Keep In Touch (KIT) - Summer 2023

in this issue

106-1780 Wellington Avenue

Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B3

Phone 204-889-3660 • 1-888-393-8082

Email: info@rtam.mb.ca

Website: www.rtam.mb.ca

EdIToRIAl CoMMITTEE

Chair: Gisele Gregoire

MEMBERS

Judy Danchura

JoAnne Hoyak

Kathy Welsh

Joan Zaretsky

Email: kit@rtam.mb.ca

BoArD of Directors 2023-2024

President: Linda Blair

Vice -President: Gabe mercier

Directors-At-L ArGe

shannon culbertson

Gisele Gregoire

Jayesh maniar

Kelvon smith

Dianne snider

Dennis Kozak

Executive director: sean seywright

Email: seywright@rtam.mb.ca

Office Administrator: Denise Bellesia

Email: dbellesia@rtam.mb.ca

Member Services Coordinator: Dianne casar

Email: dcasar@rtam.mb.ca

design & Print: concept Printing services

Creative director/design: Kathleen cable

Email: conceptprinting@shaw.ca

Copyright © 2023 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.

PRESIdENT’S REPoRT Linda Blair

RTAM President, 2022-2023

The weather is warm. Grass is green. Trees are budding. Spring in Manitoba has arrived!

Our AGM has come and gone. We welcome back our returning Board Members: Shannon Culbertson, Dennis Kozak and Gabe Mercier. We also welcome our new Board Members: Jayesh Maniar, Kel Smith, and Dianne Snider. As I am drafting this report, the positions of Secretary and Treasurer have yet to be filled. Please encourage any members interested in serving on our Board to contact the office at info@rtam.mb.ca.

At the invitation of Minister Ewasko, the former Vice-President, Joan Zaretsky, and I attended the Excellence in Education Awards at the Legislature. We were

delighted to hear about the experiences of the various award winners. I was especially pleased to learn that the recipient of the Premier’s Award for Excellence in Education was a former teacher from Portage la Prairie, Terri Grant. During the reception, I was able to learn that she and a colleague are especially appreciative of our PreRetirement Seminars. They have learned a lot about preparing for retirement from our sharing of pertinent information regarding retirement. I encouraged them to continue to attend these seminars as information does evolve.

A working group has been busy preparing information for you to use as you prepare to vote in the upcoming Provincial election. Please review the information

MoT dE l A PRéSIdENTE Linda Blair

Le temps est doux. L’herbe est verte. Les arbres bourgeonnent. Le printemps est arrivé au Manitoba!

Notre AGA est déjà derrière nous. Nous souhaitons la bienvenue à nos membres du Conseil qui reviennent : Shannon Culbertson, Dennis Kozak et Gabe Mercier. Nous accueillons également nos nouveaux membres du Conseil : Jayesh Maniar, Kel Smith et Dianne Snider. Au moment où je rédige ce rapport, les postes de secrétaire et de trésorier restent à pourvoir. Nous encourageons tous les membres intéressés par un poste au Conseil à contacter le bureau à info@ rtam.mb.ca.

À l’invitation du ministre Ewasko, l’ancienne vice-présidente, Joan Zaretsky, et moi-même avons assisté aux Prix de l’excellence en éducation au

palais législatif. Nous avons été ravies d’entendre parler des expériences des lauréats. J’ai été particulièrement heureuse de constater que la lauréate du Prix de la première ministre pour l’excellence en éducation était une ancienne enseignante de Portage la Prairie, Terri Grant. Pendant la réception, j’ai appris qu’elle et une collègue apprécient particulièrement nos séminaires sur la préretraite. Elles y ont beaucoup appris sur la préparation à la retraite. Comme l’état de l’information continue d’évoluer, je les ai encouragées à continuer d’assister à nos séminaires.

Un groupe de travail s’affaire actuellement à préparer des informations pour vous aider à voter lors des prochaines élections provinciales. Je vous prie d’examiner attentivement ces renseignements.

carefully. When you speak to a candidate either in-person or as part of a public forum, you can speak about our requests and the reasons for such requests. Then the question to ask is about the plan of action that the candidate or the Party has. We want to keep them accountable for their promises. Your vote is important to them. Please remember to vote either in an advance pole or during the voting time.

Checking our website frequently for general information and details of upcoming events will help you stay informed as we strive to provide activities that promote living a long and healthy life.

I wish you all a wonderful, relaxing summer with lots of great adventures.

Lorsque vous parlez à un candidat, que ce soit en personne ou dans le cadre d’un forum public, vous pouvez discuter de nos demandes et des raisons qui les motivent. Demandez alors au candidat et à son parti quel est leur plan d’action. Nous voulons nous assurer qu’ils tiennent leurs promesses. Votre vote est important pour eux. N’oubliez pas de voter, par anticipation ou pendant la période de vote.

Visitez notre site Web régulièrement pour rester informé de nos prochains événements. Nous travaillons fort pour vous offrir des activités qui vous aident à vivre une bonne et longue vie.

Je vous souhaite à toutes et tous un été merveilleux et relaxant, rempli d’aventures.

Sean Seywright RTAM Executive Director

Welcome to warmer months, time outdoors, cold drinks, patios, BBQ’s and most importantly visits with friends and family!

RTAM hopes to encourage more engagement amongst our members this year as we increase our wellness seminars and deliver more in-person events, workshops and programs.

Please visit RTAM’s website and click the “Events” tab, you’ll see programs and seminars that are ready for you to register leading all the way through July and up until December!

We’ve tried to keep Wellness Seminars (free and online only) for the first week of most months, we’ve tried to create informative cooking workshops with our new partners The Food Studio on Roblin the second week of each month (these are accessible

RAPPoRT du dIRECTEuR

Sean Seywright

Quel plaisir de retrouver la chaleur, les moments passés à l’extérieur, les boissons fraîches, les terrasses, les barbecues et, surtout, les rassemblements avec les amis et la famille!

RTAM espère encourager l’interaction entre ses membres cette année en augmentant le nombre des séminaires sur le bien-être et en proposant plus d’événements, d’ateliers et de programmes en personne. N’hésitez pas à visiter le site web de RTAM et cliquez sur l’onglet « Events », vous y verrez les programmes et séminaires auxquels vous pouvez vous inscrire jusqu’en juillet et même jusqu’en décembre!

Nous avons essayé d’organiser des séminaires de bien-être (gratuits et uniquement en ligne) la première semaine de la plupart des mois, et de mettre en place des ateliers de cuisine informatifs avec nos nouveaux partenaires, The Food Studio sur Roblin, la deuxième semaine de chaque mois (ces derniers sont accessibles en ligne et en personne). Nous sommes aussi en train de mettre sur pied des jeux, des ligues, des événements

online or in-person), and we’re trying to create in-person games, league, events and programs for the third week of each month!

Join us in July as we offer a free workshop on Disc Golf, a newer sport that has no cost to play on any provincial or municipal course in Manitoba! The only cost is a set of discs to get started, but we’re happy to provide them for free at our July introduction to the sport.

We’ll also be hosting the inaugural RTAM Golf Tournament Sponsored by Johnson Insurance this September! Register for the full 18 holes or just 9, we’ll provide a gas cart, lunch, dinner and some prizing to make it a day to remember!

This summer and fall is all about staying active and coming together with other retired teachers across Manitoba, so we hope to see you live at one of our events soon!

et des programmes en personne pour la troisième semaine de chaque mois.

Rejoignez-nous en juillet, car nous proposons un atelier gratuit sur le disque golf, un sport relativement nouveau et gratuit sur n’importe quel parcours provincial ou municipal au Manitoba. Le seul coût est un ensemble de disques pour commencer, mais nous sommes heureux de les fournir gratuitement lors de notre introduction au sport en juillet.

Nous organiserons également, en septembre, le premier tournoi de golf RTAM, commandité par Johnson Insurance. Inscrivezvous pour tous les 18 trous ou 9 trous seulement, nous vous fournirons une voiturette à essence, le déjeuner, le dîner et des prix pour en faire une journée inoubliable.

Cet été et cet automne, on reste actif et on se réunit avec d’autres enseignants à la retraite à travers le Manitoba. Nous espérons vous voir bientôt à l’un de nos événements !

2023 AGM in pictures

At our 2023 AGM held in Brandon on May 2 and 3, attendees were able to enjoy presentations by Weiming Zhao and Sue Lantz on May 2. On May 3, the morning was devoted to RTAM Business, and the afternoon was filled by various presentations. We heard from MTS, TRAF, Johnson Insurance, and Hearing Life. Our departing Board members were honored with a bouquet of flowers and a donation to their charity of choice.

Our total in-person attendance was 45 members and 13 guests. Online we had 6 attendees.

Weiming Zhao, presenter, and Linda Blair, RTAM president.

Weiming Zhao presentation.

Sue Lantz presentation.

Sue Lantz, presenter, and Linda Blair, RTAM president.

Left: Linda Blair, RTAM president; and MLA Nello Altomare.

Right: Joan Zaretsky, RTAM vice-president; Chris Darazsi, MTA vice-president; and Linda Blair, RTAM president.

Left: Joan Zaretsky, RTAM vicepresident; Marc Dubois, Hearing Life Manitoba regional manager; Laurie Van Wyk, Hearing Life director of partner development; and Linda Blair, RTAM president.

Right: Joan Zaretsky, RTAM vicepresident; Catherine McLaren, BARTA president; and Linda Blair, RTAM president.

Right: Brad Prokop, TRAF senior vicepresident; Joan Zaretsky, RTAM vice-president; Jeff Morton, TRAF president and CEO; and Linda Blair, RTAM president.

Left: Joan Zaretsky, RTAM vice-president; Jessica Simpson, Johnson senior consultant; and Linda Blair, RTAM president.

Left: Bill Cann; Pat Bowslaugh; and Bob Davies, RTAM retiring Board directors.

Right: Linda Blair, RTAM president; and Joan Zaretsky, RTAM retiring vice-president.

Right: Linda Blair, RTAM president; David Harkness, RTAM retiring board director; and Joan Zaretsky, RTAM retiring vicepresident.

Left: Linda Blair, RTAM president; Dave Najduch, RTAM retiring board director; and Joan Zaretsky, RTAM retiring vicepresident.

Left: Joan Zaretsky, RTAM retiring vice-president; Joan Rink, RTAM retiring board director; and Linda Blair, RTAM president.

yEAR-ENd REPoRT Substitute Teacher Concerns Ad-hoc Committee

The Committee was established under the following Bylaws and Policies of RTAM.

Bylaw ARTICLE 8 - COMMITTEES

The Board of Directors shall establish the Standing Committees of the Board and the Terms of Reference and may, from time to time, establish Ad-hoc Committees with defined Terms of Reference.

Policy 9.05 Responsibilities of the Chair of a Standing or Ad hoc Committee

The Chair of a Standing or Ad hoc Committee shall:

a) Be a Director.

b) Attend meetings.

c) Be conversant with RTAM policy, bylaws and the terms of reference of the Committee.

d) Take no action that would commit RTAM resources or funds or be seen as representing the views and opinions of RTAM without express permission.

e) Submit to the Board for consideration, early in the year, a list of potential committee members selected from the list referenced in clause 9.07 (5) i).

f) Call committee meetings and determine, in consultation with committee members, whether the meeting will be held in-person or using distance technologies to ensure member participation is maximized.

g) Prepare an agenda for committee meetings

h) Ensure that minutes are recorded, distributed to committee members and submitted to the office for filing.

i) Prepare a regular report for meetings of the Board and ensure that such report is submitted to the office for filing.

j) Be responsible for ensuring any other reports and/or information in the interest of RTAM is submitted to the office for filing.

k) Prepare a report on the work of the committee for inclusion in the AGM Report including a list of members and the number of meetings held.

l) Seek the approval of the Board for the allocation of budget funds to support approved projects and to inform the Board of, and seek permission for, any projected committee budget overexpenditures prior to incurring same.

m) Obtain the approval of the President prior to committing RTAM funds or resources from the approved budgets.

n) Transfer books and records to the incoming chair by June 30 of the next Board year or 30 days after the term ends whichever is earlier.

o) Take no action without prior approval of the Board.*

p) Immediately notify the President when a situation, perceived as being emergent, becomes known.

*n) is under review as overly restrictive, and is covered off by d) above.

9.06 Responsibilities of the Members of a Standing or Ad hoc Committee

The members of a Standing or Ad hoc Committee shall:

a) Be conversant with RTAM policy, bylaws and the terms of reference of the Committee.

b) Attend meetings.

c) Seek the opinions of RTAM members to enhance services.

d) Be sufficiently conversant with current communication methods and computer technology as to be capable of participating in, and assisting with, the work of the Board including access to, and a working knowledge, of email.

e) Be a member of no more than three Standing Committees and one Ad hoc Committee.

f) Take no action which would commit RTAM resources or funds or be seen as representing the views and opinions of RTAM.

g) Immediately notify the Committee Chair when a situation, perceived as being emergent, becomes known.

h) Strive to assist in the recruitment of non-Directors as committee members.

Mandate: RTAM Ad-Hoc Substitute Committee 2022-23

Overview:

In January 2022, MTS James Bedford invited retired substitutes to attend a zoom meeting to discuss substitute issues in the province of Manitoba. Many substitutes attended the meeting and the idea of having an Ad-Hoc Substitute committee was discussed at an RTAM Board of Directors Meeting. The Board moved to form an ad-hoc committee at the 2022 AGM in May, which passed. At the Board of Directors meeting in June, Audrey Siemens put her name forth to chair the committee for the upcoming year. Several board members agreed to join the committee. On the yearly volunteer form sent out by RTAM, an RTAM member showed interest in the committee and joined the committee. Audrey also found another person to join the committee as a guest member. The first official meeting of The Ad-Hoc Substitute committee meeting took place on August 31, 2022. The goals of the committee were discussed. During the course of the year, Audrey resigned as a Director for personal reasons. David Harkness took on the role of Chair pro tem, with Audrey serving as Recording Secretary upon her return.

Terms of Reference:

In accordance with the Policy Manual of the Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba (2021), the Ad-Hoc Substitute Committee shall:

(a) Administer the RTAM Ad-Hoc Substitute Committee

(b) Annually review the RTAM Goals and Objectives for the Ad-Hoc Committee.

(c) Review its status in April and make a decision whether to 1) keep the committee as an Ad-Hoc Committee for 2023-2024, 2) decide to move a motion at the next AGM meeting to become a permanent RTAM Substitute

Committee or 3) decide to disband the Ad-Hoc Substitute Committee Meeting by moving a motion at the next AGM meeting.

Goals:

1. To gather data from the Spring 2022 RTAM survey (Substitute Section) and distribute the results in the form of graphs and charts to the RTAM Board as well as to organizations and agencies in order to share information about the concerns facing the Substitutes in Manitoba schools (Completed: forwarded graphs and charts to the President)

2. Create more RTAM surveys in order to continue to gather more information about concerns from urban and rural substitutes across Manitoba. (Underway/Ongoing: Research Proposal forthcoming)

3. Create informational documents pertaining to substitutes across Manitoba and post this information regularly on the RTAM website as well as the RTAM social media sites. (Current Status: waiting for My Profile reminder to be posted on website.)

4. Create a document for our RTAM President, Linda Blair to share with organizations and agencies to promote substitute concerns. This document will include data information from surveys as well as actual substitute experiences/solutions that substitutes have shared with the RTAM Ad-Hoc Substitute Committee. (Completed: graphed data, 6 Asks, 15 Solutions forwarded to President, hosted two seminars with MTS.)

5. Create a document specifically for use with the bargaining organizations including items such as forming a collective agreement, attaining a seat at the bargaining table and making positive changes for all substitutes across Manitoba. (Completed: 15

Solutions forwarded to President, who shared with MTS as bargaining agent)

Timeline: Goals 1-5 will be worked on throughout the year with the expectation that they all will be completed by May 2023

The Committee met seven times under two chairs: Audrey Siemens and David Harkness. The remaining members of the Committee were Andre Carbonneau, Shannon Culbertston, Kathy Stevenson, and Dave Najduch.

Insofar as possible, the Committee has met the mandate set for this year as noted above. We recommend monitoring the bargaining process and eventual contract conditions that will affect retirees who choose substitute teaching. Of particular interest will be the use of uncertified persons as substitute teachers, and the recruitment of current substitute teachers by Saskatchewan. The President now has the name of a cross-border substitute teacher.

Data from the Research Proposal may lead to collaborating with the Political Action Committee to suggest approaches to government and school divisions to eliminate the substitute shortage. We recommend continuing the joint Zoom seminars with MTS to monitor retiree substitute teachers’ reports on their working conditions.

The Committee produced a document and electronic file archive to support the incoming chair for next year. Incoming Substitute Committee Chair Guide will aid in the transition to the new chair as it includes the foundational documents, history, and mandate of the Committee as well as operational procedures. David will make himself available to the new Chair to aid further in that transition.

Budget Recommendation: $2 000 in case the Committee needs or is able to return to in-person meetings and/or to support research as needed.

Year-End Report: Pension Committee

Year-End Report: Pension Committee

Left: Comparison of CPI vs COLA, 1977-2022.

TRAF has announced a 1.5% COLA for 2023, effective July 1.

Above: Comparison of CPI vs COLA, 1977-2022. TRAF has announced a 1.5% COLA for 2023, effective July 1.

The Committee was established under the following Bylaws and Policies of RTAM. The Committee was chaired by David Harkness, with the following members Pat Bowslaugh, Bill Cann, Alison Logan, and Audrey Siemens (who left for personal reasons). The President sits ex officio, and the Executive Director attends as a guest.

resolution of the Board at any meeting.

e) Be governed by the Standing Committees’ Terms of Reference under subsection 9.07 and/or as directed by the Board.

The Committee was established under the following Bylaws and Policies of RTAM. The Committee was chaired by David Harkness, with the following members Pat Bowslaugh, Bill Cann, Alison Logan, and Audrey Siemens (who left for personal reasons). The President sits ex officio, and the Executive Director attends as a guest.

Bylaw ARTICLE 8 - COMMITTEES

f) Develop and recommend actions to accomplish the goals and objectives established by the Board, including but not limited, to those identified in the strategic plan.

Bylaw ARTICLE 8 - COMMITTEES

g) Monitor and assess developments within their areas of responsibility.

The Board of Directors shall establish the Standing Committees of the Board and the Terms of Reference and may, from time to time, establish Ad-hoc Committees with defined Terms of Reference.

The Board of Directors shall establish the Standing Committees of the Board and the Terms of Reference and may, from time to time, establish Ad-hoc Committees with defined Terms of Reference.

h) Report to the Board on a regular basis and to the AGM.

Policy 9.01 Names of the Standing Committees

Policy 9.01 Names of the Standing Committees

The Standing Committees of the Board shall be named:

i) Review the Bylaws and Policies of RTAM as they pertain to the Committee and recommend changes as needed.

j) Meet at least once annually.

8) Pension Committee…

The Standing Committees of the Board shall be named:

8) Pension Committee…

9.03 Committee Makeup and General Responsibilities

k) Establish and/or maintain an operating guide for the committee.

9.03 Committee Makeup and General Responsibilities

Each standing committee shall:

a) Consist of six people:

Each standing committee shall:

i. a chair, who shall be a Director, and

a) Consist of six people:

i. a chair, who shall be a Director, and

l) Results/reports from any task assigned to and carried out by a committee on behalf of RTAM, shall become the domain of RTAM and filed with the office.

ii. a maximum of five members, all of whom shall be full RTAM members and no more than two of which shall be Directors.

Where appropriate, such results/reports shall be appended to the committee’s operating guide.

ii. a maximum of five members, all of whom shall be full RTAM members and no more than two of which shall be Directors.

b) Appointments to Committees will be from the list referenced in clause 9.02 d).

c) Additional members, if required, may be added to a committee by resolution of the Board at any meeting.

b) Appointments to Committees will be from the list referenced in clause 9.02 d).

c) Additional members, if required, may be added to a committee by resolution of the Board at any meeting.

d) Committee composition standards in clause a) may be changed for a Board Year, for a specific committee, by

m) With the approval of the Board, promote and facilitate preretirement contacts with active teachers.

n) Take no action without prior approval of the board.*

“No Action” up for review in Bylaw Review process (overly restrictive, and covered off under d) above.)

Mandate: As in 9.07 (8) above.

Special Focus and Activities 2022-23:

• Support advancement of Bill 208 (completed with changes to the Act receiving Royal Assent)

• Host Pre-retirement Seminars (completed: Fall and Spring)

• Revise Process documents for TRAF candidate selection (completed & passed by the Board)

• Select RTAM candidate to TRAF Board for Ministerial appointment (completed and submitted)

• Set reminders for RTAM to begin new process 1 year previous to end of RTAM appointee’s tenure on TRAF Board (TBA after Order in Council sets term)

• Analysis of CPI & COLA projections, with graphs & dissemination via KIT and sharing with external bodies by President. (Completed: See KIT, Winter 2022, p.12.)

• Analysis of TRAF Pension Recipient Demographics with graphs for dissemination (Completed: Demographics graphics library forwarded to President for dissemination)

• Outreach to Manitoba Association of Retired Government Employees: no response

• Update RTAM Pension data for ACER-CART. (Completed)

• Recommendations for further action

— Continue to advocate for COLA and other inflation-fighting strategies to enhance pensioners’ financial health

— Work with stakeholders to provide increased support for those cohorts identified in the demographic income analysis who are most vulnerable (see below)

The Committee produced a document and electronic file archive to support the incoming chair for next year. Incoming Pension Committee Chair Guide will aid in the transition to the new chair as it includes the foundational documents, history, and mandate of the Committee as well as operational procedures. David will make himself available to the new Chair to aid further in that transition.

Budget Recommendation: $2,000 in case the Committee needs or is able to return to in-person meetings, and to fund further research.

Above: There is still a disparity, although less than historically, between male and female pensioners’ TRAF pensions.

Above: There is still a disparity, although less than historically, between male and female pensioners’ TRAF pensions.

Above: There is still a disparity, although less than historically, between male and female pensioners’ TRAF pensions.

Below: The largest disparities affect those female pensioners in their 70s and older, particularly single women above age 90.

Below: The largest disparities affect those female pensioners in their 70s and older, particularly single women above age 90.

Below: The largest disparities affect those female pensioners in their 70s and older, particularly single women above age 90.

Above: Choosing to buy back or continue TRAF payments during leaves does much to offset the income disparity in retirement. The Committee produced a document and electronic file archive to support the incoming chair for next year. Incoming Pension Committee Chair Guide will aid in the transition to the new chair as it includes the foundational documents, history, and mandate of the Committee as well as operational procedures. David will make himself available to the new Chair to aid further in that transition.

Above: Choosing to buy back or continue TRAF payments during leaves does much to offset the income disparity in retirement.

Political Advocacy Report

By Dennis Kozak, Committee Chair

At a September meeting, the Political Advocacy Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the topic of official recognition of RTAM by the MTS be placed on the RTAM/MTS Liaison meeting agenda. The meeting took place in January.

Our committee collected data from 8 of the 10 provinces of Canada on how school taxes are levied.

Our committee studied retirement data of our 16 000 retirees to see if our members who are 85 years of age or older could use some type of COLA enhancement. There did not seem to be any practical or fair method to accomplish this.

The Committee then met with TRAF officials via zoom to continue the discussion of COLA, including data which had been received. Ideas were exchanged. At the time of writing this report (March 31st), the Committee has not made a final recommendation to the Board of Directors. It is important to note that retirees do not make any further contributions.

Historical Note: At an MTS AGM in 1977, the teachers voted to increase their pension contributions. The total funds received from this increase of contributions was the start of COLA. These funds were given to the teachers who had retired prior to 1977.

Student Awards Committee

Annual Report 2023-24

Submitted by Joan Zaretsky, Vice-President and Chair of the Student Awards Committee

The Student Awards Committee had another successful year in accordance with our policy while also exploring some new goals. We had three new Committee members: Judy Danchura, Kathy Bellemare and Marilyn Wiebe. These three members were very conscientious and worked diligently to discuss the application process and then review the 40 applications.

On August 29, 2022, the Committee met to review the Committee Operating Manual, updating any items which required changing to meet our new expectations. Our three major proposed changes include the promotion of the Awards using various social media platforms, the desire to develop of a more definitive rubric to be used in assessing the student applications and the expansion of the Award program to meet the needs of more students. We left the meeting with copies of the 40 applications to assess. On September 1, 2022, we returned with our assessments and using an EXCEL sheet to plot our scores, this year’s four winners were named.

Our four successful Award winners for 2021-22 were Kayla Babiuk (Winnipeg), Abbey Chubaty (Dominion City), Taigan Cunningham (Kelowna) and Kiera Lesyk (Winnipeg). In accordance with our Manual, we once again had a balance of Winnipeg winners and winners from other geographical locations including a Kelowna winner from outside of the province. The Student Award winners were announced in the Fall (November) edition of the KIT magazine with photos and short biographies.

In November, a meeting was held to start the development of a more specific rubric for assessing the Student Award applications to be implemented for the 2023-24 application process. We collected a number of different rubric styles and developed a tentative rubric which we will refine in our Student Award application review in September 2023.

Articles were developed for KIT and can be found on the RTAM website. We had some struggles with our website as a result of changing our provider, but the application forms are currently available for downloading by RTAM members for the 2023 Student Award applications.

We want to thank everyone who contributed donations to the Winnipeg Foundation over the years. While we awarded four $1000 Awards, the cost to RTAM was less than $500 as a result of our current Winnipeg Foundation Student Award Endowment Fund. We brainstormed new options designed to meet the needs of more students in the future such as adding an Award specifically designated for a student entering a Community College, for a student from outside our province and for a student entering a Post Graduate Program such as a Masters. Your dollars are put to good use when you donate to the Winnipeg Foundation and remember you receive a charitable donation receipt to claim for your income tax. Thanks for all your support!

RTAM STUDENT AWARD APPLICATION FORM

The Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba (RTAM) awards annually four (4) post-secondary STUDENT AWARDS of $1,000 each to relatives of RTAM members.

Criteria for selection (the applicant must be):

1) A relative of an RTAM Member (child, grandchild, niece or nephew)

2) Involved in school and community activities

3) A Grade 12 graduate

4) Entering the first year of a post-secondary education program (University or College)

Submissions to include the following:

 Student Award Application Form

 Applicant’s comprehensive written description of school and community activities (one page)

 One (1) letter of reference/support from a non-family member (one page)

 Final official high school transcript of marks (copy only)

If further information is required, please contact the RTAM office (see below).

APPLICANT’S INFORMATION (PLEASE PRINT)

Full name:

Mailing Address:

E-mail Address:

School Name (Graduated from Grade12): Year Graduated: School Street Address:

Did you receive an RTAM Student Success Portfolio?  Yes  No

Post-Secondary Plans Program Location

RTAM SPONSORING MEMBER INFORMATION (PLEASE PRINT)

Full Name: Mailing Address: City/Town:

Postal Code/ZIP: Phone Number:

Number: Email Address:

TO BE COMPLETED BY SPONSORING RTAM MEMBER:

I confirm that the applicant , has the following relationship to me

RTAM Member’s Signature: Date:

Applicant’s Signature: Date:

THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS JULY 31, 2023 by mail/drop-off at 4:00 pm or by email at 11:59 pm Only winners will be contacted in early fall

Office/Voicemail Phone: 204-889-3660

Manitoba Toll Free: 1-888-393-8082 Fax: 1-204-783-2011

Public Relations Committee AGM Report – Bob Davies, Chair

During recent meetings the committee reviewed/considered/ moved the following:

• Encouraged the November 11wreath laying.

• The committee continues to support and advocate for the PR value reflected in the UCN Bursaries. 3 were awarded.

— Connor Colgan, The Pas, Carpentry, RTAM Trades Program Bursary

— Delaney McIntyre, Flin Flon, Culinary Arts, RTAM Trades Program Bursary

— Whitney Lennox, Thompson, Bach of Ed., RTAM Post-Secondary Bursary

• Committee discussed and revised the Terms of Reference for the PR Committee

• Committee discussed the effects of the digital approach to KIT.

• KIT Articles were discussed, sought out and produced.

— Minister of Education

— Cindy Lamoureux

— UCN bursary recipients

• The committee researched best ways to show added value to members.

— Completed the Background Sheet to First Year Free Membership Fee Alternative, for board information.

— Suggested emailing members with brief monthly updates between KIT issues.

Wellness Advocacy Committee

— Discussed need for “fun” activities for all members in good standing.

— Discussed the creation of branded product available online to RTAM members.

• The committee advocated to strengthen ties with Active Aging Manitoba and the 55+ Games:

— strengthening our visibility in that community age group.

• Discussion and coordination of Meet & Greet evenings with members of Manitoba Legislature during and after a political change.

• Completed review of the 5 Asks for publication.

2023 Annual General Meeting Report

May 3, 2023

Gabe Mercier – Chair & Secretary

The Wellness Advocacy Committee had a very successful year. The committee members worked cooperatively with the RTAM office in the delivery of workshops and seminars, by providing the RTAM Office with ideas for workshops/seminars they felt were of interest to members, and in some cases helping to find presenters. Members conducted research and provided articles to KIT on health and wellness issues, evaluated the workshops presented to members and provided suggestions for improvements, and evaluated and approved grant funding applications on wellness activities submitted by RTAM Chapters. The committee reported to the board on wellness issues, workshops/seminars and strategies to improve the wellness of RTAM members.

Workshops/seminars presented this year included:

Sharon Tod seminar on Estate Planning (October)

Christine Cross on Death Doula (December)

Renée McGurry on Cultural Awareness & Sensitivity (February)

Marian Goldstone on Mood Disorders, (March)

Phil Taylor on intro to Zoom (April)

Website AGM Report 2022-2023

Respectfully submitted by Gabe Mercier

Committee Members

Paul Harland- Chairperson (Winnipeg); Bob Davies (Winnipeg); Joan Dawson (Thompson); Wayne Hughes (Winnipeg); Gabe Mercier (Ochre River); Anne Williams (Winnipeg) and Linda Blair, President (ex officio).

Sadly, Paul Harland passed away on February 5, 2023. Gabe Mercier stepped up to become the chairperson in March.

The Website Committee met monthly via ZOOM from September through to January and in March.

Some of the Website goals were to:

• Review the website monthly checking for out-of-date items, errors, and nonfunctioning links.

• Set standards for the types of articles and submissions to be posted on the website.

• Encourage the RTAM committees, Chapters and RTAM partnerships to use the website to communicate with the membership. Also, for the membership to view the website as a valuable resource.

• Widen the communication sources to include Facebook and Instagram.

• Include a French language option for articles and application forms.

Accomplishments:

• The monthly review was completed by the website committee members and sent to the office to be addressed.

• Strategies for encouraging committees and Chapters to submit items were implemented throughout the year.

• The Calendar is being utilized to inform the membership of upcoming events, workshops and meetings.

• A French Language translation app was researched. It was decided that having the translations done manually would be better. This is being worked on and French language translations will be added throughout the upcoming year.

• RTAM now has active Facebook and Instagram accounts which are being accessed by the membership and are being monitored by the office staff. The committee is pleased with the attractive graphic news postings on our Facebook and Instagram sites. It is recommended

NARTA Chapter Report

This is an overview of the NARTA activities this past year:

April 2022: NARTA AGM – the Executive was presented for the 2022-23 year.

June 2022: Meeting and BBQ at the Schoolhouse. Schoolhouse rental was provided by the RTAM Chapter Initiatives Grant.

September 2022: Fall outing – Two Barns Antiques followed by lunch; visit to the Kulbacki Mushroom Farm; tour of the Margaret Laurence Home; coffee and a sweet.

that both sites share the same news.

• In the fall the office took over the RTAM website and is working on making it user friendly and current.

Suggested Goals for the 2023/2024 RTAM year:

• Continue rigorous monitoring of the website for outdated content, errors and broken links.

• Continue to encourage contributions from the Chapters, Committees and RTAM partners (e.g., Johnson INC, Hearing Life, Trip Merchant and others.).

• Continue French language translations for posting on the website.

• Continue monitoring the Facebook and Instagram accounts and making relevant information and articles available on all three sites.

Thank you to the committee members for their hard work and valuable contributions to making this committee successful.

The committee would like to thank Paul Harland and Gabe Mercier for their leadership.

December 2022: Business and Christmas dinner at a local restaurant.

February 2023: Business and lunch at a local restaurant.

March 2023: St. Patrick’s Day luncheon at La Grange, Laurier, with some DARTA members joining us.

April 2023: Our AGM will be held early in April.

Door prizes at our gatherings were enjoyed throughout the year thanks to the RTAM Chapter Initiative Grants.

Annual Report RTAM Benefits Committee 2022-2023

Respectfully submitted by David Najduch

Committee Membership

Dave Najduch / Chair / Winnipeg

Pat Bowslaugh / Treasurer / Brandon

Joan Rink / Brookdale

Robert Daigneault / Winnipeg

Terry Nychuk / Wabowden

Bill Cann / Past President / Winnipeg

Mel Montgomer / Carman

Shannon Culbertson / Brandon

Sean Seywright / Executive Director

Jessica Simpson / Johnson Insurance

Linda Blair / President

The Committee held a total of 6 meetings this year starting in September 2022 and concluded March 6, 2023. The meetings were held using ZOOM and generally lasted two hours.

I would like to acknowledge and thank the committee members for their efforts over this past year. We accomplished a lot. Committee members were involved, asked good questions and had positive professional discussions.

I need to also acknowledge and thank Jessica Simpson for her support of the committee and the membership over this past year. Jessica and Johnsons are a true partner in the delivery of the services we provide to the membership.

Annual Plan Renewal (Health, Dental & Travel Insurance)

The major portion of the committee’s time focused on reviewing the three existing plans. These include the number of members enrolled, plan usage and the cost of the plans verses the premiums collected. There is always an attempt to balance what services members may access and how much that will cost each individual enrolled in the various plans.

Based on information received and discussions at the committee, recommendations for premiums and plan changes are then sent to the RTAM Board. The following has been approved.

CORE Extended Health

• An increase of 3.9% was approved in the premium for 20232024 Drug coverage was moved from $900 to $1050 per person per year.

• Glucose monitoring of $300 every 36 months was added.

• Registered Social Worker access was added to the Psychology services.

Enhanced Health

• An increase of 5.3% was approved per person per year.

• Drug coverage was moved from $1800 to $2400 per person per year.

• Glucose monitoring of $300 every 36 months was added.

• Registered Social Worker access was added to the Psychology services.

Dental Plan

• An increase of 2.7% was approved for single and family coverage.

• Increase coverage from $1200 to $1500 per person per year. Note: $40,000 from a surplus account was used to help generate the improved coverage.

Prestige Travel Insurance

• An increase of 8.5% was approved.

• “You or your travelling companion’s death, illness or positive test result as a result of contracting Novel Coronavirus 2019(COVID-19) which prevents you from traveling on your day of departure or your day of return, or causes you to interrupt your trip. A cancellation, interruption or delay of any other reason related to COVID-19 is not covered.”

WTA / Retiree Health Plan

• WTA retired members were informed in writing in the spring of 2022 they would lose their Manulife coverage December 31,2022.

• RTAM developed information to inform these retires of the options available to them. The most important being a newsletter and Power Point which were posted on the RTAM web page and used at the meetings.

• Five in person meetings occurred in September 2022 with over 500 individuals attending. Approximately 225 screens where open for the ZOOM meeting.

• RTAM was given equal time to present its health, dental and travel plans along-side the MTS Blue Cross plans.

• From June to December, RTAM fielded a large number of calls and emails from WTA retirees looking for clarification about coverage.

• There was an increase in RTAM membership and plan enrollment in January of 2023, but it is difficult to determine if these persons were WTA retirees or newly retired individuals.

A special thank-you to Glen Anderson and the MTS for the partnership model they employed when hosting the meetings. WTA retirees felt they had a good opportunity to collect information and ask questions in a positive and open environment. I would also like to thank the RTAM office staff for their efforts in answering what became a barrage of emails and phone calls over the summer and into the fall.

Articles KIT

Regular Committee reports have been provided to KIT. Other articles related to benefits coverage, changes in premiums, best choices for cost effective travel health coverage and information about partnerships have also been included in KIT.

RTAM Partnerships

Thanks to the efforts of the new Executive Director, the committee reviewed and recommended to the Board the approval of partnerships with Hearing Life and Express Scripts Canada Pharmacy. The issue of eye glass coverage was

discussed, a proposal considered but not recommend for this year. The purpose of partnerships is to access discounted prices for the services offered by the partner organization.

RTAM Preretirement Seminars

Two Saturday morning sessions took place, one in December and the other March using Zoom. Johnson presented and discussed benefits coverage as part of the workshop and I spoke on a wider range of issues linked to getting ready to retire.

Member Concerns

Over the year members regularly bring very specific concerns to the Chair and committee asking for their help. Generally, they are forwarded to Jessica at Johnson and she responds to them directly or through me as the Chair.

The concern most often identified this year is related to drug coverage and the move from paying for name brand medication to only reimbursing for the cost of generic drugs once they become available. As part of this discussion there is also confusion about the reimbursement for dispensing fees verse what a pharmacy will actually charge.

Membership and Chapters Committee Report to the RTAM – May 2023

Respectfully submitted

Committee Members

by Dianne Casar, RTAM Member Services Coordinator

Linda Blair / RTAM President

Denise Bellesia / RTAM Office Manager

Dianne Casar / RTAM Member Services Coordinator (Report Author)

Sean Seywright / RTAM Executive Director

Members continue to be made up of retired teachers receiving a TRAF pension, those receiving a pension other than TRAF and surviving spouses of RTAM members who have passed on.

During the 2021-2022 fiscal year, RTAM welcomed 340 new members and lost 235 due to death or membership cancellation.

From July 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023, RTAM welcomed 388 new members and lost 183 due to death or membership cancellation. As of March 31, 2023, our membership totaled 10,486.

In January 2021, RTAM started an initiative to reimburse new members their $36.00 membership fee after they reached their one-year anniversary of membership. This initiative was intended to grow RTAM’s membership and entice all retired teachers who were not already members to become members. After the one-year anniversary date, some new members continued with their RTAM membership, whereas others chose to cancel their membership.

Effective September 1, 2023, first year membership reimbursements will be discontinued. As RTAM has gained a great deal of members, the initiative to entice more retired teachers to the organization fell short of expectations.

ACER-CART Report

Respectfully submitted by Joan Zaretsky

In June 2022, Dave Najduch and I attended the Annual General Meeting for ACER-CART held in Ottawa. We were welcomed by the staff and all provinces were represented with the exception of Quebec. Since then, Yukon has chosen to withdraw from this national organization.

The first afternoon, we participated in two presentations. Sue Lantz started the afternoon with her discussion of Aging in Place using her five-strategy framework which we have been highlighting in KIT over the course of the year. She piqued the interest of everyone there and certainly presented something of interest to every individual as she outlined how to map out a course for your best retirement life journey.

Next, there were three speakers from the Canadian Teachers Federation discussing political advocacy strategies. We were most impressed when they were using similar language to what RTAM had started using as a result of our enlisting of Prairie Sky to help us gain support for Bill 208. They discussed the importance of developing your “Asks” and offered some strategies to support the achievement of your desired actions.

In the afternoon, Dave and I did a presentation entitled “Reshaping the RTAM Experience”. In it, we outlined some of the major changes and advancements which RTAM had made in 2021-22. We highlighted, with funding to hire some competent experts in their field, we were making great strides to create an organization that achieved its ASKs and goals. Attached is the PowerPoint which Dave and I presented. We obviously captured the attention of the ACER-CART Board and the affiliate members. I received a personal letter from Martin Higgs the President elected

for 2022-2023, offering thanks to Dave and I for our presentation. He wrote:

“You very clearly outlined the process that RTAM went through to transform its image from being perceived as a club to that of a dynamic professional organization with definite goals and plans to achieve them. Everyone in the room was impressed, not only with what RTAM has done, but also with the clarity of the presentation and I’m sure that people are taking a closer look at their own organizations as a result.”

We obviously made an impact on the group as there were lots of questions and discussion during the evening meal and at the hospitality room later that evening. This was the prelude to the motion we took forward for increasing the annual contributions of retired teachers beyond 3 cents in New Business the next day.

Our motion which Dave and I presented the next day was based on some discussions we had held with Gerry Tiede, the President, regarding some strategies to receive more annual stable funding to support the daily running and future of the ACER-CART organization. With each retired teacher in Canada contributing 3 cents a month to this organization, their total revenue from fees collected for their fiscal year ending on July 31, 2021 was $48,338. That is a pittance of what is required to run a national organization with a whole slate of Officers and to accomplish any strategic plans! While ACER-CART does receive some donations from various provincial organizations, they cannot rely on this money and this makes planning difficult. Horrified at the low funds available and with some support from the ACERCART staff who had past experiences with many of the AGM attendees, we developed our motion to take forward

at the AGM meeting the following day. The PowerPoint we used to present our motion is also attached. Our motion was carried with only three members voting against it.

I truly admired the ACER-CART staff and directors with their list of Priorities for 2022-23. While all of their Priorities echo our concerns and our newly developed Requests for Action, universal Pharmacare, a health care system that prioritizes care in senior’ homes for as long as possible and regulations governing Retirement and Long-Term Care Homes with emphasis on improving patient respect, working conditions, training and staff wages, three priorities which struck me in terms of our RTAM discussions were:

ACER-CART will …

1. Advocate for the protection of all retiree pensions, with emphasis on the preservation and enhancement of defined benefit pension plans.

2. Advocate for an appointed independent senior spokesperson for each province and territory.

3. Advocate for a Charter of Rights for Older Adults or Seniors.

There were some very rich conversations with very dedicated individuals trying to establish the best plans of action to accomplish some of these priorities. It was enlightening for Dave and I to see that there had been two ACER-CART Presidents who were RTAM members –Murray Smith in 1999-2001 and Vaughn Wadelius in 2009-2011.

Throughout the course of the year, 2022-23, RTAM made a request to the ACER-CART Director to put an all-call out to other retired teacher organizations

across the country for any Board leadership Handbooks which had been developed or strategies to support familiarizing a new Board with protocols and legislation (bylaws, policies, articles of incorporation, etc.). I received emails from a number of provincial organizations and Sean Seywright, our Executive Director, talked with some of the Executive Directors in some provinces as well as to how they train their new Board members. The information collected is being put to use in the development of our Board Members Handbook, which we can share with our colleagues.

On March 22, RTAM received an letter requesting our participation in a survey to collect data to support the Executive and Board in responding to our motion’s recommendation to establish what their priorities would be in the upcoming years. These priorities would drive their budget process and their strategies to increase the budget to accomplish their identified stakeholder requests. On April 7, 2023, we held a working group meeting for one hour and established our responses to their five questions. Thanks to Dave Najduch, our resident notetaker, for putting our ideas in a form to submit to ACER-CART.

The following is based on a one-hour discussion of the RTAM working group which took place Friday April 7, 2023 over Zoom. The purpose of the group was to focus on responding to the ACER-CART survey. The following response is based on the ACER-CART questions and the RTAM responses.

1. What should ACER-CART’s purpose be?

a. Advocate with the federal government on a range of issues facing “retired persons and seniors”. Become a recognized “national voice” representing 160,000 plus members.

b. Bring together and foster relationships between the provincial organizations.

c. Act as a clearing house of provincial and national information.

d. Develop partnerships with commercial firms and NGO’s who could deliver services or advocacy to and on behalf of “seniors”.

2. What role(s) do you think it should and can fulfill?

a. Grow the organization by accessing national and provincial grants.

b. Use the additional funding to hire staff, refine the web site, and broaden the provincial networking mechanisms.

c. Until the staffing resources of ACERCART have expanded, the organization needs to use the funds generated through grants to focus on one major issue and that should be the provision of a national pharma-care plan.

d. Once the ACER-CART has used the grant money to grow the organization, it then needs to expand the advocacy and services provided over the longer term with an increase in fees to help further develop staffing, research and programing.

3. How can ACER-CART best support Members?

a. Develop a network which would have provincial organizations meet quarterly through Zoom to share current successes and areas of concerns.

b. The network could see Presidents and senior staff (e.g. Executive Directors) attend these meetings.

c. The purpose of the networking is to develop relationships across the country and access skills which can be used to help address local issues of concern as they may arise.

d. Provide a series of up to 4 articles a year to be shared with the provincial organizations that could be used on their web pages and in their publications. These could address the national concern/s being discussed by ACER-CART.

4. How can you, as a Member, support ACER-CART?

a. Provide feedback to the national organization.

b. Attend regional / network meetings as they take place.

c. Send a member / delegation to the ACER-CART Annual General Meeting.

d. Assist with the grant writing process when and where possible.

e. Promote ACER-CART and their issues in their provincial publications and through their social media feeds.

f. During Federal Elections, promote ACER-CART positions with candidates and parties in their province.

5. Other relevant comments or suggestions.

a. To be a “national organization”, ACERCART needs to grow. You can start with grant money and/or part time staffing to take the first steps to expansion. In the future increase fees when success has been demonstrated.

b. Regularly remind politicians at the provincial and federal level that our 160,000 members vote.

c. With a growth in staff time, use some of this to communicate with provincial directors more frequently.

After submitting our input, we will be excited to hear from our two new ACERCART AGM delegates in June 2023, Linda Blair and Gabe Mercer, to report on the outcome of the motion we took forth last year.

Boyne Chapter Retired Teachers Chapter Report 2022-2023

Submitted by Bob Kowalchuk

The Boyne Chapter has 13 members. We have no designated President, but someone volunteers to chair each meeting. The Secretary-Treasurer is Bob Kowalchuk. The breakfast meetings are held the last Friday of each month (September to May) at a local Carman restaurant. For our May meeting we organize a road trip and have breakfast and tour that community. The yearly fee is $10 and that provides a scholarship to a Prairie Rose graduate entering a program of learning.

The first part of the meeting involves the business portion and the sharing of information. We usually try to present an updated RTAM report. There was a lengthy discussion whether we should continue with the yearly scholarship--since there is a decline in our membership. The consensus was to keep the scholarship for at least another year.

Following the business portion, we would then discuss a wide range of topics. These topics could include: what it would be like teaching or substituting during COVID; our retired home-

ec teacher gave the group a lesson on the different types of borscht; pros and cons of different internet services--Shaw, Bell or Telus; the Carman Pathway and the natural beauty that can be experienced.

In addition, we have taken note of the number of Hallmark Christmas movies that are being filmed in Carman; Wordle is a popular pastime for many of our members; our local library offers many programs throughout the year and these are updated; and we have partaken in lengthy discussions on wearing a mask and flu shots and its boosters.

Discussion at one meeting was dominated on the “freedom hearings” and the implementation of the Emergency Act. The differences in teacher hiring interviews today compared to when we were hired has also been noted.

Meetings end with health updates on members who are unable to attend the meetings. Leaving with a smile is always important. This wraps up the Boyne Chapter Report.

Dauphin Area Retired Teachers’ Association (DARTA)

Members: 56

Respectfully submitted by Joyce McGinnis, President

Meetings

Our DARTA group has 56 paid memberships for this 2022-2023 year. We had our re-organization meeting in September at the Watson Art Centre’s, Firehall.

We continue to apply for both the Chapter and Wellness Initiative Grants each year.

Currently, most members have e-mail access for maintaining regular contact. Those without e-mail are contacted by phone.

The events and activities of the DARTA Chapter for this year include:

August: Picnic in the Park Bring your own lunch and a chair to enjoy the company and weather.

September: Re-organization meeting with 23 present. Some members helped decorate Smile Cookies at Tim Horton’s fundraiser. Toured Vermillion Growers’ site

October: Members enjoyed a German themed lunch at La Grange, Laurier with some members from the Neepawa chapter joining us. We used our Wellness Initiative Grant for this activity.

November: Sponsored and laid a wreath at the Remembrance Day Service on November 11. Decorated Watson Art Centre for Christmas.

December: Held annual Cheer and Chat afternoon in the Firehall of the WAC. A Tin for the Bin was brought and donated to the Food Bank.

Annual December donation was made to the Parkland Ukrainian Fund, to help with relocation of Ukrainians fleeing the war.

January, February, March: Supervised exit doors at Dauphin Kings’ Games

February: Valentine’s Party

March: Walking Poles Clinic – initiated idea and instructors to recreation director at the CUP for members to take part in. Invited Kit Daley to speak at monthly meeting about the Dauphin and District Community Foundation. A monetary donation was made to the foundation.

April: The AGM of DARTA will be held in April where the officers for the 2023-24 year will be elected at that time.

Calgary Chapter Report – 2023 AGM –March 31, 2023

Respectfully submitted by Jan Campbell and Penny Hogan

Co-presidents: Jan Campbell, Penny Hogan

Treasurer: Richard Dooley

Committee Members: Dennis Kozak, Lillian Kozak

RTAM Members: 71 members and associates

Calgary Chapter members reside in Calgary, Airdrie, High River, Lethbridge, Cochrane, Strathmore, and Canmore.

Membership Initiative: The Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (FOIP) does not permit RTAM to release personal contact information if/when members relocate to Alberta. In February 2022, the Calgary Chapter Membership list was reviewed with RTAM administrative staff. An invitation to join Calgary Chapter was mailed out to 29 prospective members living in and around Calgary. As a result, since March 31, 2022, 5 former Manitobans have joined Calgary Chapter.

Activities: Calgary and Area Chapter meets four times yearly, typically on a Thursday, in September, December, March and May. Locations alternate between south Calgary and north Calgary. A guest presenter is featured once or twice each year.

• May 18, 2022 - A luncheon attended by 14 members was held at McKenzie Meadows Golf Club in SE Calgary.

• October 6, 2022 - Twenty-one members attended a luncheon at Scotsman’s Well, 12024 Symons Valley Road NW Calgary. At this meeting, Jan Campbell and Penny Hogan were unanimously

elected as Co-Presidents of the Chapter. The Chapter is appreciative of the leadership of Dennis Kozak, past president, since the Chapter’s formation in May 2014.

• December 1, 2022 - McKenzie Meadows was the setting for our Christmas get together which included a set menu Christmas dinner with turkey and all the trimmings. Eighteen members enjoyed the festive setting. This event was partially facilitated by the RTAM Chapter Initiative Grant received in 2022. The Calgary Chapter is most grateful.

• March 2, 2023 - Dr. Christine Knight, Adjunct Assistant Professor Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Calgary, spoke on the very timely topic of ‘Grief and Loss in the Pandemic’ to fourteen members in attendance.

In addition to regularly scheduled events for Chapter members, the Chapter executive meets regularly in person or by email to discuss and plan events for the membership.

Calgary Chapter Initiatives for 2023 - 2024

• Encourage participation of inactive members

• Outreach with assistance of RTAM to members relocating to Alberta

• Succession planning for Executive

• Organization of Chapter records (succession plan)

• Celebration of Chapter’s 10th anniversary in May 2024.

Okanagan Chapter Report 2022 – 2023

Submitted by Nancy Kostiuk, Secretary

Current membership is 58 with the welcome addition of several new members.

Chapter Presidents Meetings were attended by Co-President, Lorna Rothwell, via Zoom.

The Executive Officers held several planning meetings throughout the year.

July 19, 2022 – The annual summer barbecue, potluck and games event was held at Sonoma Pines Clubhouse, and was well attended by 23 members and guests.

September 14, 2022 – Our Wellness event was held at the Regency Summerwood

in Kelowna, attended by 18 who enjoyed several interesting presentations, lunch and a tour.

December 6, 2022 – The Christmas luncheon at Sunset Ranch included 19 members and eight Saskatchewan retirees, who participated in a gift exchange, a sing along led by Robert Payne and a draw to benefit the food bank.

January 11, 2023 – The executive met at Wings to plan our 15th Anniversary event for the summer of 2023.

The Annual Election of Executive Officers was held in early March 2023

by email. The slate of officers was approved.

Co-Presidents:

Lorne Lisik, lornelisik@gmail.com

Lorna Rothwell, lrothwell@me.com

Vice-President: Jim Patterson

Treasurer: Roy Lycar

Secretary: Nancy Kostiuk

Members-at-large: Susan Allen, Susan Forsyth

Thank you to RTAM for the Chapter Initiative and Wellness Grants which facilitate these gatherings.

St. James-Assiniboia Chapter Annual Report 2022 – 23

Respectfully submittedby Lynn Land, Chapter President

Officers 2022 - 2023

Chairperson: Lynn Land

Vice Chair: Alison Logan

Treasurer: Corinne Barrett DeWiele

Secretary: Rudy Peters

Membership/Communications: Dorothy Young

Members at Large: Marj Bilous, Shelley Hebert, Will Peters, Linda Scott

The main objective of the St. James Assiniboia Chapter of RTAM is to promote the economic interests of its members and to support the Provincial RTAM Board in its endeavors to that end. The Chapter shares information with its members all across Canada. In turn, members share the information with friends, family, and also colleagues still actively teaching in Manitoba. Membership is 358 and includes retired teachers/ administrators/superintendents and a few spouses of deceased members.

The St. James-Assiniboia Chapter of RTAM held its AGM on September 22, 2022, in the afternoon, in the basement meeting area of St. Paul the Apostle Church. Members enjoyed the event and really appreciated being able to meet in person, get caught up with one another after being unable to get out due to the pandemic. One of our members was able to connect with her former mathematics teachers! Chairperson, Lynn Land, chaired the meeting and RTAM Past President, Bill Cann, brought greetings to his home Chapter’s AGM.

At the conclusion of the meeting, we enjoyed listening to entertainment put on by our own members, Peter Mingo and George Bush. Toes were tapping, hands were clapping, and a great time was had by all. 50/50 tickets were sold, and the lucky

IRTA’s Report

On Thursday, April 20, over 20 members gathered at the Viscount Gort Hotel in Winnipeg for IRTA’S Annual General Meeting. The members were informed of IRTA’S activities for the previous year and a slate of Directors was approved for the upcoming year. Following the meeting, a delicious buffet was enjoyed by everyone.

winner was Rudy Peters. We devoured homemade apple crisp made by our own Marj and Fred Bilous, and served with ice cream by members Marj Bilous, Linda Scott, and Anne Williams.

We thank Provincial RTAM for the Chapter Grant which helped to support this event. It helped to make our event very successful. It was so nice to get reacquainted in person with former colleagues. We thank Lynn, Marj, Fred, Rudy, and Shelley for organizing this event, and Dorothy for getting out the notice to our members.

We are proud of these members of our Chapter who were elected to the RTAM Board for 2022-23: Bill Cann, Past President, Paul Harland, Anne Williams, and Rex Virtue.

We are pleased that the following members of our Chapter have served on Committees this year: Lynn Land and Alison Logan.

We congratulate those members of our Chapter who have put their names forward for election to the 2023-24 RTAM Board of Directors.

2022-23 has been an interesting year for all of us. Hopefully by the time you read this report things will have settled down in our world.

In the last year we have shared information on the following St. James-Assiniboia colleagues who have departed this life:

Gladys Bodnarus, Joyce Brook, Jack Carnegie, Patricia Elliott, Lloyd Franklin, Bunny (Brenda) Grabys, Paul Harland, Brian Kells, Jane Maclean, Don Milne, Bill Moore, Roy Rudachek, Bill Stevenson, Jane Talnicoff , Russell Tymos, James White, and Leonard Wiebe.

We look forward to 2023-24 being a good year for all of us.

IRTA is off to the races on Wednesday, June 21. All members and guests are invited to attend an evening at Assiniboia Downs Racetrack. At 6:00 p.m., a delicious Prime Rib Buffet will be served, and races will commence at 7:30 p.m. IRTA has a reserved table overlooking the racetrack. Members are encouraged to check their email for details.

Rapport de la présidente des ÉMR 2023

Rapport remis par Patricia Thibodeau, présidente des ÉMR – En ce 14e jour d’avril 2023

Jeunes de cœur, riches en expérience Depuis 21 ans, le conseil d’administration des Éducatrices et Éducateurs Manitobains à la retraite (les ÉMR) a comme mandat d’organiser une variété d’activités qui mettent l’accent sur l’aspect social et francophone de notre communauté. Nous proposons des activités qui comblent la curiosité des enseignantes et enseignants retraités et qui suscitent un vif intérêt de la part de nos membres. Étant donné que nous cherchons constamment à nous dépasser, nous profitons toujours de notre Assemblée générale annuelle pour demander à nos membres de nous partager leur rétroaction sur les activités passées et nous leur demandons de nous suggérer des possibilités d’activités pour l’année à venir.

Durant cette 21e année de présence dans la communauté, chacun des membres qui siège au Conseil d’administration des ÉMR a organisé au moins une activité. En cette année 20222023, on a réussi à proposer plusieurs sorties intéressantes. Comme d’habitude, avant chaque activité, les organisateurs doivent voir à ce que l’activité prévue soit affichée et annoncée dans notre site web, www.lesemr.org. À la suite de l’activité, ces mêmes responsables d’activités doivent aussi voir à afficher le rapport de leur activité, avec photos, sur notre site.

On peut continuer à se vanter que notre liste de membres des ÉMR se chiffre au-delà de 200 : Il est clair que nos efforts constants de recrutement portent fruit. Nos membres, venant de conseils scolaires de partout dans la province, ont œuvré soit comme enseignant/enseignante ou administrateur / administratrice, dans des bureaux divisionnaires, dans des écoles francophones, anglophones, ou d’immersion. Il est important de préciser que nos membres, même s’ils sont officiellement à la retraite, demeurent très actifs comme aînés et bénévoles dans divers secteurs de la communauté francophone et qu’ils contribuent à divers organismes municipaux, provinciaux et nationaux.

Par le passé, les contributions financières de la Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba (RTAM) nous ont été très bénéfiques et nous comptons faire demande à nouveau auprès de RTAM en 2023 (le Chapter Initiative Grant, le Wellness Grant et le Special Event Grant) dans le but de continuer notre recrutement et d’améliorer nos services auprès de nos abonnés.

Cette année, nous avons réussi à offrir nos activités sociales en présentiel. Voici les activités des ÉMR pour l’année 2022-2023:

• 19 mai 2022 : Visite à la boutique Anne Mulaire pour une vingtaine de membres

• 20 octobre 2022 : Oktoberfest à la brasserie Kilter pour une quarantaine de membres

• 17 novembre 2022 : Cathédrale orthodoxe ukrainienne pour une quarantaine de membres

• 15 décembre 2022 : Brunch de Noël à la Cabane à sucre pour une cinquantaine de membres

• 18 mai : Visite au Musée de l’aviation (à venir).

• 15 juin : Randonnée au parc de grande pointe (à venir).

Pour 2023-2024, les membres suivants sont toujours prêts à prendre place au Conseil d’administration: Patricia Thibodeau, Gisèle Grégoire, Rose-Marie Iafolla, Jocelyne Fraser, Lucille Daudet-Mitchell, Marc Beaudry Robert Daigneault. Cette année, on doit donc élire deux autres membres au CA.

Je remercie très sincèrement tous les membres du CA, pour leur créativité, leur énergie, leur collaboration et leur engagement. Nous formons une équipe sensationnelle. Nous voulons remercier Guy Gagnon, notre président sortant qui pendant plusieurs années nous a dirigé et appuyé en grand. Il faut aussi reconnaître la contribution de Jean-Maurice Lemoine qui nous a beaucoup aidé pendant quelques mois et l’appui technologique constant de Gérard Massé. Il faut aussi mentionner Georges et Denise Perron qui ont animé et agrémenté notre brunch de Noël avec des chants traditionnels. C’était la fête avec eux! Il faut applaudir tout ce beau monde!

En guise de conclusion, merci aux gens qui ont participé à nos activités de cette année et continuons de participer en grands nombres, après tout, les occasions de se rencontrer en français se font de plus en plus rares. Enfin, comme plusieurs membres des ÉMR le font déjà, continuons à nous engager dans nos communautés. Nos paroisses et nos associations profitent grandement de notre expertise tant au niveau local que provincial et fédéral. Poursuivons nos passions, c’est le temps de le faire, puisque nous sommes toujours jeunes de cœur et riches en expérience.

Retired Women Teachers’ Association (RWTA) President’s Report for 2022-2023 – March 2023

Sincerely Pat Opalko, RWTA President 2019-2023, patopal@mymts.net

The Retired Women Teachers’ Association (RWTA) is an association of retired women educators in Manitoba.

We meet four times a year in September, December, February, and April to enjoy lunching together, making friends and to continue relationships formed during our teaching careers. As of March 2023, RWTA has 213 regular members and 25 Life Members.

What a joy it was to get back to lunching together after two years of shut down due to COVID 19.

The Retired Women Teachers’ Association held its first luncheon back, on April 21, 2022, at the Masonic Centre with 70+ members in attendance! It ran smoothly with members showing their vaccination cards at the door upon entry and wearing masks until they sat down. Brian McMillan entertained us with his guitar and familiar tunes. Door prizes were awarded to three lucky winners.

Our 70th+1 Anniversary celebration luncheon held at the Masonic Centre on September 29, 2022, was wonderful! Thank you to RTAM for the Wellness Initiative Grant that made it financially possible. 141 members and guests were in in attendance. Honorary members (RWTA Past Presidents and Life Members) received invitations and those who attended were honored with corsages, verbal recognition and their lunches. As 13 Life Members entered the dining room, they were introduced along with the number of years they taught and the name of the school division from which they retired. Photos were taken for RWTA archives. A slide show of past RWTA events, prepared by RWTA’s archivist, ran during the lunch. Throughout the Anniversary program the President regaled members with fun facts from the 1950’s. A singalong from that era was enjoyed by all. A fashion show by Northern Reflections (St. Vital Mall) with RWTA members as models completed the program.

On December 10, 2022, 126 members & guests celebrated the season with a Holiday themed luncheon of hot turkey sandwiches, salad, dessert and coffee/ tea catered by WOW Catering at the Masonic Centre. Our entertainment, by the group “Two By Twos” was most entertaining with its medieval Christmas music. The variety of instruments and melodies tied together with interesting historical facts made for a wonderful performance. We were pleased that Mrs. Santa (Louise Burton) arrived to share chocolates and tiny oranges.

Members were most generous as the angel baskets were passed around. Their donations help RWTA keep in touch with members who are house bound.

RWTA’s February 23, 2023’s luncheon recognized Manitoba’s 150th year albeit a few years late because of the pandemic. The Manitoba themed room was decorated with a large Manitoba flag and

smaller individual Manitoba flags adorned each table. Manitoba crocus pins were available for members to take if they wished. The small Manitoba flags and pins were donated by Myrna Driedger’s office. There were 96 members in attendance and some members dressed in Manitoba tartan complete with ties and berets. Thanks to Brenda McConnell, the podium and a number of chairs were covered with Manitoba tartan material as well. What a site! The luncheon catered by WOW Catering was delicious. Greg Agnew, Winnipeg Historian and President of Heritage Winnipeg presented his slide show “The Beginning of the City Winnipeg”. It was very interesting and tied in nicely with our recognition of Manitoba’s 150th.

We thank the RWTA members for their generous donations received at our February 2023 luncheon. Fifty-seven pairs of glasses were given to the Lions’ Eye Bank, delivered to Hakim. Twenty-three pairs of ladies’ underwear, 37 pairs of socks, bags of toiletries, facecloths, napkins, pyjamas, cleaning products and hats, scarves and mitts were also donated by members.

As the RWTA President, I thank our RWTA Executive, the phoning committee and all members for their friendship, encouragement and support during the 2022-2023 year.

On behalf of the RWTA Executive and membership, we thank RTAM for its dedication and financial support of the 2022 Chapter Initiative Grant and the 2022 Wellness Initiative Grant.

We invite and welcome all Manitoba retired women educators to join the Retired Women Teachers’ Association.

Retired Women Teachers’ Association Executive for 2022–2023

President: Pat Opalko

Vice President: Karen Burgoyne

Past President: Cecile Alarie-Skene

Membership Convener: Cecile Alarie-Skene

Treasurer: Phyllis Arnold-Luedtke

Recording Secretary: Isabelle Garand

Corresponding Secretary: Brenda Zebrynski

Luncheon Coordinator: Lynda Tunny

Social Committee: Louise Burton (ch); Arlene Billeck; Laurel McFarlane

Tickets: Odette Delisle; Barb Haddow (ch)

Pensions: Peggy Prendergast

Visiting Committee: Karen Mozdzen; Emily Williamson

Publicity: Helen Norrie

Archivist: Jacquie Field

Pianist needed

Phoning Committee: Lenore Butler; Kathy Deyman; Shirley Hampton; Pat Graefer; Bev Wilkinson; and Linda Scott.

Swan Valley Retired Teachers Chapter Report

By Henry Barkowski

After a longer than anticipated pause, we resumed our activity with a brunch gathering on May 4th. We had an enthusiastic turnout of 16 members with several expressions of regrets for not being able to attend. We began with a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday sung to our oldest member, Walter Zinkiew, who celebrated his 93 birthday earlier that week.

After brunch we had an informal meeting. Members shared that they had participated in activities such as curling, hockey, quad riding, snowmobiling and travel. Many of us had experienced health challenges such as hip replacements, cataract surgery, double vision, aortic aneurysm, and cancer. The consensus was that despite of it all we are doing well and in reasonable good health with a positive and optimistic disposition attributed to our personal faith in God.

On behalf of our chapter we send messages of condolence to families of our members or spouses that have passed away. We reviewed our in memoriam to insure we had not missed anyone.

We reviewed the status of our retired colleagues. There are approximately sixty residing in our area. Approximately a third have not yet joined our chapter, a third are active and a third are unable to participate due to health and mobility challenges.

We brainstormed how we could use our Chapter Initiative and Wellness grants to serve each of these cohorts.

Some ideas included bocci ball and a picnic in the park, stick curling clinic, pickle ball, disc golf, bowling, floor shuffle, square dancing, and group field trips.

We hope to do some Christmas caroling for our shut-in members and continue our community involvement with Meals on Wheels, Remembrance Day Service and providing prize money for student exhibits at the Northwest Roundup and Fair.

One of our members, Anna Fullerton, has organized a Alone at Christmas meal on Christmas Day over the last few years and we would rally and support her in this initiative.

Our president, Henry Barkowski, shared highlights of the RTAM AGM.

We will be participating in the annual Swan Valley School Division Retirement Banquet in June.

We look forward to some summer activities and our AGM in September.

The Southwest Assiniboine Chapter

By Kel Smith, President

Mr. Jerome Brockman, Treasurer, and Mr. Kel Smith, President, represented the Southwest Assiniboine Chapter at the Annual General Meeting of RTAM in the spring. The Executive and Membership of the SWAC Chapter received an eight-page report on the Annual General Meeting from their president. It was sent via email to those members who have shared their email address with us.

For our Traditional Day Trip for 2023, we are taking in a walkabout tour of the Mennonite Heritage Village located at Steinbach. We are travelling there and back on an inter-city motor coach. Lunch is set to be had at the village upon our arrival and supper will be in Portage La Prairie. We plan on leaving early in the morning and being back before sunset.

Our first meeting for the new year will be on Tuesday, September 5 at the Virden Legion Club Room. We’ll be having two guest speakers. The Branch #8 will cater the hot luncheon. We will collect donations for the Virden & Area Food Cupboard. Usually, several members bring door prizes for draws, too. We have our business meeting after the draws. We shall also have elections for the SWAC Executive.

Our recognition of current educators in our area will take place before October. The cost of the project is $1,100.00. We applied for two RTAM Grants, and a member donated $600.00 to the project.

Brandon and Area Retired Teachers’ Association

By Catherine McLaren President

Westman Retired Educators’ Association’s AGM was held via Zoom on April 4, 2022. The following members were elected to the Executive Board:

President: Catherine McLaren

Vice-President: Darlene Wilkinson

Immediate Past President: Rick Oakden

Secretary: Heather Shelton

Treasurer: Mavis Johnston

Directors: Pat Bowslaugh; Ida Hallatt; and Doug Adams.

A revised Constitution and Bylaws were adopted at the AGM, formally changing the organization’s name to Brandon and Area Retired Teachers’ Association (BARTA). In conjunction with the new title, a logo was designed and adopted. An email account (barta2022.3@gmail.com) was also established.

The President and Vice-President attended two events hosted by Brandon Teachers’ Association, one in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Brandon 88 and the other celebrating the retirement of teachers in 2020, 2021, and 2022. BARTA held its Executive Board meetings at the BTA office and placed its archival files in the storage area.

With a goal of transitioning from WREA to BARTA, ad hoc committees were struck, one to review the Constitution and Bylaws and develop a Policies and Procedures manual, the other to organize the WREA files to ensure that its history would be preserved. The three governance documents were presented at the BARTA AGM in April. At the time of writing, adoption has not taken place. As a follow-up to this year’s organizational work, Executive Board members plan to develop timelines for the Association and each committee with a view to assisting officers, directors, and committee chairs in their roles. A manual for planning the BARTA AGM will be drafted as well.

In local philanthropy, BARTA organized a fundraiser for three local charities in April 2022. Members donated to the charity(ies) of their choice, with a total of $3,365 distributed to Samaritan House,

Westman Women’s Shelter, and Brandon Humane Society. BARTA members again assisted Brandon.

Teachers’ Association at its annual LIFT Conference.

Three BARTA members received recognition for their service to RTAM. Ray Sitter was presented with an “RTAM Distinguished Service Award” and Pat Bowslaugh and Mavis Johnston each received an “RTAM Chapter Member Distinguished Service Award”.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, funding for RTAM Wellness and Chapter Initiative events was held for future use. Funding previously received from the Wellness Initiative Grant supported the “Ducks in a Row” funeral pre-planning seminar presented by Joy Bowman in April.

BARTA members were pleased to return to in-person events this year, including socials and meetings. Four luncheons were held during the year, one at a teahouse and museum, and three at a local seniors’ centre. Each included a program. Formal meetings were discontinued at the luncheons. Instead, the Executive distributed a newsletter to communicate BARTA information. Each luncheon opened with a land acknowledgment and giving of thanks. The monthly Breakfast Club, held at a local restaurant, included members and guests. Meetings of the Executive Board took place in the Conference Room at the BTA Office.

The Caring Connections Committee sent cards to members who experienced illness, loss, or special celebrations, and phoned those who do not receive email to keep them up to date on BARTA matters. In February, our Association honoured member Hazel Skuce with a corsage on her 111th birthday.

BARTA’s member recruitment campaign included a congratulatory message to retiring teachers in the June edition of the BTA BUZZ newsletter and a monthly advertisement in that publication. This is another example of the positive relationship between our associations.

Immediate Past President Rick Oakden established special interest groups as chapter activities for members and guests. To date, a group has attended a local musical theatre production. Further activities will be organized in the fall.

BARTA is pleased to host the RTAM AGM on May 2-3. Ad hoc Host Committee Co-chairs Heather Shelton and Doug Adams organized activities, solicited volunteers, and worked with RTAM staff to prepare for the event.

BARTA’s Annual General Meeting is planned for 1:00 p.m. on April 4, 2023, following lunch at Seniors for Seniors.

Grief & Loss from the Pandemic

Submitted by Penny Hogan and Jan Campbell, Co-Presidents, Calgary and Surrounding Area Chapter, March 6, 2023.

At our March 2, 2023, luncheon, Calgary, and Area Chapter hosted a guest speaker, Dr. Christine Knight, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Calgary. Dr. Knight’s presentation titled “Dealing with Grief and Loss from the Pandemic” addressed the grief and loss we all have been experiencing, as we have moved through COVID. Many changes, many health scares, many adaptations, but who knew to name it as loss and grief? During Dr. Knight’s presentation, our eyes were opened to the apt phrase, “You need to name it, to tame it”.

These past years, we may not have all been in the same boat; however, we have definitely been riding out the same COVID storm. In normal times, we all weigh anchor and cruise through life’s voyage. Using this cruise ship analogy, Dr. Knight reminded us that there are things we definitely can control (our choice of berth on the ship), but there are things we cannot control (the weather). Similar to our lives, certainly. In any situation, wherever you are, you need to ride out that storm. Just face it. Grief and loss are normal; COVID has placed the challenge

before us – how many milestones have we had to miss (weddings, funerals, anniversaries, birthdays, medical procedures)? We have been coping with many issues, particularly isolation. Let us keep those in nursing homes, and their ongoing challenges, in our thoughts.

And children also have been so negatively affected. Dr. Knight acknowledged there are studies showing impacts on speech development (masking, lack of clarity) and social delays in young children. Online schooling was for the most part, a terribly challenging time for everyone (children, parents, grandparents, and educators). Education, in general, took a major hit.

Going forward, acknowledging COVID is not going to go away, what shall we do? Dr. Knight’s message to all of us:

Live in the moment. Face your anxiety. Use mindfulness practices, perhaps journaling, meditation or yoga to cope. Take time out daily to ‘drop anchor’. Dr. Knight led those in attendance in a mindfulness practice - Close your eyes. Use a focal point to concentrate. Breathe in deeply and slowly, and exhale the same way, open your eyes, and carry on …

How your pension is funded

How  Your  Pension  Is  Funded

� Account  A  current  funded  status  =  101.5%  (2021)

� Account  A  is  secure  and  sustainable.

� Provides  50%  of  your  base  pension,  of  which  15%  is from  your  contributions  and  35%  is  from the investment  earnings  over  time.

� Provides  50%  of  COLA  adjustment  from  Pension Adjustment  Account.

� Money  in  the  PAA  comes  from  member  contributions and  amounts  above  the  actuarial  sustainability target  for  each  year’s  investments.

� Account  B  current  funded  status  =  60%  (2021)

� Government pays some  from  Account  B  and  the rest  from  annual  revenues.  The  amount  from revenues  will  have  to  increase  substantially  if the  current  pattern  remains.

� Provides  50%  of  your  base  pension.

� Provides  50%  of  COLA  adjustment.

� All  money  in  Account  B  is  from  government.

What  Does  the  Future  Hold?1

he future for Account A (your monthly contributions and the revenue they generate) looks sustainable and stable. It ended the 2021 fiscal year with a balance of $5.444 billion. Projections for the next 30 years (the average a currently retiring member will draw pension) indicate that it will remain so, subject to some minor contribution level adjustments as the economy changes.

TThe  future  for  Account  A  (your monthly  contributions  and  the  revenue  they  generate)  looks sustainable  and  stable.    It  ended  the  2021  fiscal  year  with  a  balance  of  $5.444  billion.   Projections  for  the  next  30  years  (the  average  a currently  retiring member  will  draw  pension) indicate  that  it  will  remain  so,  subject  to  some  minor  contribution  level  adjustments  as  the economy  changes.

Account  B  ended  the 2021  fiscal year  with  a  balance  of $2.975  billion.    Currently  government  is   matching  your  annual  contributions,  but  it  has  not  done  so throughout  the  history  of  the  plan.   For  part  of  that  history,  a  pay as you go  practice  has  funded  the  government  side along  with Account  B  funds

Account B ended the 2021 fiscal year with a balance of $2.975 billion. Currently government is matching your annual contributions, but it has not done so throughout the history of the plan. For part of that history, a pay-as-you-go practice has funded the government side along with Account B funds.

In 2007 the government of the day made a $1.5 billion backfill payment to Account B with a plan for additional annual funding to bring Account B to fully pre-funded status by 2035. After the interest on the loan for the backfill was calculated, this decision showed a $566 million savings benefit by the end of 2021. Later governments have not followed through on that plan.

If the current practice of matching member contributions without additional funding to Account B persists, government will continue to draw down the balance of Account B until the balance is consumed. This is projected to happen in 2052, when the cost to government of funding TRAF pension payouts will be $270 million of annual cash flow; in 2054, if government chooses the pay-as-you-go road, their annual cash flow to fund TRAF pension payouts will be in the order of $589 million. That represents a very large annual flow that would have huge tax implications.

Certainly, such an annual draw on the treasury is unsustainable. There are some solutions, however, to keeping TRAF fully sustainable. If government were to backfill Account B to match Account A (approximately $1.6 billion) and continue to match the regular member contributions, it would pre-fund the TRAF pension sustainably in a year. The cost of borrowing would need to be considered, but previous experience shows that to be a good investment. This would allow Account B to echo the growth patterns of Account A, in which your contributions (15% of total, or 30% of Account A) funded the investment pool that became the balance (35% of total, or 70% of Account A).

In  2007 the  government  of  the  day  made a $1.5  billion  backfill payment to  Account  B  with  a plan  for  additional  annual  funding  to  bring  Account  B  to  fully  pre funded  status  by  2035.    After the  interest  on  the  loan  for  the  backfill  was  calculated,  this  decision  showed  a $566  million savings benefit  by  the  end  of  2021.    Later  governments  have  not  followed  through on  that  plan. If  the  current  practice  of  matching member  contributions  without  additional  funding  to Account  B  persists,  government  will  continue  to  draw  down  the  balance  of  Account  B  until the balance  is  consumed.    This  is  projected  to  happen  in 2052,  when  the  cost  to  government  of   funding TRAF  pension  payouts  will  be  $270  million of annual  cash  flow; in  2054,  if  government chooses  the  pay as you go  road,  their annual  cash  flow  to  fund  TRAF  pension  payouts  will  be  in the  order  of $589  million.    That  represents  a  very  large  annual flow  that  would  have  huge  tax implications.

Another approach government could take is to continue matching the annual member contributions and to add further contributions regularly over time to bring Account B to fully funded status. TRAF notes that this could be done at $98 million per year over the next 40 years. This would be budget-friendly, but at the cost of losing the investment revenue over time that an immediate backfill would provide with an accompanying tax burden. In total, it would probably cost considerably more than the previous strategy.

Certainly,  such  an  annual  draw  on  the  treasury  is  unsustainable.   There  are  some  solutions, however,  to  keeping  TRAF  fully  sustainable If  government  were  to  backfill  Account  B to  match

Finally, government could choose the pay-as-you-go option. While this would delay budget hits, it would result in a large annual need for cash flow after 2052. That cash, remember, comes from your taxes.

As we approach an election in the very near future, you may want to ask your local candidates what their plan is to maintain a sustainable pension plan for Manitoba’s teachers.

The life story of Shirley Donovan 1931 – 2022

Written by her son, Francis Donovan

On December 6, 2022, Manitoba lost a pioneer in the field of education.

Shirley Donovan was born in Neepawa, Manitoba, on April 27, 1931, and grew up in Neepawa and in Dauphin, Manitoba. Herself the daughter of a teacher and school administrator, after graduating from high school, at the age of 17 she began a long teaching career, starting out as a “certificate teacher” licenced by the government of Manitoba to teach in the one-room schoolhouses of various small towns and hamlets. It sounds incredible to us now, but that’s the way it was in Manitoba in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

In this capacity, she not only taught, but wore the many hats of a small-town teacher on the Canadian prairies in those days. For instance, as baseball coach, she had to borrow a student from a neighbouring town, having only eight students of her own at her first school! Nonetheless, using the resources at her disposal, she developed a strategy that led her little team to some considerable success. Put the strongest players out in the field, even though they all want to be on first base. The other team can hit the ball as far as they want, it will always come back!

As the only teacher in these little communities, she was also the chief fund-raiser, and would organize raffles, auctions and other activities along with the other local ladies, to fund school activities. The most successful of these

was a picnic featuring an auction where several young ladies would each prepare a picnic lunch, and the highest bidder won the privilege of having lunch with the lady who made it. Needless to say, lunch with the teacher always provoked a hotly contested bidding war!

Another task that fell to the teacher in those days was distributing the government bounty on prairie-dog tails. These critters were seen as a plague by agriculturists, and children were on the front lines, being offered 1 cent per tail. It’s not clear whether this policy even made a difference, the reproductive capacities of prairie-dogs being what they are. But in those times of scarcity, the bounty was no negligible thing, and Shirley, although reputed by all who knew her to be a kind-hearted person, did her duty and turned those tails into copper pennies for her young charges.

Another of Shirley’s early assignments was in Churchill, Manitoba in the 1950s. There she taught the children of the personnel stationed at the Canadian Forces Base, as well as those of the village of Churchill and the local aboriginal population. Imagine the adventure for a young woman in the 1950s! Teaching the three Rs for sure, but also fishing for arctic char, learning to build a fire without matches, and spending the night in an igloo she built with her students, in the dead of an arctic winter.

It was during this time that Shirley met her future husband Peter, a research

scientist at the Canadian Forces Base. Together they shared many an adventure, eventually settling in Winnipeg and founding a family. Shirley and Peter were married for more than 50 years, until he passed away in 2010.

After her early teaching experiences in small town Manitoba Shirley attended Normal School in Winnipeg, and later, in her 40s, earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Manitoba, teaching full time and raising a family of four children at the same time.

After many years of teaching classes of 25 to 30 students, Shirley developed a specialty, teaching children with speech disorders and related challenges. This field came to be known as ‘special education’, although she was doing it long before the term was even invented. Perhaps the smaller classes, and the more full and intimate teaching experience, reminded her of her oneroom schoolhouse days long ago. At the end of her career, Shirley likely had as much experience in this field as anyone in the country, if not more, and her efforts and passion laid the groundwork for the special education programs that are in place today.

Shirley had a long, successful, and above all, a happy career, as one can see from the smile she wears in every picture that accompanies this article. One hopes her example can serve as an inspiration.

*Special thanks to Gladstone School for providing the photographs that accompany this article.

RTAM 2022 UCN Bursary Award Winners

The Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba continues to support and advocate for the value reflected in the UCN Bursaries, and to align with the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. As we all know, post-secondary education has an expensive price tag

and RTAM offers financial bursaries that can greatly decrease the stresses for university and college students. This year, RTAM through UCN, awarded 3 bursaries with one additional to be awarded in the fall, to offset the cost for northern students achieving their goals in education.

Connor Colgan, The Pas, MB, Carpentry, RTAM Trades Program Bursary

I really enjoyed taking Industrial Arts Woods; it started my passion for carpentry. My uncle always said, “if you are going to go to school, why wouldn’t you work as hard as you can?” I really know that I am studying what I love when it doesn’t feel like a pain to go to school. Learning new skills can be intimidating, but I like a challenge, and skilled trades people will always be in demand. I really enjoy participating in sports: basketball, volleyball and hockey. I have competed at the Provincial level. Sports teaches you teamwork, commitment and being a good ambassador. Whether it is building a house or making furniture for that house, what I learn in school and in my apprenticeships will be skills I will never lose. My future goal is to complete my levels in my apprenticeship and earn my Red Seal in Carpentry.

Whitney Lennox, Thompson, MB, Bach of Ed., RTAM Post-Secondary Bursary

In 2010 I graduated with a BSc in Biochemistry. I am motivated and excited to complete my BEd degree at UCN and become a teacher in northern Manitoba. It is challenging to be a stay-at-home mom to two children while attending school with no income. This bursary will allow me to become a certified teacher while supporting my family at home. I readily engaged in the northern community of Thompson where I volunteered in work activities, as well as the wider community: Thompson Humane Society, Christian Council, Salvation Army, and at-risk community outreach. After completing multiple practicums in the School District of Mystery Lake, I know that being able to teach in this community and serve the youth in the North in an educational capacity will be such an honour. I can’t wait to be a teacher and serve our northern community!

Delaney McIntyre, Flin Flon, MB, Culinary Arts, RTAM Trades Program Bursary

My path to Culinary Arts has been interesting. I love sports, especially soccer, and graduated with a BSc in 2016 from the University of Minnesota on a soccer scholarship. A few months later I welcomed the birth of my son. As a single parent without work experience in the field, and with the added adversity of sick parents, it was difficult to use this degree. I always had an interest in learning to cook and having this program in the north allowed my family to help with childcare while I attended school. Cooking helps relax me and keeps me calm in a way that was a missing puzzle piece in my life. I would like to promote a healthy eating lifestyle for young people and own a restaurant. Being a single mother of a 6-year-old boy and the sole provider for our household, this bursary will help aid in expenses for both of us.

AGING IN PlACE The Final Strategy –Strategy #5 Your Resources

Before we start to discuss the last strategy of Sue Lantz’s framework, we were so pleased to host Sue as our guest speaker at our RTAM Annual General Meeting held in Brandon on May 2, 2023. She presented so many alternative strategies to accommodate your mapping process for your best retirement journey! She displayed slides of a wide variety of housing options which are being offered in different locations across Canada. Sue left most of the audience reflecting upon different actions they could take immediately and over time to start their mapping process. It is a lifelong planning process for older adults accompanied by changes as the years and decades move on.

In the past KIT magazines, I explained some of the different aspects of the first four strategies in Sue’s framework –your health, your housing, your social connections and your caregiving teams. This article will outline the effect or influence of the past four strategies on the availability of many resources to support you in making your life your most enjoyable and productive. Making informed and timely choices for housing, health, social networks and caregiving can combine to make a big difference to the financial resources you will need. You can save or generate resources by the choices you make along the way.

Having a collaborative relationship with a financial planner over your lifetime will greatly support you with the finances you have available in your years as an older adult. A financial advisor will help you understand different options for saving which fits your life style and needs. Take advantage of their expertise to structure a plan, which can be reviewed on a regular basis, to incorporate varied sources of funding such as any registered retirement savings plans, tax credits, your insurance coverage, pensions, and other sources of income.

In terms of health, you are leveraging your resources by staying as healthy as possible by practicing healthy habits. Eating healthy, getting regular exercise, moderating your alcohol consumption, getting adequate sleep, fostering your social connections, and utilizing stress reduction strategies you have learned throughout your lifetime which work for you are all ways to maintain a healthy purposeful life. By proactively managing your health, you reduce many known risks and can delay possible health and functional decline. This, in turn, can reduce your need for home care and the accompanying costs.

You can reduce your health risks and costs by making the right

By Joan Zaretsky

housing choices. Sue talked a lot about the importance of assessing where you are currently living and recognizing the opportunities associated with the extra space and the nearby amenities. Living with, or near others, offers you the social supports you need while also the option to share the costs of the housing. If you have a spacious home, you may rent out a room or hire a live-in caregiver which would be a more cost effective solution than moving into a care home in the future. Ensure your home is well located with meaningful social supports, health services, transit and other amenities within walking distance or a short drive. When you proactively choose to adapt and outfit your home with special accommodations for your future, you are ready to go!

People in your social network are your most important asset as they offer you a sense of support and belonging and can help you find and access resources you may need in the future to save you time and money. In choosing your place to live, you can decide to locate near to your social network or find a social community that fits your needs. By continuing to work, volunteer and stay active in your community, you can build and expand your circle of friends.

Aside from maintaining your home living costs, your main additional cost will be your care at home, whether personal hands-on care or supervision and support. Your types and levels of care you need may increase over time as your health changes. Consider the many caregivers you may need in the future and of utmost importance, is to select a care coordinator for your team. By establishing and organizing your caregiving team, you are readying them to carry out their roles.

Investing time and energy now to explore your options and make practical plans, opens up your future to new possibilities and options later. Identify the topics you are curious about and seek additional information. Talk with your friends and family about your visions and your ideas for housing or creating a caregiving team. Talk with your neighbors about creating a neighborhood network and explore activities you could carry out together. Be open to exploring where those discussions take you as you map your retirement journey!

STAY TUNED: Sue Lantz will be offering a Wellness Zoom event on October 4, 2023 at 10:00 am. Check out the Wellness Workshop pages in KIT and online. Sign up for a wide variety of health, cooking and socializing events every Wednesday in the upcoming five months starting in August. See you there!.

In Memoriam

December 2022

Jacqueline Stalker – Kingston, ON

Roberta L. Stone – Bagot, MB

The above RTAM members who have passed, were regretfully missed from previous editions of KIT. We sincerely apologize to their families.

January 2022

John Carnegie – Winnipeg, MB

Ruth M. Clare – St. Germain South, MB

Michael P. Czuboka – Winnipeg, MB

Norma C. Daly – Winnipeg, MB

Robert L. Davies – Nanaimo, BC

Dale R. Downey – Winnipeg, MB

Marjory F. Gowan – Winnipeg, MB

Dina A. Granove – Winnipeg, MB

Garth E. Martin – Winnipeg, MB

Valerie A. McCorkell – Winnipeg, MB

Paul Moroz – Winnipeg, MB

Bernice Rzasa – Winnipeg, MB

Vera I. Wylychenko – Lethbridge, AB

February 2023

Geraldine A. A. Fallis – Winnipeg, MB

Harold G. Jonasson – Winnipeg, MB

Paul Harland – Winnipeg, MB

Kenneth H. Loewen – Winnipeg, MB

Lucienne M. L. Loiselle – Winnipeg, MB

Harvey C. McGhie – Brandon, MB

Velma A. Motheral – Winnipeg, MB

Phyllis I. Olson – Starbuck, MB

Lawrence M. Oystryk – Winnipeg, MB

Kerry J. Raffey – Winnipeg, MB

Marion A. Robinsong – Brandon, MB

Otto Rosner – Steinbach, MB

James A. White – Winnipeg, MB

Frank J. Wilson – Winnipeg, MB

March 2023

Leslie E. G. Ainge – Winnipeg, MB

Sandra Allen – Winnipeg, MB

Robert E. Benedictson – Portage la Prairie, MB

Mike Biluk – Winnipeg, MB

Donna M. Cochrane – East St. Paul, MB

Kenneth W. Ellison – Winnipeg, MB

Melanie M. M. Hall – Winnipeg, MB

Lydia K. Hedrich – St. Andrews, MB

Robert J. Hobbs – Neepawa, MB

Roxanne D. Klassen – Steinbach, MB

Margaret M. Kulczycki – Winnipeg, MB

Kevin W. MacKay – Winnipeg, MB

Jack Mohr – Winnipeg, MB

Henry W. Peters – Winnipeg, MB

Donald C. Rankmore – Glenboro, MB

Ronald L. Rayner – Winnipeg, MB

L. Arthur Reimer – Winnipeg, MB

F. Faye Speers – Griswold, MB

William J. Stevenson – Winnipeg, MB

Henry J. Toews – Winnipeg, MB

Russell Tymos – Winnipeg, MB

Roger G. Vermette – St. Jean Baptiste, MB

Life Members

February 2023

David H. Friesen – Winnipeg, MB

Anna Gates – Winnipeg, MB

Henry S. Goba – Opava, Czech Republic

Joseph Gula – Arborg, MB

Ivadell D. Telfer – Winnipeg, MB

Norma L. (McMaster) Whitfield – Winnipeg, MB

March 2023

Emily O. Buhler – Winnipeg, MB

Edna V. Dreger – Morris, MB

Mary L. Gaskin – Nanoose Bay, BC

Elena Ruivivar – Winnipeg, MB

Louis V. Swiderski – Lorette, MB

Patricia A. Wall – Toronto, ON

Susan Winther – Steinbach, MB

The Johnson In surance Scholarship Program Opens April 27th, 2023 Building on our History of Supporting Customers and Communities

For many Canadian students, the jump from high school to post -secondary education is a thrilling transition into adulthood, but one that comes with new financial responsibilities.

At Johnson, we understand the challenges faced by students during their pursuit of higher education, and we are proud to offer scholarships to help them achieve their dreams. Since 1998, Johnson has awarded over 1500 scholarships and academic grants valued at more than $1 million to support young Canadians coast to coast in pursuing their post -secondary education.

This year, we are pleased to offer 50 scholarships worth $1000 each to students who fall into at least one of the following categories :

• if you, your parent/guardian or grandparent , have a:

o home or car insurance policy through Johnson or

o MEDOC travel insurance policy or

o group benefits plan (such as health, dental or life insurance) through Johnson

• if you, your parent/guardian or grandparent , are a member or employee of a Johnson recognized* group (policy not required)

Students must complet e high school in 2023 and must be beginning post -secondary educa tion this fall or C EGEP (if living in the province of Québec).

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*A “recognized group” means an employer group, professional association, alumni association, union or other group that has an insurance program agreement currently in force with Johnson.

“Teacher ’s pet? That ’s me . ”

“Teacher ’s pet? That ’s me . ”

Scholarship Program 2023

Scholarship Program 2023

Johnson Insurance is proud to offer 50 scholarships, valued at $1000 each, to eligible students completing high school in 2023 and starting post-secondary education in the fall of 2023.

Johnson Insurance is proud to offer 50 scholarships, valued at $1000 each, to eligible students completing high school in 2023 and starting post-secondary education in the fall of 2023.

Johnson Insurance has awarded over 1500 scholarships valued at more than $1 million to support young Canadians across Canada in pursuit of their post-secondary education.

Johnson Insurance has awarded over 1500 scholarships valued at more than $1 million to support young Canadians across Canada in pursuit of their post-secondary education.

Open: April 27, 2023

Open: April 27, 2023

Deadline: July 27, 2023

Deadline: July 27, 2023

To learn more, visit Johnson.ca/scholarship scholarshipfund@johnson.ca

To learn more, visit Johnson.ca/scholarship scholarshipfund@johnson.ca

Universities Canada Toll Free: 1-844-567-1237

Universities Canada Toll Free: 1-844-567-1237