Executive Report for the June 2024 e-newsletter
By the time you receive this we will be well into June, say farewell to a wet May. Many of you are no doubt staring to plant a garden of some kind, but were delayed because of all that rain. My garden patch is all tilled ready for planting as I speak, and I hope that the two rows of corn that I planed before the rain have not rotted in the ground.
Photo of my 25x100 foot tilled garden ready for planting
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) for RTAM (with some additional and unexpected procedures) went well. The RTAM 2024 AGM of May 8, 2024, was at Hilton Airport Suites, 1800 Wellington Avenue, in Winnipeg. Quorum established with 63 members in attendance, either in person or by Zoom; the meeting was called to order at 9:10 am and Chairperson of Meeting was President Linda Blair.
The RTAM Choir opened the meeting with O Canada. The Land Acknowledgement and Blessing was by Elder Linda St. Cyr-Saric, we had greetings from Nello Altomare, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning and John Sushelnitsky honoured teachers that have passed followed by In Memoriam PowerPoint.
During the AGM there were by-laws discussions and amendments, motions and changes to the by-laws that were proposed by the executive. In the end the by laws were passed with amendments.
Presentations at the AGM were by:
- Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning, Nello Altomare brought greetings from the NDP and Provincial Government
- MTS, Nathan Martindale, Cynthia Taylor
- TRAF, Jeff Norton, Brad Prokop
- RTAM Representative on TRAF Board, Dave Najduch
- Hearing Life, Cheryl
Below is our slated of elected 2024-2025 RTAM Board:
i. Past President – Linda Blair
ii. President: Gabe Mercier
iii. Vice-President:
iv. Secretary: Jayesh Maniar
v. Treasurer:
vi. Board Member: Betty-Jean Checkley
vii. Board Member: Peter Narth
viii. Board Member: Audrey Siemens
ix. Board Member: Marilyn Wiebe
x. Board Member: Vicky Hutchinson
xi. Board Member: Jocelyn Fraser
We have the utmost thanks for these generous volunteer members completing their service and moving on to new adventures and challenges.
- Linda Blair - President
- Brent Corrigan - Treasurer
- Dianne Snider - Director
- Gisele Gregoire - Director
- Kelvon Gordon Smith - Director
The budget for 2024-2025 was passed at the AGM.
- Membership Fees remain at $3 per month/$36 per year.
- Reimbursem*nt rates for 2024-25 remain the same as 2023-24.
- Meals: breakfast $18.00, lunch $24.00, supper $30.00
- Travel: private vehicle $0.60 per kilometer
- Air/bus: by receipt
- Hotel: $180.00 per night (max), Private: $90.00 per night (max)
- Computer consumables: by receipt to a maximum of $120.00
As a board we will have a reorganizational meeting soon to fill our various positions and already many elected members of the board have indicated their committee preference. Also, we will be working with the incoming board membership for a possible fall AGM.
Our golf tournament is just around the corner and we're excited to grow the event for another year. We will be heading back to Quarry Oaks for the second year in a row to experience 9 new holes as part of their 27-hole offerings. We are also going to be adding new events and features for those members taking part in the event:
- Chance to win a car with a hole in one!
- Photo booth for golfers to remember the day!
- More prizes and snacks for everyone!!!
- SAVE THE DATE - Friday August 30th, 2024
Jayesh Maniar and I will be attending the Canadian Association of Retired Teachers (ACER CART) Annual General Meeting over several days in Ottawa this June. We are excited to represent RTAM and Manitoba at the annual event. There have been lots of changes within ACER CART in the past year, and I work on several of their working groups and committees to help with planning and future growth. Please take a look at some of the things ACER CART is working on or through as changes from this past year:
- RTOERO the Ontario group of retired teachers has left ACER CART
- They have done this to take their insurance plan national
- They are trying to take members from other retired teacher groups provincially and bring them into their national plan
- This will mean the end of several provincial associations in the coming years as they lose their revenue model and won’t be able to sustain staff and programs through membership fees alone
- This means the largest financial contributor to ACER CART has left the group
- The Executive and leadership of ACER CART are working on a new Strategic Plan to help drive a new vision and future growth with the changes to RTOERO and them leaving the national family
- A SWOT analysis is being done to help drive the needs of the Strategic Plan and considers the unique needs of each province
- Western Canadian meetings are happening with RTAM, BCRTA and ARTA to try and come up with solutions that will support ACER CART while also combatting the encroachment of RTO.
- We hope to have a thorough report to members in the July e-news and Fall KIT.
Please check the event page regularly for a list of upcoming events.
Have restful and enjoyable summer!
Sincerely – The Executive Committee
Gabe Mercier, President
Linda Blair, Past President
Jayesh Mania, Secretary
Sean Seywright, Executive Director
