ACER-CART

which we are involved. In December, the Winnipeg Minor Hockey Association moved to a new location. Thus began approximately three months of negotiations and as of May 1, we have moved upstairs to Suite 206, at the same address and telephone numbers. Our new office has additional

meeting space and storage to serve our needs into the future. b. Technology Updates: Over the past year we have upgraded our computers and computer programs. c. Finances continue to be done by Administrative Assistant Carol Gillis in close association with our Treasurer who reports to the Board. d. In consultation with our auditor, we have established an investment strategy 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. e. Volunteer Survey: The Board established an Ad Hoc committee to

conduct a survey on the number, amount and extent of volunteer services provided by retired teachers in Manitoba. We have been very fortunate to use the services of Prairie

Research Associates to conduct and analyse the results when the survey ends June 30. The results of the survey will become an integral part of presentations to outside groups. f. “Hear My Voice” is a national campaign sponsored by the Canadian Teachers’ Federation to express concerns about the state of democracy in Canada. Our national organization, 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 allow them to register their concern with their federal MP. Whether your concern is excessive government secrecy, attack on unions or decline of democracy, make your voice heard and join with colleagues across Canada to state “Good government means listening to all voices.”

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 diverted to the restricted surplus that cannot be used until 2017. The regulations for the use of the restricted surplus are to be formulated by TRAF. However, we were pleased to hear RTAM will be included in con-

The 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 conversation 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 sultations prior to the regulations being finalized. 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 benefit plans that are successful, namely Ontario and British Columbia, both of which are jointly trusteed plans. 3) I have had a number of meetings with the President and Vice President of Manitoba Teachers’ Society. We have agreed to work together on a couple of projects as a beginning step to enhance and improve relations between 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.

I again look forward to the coming year and thank the membership for your continued support.

Marvin Krawec Pension Chair

constructive criticism by this government of researchers and scientists in many fields of national interest. Perhaps the most disconcerting issue is that of pensions, which includes CPP. The net invested assets of CPP, as at