RTO/EROPrime District 12 Norfolk TimeIssue 51 Fall 2014
The Non- Designer’s Design Book ! The wonderful folks at our RTO/ERO Communications Committee, presented a newsletter editor workshop this June. The expert presenters and my fellow editors were very enthusiastic and helpful with a wealth of inspiring ideas. One of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun the many resources And I guess Ingrid, Mary and Liz like to have fun golfing, shared was an award- as did many of our District 12 members and friends at our winning best-selling third annual RTO Golf Tournament held at Springview book by Robin Williams, Farm Golf Course, Waterford this June. The proceeds of The Non-Designer’s this fund raising event went to Norfolk General Hospital’s Design Book - Design Labour and Delivery Department. See pages 14-15. and Typographic Principles for the Visual Novice. This newsletter was edited with many of those principles in ! mind. ! ! Prime Time
President’s In that vein, all important aspects of Senate are in the Renaissance magazine Message we all received. It is well worth the read. Ingrid Coppens! ! My main question of what happened to our $3 million that RTO gave to the I want to thank Foundation Chair and only showed up as everyone for $2.5 million was answered. We only allowing me to needed $3 million and since the U of T represent you as donated $500,000 to this effort, our your RTO $500,000 was added to the Foundation President this year. It has been an coffers. It is also good to know that the awesome journey and I’ve had fantastic monies that we, as RTO provincial, executive members to help me. I feel that donated to the Chair, has essentially been I’ve survived very nicely thanks to them. put back into our reserves as a result of They are a great bunch! good investments. I especially learned about the structure of the Foundation By the time you read this article, I will executive and in the end, we, as retirees have accomplished most of the first goal I will benefit greatly from the new set for myself. We started out with 113 Foundation Chair. ! subscribers on our Mail Chimp list and now we have many more thanks to my Something to ponder and an important faithful committee of “phoners”. This realization for me is that there were 138 was a large task. I hope that everyone members over 100 years of age in April will soon see the benefits of being on the 2014! ! email list. Having someone vouch for us as a As for the second goal… that will have to geriatric chair will be awesome and wait until next year. And, speaking of although we haven’t yet hired someone next year, I have accepted the position of for that position, it will be extremely Treasurer from Don Gardner, as he is beneficial. Together they will educate and ready to give it over. Thank you again energize caregivers’ vision of better Don for many, many years of great and health care and services of older people. conscientious hours of labour. I hope I can live up to your standards Please remember our Champagne Brunch for new retirees, and pass along names to Again Senate provided much to “chew” us so that we can include them in our on and it was a lively three days. I invites. believe it’s important to know what happened at Senate as it pertains to all of Have a wonderful warm and safe winter. us as part of RTO.
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First Vice memorabilia people brought in and shared on the tables in the front President’s entrance? Report Next spring we hope to honour the folks Liz Whiton! who worked in schools that closed in the ! Simcoe area. This includes; North Public School, South Public School, ! Nixon Public School, The Norfolk ! Board Office, Lions School and St. Mary's School. Start digging up "blue" We, at RTO/ERO District 12 Norfolk, items and search for those people with are forging new trails. We started a new whom we have lost touch. initiative last spring with the first ever Norfolk RTO Bursary Award Provincially, I visited the OTPP offices, presented to graduating students in also known as "Teachers", and heard their elementary and secondary schools in annual report on our Pension Norfolk County. Investments. We are so blessed to have a secure pension that is very stable and will The recipients were pre-selected by the last well past our lifetime. Combined schools based on being a model citizen, with the excellent Pension Plan, if you are assisting others where needed in the a member of Johnson Inc, you also enjoy school and benefiting from the accolades many benefits that many other retired given with the award. folk do not have. Take time to reflect on all these privileges. Be sure to read This year we had a total of 66% Virginia Birnie's article about some participation from all of the schools. changes regarding travel outside of the Next year, we are hoping for 100% province. participation. Finally, I hope to see you at the Fall Thank you for the wonderful Spring Banquet on Wednesday October 15 at the Banquet that 142 members and guests Vittoria Community Centre. The AGM attended. We were thrilled to hear the takes place at 11:00 and all are welcome humorous memories and true stories at to attend. Dinner is served at 12:00 and Doverwood Public School by Keith at 1:00 we plan to honour the Bell Award Ashley, Port Dover Public School by Don Winners, briefly hear from two special Dailey and Port Dover Composite School guests, from the Provincial RTO Office by Muriel Dennis. Catching up on news and from a charity we support. Be sure and re-connecting with many of our to read Margaret Payne's article for more colleagues were highlights of the details. meeting. And who could forget the conversations that took place around the
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Health The Base Plan is for coverage up to 62 days for an unlimited number of trips per Service and year. You may purchase additional coverage for a trip longer than 62 days in Insurance duration if you are insured under the Report RTO/ERO Extended Health Care Plan. Virginia Birnie! The Supplemental Travel Plan coverage ! begins on the 63rd day of any trip you report to Johnson Inc. Plan Benefits ! Service.
I attended the workshop conducted by Refer to page 3 of the 2014 Out of RTO/ERO Health Services and Province /Canada Travel booklet for Insurance Committee in Toronto in June Supplemental Travel Plan for coverage 2014. A presentation was made to us of additional days for procedure and cost. entitled Out of Province/Canada Travel Update to better inform the Proof of Departure representatives to pass along to RTO • ALL insured participants must members as they travel in retirement. The have their own proof of departure following is a quick overview of what from province of residence … not you will find relevant to your future Canada travel questions. • An example of proof would be a If you have Health Insurance with RTO boarding pass, credit card receipt you automatically have a copy of the with accompanying credit card 2014 Out of Province/Canada Travel statement, signed paramedic booklet… take it with you when you go receipt on any trip out of the province of your residence. It has readily available the • The addition of days to add to information which will be necessary for your trip through the you to know in case of a “sudden and Supplemental Travel Plan does not unforeseen” medical emergency. require you to fill in a medical questionnaire and the rates are not NB A physician’s consent to travel does based on your medical history. not establish your medical stability nor override the definition of sudden and • Age supplemental travel rates for unforeseen with reference to insurance 15 days extra travel are: 55-59 claims. years…$49, 60-64 years....$73, 65-69 years…. $101, 70-74 years …. $133 ! (all rates are per person) !
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• The coverage of benefits is • New Limitation on Travel Days in outlined in your 2014 Out of the USA Province/Canada Travel Booklet • beginning on page 5 and the Most Canadian citizens are Exclusions and Limitations are welcome to visit the US for up to listed beginning on page 21. six months (182) days in a 12- month period. The number of • Allianz has Pre-Trip Planning allowable days doesn’t necessarily Assistance available to you and is reset on January 1 just because the listed on page 9. calendar year changed. The time is based on an individual’s travel • Effective January 1, 2014 the dates and can continue from one Stability Clause has been calendar year to the next. Every expanded from cancer, heart or day spent in the US through the lung condition to any condition. year – from shopping trips to • This was changed to reflect that travelling between destinations – members should travel when they counts. are healthy. • Owning, as opposed to renting a • Your medical emergency is NOT vacation home, doesn’t increase sudden and unforeseen if it falls the maximum number of days a under the guidelines in: Important Canadian may stay away each year Medical Stability Information in the US. inside the front cover of 2014 Out • For more specific information, you of Province /Canada Travel should contact the appropriate US Booklet. Consular District listed at • Members with unstable serious http://canada.usembassy.gov/ health conditions other than visas/consulates.html cancer, heart or lung were able to travel while someone who had This information has been made available cancer and was not stable did not to you to keep you as up-to-date as have the same opportunity. possible and help keep your travel plans as worry free as possible. • Claims made affect the plan rates for everyone.
• When in doubt contact Johnson Inc. 1 877 406 9007 before making your travel plans.
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Membership Prime Time Report This newsletter for RTO/ERO District Margie Ridzon! 12 Norfolk is published semi-annually. ! Submissions are always welcome and ! should be in .doc and .jpeg (300 dpi) ! file formats. ! ! Submission deadlines are ! March 1 and August 1. ! We are the Retired Teachers of Ontario We are growing! We are 546 full in Norfolk County. Our RTO/ERO members and 53 associate members for District 12 Norfolk unit was established a total of 599 RTO/ERO members in in 1970 and shares it geographical roots District 12 Norfolk. ! with Egerton Ryerson, the acknowledged founder of Ontario's Who will be #600? Join us. The public education system. application is available at membership @ rto-ero.org We are about 600 members strong and ! we enjoy the many unique features of Congratulations to all retirees. Thank this area including Carolinian forests, you to those who have joined RTO/ERO Long Point Biosphere and Ontario's District 12. Welcome to those who have Garden. Our communities, including moved into the area and chosen to be Simcoe, Port Dover, Waterford, Delhi part of District 12. and Port Rowan are relatively small, ! but all provide a relaxing, friendly Mary Ann Backus atmosphere. Enjoy the many activities Wanda Bell and events we have planned. Better Jacqueline Cave still, consider serving the members our Eldon Cooper District 12 Norfolk! Kim Cottingham Luciano Firmani Visit our website at Mary Harris http://district12.rto-ero.org Linda Howe ! Kaye Nicholls Should you wish to receive the latest Joan Norman email updates and be on our Andrew Stancek Mailchimp subscriber list, contact Ruth Storey Alfred Guidolin 519 528 2945 ! [email protected]
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Political In the past, candidates have said that they are keenly interested in senior issues Action but when elected their interest wanes. It is our responsibility to ensure they do not Committee let senior issues fade in the background Doug Thompson! but remain in the forefront when making ! decisions around senior-related issues.
! These issues are a concern for everyone, ! whether it is ourselves or an older friend or relative. One down – two to go. Your voice and your vote can make a There are two elections to come within difference. the next year – one municipal and one federal. Each one will potentially impact Let’s make our voices heard. all retirees.
As an organization and as individuals, we must make sure that all candidates, whether municipal or federal, are aware of senior related issues and how they impact our lives.
Issues that might be considered important to seniors are: Providing all seniors with a livable income; Providing all seniors with an abuse-free environment; Providing a range of affordable retirement and long term care facilities; ! Providing appropriate and accessible health care; Providing all seniors the services that will allow them to remain in their homes as long as possible; Providing opportunities to allow all seniors to take an active part in their communities and … this list could go on.
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Goodwill from a short trip, I realized I’d forgotten to mail a birthday card. I drove to the Report member’s home and apologized to her Ginger Pullen! for being late. At that moment her ! husband walked over and said, “Don’t worry, Ginger. You’re not late. Today’s I always say that our anniversary!” my position on RTO is one of the nicest These are our members who will volunteer jobs. celebrate milestone birthdays between Communicating September 1 and December 31, 2014. with our members when there is a Robert Hill Charles Fairbairn significant event in their lives is definitely Brice Binks Edith Tate rewarding. Marcel Nolf Wilfred Wilhelm We communicate on happy occasions Anne Daw Cynthia Burroughs such as milestone birthdays (80, 85, 90, 95 Doreen Ross Doris Caskinette 100 years and over!), anniversaries and Eleanor Smith special achievements. We also express ! concern or sympathy on the occasions of And these members will celebrate from illness, hospitalization or bereavement. January 1 to May 31, 2015 We make donations to suitable charities upon the death of a family member or ! Beatrice Hickling Mardella Roberts close relative. Regine Ross Shirley Tucker As always I ask that you keep me posted Marjorie McGuire Catharina Penner when these events occur. Many thanks to Lois Bailey Marion Rapley those who have done so faithfully. William Newman Albert DeBackere William Kozub Paul Quenneville I’ve been volunteering with RTO since Margaret R Gunton my retirement in 2007 and feel it is time to turn my attention to other organizations now. Therefore my position as Goodwill Chair will be open as of January 1, 2015. If you are interested in taking on this important work, please contact Ingrid Coppens or Liz Whiton.
The job is not onerous and is often delightful. Even when I make mistakes, as I often do, I find members are gracious and forgiving. Once when I returned
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We have expressed condolences to these members who have lost a spouse or close family member. Christine Hill Judy Salens Chris Lambert We are saddened by the Roger Cruickshank loss of these members. Joan Molnar Charles Upshall Judith Lapierre Ron and Bev Klein Glenna West Tom Wardlaw April Maxwell Heather Rognvaldson ! ! Donations in their memory Every effort has been made to present have been made to suitable accurate information here. If however charities. errors have been made, please contact me !with corrections. Ginger Pullen 519 582 2661 [email protected] !
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RTO /ERO District 12 Norfolk
Agenda Margaret Payne! ! ! 10:30 am Social Again this October 11:00 am Annual General Meeting we will honour our 12:00 pm Luncheon longstanding 25 year 1:00 pm Bell presentations members with the ! Egerton Ryerson Bell ! Awards at our Annual General Ruth Reimer Catering Meeting and Fall Luncheon on Luncheon Menu Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at the Ham with mashed potatoes and gravy Vittoria Community Centre. Croissants ! Cole Slaw Salad Congratulations to these special Vegetable Medley members. Pickles ! Ruth’s Famous Dessert Buffet Lois Bailey ! Loreen Beatty $15.00 per person Donelda Bodjla ! Willard Challand ! Betty Chapman ! Roger Cruickshank ! Anne Daw ! Donna DeSerrano ! Jorma Jarvis ! William Kozub ! Marjory McGuire ! Ian Noble ! Roger Noppe ! Rose Pettit by Friday October 3, 2014 to Nina Robinson Margaret Payne Judith Roney 32 Simson Avenue Marjorie Woolley Simcoe, Ontario N3Y 5G5 Winona McNall ! !519 428 3489
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AGM and Fall Luncheon
Come and Join Us Our Annual General Meeting is always open to all, in fact, we’d like to invite you to take a more active part in our great District. Share your skills, talents and time with the many wonderful people who make things happen here in District 12 Norfolk. As Ginger Pullen always says, her’s is one of the nicest volunteer jobs. Please contact one of our Executive Members for more information. ! “To Hell with the Bells” ! Champagne Lunch All newly retired Teaching and Support Staff and guests are invited to attend this gala retirement party on Wednesday September 14, 2014 Norfolk Golf and Curling Club 200 Argyle Street, Simcoe ON 10:30 am to 2:00pm RSVP Margaret Payne [email protected] 519 428 3489
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The Days of Dover Honourees - Spring 2014
We thanked and honoured Don Gardner ! for his long and dedicated service to District 12 as our Treasurer. ! !
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Pension Government Health Card Number and Card Concerns Bank Accounts Peter Wheatley! Safety Deposit Box and Key ! Credit Cards and Numbers Investments Information /Certificates Here are some Pension Information useful, perhaps even Health Insurance Information critical tips for all Home ownership(s) dealing with Vehicle ownership(s) personal, family and legal matters. Jewellery, valuables, heirlooms Pre-arranged funeral agreement Important Documents Ownership of cemetery plot 1 Storage Memorial receipt and description Important documents should be kept in a Organ Donation Information safe place, in case of fire or theft. These ! include: a list of house, cottage and other 3 Your Spouse/Family member property contents, receipts of proof of should know how to contact purchase/ownership, and photographs Lawyer(s) of each room. Executor(s) Some banks and insurance companies A copy of important documents and publish booklets, which help to keep records should be kept in a safe or safety records of important papers and their deposit box. location. Other booklets are available which help to keep household inventories by listing items usually found Other helpful tips and fact sheets can be in various rooms of the house. !found at www.rto-ero.org ! Click on the Publications tab, 2 Information your spouse/family scroll down to Fact Sheets and click on should know H3 - Important Documents Power of Attorney ! (personal care, property) You’ll also find handy information on Will Canada Pension Plan Birth Certificate Old Age Security Marriage Certificate Community Care Access Centres Adoption Papers – if applicable Mortgage Fraud Citizenship Papers – if applicable Downsizing Prenuptial Agreement – if applicable Home Security Social Insurance Number and Card
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RTO District 12 Norfolk Golf Tournament! Keith Ashley
In early June of this year we held the 12 Norfolk. Most of this year’s sponsors third annual RTO District 12 Norfolk Golf hopefully will again support our Tournament. It was the most successful to endeavour and make the 4th Annual RTO date. Tournament bigger and better.
Thanks to the generosity of RTO District If any RTO/ERO member would like to 12 Norfolk, Scotiabank and a long list of become involved in the planning for sponsors and individual donors we 2015, please let me know. If anyone raised $6800.00 for the Labour and knows of businesses that would like to Delivery Project at Norfolk General sponsor a hole, a tee or the entire tourney Hospital. please let me know.
Our new venue at Springview Golf Club On behalf of the Tournament Committee in Waterford proved to be an excellent (Karen Leask, Barb Preston, Janie change from previous years and we will Forsythe, Dave Bourne, Don Stewart and be there again in 2015. myself), I thank you for your past, present and future support. Next year we will be selecting a new charity in consultation with RTO District
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Some golfers had way too much fun!
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Ruthven Walkers
! Our intrepid Walking Group enjoyed the grounds of the Ruthven National Historic Site in Cayuga this summer.
For more information about this nearby scenic wonder, visit
http://ruthvenpark.ca
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A Different Irish Beverage Everyday! Alfred Guidolin
No it wasn’t a drinking tour, but our eyes Ballycastle. From there we hiked the did drink in the beauty and charm of Mountains of Mourne, visited the Belfast Ireland. Our three week visit included an Titanic Experience, walked the walls of eleven day Manor Royal tour of the Londonderry, visited Bushmills and Republic with Royal Irish Tours and Rathlin Island, spotting sea lions by the another week in the North with relatives shore and enjoyed family gatherings. in Ballycastle. Wherever we went, the countryside was a Our overnight flight landed in Dublin breathtaking mixture of neatly fenced where our tour guide and coach driver, fields with sheep and cattle grazing year- Joe, gathered all 24 of us and brought us round, fields of barley, quaint and vibrant to the Man o’ War Pub just north of the towns with local shops proudly selling city for a traditional Irish breakfast. Our Irish made goods. Box stores were first stay was in Dunboyne Castle where thankfully absent, as were roadside we tried to recover from jet lag and commercial signs and the litter from enjoyed our first evening meal. consumerism. We did see some Timmy’s - but not every twenty minutes apart. Over the next week and a half we toured the South with tours in Trim to see the The island is full of history, legends, largest remaining Norman castle in faeries, mirth, melancholy and promise. Ireland, Kells, Longford and West Meath Just go and drink of this emerald island to Kilronan Castle, Sligo and Yeats treasure! country, on to Westport and Connemara, Galway, Burren and the Cliffs of Moher, around the Ring of Kerry to Blarney and Cork, visiting woollen mills, the Waterford Crystal Visitors Centre, the Dunbrody Famine Ship ending back in Dublin with tours of The National Museum and Glasnevin Cemetery.
Yes we toured and tasted in distilleries!
Following our tour of the South, we boarded the train to Belfast where our relatives Paul and Jacinta brought us up the coast through Larne and on to
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Ingrid Coppens! Shiatsu Therapy is essentially like I had often heard of Shiatsu but didn’t “acupuncture without the needles” and is much think about it until my long time the application of pressure using thumb, massage therapist had to stop working palms, elbows or knees to the body as a and I was without therapy. As I was whole, and from a Western perspective is searching around for another therapist, thought to have an effect on the nervous the opportunity to have a Shiatsu system promoting restful, healing effects. massage presented itself. Virginia Birney, It is beneficial for a variety of conditions our Health Services rep on the RTO including lower back pain, respiratory Executive, asked us to look into the and digestive conditions, muscle strain service that Kazuyuki Tasaka provided as and headaches. It is also excellent for a Shiatsu Therapist. I found it intriguing helping to relieve stress. that Kaz would come to my house, The first session for me was a bit provide the table on which to do the awkward as I had never had one such therapy and, it only cost $45, half of what therapy before, nor did I have anything a massage cost me for the same allotment like that at my house. As well, what did I of time. Since driving through snow wear? I was encouraged to wear loose covered streets was less inviting than and comfortable clothing but what having Kaz come to my house, I thought exactly? I’d give it a try.
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Kaz is a native of Japan and in our He and I discussed what would be the conversation, I learned that he had best regime to help alleviate the pain. I married a Canadian girl whom he met as chose the number of times I wanted to she was teaching in his home town of have the therapy and Kaz explained what Beppu City. After a stay in Japan, they he was doing and how the Shiatsu moved back to her home town of Simcoe. Therapy and follow up exercises would Kaz and Shelley have two children and benefit me. His explanations were live in Simcoe. Kaz received his diploma thorough and professional. at the Shiatzu School of Canada two years ago and along with working at a I felt the absence of pain after a session florist shop here in town, he does Shiatsu and after a year of treatment I do feel less therapy at a time convenient for you. I pain in my shoulder. It is not "cured" and have come to learn that it is “excellent for I doubt that it will ever be but the pain is relaxation, body balancing and stress manageable. management”. My first session wasn’t as relaxing as I had wished but the second It is great to know as well that our RTO time around, it was much more enjoyable Health Benefits cover 80 % of the $45 cost and relaxing. for a one hour session to a total of $900 a year. He also takes credit card payments. Virginia Birney has been having Shiatsu for over a year and attests to the benefits of this therapy.
“I have had a problem with my left shoulder for several years so I have had physiotherapy, massage therapy and acupuncture to try to alleviate the pain. Upon the recommendation of a friend who had been having Shiatsu Therapy Wellness Workshop with Kaz, I contacted him just over a year The next Wellness workshop has been ago. I felt that I needed something more set for Tuesday, October 28, at 1:30 pm, than massage therapy to address the in the Norfolk Room at the Annaleise limited use I had of my "frozen" shoulder Carr Aquatic Centre in Simcoe. The and the pain associated with it. speaker will be a representative from
the Canadian Diabetes Association. I like the convenience of Kaz coming to my home to do the therapy and I can There will be two workshops, entitled schedule the session for my convenience. • Diabetes: What You Need to Know He brings his therapy table with him.” • Making Sense of Healthy Eating: Eat Well but Pay Less.
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RTO/ERO District 12 Norfolk Executive
DISTRICT EXECUTIVE 2013-2014 President Ingrid Coppens 428 0575 [email protected] Past President Nancy Smiley 426 2847 [email protected] 1st VP Liz Whiton 209 6563 [email protected] 2nd VP Margaret Payne 428 3489 [email protected] Secretary Janie Forsythe 428 3158 [email protected] Treasurer Don Gardner 426 2381 [email protected] COMMITTEE CHAIRS Archives Ruth-Ellen Kelly 426 9207 [email protected] Goodwill Ginger Pullen 582 2661 [email protected] Health Services Virginia Birnie 426 5162 [email protected] Membership Margie Ridzon 582 3952 [email protected] Mary Antoniolli 443 5858 [email protected] Pension Concerns Peter Wheatley 426 8480 [email protected] Political Advocacy Doug Thompson 426 1063 [email protected] Service To Others Peter Scovil 443 7297 [email protected] Newsletter-Website Alfred Guidolin 582 2945 [email protected] DIRECTORS 3 Year Mary Antoniolli 443 5858 [email protected] 2 Year Ginger Pullen 582 2661 [email protected] 1 Year Beth Wheatley 426 8480 [email protected]
RTO/ERO District 12 Norfolk Website http://district12.rto-ero.org