Join The Board - You Won’t Be Bored

Alex Boyes

The Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba has over 9000 members and it is growing. Our volunteer board of directors consists of a possible total membership of 20; four officer positions, the appointed PAST President and 15 additional directors-at-large. One might suppose that the competition for these important positions would be highly sought after. Such has not been the case in recent years. At each AGM, elections are held and often many of the positions are filled by acclamation. That, in and of itself, is not a problem. When board members are fulfilling their roles with integrity and accountability, there is little need to change. What is being postulated here is that more RTAM members should give some consideration to putting their names forward for the next AGM set to be held in May, 2015, in Portage la Prairie. Why ??? Your RTAM works for you in many “mysterious” ways. Not really! Although KIT is the primary way of keeping in touch with all of us, RTAM committees and sub-committees are at work behind the scenes all the time. The Pension Committee is constantly monitoring the ever changing pension landscape through its contact with other provincial retired teacher organizations, especially ACERCART (Canadian Association of Retired Teachers). Equally important is the role RTAM plays in assuring that the outcome of COLA serves the best interests of RTAM.

The Benefits Committee attempts to secure, annually, the best rates and benefits for those enrolled in its various programs. Recently, an Ad Hoc committee completed a study about the amount of volunteer time RTAM members give to their respective communities. You will, and should, be impressed. Watch KIT for more information.

There are many other RTAM committees in action: Educational Advocacy/Scholarship;Public Relations; Bylaws & Policy; KIT; Membership, to name just a few.

RTAM is cognizant of your time and other commitments. If you become a board member, no matter where you reside, your travel, meal and accommodation costs are covered. This would apply to you if you decide to become a board or committee member. You get to meet and mingle with other RTAM members from across the province.

Gender and regional representation on any board are important factors to consider. Therefore, it is important to have potential candidates from as many parts of our province as possible and representative of gender. In addition, membership diversity is an asset to any volunteer board. New members from different areas of MB are more apt to bring fresh ideas to the membership mix.

When you consider that our membership in RTAM costs each of us $2.25 each month, we are “ getting a good bang for our buck.” More than that, we are looking out for one another through our many activities. That’s a good thing.

So, when the edition of KIT comes out asking for RTAM members to consider becoming either a board/committee member, do give it some serious thought. You won’t be bored, you might get on Board! CHEERS.