RTAM Members Paying It Forward

. . . and the B.C. Retired Teachers’ Report on Volunteering

In a recent movie, PAY IT FORWARD, schoolteacher Kevin Spacey gave his class an unusual assignment, to think up a practical way to make the world a better place and put it into action. One student comes up with the idea of PAYING IT FORWARD, do a needed favour for three different people without being asked.

Although movie reviews were mixed, most retired teachers to whom I have spoken seemed to enjoy this film. Social values expressed go hand in hand with the values those teachers espoused in the classroom. It “fills the soul with satisfaction.” Retired teachers had the same reaction. We mostly do not have that formal classroom job anymore and so many of us now contribute by volunteering.

The B.C. Retired Teachers’ Association (BCRTA) recently published a comprehensive report titled The Volunteer Work of Retired Educators: Social and economic contributions to communities in British Columbia. Here are some quotes from that BC study: • “During their lives as educators, BC teachers were devoted to their charges, the school children in their communities; perhaps it is

Guy Hansen not surprising that their altruistic Public Relations and compassionate spirit of involvement and caring carries on to be their passionate preoccupation in retirement” • “BC retired educators contribute an average of 31 hours monthly, well over double the amount of time contributed by the average Canadian citizen.”

Retired teachers are busy paying it forward by volunteering. “It fills the soul with satisfaction.”

• “Volunteerism is declining at an alarming rate of 2% each year within 10 years community volunteerism could drop by as much as 20% who will do the care giving, provide organizational leadership, work to protect the environment and wildlife, and take on the other hundred responsibilities?” “To reverse this trend volunteers must be appreciated and recognized.”

The study includes mathematical analyses and graphs; after all the title includes the phrase “economic contributions” and that’s how one measures economic contributions- with numbers.

The title also includes the term “social contributions.” While there are no graphs specific to this area of volunteerism, there are a number of powerful comments, “a wonderful way to be involved in mankind,” a “chance to make a difference,” “fills the soul with satisfaction.” I would argue that over the long term, the social values both given and received by volunteers dwarfs the economic issues.

RTAM held its last AGM in Dauphin. It was really a great event, a large part of which was organized by members of the Dauphin Chapter actively supporting their community, Dauphin Retired Teachers’ Association (DARTA) has a solid history of volunteering. According to DARTA President, Joyce McGinnis, “The community knows that if they need help they can go to DARTA members.” DARTA members are known for supporting Theatre Amisk, the local Seniors Centre, Terry Fox fundraisers, Habitat for Humanity 2012, Watson Arts Centre, Diabetes Awareness Teaching in the Schools, and on and on − just as other RTAM chapter members do in their home communities. Today as I write this, DARTA members are serving coffee at a local restaurant in support of the Alzheimer Society Make Your Coffee Count fundraiser.

When I quit teaching I was still known for a couple of years as Guy Hansen, the teacher. Then “the teacher” part started to drop away and I was Guy Hansen, the fellow who lived down the street and drove that little green truck and that was okay. For me, it was also important to be recognized as a retired teacher, a member of RTAM.

In the last while, RTAM has tried to bridge across this identity gap, to keep us visible in our communities as (retired) teachers. First RTAM purchased little slipover vests, called pinnies, complete with the RTAM logo, to be worn at volunteer events for everyone to see. Then RTAM recommended name changes, so that the Thompson Association of Retired Educators, for instance, could be called RTAM Thompson, tying all RTAM members together. So we are moving along. RTAM has also formed an ad hoc committee to pursue the possibility of developing a volunteer study project, just as BCRTA has done.

The BC study is available from the ACER-CART website − definitely worth a read.

Pay It Forward is a good film, well worth watching.

Retired teachers are busy paying it forward by volunteering. “It fills the soul with satisfaction.” That’s what retired teachers want to do. n