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12 H315 ARTA Winter Ad_Dec12_Layout 1 10/24/12 8:39 AM Page 1 Members save on Worldwide Travel NEW Exclusive Discounts Sa ve up to $800* per couple! Collette Vacations, a major provider of guided travel since 1918, is offering ARTA members the chance to save on trips to all seven continents. From Italy to Australia to the wonder of South America and beyond, embrace your dreams. We seamlessly handle the details - you experience the world. This unbelievable offer can be used on the purchase price of both land and air portions on any of our escorted tours. How does it work? Call your local agency and advise the booking agent that you are travelling with Collette Vacations. OR Call Collette Vacations at 877.604.8086. In both cases provide your ARTA Affinity Member code: R844-AX1-918 On all air-inclusive tours, receive roundtrip home to airport sedan service!† For more information call 877.604.8086 or visit www.collettevacations.ca and order your FREE brochure! * Savings amount varies by tour and is valid on new bookings only. Offers can expire earlier due to space or inventory availability. Space is on a first come, first served basis. Offers are not valid on group or existing bookings or combinable with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply. † Not valid on group travel. Service is offered on all air-inclusive departures when within 100 km radius from most major Canadian gateways. One transfer per room booking. Additional stops are not permitted on route. Other restrictions may apply; call for details. Travel Industry Council of Ontario Reg#3206405 BC Reg#23337 News & Views Contents Table of Volume 21 Number 2 Winter 2012 President’s 50th From Our Travel 3 Message Anniversary Readers An Opportunity Executive The Bridge 22 of a Lifetime 4 Director’s Club Report 2 A Marking of 30 Time 14 Articles Letters ARTA Book to the Editor 5 Fair To Hell With the Bell ARTA’s 50th 10 Anniversary When Your Car In My Opinion 6 32 Launch 13 Conks Out Our Next 33 In Memoriam 20 Great Debate From Our Scholarships Partners Classified Ads 2012 40 26 ARTA’s New Tell Your 8 Benefit Plan Columns 50th 28 Story Partners 7 Anniversary Update From the Lynne Butler 12 ARTA ARTA Office Volunteer What Are We 19 Recognition Two Items of Doing Now? 15 Award 17 Note ARTA AGM Rockin’ 18 Diane Britton 40 Photo Contest 36 Highlights 17 Retirement News and Views is published four times a year by the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association (ARTA). Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to 409, 11010-142 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5N 2R1. Tel.: 780-822-2400; Alberta only: 1-855-212-2400; fax: 1-780-447-0613; e-mail: [email protected]; website: www.albertarta.org Contributions to News and Views to the editor: Robin Carson, 409, 11010 – 142 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5N 2R1 or e-mail [email protected]. Deadline for submissions for the spring issue is January 25, 2013. Assistant Editor: Vi Oko; Graphic Artist: Hazel Adair; Printing by Central Web, 16940 – 110 Avenue NW, Edmonton T5P 1G9 AR-ARTA-12 The Bridge Club by Doug Mirtle When I see young people today, of cards, like bridge, we used our a collective pride knowing that especially those who work in the talents, knowledge and skills to we led—and lead—the way for electronics industry in one form or play out the expectations of those the next generation to seek their another, I am astonished at how my roles with the resources available. own new worlds. As Ralph Waldo world has changed, and how quickly Emerson wrote: We were given the realities of it changed—right before my eyes. a post-war society; and with the Why should we grope among the I find myself on the sidelines, emergence of new demands, dry bones of the past, or put the figuratively watching the passing became the facilitators of imple- living generation into masquer- parade of progress; but I am des- menting change. We started in ade out of its faded wardrobe? tined to remain on the sidelines. a climate of political, social, and … There are new lands, new However, it has occurred to me economic stability. We were the men, new thoughts. (Works, that I, and all of us who are retir- ones who, when the realities Volume 1, p. 9) ees and seniors, are, in part, responsible for I do not like looking this transformation. at myself as being We moved society one of the ‘dry bones from old crystal sets of the past,’ but I or Marconi radios that guess I was. I guess were as big as a we all were. That modern entertainment is just what we had centre to the new hi- inherited, that is what tech realities of today. we had to work with. The last fifty or so We had to change and years have witnessed change fast! Look incredible changes in now and see how far our society and life- we carried the next style, and we were generation! When there! We were cogs you look around at in the dynamics of the positive fruits of social, economic, and our labours, I am sure political changes. The you will agree that old world reached the we must have been a new world through us. strong bridge. Yes, you, too, are responsible! changed, opened the doors to new Unfortunately, societal values have Think of this: all societies stand on possibilities. We took possibilities not matched the growth of technol- the shoulders of their predecessors and turned them into realities. We ogy, but this is an issue the next to carry on, to emerge, to seek out had to continually adjust our sails generation will have to sort out. I improvements to their physical and according to the winds of change. did my job; you did yours. We car- social structures. In this way they It was our blood, sweat, and tears ried them this far. We bridged the form a link, a connecting bridge by that were the grit that enabled old world into this new world and which the new generation is able society to be transformed into this are therefore more than a group of to take what it finds useful, and brave new world. We carried the retirees or seniors. We are mem- discard that which no longer fits burden of experimenting, sort- bers of a far more important club. the realities of their time. Each of ing, and finally transforming the We are members of a bridge club: us was given many roles during the world of the past into a new world The Bridge Club! That is pretty course of our adult life: like a game driven by technology. We can take exclusive when you think about it. ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,21, No. 32 2 News & Views Greetings from the President The People We Worked With Gordon Cumming “What counts in life is not the mere the best way to handle an intro- what you wanted to do.” It was fact that we have lived. It is what duction to an irate parent is to a great line, and it still echoes difference we have made to the smile, give a warm handshake, during the occasional meeting lives of others that will determine and hang up their coat—being a or debate. the significance of the life we lead.” welcoming host dissolved many Chuck Rose, long-time col- —Nelson Mandela a problem, and made many a league, and CRTA President in new friend. 2005 taught me to telephone Calgary Retired Teachers have a So many colleagues impacted late at night when volunteers great project under way to cele- my practice and thinking. I wish are most vulnerable… tell them brate ARTA’s 50th year. Entitled I could acknowledge them all; there will be only three or four Remember an Inspirational Educa- but as space is limited, I will meetings a year, and that you can tor, CRTA is collecting anecdotal highlight just two: launch them into a great ‘sec- stories about Calgary educators Sharleen Kapp and Doris ond’ career working for retired who, through their exemplary ser- Barber, Grade Seven teachers, teachers. Seven years later, both vice, inspired students and colleagues 1981. It was my second school of us are still engaged in ARTA during the past fifty years. as principal, and my first real pursuits, although I do not know I have to apologize, because I have experience with a high-needs what happened to the three- or not done my homework yet, but I community. It was so easy to four-meeting limit. have been thinking. There is a long echo the chorus, “These kids And finally, my dad, a small town list, and it’s hard to narrow down; can’t …!” However, these two doctor, but in his own way a phi- but here are some of the major teachers, in the early years of losopher and teacher, influenced impacts on my teaching and career: their careers, just assumed that my career as well. Again, many R.B. Walls, my first principal, their students would be suc- thoughts echo through my head. 1966. He was nine feet tall and cessful, and that was the only One thing that he taught me was a legend, and I was a humble outcome they would accept. With the greatest rubric for evalua- and uncertain beginning teacher. commitment, caring and expec- tion: “Is it worth the wear and tear “What do you teach?” “Math tation, they made a difference; on the chicken to lay the egg?” and Science, and I could do and they were rewarded, every When we look back on our careers, Social Studies.” And then came day by smiling eager faces and it is those people we worked with the thundering response … “In active learners.