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.