serve our needs into the future.
c. Finances continue to be done by Ad ministrative Assistant Carol Gillis in close association with our Treasurer who reports to the Board.
› Multiple trips of 62 DAYS dura tion
It is strongly recommended that you carry travel insurance when travel ling outside of your province of resi
• Renewal of MEDOC Travel (Sep tember) and Stand-Alone Trip Cancellation (June).
• Changes to RTAM Health, Dental and Premier Travel Plans effec tive April 2014
• Article on Eldercare Services available to eligible Health Plan members and their extended families: “Julie’s Story”.
• Overview of all RTAM Benefit Plans
(Continued from page 6)
› Optional per trip supplementary travel extensions up to 212 days
• Notice of Follow-up Member Benefits Survey September 2014.
• Article on preferred provider drug card benefit: “MHCSI Sup plementary Pharmacy Benefit Program - Used Your Card Yet?”
As mentioned in the last issue of KIT, RTAM members have access to three travel plans: Premier Travel, MEDOC Travel and Stand Alone Trip Cancellation. All plans renew auto matically each year, and at differ ent times depending on the insurer. There are no changes to any of the plan designs this year; however, rates have been increased to account for experience, trend analysis and weak ening of the Canadian/US exchange rate. The Premier Travel Insurance Plan rates were increased by 5% ef fective April 1. MEDOC Travel Insur ance premiums will increase by 10% effective September 1, and StandAlone Trip Cancellation Insurance premiums have increased by 10% ef fective June 1.
As a reminder, here is how the trav el plans compare:
the last issue of KIT, the follow ing information was provided to RTAM members who are current ly covered by RTAM’s benefit plans as well as those who may be consider ing enrolling in the plans.
dence to cover unforeseen emergen cy care and transportation, as these costs may be significant.
• Member Benefits Survey Results to January 31, 2014
RENEWAL INCREASE OF 10% TO MEDOC TRAVEL (SEPTEMBER 1, 2014) & STAND ALONE TRIP CANCELLATION PLANS (JUNE 1, 2014)
RTAM Benefit Updates June 2014
December 31, 2013 were $201.5 bil lion. By the end of 2030, those as sets will stand at $450 billion. There is a pool of money that exists now, which could address the purchas ing power of retirees. That single purpose pool of capital stands at $183.3 billion. Some provinces, and that includes Manitoba, are lob bying the Federal government to raise the ceiling on CPP, somewhat above the twelve thousand plus dollars that retirees receive now. This would certainly improve the purchasing power of the retirees and it would alleviate a lot of anx iety in some quarters.
• Premier Emergency Medical Travel Insurance (Full RTAM members Only)
RTAM | RTAM.MB.CA n 7
• Claims utilization of Health and Dental Plans in 2013
In
REPORTSCOMMITTEE
• Update on new initiatives—1. El dercare Services and 2. Electron ic Claims Submission
• Article on “Travel Insurance: Limitations and Exclusions”.
As was pointed out earlier, the Fed eral government has served notice to the provinces, that in 2015, it will im pose cuts to Health Care by some $13 billion. The President of ACER-CART, Tom Gaskell, has sent a letter to the federal ministers and others, to ad vocate on behalf of ACER-CART members. ACER-CART continues to reach out to other organizations to collaborate on issues of common cause.One would be remiss if one did not acknowledge George Georget, an ACER-CART executive member from Saskatchewan, for initiating a facebook page where ACER-CART members could discuss issues of rel evance, as well as pass on pertinent information to one another through those discussions.
ACER-CART
According to Statistics Canada, the biggest increase in cost is pre scription drugs. It is said that some seniors cannot afford to fill their pre scriptions; others ration them. There is a lack of equity in Canada’s Health Care. It has been suggested that the government should bring prescrip tion drugs into the Health Care Plan.
In this issue of KIT, the following information is provided:
Nurse, became her dedicated Care Specialist.Gailasked
› Base plan covers multiple trips up to 17 OR 35 DAYS each
healthy; this was all very unfamiliar and overwhelming.
• MEDOC Emergency Medical Travel Insurance (All RTAM Members)
RTAM members are now eligible for a wide array of voluntary insurance op tions to meet their needs. In Decem ber 2014 a member satisfaction survey was conducted. Most RTAM members who responded to the survey were very satisfied with the communications of the benefits and are interested in more coverage, depending on the impact on rates. To allow time to plan for the 2015 plan renewals, a follow-up survey will be conducted in September to deter mine what benefit improvements and associated costs are preferred by the majority of members. Please partici pate in this survey as it will be used for plan changes in 2015.
For further questions and plan in formation, please call our RTAM of fice at 204-889-3660, or RTAM’s Plan Administrator Johnson Inc. toll-free at 1-877-989-2600, or visit the web site www.johnson.ca/rtam.
Eldercare
› Up to $8,000 Trip Cancellation, Interruption & Delay Insur ance per insured per trip
› Subject to pre-existing condi tion limitation.
› Automatically renews each June 1.
ELDERCARE SERVICES
8 n KEEP IN TOUCH | Summer 2014
Julie called Eldercare Select
When returning home one evening, Julie received a phone call from her daughter. She explained that her husband Patrick, had just been ad mitted to hospital following a fall at their home. Her husband required urgent surgery to repair a broken hip. As Julie’s husband was recovering from the surgery, she was informed by the treating physician that her husband was being discharged home in two days. How would she manage her husband coming home? What resources would she need to care properly to his needs? Julie and her husband had always been active and
Julie a series of ques tions, sharing her expertise of the medical and homecare systems with Julie, and began to map out a plan of care for Julie and Patrick. Through
REPORTSCOMMITTEE
Julie’s Story
• Stand Alone Trip Cancellation and trip Interruption (All RTAM Members)
› Additional $6,000 per insured per year
AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE HEALTH PLAN MEMBERS AND THEIR EXTENDED FAMILIES.
NOTICE OF FOLLOW UP SURVEY OF RTAM BENEFIT PLANS IN SEPTEMBER
› Automatically renews each September 1.
Julie had access to the Eldercare Se lect service for her family. She called them for help and Gail, a Registered
› Up to $7,000 Trip Cancellation, Interruption & Delay Insurance per insured per trip
› Optional per trip supplementary travel extensions up to 212 days
• As mentioned in the previous issue of KIT, Eldercare Select services are now available to all current and new members of the Extended Health Care (EHC) Plans on a pilot project basis. Please see the article “Ju lie’s Story”, which illustrates how services for any type of caregiv ing situation can be utilized by you and your extended family through a challenging health or caregiving concern. This proj ect is sponsored by Johnson Inc. until March 31, 2015. Your feed back during the pilot project will be requested and is import ant in determining whether the service should be continued. Call toll free 1.888.327.1500 to speak to an Eldercare Select Care Specialist.
› Renews automatically each April 1
map for Julie to reference and follow in the weeks ahead.
War - Injuries caused by war may be excluded.
How Eldercare Select Helped
Call today to find out how Elder care Select can help you in your own caregiving challenge. 1-888-327-1500
Extreme Sports - Participation in extreme sports, such as sky diving, or other high-risk activities, may be excluded.
Select can provide guidance and coaching to RTAM Extended Health care Members facing any care giv ing challenge you are involved with, whether it be a spouse, parent, spe cial needs child or even yourself. The service is provided to RTAM Extend ed Health Care members by John son Inc. Getting started is easy; call our help line at 1-888-327-1500 to speak directly with one of our highly trained Registered Nurses. The call is free and there is no cost to you to receive the coaching and guidance of the Registered Nurse Care Specialist. You should never feel alone in care giving. With Eldercare Select, you never will.
Can Eldercare Select Help You? The Registered Nurses at Eldercare
period for the purpose of vacation, MHSIP covers only some (limited) phy sician and hospital expenses outside Canada, as described in the website http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/mhsip.Privateinsurancebenefitsvary
the next day, Gail worked diligently to identify options for medical equipment for purchase delivered to Patrick’s home, assist Julie with advocating for and coordinating assessments from a government homecare program, as well as coach Julie through the map of care and next steps. Gail also provid ed Julie with additional guidance on how she could prepare her home for safety during Patrick’s recovery. Last ly, Julie made a decision to hire a Per sonal Support Worker to be available to assist her husband in settling in at home following his discharge from the hospital. Gail helped identify Person al Support Worker organizations that best met Julie and Patrick’s needs and budget. All of the information was also documented in a customized, compre hensive report that Gail provided and reviewed with Julie, providing a road
Travel Insurance: Limitations and Exclusions
It is strongly recommended that you carry travel insurance when travelling outside of your prov ince of residence to cover unforeseen emergency care and transportation, as these costs may be significant. For example, although you may remain eligible for the Manitoba Health Ser vices Insurance Plan (MHSIP) cover age for up to 212 days in a 12-month
Health Insurance Association Travel guide lists the following common re strictions:
Julie said, “Within hours, Gail be gan sending me critical information to assist with decision making. She also talked me through various sce narios and how we would deal with each one, in each case making sure my husband got the best care possi ble. We spoke often over the next few days. Having the nursing expertise from Gail alleviated a lot of stress and anxiety. I’ve called Gail in the weeks since discharge as my husband’s care situation has evolved, and she has been a great advocate for me in a complicated world.”
from policy to policy, and it is im portant to check and pay particu lar attention to the limitations and exclusions. The Canadian Life and
Destination - Some destinations may not be included in your coverage. Before you travel, check for any travel advisories issued by either Foreign Af fairs or International Trade Canada.
REPORTSCOMMITTEE RTAM | RTAM.MB.CA n 9
Pre-existing conditions - If your current condition is stable or under control by medication, and you are medically fit to travel, check your policy to see if you would be covered were an emergency to arise (e.g., if you are on antihypertensive medica tion and suffer a heart attack).
CARD IMAGES
Substance Abuse - Hospital and other medical expenses incurred as a result of drug or alcohol abuse are often excluded.
REPORTSCOMMITTEE
MHCSI Supplementary Pharmacy Benefit Program - Used Your Card Yet?
REPORTSCOMMITTEE 10 n KEEP IN TOUCH | Summer 2014
Suicide - Benefits for expenses in curred due to suicide or self-inflicted injuries are routinely excluded.
Duration - Many policies specify a time limit for coverage (e.g., 60 days).
ment-Treatment you could have received in Canada, treatment you could have deferred until your re turn, and/or ongoing treatments you may need if you are out of the coun try for a lengthy period of time.
unclear about questions on medi cal questionnaire that relate to your medical conditions, be sure to ask your doctor for help in completing the form. If you provide inaccurate or incomplete answers to any of the questions, your claim can be denied even if the question is not related to the cause of the claim.
tion processed through an MHCSI participating preferred provider net work pharmacy - Sobeys Pharmacy, Sobeys Pharmacy by Mail, Thrifty Foods Pharmacy, FreschCo. Phar macy, Lawtons Drugs (Atlantic Canada only) and now also our newest preferred provider Safe way Pharmacy. You also have access to a wide range of pharmacy services and programs through the partici pating MHCSI preferred pharmacy provider network. These benefits complement core prescription dis pensing and counseling services to help you manage the medication and health care needs of you and your
To receive more information on your coverage options, assistance with the application process, and to understand your policy limitations, you can visit www.johnson.ca/rtam or call Johnson at 1-877-989-2600.
Inaccurate Application: In the trav el insurance industry, verification of medical history is done when a claim is received to determine if the emer gency is sudden and unforeseen. If the application includes a health questionnaire, and if the information disclosed is materially different from the applicant’s medical records, the claim will be denied and your pol icy will be null and void. If you are
n September 2009, the Retired Teachers’ Association of Manito ba was presented with the oppor tunity to participate in an innovative Preferred Pharmacy Provider Pro gram offered by MHCSI – Managed Health Care Services Inc. that deliv ers enhanced value for Health Benefit Plans.As a member of Retired Teach ers’ Association of Manitoba Extend ed Health Care Plan, you are eligible to participate in the MHCSI Supple mentary Pharmacy Benefit Program. With your MHCSI drug card, you and your eligible dependents are entitled to coverage of up to $3.00 on your out-of-pocket expense per prescrip
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Maximums - Maximums can vary from a few thousand dollars to un limited coverage for hospital and medical expenses. Some policies cov er only a certain percentage of costs. There also may be maximums related to age.
family.To have a prescription filled, simply present your MHCSI drug card along with your prescription to the Preferred Provider Network (PPN) Pharmacy of your choice. Vis it www.pharmacynearestyou.ca for a list of all participating PPN locations. For more information on this pro gram call MHCSI at 1-888-686-6427. If you have general questions about your EHC benefits call Johnson Inc. at 1-877-989-2600
Routine or Elective Treat
AT LAUNCH CURRENT
he RTAM Wellness Commit tee hosted yet another very informative seminar, dealing with the abuse and scam issues that face us, as we become older.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014, McMaster House REPORTSCOMMITTEE
RTAM | RTAM.MB.CA n 11
Peggy Prendergast is very involved with organizations that deal with elder abuse. She is presently work ing in city schools to familiarize stu dents with what “aging” really looks like and dispelling stereotypes. Many students don’t have elder relatives in their lives and so do not have op portunities to converse with an older person. The students already are well versed on the topic of “bullying” and are now able to make the connection with what “elder abuse” looks like. The message is loud and clear--”It’s Not Right.”
At some point in our lives we may happen upon situations, maybe even in our own families, where we see an elderly person being controlled, bul lied, physically abused, threatened or taken advantage of. Many of us don’t want to get involved because we don’t really know what to do. As adults, we have a responsibility to make sure that the seniors in our society are safe. The world is a different place to day than it was years ago and many children are no longer living near their parents. The care of the parents is then allocated to strangers.
It is imperative that we know the signs that identify abuse and that
Wellness Seminar
Scams, Frauds, Power of Attorney, Help
Barb McDole Wellness Committee Member
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IT IS VERY SCARY, BUT YOU MUST REALIZE THAT IT’S ALMOST IM POSSIBLE TO TELL IF SOMEONE IS LEGIT OR NOT!
If you are new to the internet:
• have firewalls
1. Fraud
Fraud is very prevalent in today’s soci ety and targets everyone, but seniors in particular, as they are a very trust ing bunch! Some of the frauds that Monica spoke to were: False Charity Fraud, Pyramid Schemes, West Afri can Fraud, Travel Schemes and Fraud and Phone Fraud. Her prevention tips were: read the fine print before sign ing, be suspicious of products pro moted by prizes or free trips, be suspi cious of “no risk” claims or promises of huge financial rewards, beware of anything operating out of Canada as they can’t be prosecuted; resist pres sure and get a second opinion.
who are experienced on the inter net, check out website addresses, links and dates, never give out your real name to Chat Rooms or Pro file Pages. There are many types of internet fraud: Hacking, Trojan Horse, Pharming, Vishing, Phishing and Dial-Up.
• turn your computer off
Thanks to Lydia Hyska for helping out at the registration desk, to Mau reen Recksiedler for all the delicious and nutritious goodies you brought for the health break.
• tell your internet provider to set up filters
• set up an e-mail account
• read everything
12 n KEEP IN TOUCH | Spring 2014
REPORTSCOMMITTEE
The Internet Fraud piece that Mon ica presented has been put togeth er by the RCMP. The internet is NOT governed by any entity except the RCMP. The internet contains information on absolutely every thing and there are NO LIMITS OR CHECKS. This is why you need to take PRECAUTIONS! YOU CANNOT TRUST THINGS THAT APPEAR ON THE Precautions:INTERNET!Ask advice from people
Thanks to Aaron and the rest of the staff at Bernstein’s Deli, who provided us with Lunch. It was delicious.
• have a password that you keep secret
2. Internet Fraud
• don’t reply to unfamiliar e-mails
• chat only with friends and family
Monica Petruskavich was our af ternoon presenter. Her presentation was not only informative but animat ed and quite entertaining in parts! Monica is a Consumer Services Offi cer from the Consumer Protection Of fice, 302-258 Portage Avenue, Winni peg, MB R3C 0B6; 204-945-3800. She spoke to the scams, fraud and internet fraud that seniors need to be aware of
2. Health Care Directives
Another name for this is a Living Will. The senior appoints someone to carry out their health care wishes when they are no longer able to do so. Again, this request must be carried out by the senior when they are men tally competent, be in writing, signed and dated. As a senior, it is import ant that your family and physician know exactly how you feel about any treatments, should your health turn critical and certain procedures are necessary. Make sure your family and physicians have a copy of your living will.
POA, one who would be allowed to make decisions after the senior be comes mentally incompetent, the se nior must be mentally competent , the request must be in writing and must be signed and witnessed by one of the designated persons. Ms. Tod strongly advised that all decisions regarding an Enduring POA be discussed with a lawyer beforehand.
and protect themselves against. This free service, provided by the Provin cial Government, was established in 1970 and focuses only on individu al-to-business transactions. Most of the complaints centre around motor vehicles and home renovations.
• don’t open attachments without http://
Thanks, Monica for all those “YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!” situations that snapped us to atten tion! Thanks Sharon, for leading us through the LAWYER JUNGLE and making us aware of the many crucial decisions that are necessary for us to make as we get older!!
I
As Manitoba raced towards prov incehood, a “List of Rights” was compiled, to be presented to the Dominion government. Major issues were: the provincial control of pub lic lands, full rights of both English
Between one-third and one-half of our politicians attended. The newly elected Liberal leader, Rana Bokhari brought greetings, Education Minis ter James Allum spoke about the im portance of education to himself and all Manitobans. John Sushelnitsky was excited to introduce his former student, Brian Pallister, the Progres sive Conservative Leader of the Op position.
Upon reaching Ottawa Richot was charged, jailed, released. He negotiated hard with Sir John A., thought he had made progress. His notes are the only written record of these meetings.
Our speaker was Phillipe Mailhot, the Curator of the Museum of St. Boniface.
REPORTSCOMMITTEE RTAM | RTAM.MB.CA n 13
Submitted by Guy Hansen Public Relations
The evening was certainly a suc cess. Wayne Hughes was the open ing speaker. He was quite enthused that here we were at the first of sev eral events celebrating RTAM’s 25th birthday and it just happened to be on the first day of spring.
Returning to the valley, he soon felt that both he and his people had been betrayed. The First Riel Rebel lion was coming.
When asked who would be the person most interesting to Manito ban MLAs, Mailhot immediately re sponded, “That would be Richot, the Second Father of Manitoba.”
n mid-March, RTAM hosted the second “Night at the Leg.” Invited were all sitting MLAs, the execu tive of MTS, the media, RTAM board and members.
and French languages, amnesty for current members of the provincial government. Richot, representing all the people of the valley, including the Metis, was one of the delegates.
By 1862, Bishop Tache appointed him to the Metis parish of St. Norbert, which extended all the way to the American border. His parishioners were soon upset by (government) sur veyors appearing on their farms with out permission, and Richot, taking care of his people as any good priest would, soon became a spokesman and populist leader. Louis Riel was gaining influence. Richot hosted Riel and his men in his church and home. A provi sional government was established.
Mailhot, in his studies, had discovered the story of an absolutely fascinating Manitoban priest called Joseph-Noel Richot. Richot was a Catholic, born and trained in Quebec. He came west in the early 1860s.
Photographs of the guests both be fore and after the presentation show a lot of people all chatting enthusias tically, meeting one another, smiling. It was a memorable evening.
RTAM, Phillipe Mailhot Presentation
organized a seminar in Thompson and reported that it went very well. Well done, Joan and committee! I know that Ray Sitter and Pat Bow slaugh had prepared an excellent sem inar for Brandon and western Man itoba and we appreciate their hard work and commitment. In Winnipeg, Wayne Hughes spoke on the structure of RTAM and the Pension and COLA
issue, Alex Boyes explained the many Benefit programs and Peggy Prender gast outlined what retirees can expect with their new-found leisure time. The evaluation sheets were very positive to wards all three presenters and asked if such seminars could be repeated. The Membership & Chapter Committee wishes to thank all presenters for their unique and informative contributions.
John Sushelnitsky
On the bright side, Joan Dawson
current written information was available to take away for those who were present.
RTAM IN PORTAGE
Peggy EducationalPrendergastAdvocacy
14 n KEEP IN TOUCH | Summer 2014
in Portage la Prairie. The local chap ter advertised with posters around town, registered the seniors present and helped set up for the afternoon sessions.
Educational Advocacy Report
F
REPORTSCOMMITTEE
On
May 22, 2014, the RTAM Educational Advocacy Com mittee, in collaboration with the Manitoba Association of Senior Centres, the provincial Seniors’ and Healthy Aging Secretariat and the lo cal RTAM Portage la Prairie chapter presented the third event of its kind in the province. The objective was to unlock some of the best kept secrets around services available to seniors in the province, in their region and locally, especially to those present. We invited all the seniors in the area of Portage la Prairie to “Come for lunch and stay for information” at the Herman Prior Centre for seniors
rom 2011 to 2013, RTAM con ducted seminars for active teachers considering retire ment. The seminars were held in Brandon and Winnipeg and there was growing attendance in both places. 2014 is a mystery! We have had great co-operation with the provincial su perintendents’ organization in ad vising retirees of the time and place. We had no reason to suspect this year would be any different. Howev er, we were shocked to find that no one had registered for the Brandon session and only a dozen, down from five dozen last year, signed up for the Winnipeg seminar. Obviously, we will have to find out what went wrong and correct it before next year.
The Mayor of Portage la Prairie brought greetings to those assem bled before lunch and spoke about the importance of seniors in town. The keynote address, “It’s Not Right,” was delivered by Susan Crichton, the Elder Abuse Consultant for the prov ince, assisted by Peggy Prendergast. There were nine other brief presenta tions given by personnel involved in a variety of services available to the older adults in attendance and much
Winnipeg Pre-Retirement Seminar
The Educational Advocacy Com mittee believes it is essential to have a human connection to these ser vices. Those who were present now know who they will be interacting with if the need arises for them per sonally for these services or if they are advocating for a neighbor, friend or family member. Many of us end up alone in life through no fault of our own. Being responsible for our own well-being and those we care about will make a strong age-friendly com munity in which we will all thrive. LA PRAIRIE
Barbara Quinlan, Winnipeg Lena Renaud, Scarborough, ON Doris K. Restall, Winnipeg
Daniel Shtykalo, Dauphin TirlochanWhiteSingh,Rock, BC Helen M. Sisson, Winnipeg
Alice Roberta Topping, Camp Morton
Manfred Emil Leiendecker, PatriciaWinnipegLenton, Winnipeg Blanche M. Levesque, Winnipeg Olga E. Lewicki, Winnipeg Myrtle R. Little, Victoria, BC Maureen
Gail Patricia Holland, Winnipeg June S. Inglis, Winnipeg Joan Innes, Winnipeg Rose Jacobs, Winnipeg John Jaman, Winnipeg Roberta Anne Janaway,
IrmaEugeneWilmaErnestRoseMetroMaryLilyGilbertHaroldDanielJamesFrancesJeanSydneyLyleDorothyRosalineFrancesEdwardJohnWilliamJeanRossAugustMarieCarlJeanElizabethRhonaMarilynJoyceNickWestbourneAlexander,Andrusiak,WinnipegAngelineAtkinson,WinnipegDawnBarr,ChatfieldBruceBass,WinnipegE.Beauchemin,WinnipegBirch,WinnipegBjarnason,Victoria,BCBlanchard,St.RoseTheodoreBlondal,WinnipegD.Boast,Ladysmith,BCH.Boyd,Ottawa,ONGaryBradford,RorketonC.Braun,MordenAlbertBuchel,WinnipegE.Burrows,WinnipegCameron,WinnipegE.Campbell,HamiotaAmyCampbell,TeulonJ.Chapman,WinnipegPierreChaput,WinnipegCoe,Lethbridge,ABA.Coughlan,KillarneyEmileDeBaets,WinnipegR.DeJersey,WinnipegPaulL.Demers,Ste.AnneE.Desrochers,MariapolisL.Didkowski,WinnipegDrewniak,SelkirkDubrovsky,WinnipegLeslieDuncan,NorwayHouseM.Duncan,WinnipegDurand,WinnipegL.Edinborough,Winnipeg
Murray Robert Smith, Brandon Mae E.M. Spryszak, Winnipeg John M. Standing, Winnipeg Dan Stasiuk, Winnipeg Eleanor Stewart, Brandon Sheila Joan Storjord, Winnipeg Michael Storozuk, Winnipeg Florence Sutherland, Eriksdale Robert J. Sutton, Winnipeg Margaret D. Swan, Winnipeg Janet Denise Taylor, Oak Bluff Audrey B. Taylor, Winnipeg Ida H. Toews, Winnipeg Margaret Toews, Winnipeg
Sylvia Lorraine Lauren, AdamWinnipegG.Lavitt, Winnipeg
MargaretRalphTinaFranklinIevaWinnipegAstrideJessens,Qualicum,BCKawal,WinnipegKehler,MordenKennedy,OakbankKovacs,Surrey, BC
Alice Krahn, Abbotsford, BC Ernie A. Kroeger, Winnipeg Helen Kroeger, Winnipeg Mary Kroeker, Rosenort Anne Krucik, Nanoose, BC Louise Kurchaba, Rossburn Peter F. Kutcher, Winnipeg Richard James Labun, Winnipeg Robina T. Lapp, Winnipeg
We remember these RTAM colleagues and associate RTAM members.The list covers names received from TRAF as of April 1, 2013 to April 30, 2014.
RTAM | RTAM.MB.CA n 15
Verna B. Emberley, Lac Du Bonnet Jacob Enns, Winnipeg John Enns, Winnipeg Alex Fedirchuk, Ethelbert Lorne W. Ferley, Winnipeg Imelda M. Ferraton, Winnipeg Florence Fillion, Winnipeg Lucien R. Frechette, Winnipeg Arthur John David Friesen, GillesWinnipegRogerGagnon, Winnipeg Mary Garrett, Dauphin Jessie V. Gates, White Rock, BC Margaret E. Geddes, Winnipeg Homer W. Gill, Neepawa Joseph Grabys, Winnipeg Neil Lynn Hansen, Winnipeg Elvert John Haugen, Winnipeg Orra R. Peterborough,Henan, ON
Phyllis I. Wagner, Calgary, AB Katherine Walker, Neepawa S. Hadley Ward, S. Surrey, BC Alvin Edward Wiebe, Winnipeg Jean Wiens, Virden Carol L. Wilkins, Winnipeg Philip Zubrycki, Winnipeg
JeanElaineWalterMauriceJohnGladysTerrenceThompsonPatsyMargaretDorotheaLornaRoderickMarilynEileenRuthOlgaM.M.W.MaryJohnViolaEugenieWilliamDanielDavidWinnipegLodge-Zaparnick,Lyon,WinnipegJ.MacNeil,SelkirkJ.Madder,WinnipegM.Maguire,Surrey,BCM.Marciski,McCrearyMartens,WinnipegS.McBurney,RiversDonaldMcDonald,WhitemouthLoisMcKitriek,PilotMoundMargaretMcMillan,EmersonE.Miller,OakbluffI.Moore,WinnipegMorrison,WinnipegDeannaMurray,WinnipegJ.T.Murray,WinnipegH.Naherny,Mission,BCG.Olafson,WinnipegA.Olson,GimliJo-anneOster,WinnipegWayneOwens,WinnipegM.Paley,RoblinPatmore,MelitaLawrencePeachell,WinnipegPeleshok,WinnipegJ.Pindera,WinnipegMaryPeorsch,WinnipegB.Purdy,Minnedosa
Evelyn L. Saiko, Winnipeg William Schroeder, Winnipeg Marjorie E. Scott, Carberry Sergei L. Sherman, Winnipeg Ruth Shinoff, Winnipeg
William R. Aitken, Gimli Beverley Anne
Louis J. Touchette, Winnipeg Dorothy Troop, Winnipeg Jean Ila Tully, Nanaimo, BC Marcella Elsie Joan Turnbull, JohnWinnipegVanderstoel, Winnipeg
In Memoriam
That the regular and associate membership fees remain at $27.00 for the fiscal year 2014–2015. Carried.
1. Pelton/Krawec
That the RTAM AGM 2014 receive the Auditor’s Report for the fiscal year 2012-2013. Carried.
Auditor’s Report
7. Pelton/Krawec
5. Pelton/Krawec
8. Pelton/Krawec
That the 2014 – 2015 RTAM budget proposed by the RTAM Board of Directors be approved. Carried.
9. Bornn/Dawson
2. Pelton/Krawec
3. Pelton/Krawec
That the rate of reimbursement for hotel remain at $140.00 per day beginning July 1, 2014. Carried.
That the accommodation with family or friends in lieu of hotel remain at up to 50% of the hotel rate per day beginning July 1, 2014. Carried.
2014 - 2015 Budget
Reserve Fund
That the Board be authorized to appoint the accounting firm of BGP Accounting and Tax Services, for the 2013-2014 fiscal year. Carried.
AGM 2014 Financial Motions
RETIRED TEACHERS’RETIREDASSOCIATIONTEACHERS’OFMANITOBA 16 n KEEP IN TOUCH | Spring 2014
That the membership fee for a Life Member be waived. Carried.
That the Reserve Fund be restored to 25% of previous year’s operating budget. (2013 – 2014) Carried.
Membership Fees
That the rate of reimbursement for mileage remain at $0.50 per km beginning July 1, 2014. Carried.
6. Pelton/Krawec
4. Pelton/Krawec
10. Pelton/Krawec
Reimbursement Rates
That the rates of reimbursement for meals remain at $60.00 per diem and not exceed the following rates: breakfast @ $15.00; lunch @ $20.00 and supper @ $25.00, beginning July 1, 2014. Carried.
When asked about his own expe rience in school Allum said, “When I was a kid in the early 1960’s schools were a scary place. Teachers were sometimes wonderfully loving and sometimes just scary. I was supposed to skip Grade 3. In that year of tran sitioning I did not connect with the teacher and I didn’t skip. Instead, I
RTAM | RTAM.MB.CA n 17
However, Allum considers himself a teacher. “I’m an educator myself. My dad was the first member of his
“For me, how I connected with the teacher was really reflected in how I performed. And why teachers are re ally indispensable to making us good and productive students. The teach er was Mr. Cheeseman when I was in Grade 7. He knew I was younger than everybody. He made sure I was in a comfortable setting even though I was at least a year younger.
Before becoming an MLA, Allum had a fifteen year career with the City of Winnipeg. After working at the Ar chives, he held a variety of positions including Senior Consultant in Stra tegic Management and Manager of Aboriginal Incentives in the office of the Chief Administrative Officer.
Allum has three children. The oldest teaches French Immersion in Winnipeg. She graduated from Bran don University, did her practicum in Kuwait and then went back and taught in Kuwait for a year. His other two children are in university.
“My sister is a teacher. The story that I always tell her is that she was teaching Grade 1 when I was in Grade 1 and I would bring home homework every day, not because a Grade 1 stu dent was assigned homework, but to take it to my sister so she could use it the next day in her classroom. She was just 19.
J
James Allum, From a Family of Educators
This interview was published in the Manitoba Teacher. It is an overview of the life and values of our Minister of Education, James Allum. It is re produced with the permission of the interviewer Judy Edmunds, Public Af fairs Facilitator for MTS, and George Stephanson, Editor of The Manitoba Teacher.
family to graduate from university, so it became an article of faith in my family growing up for all of us to go through school and into university. Luckily I was privileged enough that it was expected.
“I would say that being in a class room is really one of my favorite plac es to be and it’s an incredible amount of fun.
“I wasn’t a very good High School student. I got into Trent University on probation, because I wasn’t a mo tivated learner as a teenager. I got to Trent and at my first lecture and I really knew immediately that I loved to learn. It’s that love of learning that really motivated my very long aca demic career.
“That’s what I always wanted us to convey-is that love of learning. I know that teachers have, and I be lieve that every student has within them, the love of learning.
ames Allum, who was first elect ed to the Manitoba Legislature in 2011 as the MLA for Fort Gar ry-Riverview was named Minister of Education and Advanced Learning on October 18, replacing Nancy Allen who was Minister of Education since 2009.Allum, who grew up and received his education in Ontario, moved to Winnipeg in 1996 to take a position at the City of Winnipeg Archives. In an interview for The Manitoba Teacher, he talked about the difference he felt between Ontario and Manitoba.
“In Winnipeg, and broadly speak ing in Manitoba, people are so con nected to their neighbourhood. It’s the connection to people and their neighbourhoods and the central roles schools play in their communi ties,” said Allum.
“My brother is a high school En glish teacher, he is retired now and my sister-in-law teaches in one of the toughest parts of Hamilton. And I am an academic myself. I spent 14 years in classrooms as a teaching assistant and as a part-time teacher/instruc tor at the University of Winnipeg.
ended up skipping Grade 6 because in the grade 5-6 situation I did con nect with the teacher.
RETIRED ASSOCIATIONTEACHERS’OFMANITOBA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 18 n KEEP IN TOUCH | Summer 2014
All RTAM-related material is available on the RTAM website - rtam.mb.ca RTAM | RTAM.MB.CA n 19
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
20 n KEEP IN TOUCH | Summer 2014
JohnPublicSushelnitskyRelations
embers of all three po litical parties joined the Retired Teachers’ organi zation in the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the creation of RTAM in 1989. It was held in the Golden Boy Banquet Room of the Legislature, the evening of March 19, 2014.
TAM was formed 25 years ago, in 1989. MTS had given us $10,000 to get going, and we were off and running. Our origi nal symbol was a school bell, the old brass hand ringer, inside an outline of the province of Manitoba. It was in black and white.
Man. doing the same.
RTAM | RTAM.MB.CA n 21
In the auditorium, just inside the door at McMaster House, there is a much larger hanging. It commemo rates all the MTS member associa
M
Our RTAM Birthday Cake campaign seems to be gathering steam. The Dau phin Chapter delivered a number of cakes to their schools in the surround ing towns. Each cake had a little flag on top with RTAM and the words 25 years on it. They said it was really a fun time. Portage will have their cake out by the time you read this. There is talk of NE
Take a photo, put it in your local pa per. There’s always somebody who will want to see Mr. Johnson, or Mrs. Peter son, the one who gave them that 100 %.
MLAs Join Retired Teachers in a Celebration Happy Birthday RTAM!
Mr. Guy Hansen, chief organizer of the event, made a presentation of a bronze engraving, a copy of which was presented to all Manitoban schools in 1927, on the occasion of Canada’s 60 th anniversary, to Mr. Raymond Sokalski, the attending teacher from Kelvin High School.
presentation to students from Kelvin High School on the influence of the priest, Joseph Noel Richot, in help ing the Red River Colony attain pro vincial status and legal rights for all those living there at that time.
The feature presentation on the “second Father of Manitoba” was made by the curator of the St. Bon iface Museum, Dr. Philippe Mailhot. Earlier in the day, Dr. Mailhot made a
tions, before amalagation. Perhaps our hanging will go in that area.
Norm was quite pleased to accept our gift. MTS itself is looking forward to a birthday celebration: in five years it will be 100 years old. MTS itself has run across some archival photos, which are being displayed in their building. One hundred years, now that’s really history!
R
Greetings were brought by the Government Minister of Education, Dr. James Allum, by the Leader of Of ficial Opposition, Mr. Brian Pallister and the Leader of the Liberal Par ty, Ms. Rana Bokhari. The Manitoba Teachers’ Society was represented by
Ms. Bobbi Taillefer, Assistant Gen eral Secretary. Each speaker told of the importance their teachers had in shaping their careers and some of their past teachers, now retired, were in the audience. RTAM President Wayne Hughes stressed that this event was the first of many acts of celebration throughout the province that would take place in 2014.
PRESS RELEASE
The photo shows Norm Gould, Vice President of MTS, receiving a wall hanging at our recent AGM. The hanging has our first school bell sym bol near the top and under that our current logo in blue and gold. And, of course, “25 YEARS!”
There are a large number of mem bers who do not yet have a chapter. They can participate as individuals, I know of some who are. Let RTAM say “Happy Birthday” to your whole town. Be sure to get permission from the school, then share your cake with staff, students, whomever. Septem ber is soon enough.
REPORTSCOMMITTEE
Guy Hansen
Dennis Kozak planted the seed of an idea in the ‘Classifieds’ of the Spring 2014 edition of KIT. On May 13, 2014, the idea grew into a break fast gathering of 20 individuals at the Carriage House Inn in Calgary, Alber ta. Whether attendees were trans planted to Calgary more than twenty years ago or as recently as two years ago, all are retired (or the spouse of) Manitoba teachers now living in Cal gary and area. The group includes elementary, junior and senior high school teachers, counselors, admin
istrators and Child Guidance clini cians. Arborg, Brandon, St. Boniface, Ft. Garry, St. Vital, Transcona-Springfield and Winnipeg were some of the Manito ba school divisions represented. Based on the group’s decision to form an ‘official’ RTAM Chapter, and to meet again in the fall, it’s safe to say that all in attendance enjoyed the oppor tunity to share our Manitoba roots with former colleagues or new ac quaintances. For further informa tion please contact Dennis Kozak at kozak3@shaw.ca
Our next social occasion will be at Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, Osoyoos, on June 7, 2014.
REPORTSCHAPTER 22 n KEEP IN TOUCH | Summer 2014
On
Saturday, April 5, 2014, the RTAM – Okanagan Chapter met for our AGM and spring luncheon at Manteo Resort in Kelowna. Members and guests arrived from Salm on Arm, Oliver and points in between to re connect with colleagues and friends in the View Room overlooking Lake Okanagan. Great food, wine and conversation were enjoyed by all.
RTAM – Okanagan Chapter Spring Luncheon
Penny Hagan
Talented craftsman, Gary Little, donated a door prize of a beautiful ly turned cherry wood bowl, won by HeatherPhotographerMcFayden.Sue Forsyth cap tured the event.
Calgary Chapter
Nancy Kostiuk
2006 – 2007 CON LYNCH
This way of remembering our very senior members seems to be well received as the generous contribu tions to our Angel Baskets indicate. At our Christmas luncheon we circulate these baskets for donations to cover the cost of this endeavour.
2012 – PRESENT - WAYNE HUGHES
We will be spending time visiting two of the eight internment sites lo cated in the West Koottenays, New Denver and Kaslo. New Denver houses the Nikkei Internment Me morial Centre and includes several buildings (shacks) from the WW II era. Each “shack” contains artifacts, photographs, newspaper clippings, etc. which depicts the conditions that Canadians of Japanese ancestry lived in during the war years.
At Christmas and Easter, a group of volunteers purchases and delivers gifts to these individuals. The convenor reimburses these volunteers for their costs. She also sends cards to out-of-town members at these times. Cards of congratulations for special events, getwell cards or thinking-of-you cards are also sent.
Ghost Town Bus Tour
2005 – 2006 VAUGHN WADELIUS
1989 – 1990 JOHN KASTROKOFF
2007 – 2009 PAT BOWSLAUGH
For more information, please con tact Dr. George Takashima (member of RTAM) at 403-328-0156 or E-Mail: gptak@shaw.ca.
he fifth Annual five-day GHOST TOWN BUS TOUR:
We have a broad range of ages in our membershipfrom “just retired”, to a number of shut-ins. The latter have difficulty getting out to our social events so we go to them on occasion.
1990 – 1991 VALDINE JOHNSON
1992 – 1993 JACK GEORGE
2003 – 2005 DEE DEE RIZZO
This is a guided study tour led by an experienced and knowledgeable historian and former internee. Many stories will be shared with the tour participants. You will learn about the life and work of 22,000 Canadi ans of Japanese descent before, during and after WW II. Only 36 participants accepted for this tour. The tour will leave from and return to Lethbridge. Cost is per /person and includes bus transportation, double occupancy, ho tel accommodations for four nights, all entry fees to museums and six meals.
esponding to inquiries, The Retired Women Teachers’ Association is proud to explain the “Visiting” category on our executive list.
RWTA: More About Us
PASTRTAMPRESIDENTS
R
1994 – 1995 PHYLLIS HUNTER (MOORE)
2001 – 2003 TERRY CLIFFORD
Following the outbreak of WW II,
1996 – 1997 ETHEL BUCHANAN
Monday, August 25 to Friday, August 29, 2014 still has some seats available!
The tour will also take in the Douk bhobour Village and Museum in Cas tlegar. The last night of the tour will be spent at the famous Ainsworth Hot Springs and Hotel.
Diane Bewell
1998 – 1999 MURRAY SMITH
2009 – 2012 RICHARD BENOIT
1991 – 1992 JOHN CHALATURNYK
George Takashima
1999 - 2000 PEGGY PRENDERGAST
T
1997 – 1998 HOMER GILL
1995 - 1996 OREST ZIOLKOSKI
REPORTSCHAPTER RTAM | RTAM.MB.CA n 23
2000 – 2001 KIM HASSELRIIS
1993 – 1994 LAURENA LESKIW
On another note, congratulations to our Vice-presi dent, Ruth Hartnell, for winning the IPAD Air, donated by Johnson Inc, at the RTAM AGM!
22,000 Canadians of Japanese ances try, living along the West Coast, were removed from their homes, their prop erty taken by the federal government and labelled “enemy aliens.” The War Measures Act was imposed on these people. Eight internment camps were hastily put up in the spring and summer of 1942 in the West Koote nays. Four of these places were ghost towns at the time the war broke out. Over 8,000 internees were placed in these camps.
solidly for about four hours, then have a period of wakefulness and meditation. Some people find that they feel like getting up and work ing on things. This may last for an hour or two and it is followed by the “second sleep” or “morning sleep.” It is complete ly normal to have a nap or siesta in the middle of the day, usually after lunch. The eight hour sleep may just be a model for the industrial age, but it does not conform to nature. Fol lowing the natural pattern or flow enables a person to sleep better and to be more fully alert during the day. So it turns out that my wake/sleep pattern is quite normal. It has put me
Jessa Gamble - “Our Natural Sleep Cycle” Wikipedia - “Segmented Sleep”
In
health education I was taught that eight hours of solid sleep was ideal for health and wellness. Re cently I came across some research about sleep that astounded me. The natural sleep cycle of human beings is different from what I had learned. I have been concerned about sleep for quite some time because it was rare for me to have a full night of un interrupted sleep. What was wrong with me? In talking to people about sleeping patterns, I found that many shared the same concerns.
References: Internet: TED.com
Ed Labossiere
24 n KEEP IN TOUCH | Summer 2014
at ease and I think that everyone should be aware of this information. If you sleep for eight hours or so without waking that is fine too. Of course, each one of us has hopefully developed a lifestyle which best suits him or her. By paying more at tention to our own body clocks, comfort levels and psychology, we can enjoy bet ter health and a fuller life.
This is what I recently found out. Sleep researchers have gone through literature of times past and conduct ed experiments with ordinary people. They discovered what is called the natural sleep cycle. Our body clocks work on the day/night cycle and in the evening when we go to sleep it is completely natural to sleep quite
Our Natural Sleep
CycleAnyRTAM member wishing to receive a card that identifies them as a member should contact the RTAM office: 204-889-3660 or email rtam@mymts.net. RETIRED ASSOCIATIONTEACHERS’OFMANITOBARETIREDASSOCIATIONTEACHERS’OFMANITOBA
John (Jack) George was President of RTAM from 1992- 1993 and Past President 1993-1994.
A celebration of Jack’s life took place on Tuesday, June 3 at Fort Garry United Church in Winnipeg.
The Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam (SAGE)
Remember that SAGE does not diagnose any specific con dition. The results of SAGE will not tell you if you have Alz heimer’s disease, mini-strokes or any number of other dis orders. But the results can help your doctor know if further evaluation is necessary.
What do I do after I take the test?
RICHARD ROGER BENOIT of Winnipeg, survived by loving wife and best friend Lucille, passed away peacefully on May 17, 2014, at the Victoria General Hospital, just two weeks short of his 70th birthday. A funeral service was held on Friday, May 23, 2014 at Mary Mother of the Church Parish, in Winnipeg.
RTAM | RTAM.MB.CA n 25
at Ohio State University, the SAGE test is designed to detect early signs of cognitive, memory or thinking impairments. It evaluates your think ing abilities and helps physicians to know how well your brain is working. You do not need special equipment to take SAGE - just pen and paper. There are four forms of the SAGE test. You only need to take one. It doesn’t matter which one you take; they are all interchangeable.
Unfortunately, many people do not seek help for these kinds of symptoms until they have experienced them for several years. There are many treatable causes of cogni
After you complete the test, take it to your primary care physician. Your doctor will score it and interpret the re sults. If indicated, your doctor will order some tests to further evaluate your symptoms or refer you for further evaluation.Ifyourscore does not indicate any need for further eval uation, your doctor can keep the test on file as a baseline for the future. That means you can take the test again in the future and the doctor can see if there are any changes over time.
Richard Roger Benoit John (Jack) George
tive and thinking loss, and in some cases, medications or other treatments can be very effective especially if pro vided when symptoms first begin.
Why take the SAGE test?
Submitted by Vaughn Wadelius
Past president and director
Richard Benoit was President of RTAM from 2009-2012, past president since 2012 and served on various committees.
Developed
JOHN (JACK) GEORGE: Gracefully with his hands held, and surrounded by the love of his family and his beloved Maggie of 64 years, John (Jack) David George passed away May 26, 2014 in the comfort of his suite at Riverwood Square, in Winnipeg.
It is normal to experience some memory loss and to take longer to recall events as you age. But if the changes you are experiencing are worrying you or others around you, SAGE can be a helpful tool to assess if further evalu ation is necessary.
You may want to take SAGE if you are concerned that you might have cognitive issues. Or you may wish to have your family or friends take the test if they are having memory or thinking problems. The difficulties listed can be early signs of cognitive and brain dysfunction. While dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can lead to these symptoms, there are many other treatable disorders that also may cause these signs.
There is no answer sheet provided here for you to score yourself because there are multiple correct an swers to many of the questions on the test. SAGE should be scored by your physician. Find the test on line at: http://bit.ly/1cWqCIe
Having been a teacher for 33 years and loving dogs and kids, I was thor
oughly convinced that certain kinds of trained dogs could have a huge im pact on kids’ lives.
Bear’s 26 n KEEP IN TOUCH | Summer 2014
By Barbara McDole, Bear’s owner and handler
Bear
was born in rural Manito ba on June 6, 2005, the runt of the litter and so was the last puppy to be sold. When I called to enquire about him, I was told that a fellow from Beausejour, on his mo torcycle, was on his way to get Bear, too!!!YIKES!!! I was determined to be there first, because I already felt that Bear and I were meant to be togeth er! As I wheeled into the farmyard, I
I was fortunate enough to connect with George Leonard of Manitoba Search and Rescue in 2006. Bear passed the initial assessment, allow ing him to enroll in the one year cer tification program and Bear graduat ed on September 29, 2007. It was very obvious early in, that he displayed
breathed a sigh of relief not to see a motorcycle! As I got out of the car, a darling little ball of white fluff, with a brown spot on his back and soulful brown eyes, cautiously approached me. The deed was done. Bear came to our house, to be mothered by Elm, our other Great Pyrenees and be came one spoiled dog!
drea Sloane. The Teddy Bears’ Picnic, parent interview evenings, school picnics, reading with kids, playing at recess, flying kites in St. Vital Park, visiting school principals and secre taries and participating in Winnipeg Schools, “I Love to Read” month, were all a part of Bear’s life.
the behavioural attributes that quali fied him to be a certified therapy dog.
with David Briggs and Dr. D.W. Pen ner School with Lois McKay. He also continued to be a “Destination,”with our own family and neighbours.
This past year, 2013-2014, was to be Bear’s last year before he retired. He had been working at Marion School
Sadly and unexpectedly, we lost Bear to cancer on May 1, 2014.
Journey RTAM | RTAM.MB.CA n 27
Having taught in the Louis Riel School Division, this is where I want ed Bear to make his mark. For sev en years, he brightened the days of students and staff with his calm demeanor and valued interaction. Bear’s visits were also a big hit with Jenn and Rheanne at the St. Amant Community Homes, thanks to An
“I think we are drawn to dogs, because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be, if we weren’t certain we knew better.” - George Bird Evans
Benefits
• Access “My Pension Account”
• Access their T4A tax slip or Pension Change Notice through “Correspondence”
Online Services is safe and secure. At TRAF, we are ded icated to protecting your privacy and safeguarding your personal information.
• Update their email or mailing address
• Request email notification, through “Mailing Preferences” to receive your electronic copy of The Horizon, the Annual Report Summary and your Pension Change Notice rather than a paper copy
TRAF, we are encouraged to see that registra tion for Online Services continues to grow sub stantially each year. Currently, over 11,000 mem bers are registered and more than one-third of these members are retired.
Online registration allows you to:
How to Register:
Year End Contest
Register now and give it a try!
Be sure to check the TRAF website for more details as well as the contest rules.
If you have any difficulties, please contact us and we will walk you through the process.
As a registered member, your name will automatically be entered in our year-end draws. This year, draws will be made for members who:
Security
Register for TRAF’s Online Services It just makes sense... HOMECOMING 2014 SEPTEMBER 19 7:00 P.M. | 224 EDUCATION BLDG Join the Honourable Peter Bjornson (MLA and former educator), Matt Henderson (teacher), and Professor Emeritus Ken Osborne (U of M) as they discuss how knowing the past can change the future. KNOW THE PAST TO CHANGE THE FUTURE RSVP to Tamara.Gillam@umanitoba.ca SPECIAL EVENT - OCTOBER 25 EDUCATION ALUMNI FAMILY DAY VISIT UMANITOBA.CA/EDUCATION FOR EVENT UPDATES THE FACULTY OF EDUCATION INVITES YOU TO A PANEL PRESENTATION 28 n KEEP IN TOUCH | Summer 2014
Online Services is quick, secure and easy to use. Once you are registered, logging into your secure online ser vices account gives you instant access to your personal TRAF pension information.
Go directly to the Online Services Register page on our website at traf.mb.ca and then follow the directions pro vided.“Submit” your completed Online Services Regis tration form and then we will notify you by email once registration is confirmed and provide you with a UserID number.
• Update your contact information, such as your email and mailing address
At
• Change your Language Preference if you prefer your Pension Change Notice in French
• Obtain your T4A slip, your Pension Change Notice and other TRAF correspondence when you access “Corre spondence”
• Change to email notification under “Mailing Preferenc es”
• Review a monthly record of your pension payments and deductions when you access “My Pension Ac count”
KIT
RTAM | RTAM.MB.CA n 29
By publication time, I will have had the opportunity to attend your 2014 AGM. Thank you for the opportunity to extend the greetings of ACER-CART, its Western Regional Team and Pres ident Thomas Gaskell, who conveys his “most sincere appreciation for your support of ACER-CART efforts over the past number of years.”
George Georget, ACER-CART Western Regional Representative and Chair of ACER-CART’s Political Advocacy Ad Hoc Committee
My copy of the Spring 2014 KIT arrived in my mailbox yesterday and a very fine magazine it is indeed. It’s full of useful information and well laid out. I appreciate all the work that goes into producing KIT and making sure all we MTS retirees are kept up to date.
benefit pensions are the most effec tive retirement savings system in the country.” They go on to explain that defined benefit plans are so self-suffi cient that only 20% of those receiving pensions with defined benefits are eligible for federal GIS supplements. Leech and McNish report that twice as many retirees without defined benefits rely on government supple ments.
’s spring issue provides great modelling for debunking myths aimed at destroy ing the integrity of Defined Benefits Pension Plans. Marvin Krawec’s ar ticle entitled “Defined Benefit Pen sion Plan” provides important fac tual information for counteracting erroneous attacks on these plans. Pension myths have been around for a while eroding confidence and misleading decisions regarding pen sion structures. Strong advocacy for defined benefit plans is essential to reverse the destabilization of a high ly efficient and successful retirement saving strategy, not only for the pen sioners, but also for the economy and the stability of the Canadian pension program.
Hello Doreen.
ACER-CART has been focusing po litical advocacy to address this my thology. It forwarded a generic letter to each of its member associations in an effort to support advocacy in the
However, damaging myths contin ue to propel organizations like the Canadian Federation of Taxpayers to lobby for the dismantling of de fined benefit plans. The Saskatche wan Federation of Taxpayers wrote an open letter to Premier Wall in Saskatchewan imploring his govern ment to get rid of such plans.
provinces and the Yukon. Together, from the national to the provincial/ territorial and local levels, we must share the information such as is pro vided in Marvin Krawec’s article and hold to account those who perpetrate the myths and to ensure that policy makers make reasoned decisions to preserve and to ensure that the defined benefit pension model is a central fea ture in Canada’s pension scene.
Letters to the Editor
Jim Leech and Jacquie McNish pro vide further evidence in their book, The Third Rail. They tell us that, “By almost any measure our defined
Best wishes in the hopes that Spring will find you soon, Carole Wylie New Westminster BC
Raisa Eryk, Winnipeg
You can find a survey in the spring KIT, or Call RTAM to request one at 1-888-393-8082 or on our website at www.rtam.mb.ca
Shirley M. Brown, Winnipeg
These words were spoken by Paul Taillefer, President of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, in February, 2013 on the occasion of starting a campaign to raise awareness of teachers and Canadians on the erosion of democratic principles by governments unresponsive to its citizens. At the federal level, it is directed at the current government, but, for those of us in Manitoba, it may apply equally to a provincial government that brought in the repressive Bill 45 in 2008.
Attack on unions.
Exclusion of voices.
Evelyn K. Enns, Virden
By putting our signature on this card and sending it (no postage required) to our Member of Parliament we are reminding all of them that they have a responsibility to act in the best interests of all of us, and not just for their friends.
April 2014
30 n KEEP IN TOUCH | Summer 2014
May 2014
LIFE MEMBERS
VOLUNTEER SURVEY
Please reply today.
Good government means listening to all voices.”
Wayne Hughes, President of RTAM John Sushelnitsky, Political Action Co-chair Peter Carney, Political Action Co-chair
Cornelius Vogel, Winnipeg
My teacher organization speaks for me.
Surrendr Nath, Regina, SK
need
U.S.A.
It contained a survey on teachers’ volunteer activities. We still need 100’s of responses – even if you don’t volunteer.
Hear My Voice
Victor W. Moskal, Victorville, CA
Alfred G. Goebel, Winnipeg
The RTAM Board agrees with this campaign and passed a motion in 2013 to support it. Each member of RTAM is urged to sign the card and mail it to their MP as an expression of that support. While elections are the ultimate expression of our approval or disapproval of a gov ernment’s action, campaign such as this are an important reminder that we have given the government a conditional opportunity to serve us.
“Good government means listening to all voices. In a healthy democracy, decisions should be accompanied by respectful consultation and ongoing dialogue with all sectors of the population- not just with those few who share the same ideology.” Paul Taillefer, President, Canadian Teachers’ Federation
Remember your last KIT?
Ralph Sotolov, Winnipeg
RETIRED ASSOCIATIONTEACHERS’OFMANITOBA
Corruption and waste.
To make governments more fully aware of our concern for the principles of democracy and the manner in which they are acting, RTAM is supporting the CTF’s postcard campaign and is giving each of us an opportunity to express that concern to our Member of Parliament in Ottawa. The card states, “Let’sExcessiveend: government secrecy.
Decline of democracy.
50th Anniversary Reunion Oak Lake Island Resort Oak Lake, MB
Discover what lies beyond the beaches when you join one of our leisurely paced in-depth escorted tours combining history, nature, and cultural visits.
RTAM | RTAM.MB.CA n 31
Clear Lake Golf Course Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Open House - Whirlaway Westerners Square Dance Club
CUBA - ‘Spanish Studies in Cuba’ (Havana)
- Registration Form can be downloaded from rtam.mb.ca.
Enjoy Modern Square Dancing! New dancers, both singles and couples, are welcome on Friday, September 12 at 7:00 at Kirkfield-Westwood Community Centre, 165 Sansome Ave. Your first three dances are free! Come and find out why we love it! For more info call Carole at 204-831-8954
For retired educators and their significant others Registration 9:00 – 10:30 / Shotgun start at 11:00 / Texas Scramble Enter as a foursome or individually
Grades 7 and 8 Far Horizons text books, to complete set. Any wish_den@hotmail.cominformation?
Entry limited to 144 registrants (36 foursomes) who submit their registration form and fee by mail.
Rooms available at the Elkhorn Resort – rate of $110.00 single or double plus tax. Golf rate with cart of $45.00 - day before and day after tournament when you let them know you are in our Tournament.
Registration 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. For further information, contact Edith Alexiuk, Registrar Phone: 204-256-6484
Date: September 11, 2014
Unique Small Group Escorted Tours Costa Rica, Cuba and now El Salvador
Come and enjoy a day of fun, fellowship and golf with your retired colleagues at one of Manitoba’s premier golf courses located in the beautiful Riding Mountain National Park.
- Send cheque to Bill Moody, Clear Lake Course, Box 328, Onanole, MB R0J 1N0
YE OLDE RUSTY CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENT
Available exclusively at: Discovery Tours by McPhail Travel Brandon K-435 Rosser Avenue Brandon, MB R7A 6S2 Mon – Fri call 204-727-2305 or 1-800-417-0250
Spirit’s Call Choir extends a warm welcome to all retired teachers who love to sing. The non-profit community choir has raised approximately $180,000.00 this past decade for local charities. No auditions required. Orientation for new members is 1:30--2:00 p.m., Sunday, September 7, 2014. The choir sings from 2:004:30 Sundays, September - May at 603 Wellington Crescent. For more info contact: Dawn at 204-488-0495 or dlazar@mts.net or visit: www. spiritscallchoir.com
$2,500.00 Can. for 4 weeks. Hotel with breakfast and dinner, tuition fee. (Air fare not 250-478-0494included).ssic@telus.net
Entry fee $100.00 per person, $400.00 per foursome (includes green fees, shared golf cart, buffet dinner, prizes) Buffet dinner at Elkhorn Resort
CLASSIFIEDS RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION OF MANIT OBA
WANTED
1954 - 2014 Normal School Reunion October 4, 2014
Invitations were mailed out in January, 2014. Morris Demkiw / ammoe@mymts.net
Spirit’s Call Choir Needs New Voices
- Questions: Please contact Bill Moody at harv4_5@yahoo.ca
Brandon1963-64 Teachers’ College
Departures January through March 2015. Visit our website www.cubadiscoverytours.com
For details please contact Dale Lund; 204-848-4679del.nora@hotmail.com204-727-7862marlund@westman.wave.caorNoraLarson:or204-261-8785
DR. LOUISA LOEB Thursday, July 10, 2014, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Permit Teachers of Manitoba 10th Annual Reunion Ramada Viscount Gort Hotel 1670 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB
