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.