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*Rates are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and vary by departure date. †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. Call for rates on additional departure dates and air fare from your gateway. 1Save $100 per person when you book Ireland’s Coastal Treasures or Italy’s Treasures by May 31, 2012 for travel until December 31, 2013. 2Save $500 per person when you book The Complete South Pacific by May 31, 2012 for travel until April 30, 2013. Offer can expire earlier today due to space or inventory availability. Space is on a first come, first served basis. Not valid on group or existing bookings. Travel Industry Council of Ontario Reg# 3206405; BC Reg# 23337 News & Views Contents Table of Volume 20 Number 3 Spring 2012 2 13 25 FEATURES Contest Winners #12 What Are We Who Is Eligible to and Contest #13 Doing Now? Join ARTA’s Plan? 6 Love Affair with a 3 15 26 Motorcycle Greetings From the ARTA Extended Health CRTA’s STEPPIN’ President Care Plan Options OUT 2012 5 17 Executive Director’s Autumn Report 21 27 Adventures The Power of Letters in Tuscany Planning, in Brief to the Editor 8 2012 ARTA 22 30 Wieners 20 Memorial The Importance of Aaahhh, Retirement! Golf Having a Properly Tournament Drafted Will 31 Scholarship Information 29 23 Improving Alberta’s 9 Membership/Marketing Seniors Care System In My Opinion Committee Branch Initiatives Grant (BIG) 32 GERTA’s 33 11 Second Is It Time for the Should You Plan to 24 Wind Average Person to Avoid Probate? In Memoriam Conference Speak Up?

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 summer issue is April 25, 2012. Assistant Editor: Vi Oko; Graphic Artist: Hazel Adair; Printing by Central Web, 16940 – 110 Avenue NW, Edmonton T5P 1G9

AR-ARTA-12e Contest Winners—Contest #12 News & Views Deadlines Jim Muldoon of Calgary was our lucky winner Summer issue: of Contest #12. He won the two Edmonton Oiler April 25, 2012 tickets. Thanks to Capital Printing and Forms who donated the prize. Fall issue: July 25, 2012 Winter issue: October 25, 2012 John Renfree from Edmonton took home 50th Anniversary issue: the $50.00 gas gift-certificate. Thank you to Johnson Inc. for providing this prize for ARTA. January 25, 2013 Your letters and ideas are welcome. Please ARTA is grateful to all the businesses that donate prizes for these send them to contests. We hope our readers enjoy entering the contests as much [email protected] as we do formulating them.

Contest #13—ARTA Sports Quiz

ARTA wants to make sure you are in the know. If you follow the two Alberta NHL hockey teams and the two Alberta Canadian Football League teams, some of that knowledge may help you to win a prize or two from ARTA. First prize is a one-night stay in the Sheraton Club Room at the Sheraton Red Deer Hotel. Second prize is a $50.00 Esso gasoline gift card donated by Johnson Inc. To win one of these great prizes, just correctly answer both questions below. If your entry is drawn first, you win the one-night stay at the Sheraton Red Deer Hotel. If your entry is drawn second, then you win the $50.00 gift card for gasoline. Only correct answers are eligible. Question 1: Daniel Mulloy—ARTA’s new Executive Director—has a two year-old son. What is his son’s first name? (Name must be spelled correctly.) Question 2: Which Edmonton Oiler recently racked up 11 points in two games in the 2012 season? (Name must be spelled correctly.) Send your answers to us at: Contest #13, ARTA, 11010 – 142 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5N 2R1 The contest officially closes at 1:00 p.m. on April 17, 2012. The contest is open to all ARTA members in good standing—regular and affiliate. Entries received after the closing date and time will not be consid- ered. Winners will be notified shortly after the closing date. Decision of the judges is final. Email entries are not considered. Names and photos of winners may be published in News & Views.

Question 1 answer: Question 2 answer:

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 2 News & Views Greetings From the President

Commit to Action

Gordon Cumming

As I sit at my desk pondering what too will be a retiree and a senior As active teachers, we developed to write to meet my submission one day, and we are advocating skills to think critically and present deadline, the temperature outside for your future. logically. We worked at being good listeners, while honing our skills as is hovering below minus twenty Political action is a primary focus effective questioners. We sought degrees. However, on the Alberta of your ARTA Strategic Planning out others, and became confident political scene, the fire’s been lit, Committee. As a non-partisan in our inter-personal relationships. and the mercury’s starting to rise. organization we do not recommend We were passionate about our With nomination meetings occur- parties or candidates, but rather causes and visionaries for a pre- ring every second day, and the seek out the significant issues as ferred future. Little did we know Premier announcing the return of advocates for our members, retir- that we were preparing ourselves the Legislature on February 7, and ees and seniors. In November we so well to be advocates and partici- the delivery of the budget two days had your board members (branch pants in the political arena. later, I think you will be reading presidents and committee chairs) this in the midst of the 2012 elec- participate in an advocacy and Some thoughts as you go out to be tion campaign, a campaign that lobbying workshop. On your behalf involved: will shape the Alberta agenda for we are corresponding with all of • Understand the power of one, the next four years. the political parties to get their and understand how it is magni- If your instinct is to ask, “What responses to issues that have rel- fied if we are all engaged; can I do to affect the outcome?” evance to ARTA members: • Remember that advocacy starts the answer is LOTS! So, with • Commitment to preserving the at home with friends, family and apologies to Helen Reddy, here is existing pharmaceutical sup- colleagues; my message to all candidates and ports for seniors; • Know the issues, and why they parties: • Improvement of access to afford- are significant to you; • Consolidate the thoughts you “WE ARE SENIORS, HEAR able assisted-living facilities; • Enhancement of long-term care want to present; US ROAR!” We are articulate • Be a presence at forums to sup- and involved. We study the issues resources; • Expansion of resources to make port positions you agree with; and understand the impacts. We • Over the short and long term, get involved in campaigns, influ- home care a viable option for our aging population; and establish and maintain a rela- ence our friends, families, and tionship with candidates; and neighbors, and WE VOTE! We • Implementation provincially of vote early, and twice as many a progressive as opposed to flat Realize that together, we make a of our age group vote com- tax. difference. pared to the turnout of under 35-year-olds. We will come to Remember, the spring 2013 issue will be a your constituency offices and town hall meetings to hold you 50th Anniversary issue. Send us your ideas! accountable. And remember, you

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 News & Views 3 Notice of Election of Two Members: IMPORTANT ARTA Benefit Trust Board of CONTACTS Trustees ARTA: Two trustee positions (3-year term) for the ARTA Benefit Trust Board of Trustees are up for election at the ARTA board meeting 780-822-2400 on May 23, 2012. Toll free: The responsibilities of trustees of the Benefit Trust include the 1-855-212-2400 following: email: • manage the trust fund investments; [email protected] • establish appropriate trust fund bank accounts; • hold insurance contracts and subsidize increased premiums News & Views: when appropriate; • report to the Board; (post to the ARTA • conduct an annual audit; address) • ensure submission of all required reports as scheduled. [email protected] Trustees should have the following characteristics: • trustworthiness; ATRF: • ability to maintain confidentiality; 780-451-4166 • ability to communicate effectively; • willingness to participate in educational opportunities related Toll free: to the role of the trustee or involving pertinent information 1-800-661-9582 related to that role; email: • willingness to commit time for preparation for meetings; [email protected] • willingness to make the affairs of the Trust a high priority. Any or all of the following characteristics would also be an asset CPP & OAS Benefits: to the Board of Trustees: Toll free: • understanding of the financial audit process; 1-800-277-9914 • knowledge of the ARTA Health and Wellness Benefit Plan, investments, insurance, and risk management; • knowledge of bylaws, policies and legislation pertinent to the Trust; Johnson Inc. • experience as a director or trustee of a moderate to large Service: organization. 1-877-221-2127 Interested ARTA members or nominees of ARTA branches are Home and Auto: invited to submit resumes to: 1-888-739-1209 Marlene Reddekopp, ARTA Past President c/o ARTA Office 409, 11010–142 Street Pension deposit dates: Edmonton, AB T5N 2R1 (Third last business day or email her at: [email protected] of the month; early at Note: In May, first notice will be given for those interested in Christmas) assuming positions on any of ARTA’s standing committees. The March 28 April 26 Nominating Committee is establishing a roster of ARTA members May 29 June 27 interested in becoming potential committee nominees. (Committee July 27 August 29 profiles can be found in the policy section of the website. The elec- tion takes place at the AGM in October.) If you are interested, Sept. 26 Oct. 29 submit your name and profile to the address or email above. Nov. 28 Dec. 20

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 4 News & Views Executive Director’s Report

Something More Daniel Mulloy

A vision is not just a picture of These goals will give the asso- planning is another. The 2012 ARTA what could be; it is an appeal ciation and its staff their ‘marching retreat will address short-term and to our better selves, a call to orders’ and will allow us to align long-term strategic planning, while become something more. our resources to best deliver on the improving communications will be promise of ARTA’s vision. —Rosabeth Moss Kanter an on-going ever-evolving effort. As we answer the call to ‘become Initiatives aimed at improving our “A call to become something more” something more,’ we are ever ability to communicate with our … that is a very exciting challenge, mindful of the association’s core members and potential members one that ARTA is looking forward requirements. The staff of ARTA have already begun. One of the to. But how does one answer the and Johnson Inc. are focused on initiatives of greatest importance call to become something more delivering exceptional service to is the re-design of the ARTA web- than it already is? The answer to our members. In order to ensure site. Improving the design and that question will be discussed at that we continue to deliver excep- content of the website will make the 2012 ARTA Strategic Planning tional service, we will continue to information readily available while Retreat. ARTA visionaries will focus on some key objectives that helping to tell the ARTA story. scrutinize the organization, define will allow us to be great. Redesign is currently underway. its vision and mission, and establish We hope to launch the new and goals for the next three years that As outlined in my last report, we improved ARTA website this spring. will challenge ARTA members and will be paying special attention to staff to indeed ‘become something key aspects of our operation as we 2012 is promising to be a very more.’ This process will bring unity grow and develop as an organiza- exciting year. I look forward to the of purpose to all of ARTA’s activi- tion. Improving communications is hard work, camaraderie and chal- ties and will help set measurable one of these key areas of focus, and lenge that ‘becoming something goals to ensure that we deliver. short-term and long-term strategic more’ will surely bring.

ARTA is turning 50 In 2013, ARTA will be celebrating its 50th anniversary, and we are interested in hearing from you. Please send us your thoughts and ideas on events that would make this anniversary a memorable one!

Contact us with your ideas at [email protected]

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 News & Views 5 Love Affair with a

By Neil Evans

Neil Evans retired from a career landscape, quite different from the from San Francisco to Vancouver as a teacher and administrator sense of isolation experienced in a on a regular bicycle, we dis­covered with Edmonton Public Schools. car. Riding a motorcycle actually that we shared many of the same He is a photographer, an avid produces a little adrenalin rush experiences and sensations, the motorcycle enthusiast and a stout that makes the ride an appeal to main differences being that he advocate for both the environment the senses. Safe riding requires had to exert a great deal of physi- and the CBC. more focus, more attention and cal effort and experienced the more alertness, and this translates ride in slow motion. Nonetheless, to a more intense experience while we shared the sense of being For more than twenty years I have travelling. A motorcycle rider feels connected to the surrounding enjoyed countless hours, days and the temperature changes from environment. weeks of a kind of pleasure that changing altitude, the freshness of The joyful riding I am referring to is very special. I ride across the the air after a shower, and, on warm does not include riding on four- or western USA and western Canada days, the special pleasure warm six-lane expressways or freeways. by motorcycle and have probably moving air brings as it washes over That type of riding requires that ridden more than 200,000 kilo- the body. A higher level of aware- the rider’s focus be on the road and metres. This travel has taken me ness also means feeling every the traffic. I am referring to trav- across every type of terrain imag- bump, vibration and movement of elling on the roads less travelled: inable, given me special access to the bike, in the moment. the visual wonders of awesomely the two-lane secondary roads that beautiful landscapes, and has The bike that I ride, a Honda are often winding and curvy, and allowed me to experience a sense Goldwing, is designed to reduce have little traffic. It is on these of joy simply not available in an wind noise and the pressure of roads that the joy of motorcycling automobile. wind on the face and body, which in is best experienced. The point is turn allows the rider’s mind to not speed. I have a bike that is Riding a motorcycle means that pay attention to everything else. capable of very fast acceleration you are open to the air with unob- During a conversation at an Oregon and speeds in excess of 180 km per structed views of the surrounding Coast rest stop with a cyclist riding hour, but using those capabilities is

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 6 News & Views an experience foreign to me. The power and acceleration are use- ful for passing quickly and safely, but otherwise I tend to ride at moderate speeds, which allows me to pay attention not only to the road but also to the surround- ing landscape. Nevertheless, most motorcyclists love the exhilara- tion of speed, the sense of which is magnified on a bike, especially when leaning into a turn on a curvy road. There are even some riders who take pleasure from the sound and feel of the crash bars scraping the pavement. But that is not for me. Any motorcyclist will tell you that being a successful and safe rider depends on all the skills and ranges in Nevada’s Range and managing risks and moving toward awareness of being a good driver, Basin country, with practically no our shared destination. and that riding slowly in stop-and- signs of civilization for almost 500 A real benefit of motorcycling is go traffic often requires more kilometres. During one stop, as the willingness of complete strang- skill than riding fast on the open soon as I removed my helmet I was ers to talk to you. They are often road. Safe riding requires skill, struck by the silence. Complete and curious about where you are from, but it also requires maturity and absolute silence! With no signs of how long you’ve been on the road, judgment. That is why the over- any human presence aside from and where you are going. Some whelming majority of fatalities the road, away from flight routes, express envy with a suggestion that and accidents involve riders under with no traffic, no trees, no wind, it they, too, would prefer to see the 25 years old. Older riders tend to occurred to me that silence is actu- country by bike. exercise more caution and good ally something we virtually never sense which keeps them safer. My experience. The social aspects of motorcycling pleasure is based more on being in are interesting. There is a sense of Once I was riding at night on an community and brotherhood that tune with the road and the bike, empty highway across a flat plain making correct and safe judgments many riders enjoy. It often does not in central Oregon. The deeply black matter if you are riding a Goldwing about leaning into curves, and rid- sky was filled with more stars than ing with elegance and grace. or a loud Harley, whether you are can be imagined, the air was still dressed in a black leather jacket or We’re all aware of the stun- and warm, and I had a sense of not, young or old, male or female, ning, spectacular and beautiful being almost weightless, of being tattooed or not. Sharing and cama- mountain scenery of the Icefields part of the vast expanse of the raderie are not uncommon among Parkway connecting Lake Louise universe. There is satisfaction motorcyclists. and Jasper—but the road, the road and peace enjoyed in the solitude with its winding curves and its hills and emptiness of such times and There are probably as many rea- and valleys along with its beautiful places, but there is also a sense of sons for riding as there are riders, ranging from the thrill of speed views is almost the ultimate in the vulnerability, of facing some ele- on a bike to the satisfaction of joy of motorcycling. ment of risk in being alone in such a remote, isolated area. contributing substantially less I have travelled across Nevada on pollution during travel. For the a highway connecting a town in the I have often felt a sense of oneness entire community of motorcyclists centre of Nevada with Reno, some- with the bike, thought of it as my and bikers, however, there is one times referred to as the Loneliest best friend and companion, as the shared belief: it’s not reaching the Road in America. This road crosses two of us in unison work together, destination that is important, it is many desert valleys and mountain man and machine, in full harmony, the journey.

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 News & Views 7 2012 ARTA Memorial Golf Tournament Remembering Rod Throndson who passed away suddenly in August 2010 Monday, June 18, 2012 Sandpiper Golf & Country Club, St. Albert 6 km west of St. Albert at 26029 Meadowview Dr., Sturgeon County, AB Exit Anthony Henday Drive at Ray Gibbon Drive North www.countryclubtour.com, click on Sandpiper Golf Course Fee of $80.00 per participant includes: • 18 holes of golf • Texas Scramble • Power cart • Hole and Skill Prizes • Hole-In-One Major Prizes • BBQ Steak Dinner — Dinner only: $20.00 Registration Deadline: Friday, June 13, 2012 Early Bird Registration May 18 for cash prizes To register, download form from ARTA website www.albertarta.org or contact [email protected] Hotels: Special rates at the following hotels: (In all cases identify yourself as taking part in the ARTA Golf Tournament) St. Albert Inn & Suites, $110; 156 St. Albert Trail 780-459-5551 or [email protected] Chateau Louis Hotel, $114; 11727 Kingsway Ave., Edmonton 1-800-661-9843 (incl. breakfast) Executive Royal Inn, $114; 10010 - 178 St., 1-800-661-4879 Hampton Inn (Hilton), $121; 18304 - 100 Ave., Edmonton 780-484-7280 (incl. breakfast) Best Western Plus, $149.99; 460 St. Albert Trail, St. Albert 780-470-3800 (incl. breakfast) Kinsmen RV Park in St. Albert, 1-888-459-1724 or [email protected] Note: Hotel rates are for single occupancy—slightly more for double.

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 8 News & Views In My Opinion by Robin Carson

Finger Pointing

Robin Carson

It’s January 27th as I write this, and in ways that unemployment rates do North America of the 1950s, if I just threw out the editorial I had not report, since all jobs—be they one ignores the racism, nuclear planned. The reason I did that is that full-time or part-time—are reported brinksmanship, women barefoot and yesterday Prime Minister Harper as employment. The days of spending pregnant in the kitchen, and polio announced to world economic lead- one’s working life with one employer epidemics, was a pretty good time. ers in Davos, Switzerland at the with the benefits and pensions that People were employed, and business World Economic Forum that he and usually went with doing so are pretty seemed to understand the simple his government intend to make some much gone. The poor cannot pay tax, fact that if goods were to be sold, ‘necessary changes’ to the ‘retire- and whether the rich pay their share it was that very employment that ment income system’ and to other is a whole other subject; but as solid, provided the money needed to buy. social programs. He announced it to full-time middle-class jobs disappear, It was possible to work with one world economic leaders; he did not it’s plain that the taxes the middle- company for a lifetime, and then do so to the Canadian people. class have paid in the past just retire comfortably. The income from Moreover, his announcement came cannot be sustained. No wonder that a secure job permitted upgrading in Switzerland, not in Canada. The young people, frustrated in their job the icebox to a frost-free refrigera- Edmonton Journal reported this morn­ searches, balk at supporting seniors. tor, or buying a hugely expensive 21” ing that 67 may be the new 65 for The second problem is that most black and white TV to bring Jackie drawing the Old Age Security pension. Canadians are debt-ridden. According Gleason and Ed Sullivan into the There is no doubt that Canada’s to a Globe and Mail article on Decem­ home. Business understood the basic social programs are expensive. ber 13, 2011, one in ten Canadians lesson that before selling is pos- Conservatives call them ‘Ponzi spends 40% of their income servic- sible, there has to be the money to schemes,’ and that’s probably what ing their debt; and the ratio of debt purchase. Business didn’t give away they are. Ponzi schemes? Money to disposable income is a stunning money, but at least there was an gets returned to existing investors 150.8%. With so little disposable understanding that if the population from the money taken in from new income, Canadians look at the cost had no money, goods would not sell. investors. For something like a pen- of social programs; and with prag- The Great Depression taught that sion plan, that’s not necessarily a bad matism that outweighs a view toward lesson. thing provided that there is a steady social good, see tax savings as more Not that the 1950s was a golden age supply of new contributors who actu- money in their own pockets. for labour: it decidedly was not; but ally have the money to contribute. How did we get into this mess? The there was at least some understand- In the case of the OAS pension, story that you’re asked to believe is ing that people had to have money that contribution comes via taxes; that labour in general and unions in before they could spend it. That so there must be a solid tax base on particular have caused it. The cost of understanding was lost when busi- which to rest the program. labour has caused the moving of blue- ness began to ship jobs to a global The problem is that the tax base has collar jobs out of Canada and the US, market in which minimum wage been eroded in two notable ways. so the story goes. There is probably a and child labour laws are optional. The first one is that the middle class, shred of truth to that, but it is more on whose backs taxes have generally likely it is the jaw-dropping greed of rested, is being eroded at an alarming business since the Reagan era that Finger Pointing… rate. Full-time jobs are disappearing has ruined Canadian and US markets. continued on page 23

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 News & Views 9 ARTA Is Going To Be 50 Years Young: Let’s Celebrate! After some months of informal communications and meetings, ARTA was officially organized in 1963. Representatives from the Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge retired-teacher groups decided that a pro- vincial organization would have a better chance of influencing teacher pension decisions than smaller regional groups. WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY FROM THERE! All Alberta retired teachers, ARTA members, ARTA branches and ARTA committees are encouraged to suggest and/or sponsor projects or events that could become part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. Communicate all suggestions to the ARTA office. The 50th Anniversary Committee will consider all sug- gestions. Stay tuned for updates. As plans are developed and approved by the ARTA Board of Directors, they will be posted in upcoming issues of News & Views and on the ARTA website. Dean McMullen, Chair, ARTA 50th Anniversary Committee

ARTA Benefit Plans: Question & Answer Quiz Congratulations to the winners of the ARTA Benefit Plan Question & Answer quiz. Below are the winners, prizes and correct answers, as well as two new questions. Contest Winners

Winner #1: Congratulations to John Takahashi of Winner #2: Congratulations to Eric Hohn of Edmonton, who answered the following Benefit Plan Camrose, who answered the following auto question correctly and won a Johnson Inc. travel mug. insurance question correctly and won a pen Benefit Plan Question: What eligibility criteria pres- and pencil set from Johnson Inc. ently apply to ARTA members with respect to the ARTA Auto Insurance Question: What roadside Health and Wellness Benefit Plan for retirees in the assistance is covered under ARTA’s auto insur- education sector? ance with Johnson Inc.? You must be With Johnson Inc. auto insurance, you can add • A regular or affiliate member of ARTA (or be a sur- emergency roadside assistance protection. viving spouse of a member); Three of the eight services are as follows: • A permanent Canadian resident; • Emergency roadside services are available • Covered by provincial or territorial medicare; if the vehicle breaks down, has a dead bat- • Covered by provincial drug coverage (You must apply tery, or requires fuel. for the Alberta Seniors Drug Plan at age 65.); and • Emergency Locked-Out Service. If keys are • Covered for extended health care/emergency medical locked in the car, Johnson will provide for travel within 60 days of losing employer sponsored opening the vehicle or towing if necessary. group coverage. (Late entrants must submit evidence • Emergency winch towing service for when of good health and coverage may be declined.) the vehicle is stuck.

New questions for the spring issue draw prize (answers to be published in next issue). Benefit Plan: What paramedical coverage is available to ARTA members with respect to the ARTA Health & Wellness Benefit Plan for Retirees? Home-Auto Insurance: Where and in what year was Johnson Inc. first established? Please send your answers, by mail only, to the ARTA office by March 30, 2012: ARTA Benefits Contest, 409, 11010 142 Street N.W. Edmonton, AB T5N 2R1

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 10 News & Views Lynne Butler, BA, LLB is a senior Will and Estate Planner for Scotiabank, with an extensive background in elder law in Alberta. Her blog is at www.estatelaw.com.

Should You Plan to

Lynne Butler Avoid Probate?

One of the questions that I am about what you are prepared to In the last few years Canadian asked on a regular basis is how do to save this sum. It is essential courts have thrown another to avoid probate. The concept that you understand and weigh the wrinkle into the situation. Let us of avoiding probate is raised in risks of any steps you take. Are you assume that Mr. and Mrs. Williams magazines, newspapers and blogs really saving $400 by putting your pass away and Joe is the surviv- all over Canada and it is usually property into joint names with your ing joint owner. Until recently, it promoted as something we should children? While having property was clear that Joe would inherit all try to do. The reason given for in joint names between husband the house under the usual law of avoiding probate is that probate and wife is usually a good idea, I property. Now, however, a home fees can be high. The usual advice almost never advise putting it in owned jointly between a parent is to put property into joint names joint names with your children. and a child must be held in trust (usually with your children) to cir- Consider the case where Mr. and for the parent’s estate until it is cumvent the probate process. Mrs. Williams put their home in determined whether or not it was a true joint tenancy. But is this really a good idea? This joint names with their son, Joe. is where people need to stop and They do this only to avoid probate A true joint tenancy is one in which consider the facts. at some future time. They plan to the parent intended for the child to divide their estate equally among inherit the home. It is not a true Probate is a court process that all of their children. A few years joint tenancy if the house was only validates a will and confirms an later, Joe gets divorced from his put into the child’s name to avoid executor appointment. It gives wife. Legally, he is just as much an probate and the home is intended an executor a court order that owner of Mr. and Mrs. Williams’ to be divided among other benefi- indemnifies those who follow it home as they are, because they ciaries. As you can imagine, all of properly. In Alberta, our probate are all joint owners. Now they risk these complications are enough to court fees are among the lowest in losing their home and tens of thou- make anyone wish they had left the country. The most your probate sands of dollars in equity because well enough alone and not tried to fee can be is $400, no matter how they tried to avoid paying a $400 avoid the $400. many millions of dollars are in your court fee. estate. If you are reading articles The same rules hold true for any that say that probate fees will run Their home could also be at risk joint assets, such as bank accounts into the tens of thousands of dol- if Joe’s business failed and he and investments that are held lars, the article is probably written had given a personal guarantee between a parent and a child. They in Ontario or British Columbia, for his financing, or if Joe had a too are held in trust for the estate. where probate fees are a percent- car accident where the liability exceeded his insurance. And even Unfortunately, quite a few people age of the estate and are, in fact, if none of those things happened, have already taken the step of very high. Joe would be able to prevent Mr. adding a child—or worse, several Having established that in Alberta and Mrs. Williams from selling or children—to the title of their the number you are working to mortgaging their home without his home without getting one-on-one avoid is $400, you need to think signature. legal advice about how they might

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 News & Views 11 be affected. I do not mean to say a way that will stand up legally in Before putting your assets—either there is never a good reason for your estate. real estate or investments—into putting assets in joint names with joint names with your children, children, but, in my opinion, if it In the case of Mr. and Mrs. find out the facts and the risks is done solely to avoid probate, it Williams, they have risked an asset by talking it over with an experi- may not be the best solution when worth close to half a million dol- enced estate-planning lawyer. The balanced against the risk and the lars in an attempt to save $400. whole idea behind estate planning complications. When there are And worst of all, they have chosen is to set things up so that they legitimate reasons for placing your a method that probably would not run smoothly and give you peace assets in joint names with your work anyway, even if none of the of mind, and putting joint names child, an estate-planning lawyer risks materialized during their on your assets may do just the can help make sure it is done in lives. opposite.

ARTA Update Johnson Inc. Home and Auto Records Contest Insurance Contest

1st place winner—$300.00 Below are the names of the lucky ARTA members who requested Mae MacDonald a home or auto quote from Johnson Inc., and whose name was entered in our recent contest. Congratulations to our winners. “Hello all ARTA The lucky winner of the iPad is Fred Klapstein from Edmonton. friends. The lucky winner of the digital frame is Len Tannas, also of I entered Edmonton. a few contests If you did not win, do not despair. ARTA will be running another with ARTA. contest with a Canon Power Shot digital camera as a prize. Your What a pleasant surprise to name could be listed as one of our many winners. win. Thank you.” —Mae MacDonald

2nd place winner—$200.00 We did have a winner, or rather, we had a name, an email address and a phone number. The phone number was disconnected; the emails bounced back, so we could not contact the person. The prize money goes back in the pot for next year.

3rd place winner—$100.00 Darrold Quartly

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 12 News & Views What Are We Doing Now?

Retirement is a time to do what we want, when we want, if we want. My column is designed to share with you stories of how retired teachers are doing just that. —Marilyn Bossert Marilyn Bossert

We retired teachers all have a Lots of good advice leads to a them snap on readers’ fingers? story to tell, but very few of us will rewrite, followed by workshops and Another great session telling me to ever become published authors. seminars and more rewrites. eliminate ‘ly’ words. ‘Find and Darlene Jones shares the frustra- Replace’ works well for this one. Many presenters refer to ‘publish- tions and hard work that go along Oh, and dialogue tags. Use ‘said’ ing credits’ and urge publication of with her dream. Now it has all paid and ‘asked’ and nothing else. short stories. I dutifully give that off. Her first novel, Embattled, has Another rewrite. a try and have a few pieces pub- finally been published! lished, but my heart isn’t in it. I set Now to query agents. Surrey ses- Retire and travel? Sure. A safari up a blog of short bits that friends sion #1—query letter should be sounded good—and it was. Retire and family seem to enjoy reading, no more than fifty words in this and play with my granddaughter? but really it’s a novel I want to have format. Surrey session #2—query Turns out to be the best job I have published. letter should be three paragraphs ever had. Retire and read? Of including x, y, and z. Surrey session course! But what I really wanted Then I attend the Surrey Inter- national Writers Conference— #3—everything you researched on to do is write. And I have. What the Internet about query letters is prompted this frenzy of activity? great session telling me to put tension on every page. Maybe if I wrong: do it this way. I go home, try Ages ago, I lived in Mali. Every stretch several elastics and let to make sense of the advice, send moment of every day, I wished… out queries, receive rejections, and Hey! There’s an idea. I could write build up a thick skin. a book about the Mali those won- Determined, I go to Surrey again derful citizens deserved, a story the following year. I get my ten about waving a magic wand to minutes with three different make it so. Of course, I would have New York agents and come out to throw in a little (or a lot) of hot with their cards clutched in my sex and romance too. Maybe a fight hand, rush home and submit the or three, a little sci-fi time-travel requested material. This frenzy stuff, or a fairy godmother, or… of activity is rewarded with more The possibilities seemed endless. rejections. And so it begins. I hunch over my I hunch over the computer writing computer keyboard writing. I join and rewriting. By this time I’ve the Writers’ Guild, attend meet- completed three novels and have a ings, and work with a critiquing start on a fourth. I send out queries group. At last—a completed novel. for books two and three. The pile Now what? Professional feedback of rejection letters grows. I shred seems like a good idea, so I pay them all and decide on another a chunk of change to a published conference. My books deserve a author for a manuscript evaluation. reading audience.

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 News & Views 13 years! “Publish yourself,” she says. My book is now out and the first “It’ll take you a couple of months.” question everyone invariably asks is, “What’s it about?” We agonize during the drive home. Self-publish? Oh, but the stigma. “Um… er… it’s…” Who knew Our pitches were successful, so defining your work would be harder should we wait to hear from those than writing it? “Well, it’s not a agents and then decide? What to thriller, or a mystery, or a bodice do? What to do? ripping romance.” Response from agent number “Adventure? Historical? Vampires? one—rejection. But, hey she’s Monsters? Paranormal stuff?” actually given some feedback. “No.” How to describe it? I take Two whole paragraphs. This could a deep breath and plunge in. “It’s be good. Nope! Her comments the story of a woman whose life is indicate a rewrite is needed. My taken over….” heart might be found somewhere At the Willamette Writers under my desk chair, or maybe in Frowns. I’m not making sense so for Conference we hear much rumbling the sub-basement of my building. I the men, I say, sci-fi adventure and about self-publishing. We’re told open the next email which is from for the women I say love story. I’m that the Big Six are now publishing my writing buddy. She’s received right on both counts. Now I can only only 55% of the books available to a rejection from the same agent. hope they’ll be curious enough to buy readers. Advances are miniscule or Two different genres and two it and that I’ve written it well enough non-existent. Marketing? Forget very different writing styles. Both that they’ll like it, want to buy the it. It’s do it yourself. And, says one professionally copy-edited. Here’s whole series, and will tell all their speaker, “I pitched my author’s where the cake is iced. The rejec- friends about it. After all, word of novel to thirty-five publishers tions are identical except for our mouth is an author’s best friend. before we got a sale. That was names. followed by a year of rewrites.” I Website: www.emandyves.com groan. “His book is out next week. Stigma be damned. Self-publishing Blog: http://emandyves.wordpress. It’s been a two-year process.” Two here we come. com

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 14 News & Views Why Does ARTA Offer Benefit Options? ARTA offers one of the most unique voluntary insurance plans for retirees, with an increasing range of options to meet the evolving needs of members. Through a wide range of insurance plan offerings, members can experience more peace of mind by insuring their specific financial risks such as medical expenses due to illness, property damage, premature death or loss of independence. ARTA Plans offer coverage that includes extended health care, emergency medical travel, trip cancellation, dental care, long-term care, permanent and term life insurance, and home and auto insurance. ARTA’s most popular plan is Extended Health Care (EHC) with Travel, which has been in effect since 1995. Emergency medical travel and drug coverage are the two most valued benefits according to member surveys conducted by Johnson Inc. Over time, more options have been introduced to the Extended Health Care plan to meet the evolving needs of members and the increasingly complex health-care environment. For example, requests for higher maximums on other coverage led to the introduction of an Enhanced Option in September 2010. Enhanced Plan coverage builds on the core basic EHC plan coverage.

What Are the ARTA Extended Health Care Plan Options? The table below summarizes the current list of EHC options, and when they can be changed:

Coverage Emergency Medical Travel and Prescription Drug Other Coverage Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage Option EHC can be applied for with or Annual maximum options Core Plan Option or without Travel. $1,200 or $2,000 per Enhanced Plan Option insured. Changing If you choose EHC without An insured person A Core Plan member can Options Travel coverage and apply for under the $2,000 drug change to the Enhanced Travel at a later date, you must maximum option can Plan at any time. provide evidence of good health. lower the maximum to An Enhanced Plan member $1,200 after 24 months can opt out of that option from the effective date. (into the Core Plan Option) after 24 months from the effective date.

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 News & Views 15 Coverage Out-of-Province/ Direct pay drug card Enhanced Plan Upgrades: Highlights Out-of-Country Travel: reimbursement of 80% 1. Paramedical: $700 100% coverage for sudden and of medically necessary combined maximum unforeseen eligible Emergency drugs, which legally for chiropractor, Medical Travel expenses: up require a prescription and physiotherapist, athletic to a lifetime maximum of are approved by Health therapist, and massage $2,000,000 per insured person Canada, or the provincial therapist health ministry. Multiple trips: up to 62 days (Core max. is $600) duration each When you enrol in EHC, 2. Vision Care $500 every you must select a drug Hospital accommodations and two calendar years maximum of $1,200 or physicians’ services (Core is $400) $2,000. Private duty nursing ($5000 3. Hearing Aids $800 every If you initially select per year) three calendar years the $1,200 option you (Core is $600) Drugs/Diagnostics/Aids/ may increase the drug Appliances maximum option to 4. Lifestyle Prescription Accidental Dental ($1000) $2,000; however, you Drugs (Hair loss and ED) must then remain in the 50% coinsurance to a Paramedical Services $150 annual maximum (3@$225) $2,000 option for 24 months from the effective (Core N/A) Emergency Transportation date. Vehicle Return Return of Dependents Repatriation of Deceased Travel Trip Cancellation ARTA’s Plan pays 80% All other Core and (before departure) of drugs not covered by Enhanced coverage is and the provincial seniors identical: drug plan formulary plus Trip Interruption Direct Pay Drugs (after departure): 80% of the net out-of- Accidental Dental ($1000) pocket expenses for drugs Medical Aids and Appliances Eligible expenses up to $6,000 that are covered by the per insured per trip provincial formulary, up 7 other paramedical to the plan maximum practitioners ($225 each) option. Prescribed Health Education Hospital ($100 / day) Home Care (10 days at $50) Best Doctors

Please Note: 1. Your provincial government is first payer for health expenses. All supplementary insurance polices require your provincial plan coverage to be in place. 2. You must apply for the Alberta Seniors’ Drug Plan at age 65. 3. Please refer to the Certificate of Insurance located on the website www.johnson.ca/arta for complete details on coverage, definitions and limitations or exclusions. 4. Apply for EHC within 60 days of losing your existing employer group coverage to avoid having to submit medical evidence for eligibility. After 60 days, EHC and other Travel applications require medical evidence of insurability, and you may be declined coverage.

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 20, No. 3 16 News & Views

Tuscany By Steve Burger

Steve Burger, who recently retired, produce some of the finest wines winding streets that all eventu- taught photography, video produc- in the world—all beckoned to us. ally seemed to lead to the central tion and commercial art for many Piazza del Campo. We had two general strategies for years. He is currently working on a accommodation—move to a new Our first afternoon was spent number of video, photography and location every day or two, or stay sitting in the sun of the piazza, sip- art projects. in one place for several days or a ping chilled Orvieto while watching week and do day trips. We chose locals and tourists meander and My wife Marie and I were excited the latter. Since we had travelled visit. For a full meal we found less about planning an extended vaca- to Athens and Rome already with expensive restaurants a few streets tion in Europe with friends. We Venice still to come, we wanted to away from the main piazza. made numerous trips to the library have a rural experience with day for books and DVDs. The search After two days of exploring Siena, trips by car. continued on the Internet. The we rented a car and arranged to Tuscany region of Italy persisted After sightseeing in Rome, we left drop it off in Florence the next week. as part of our travel plans with its by high-speed train to Siena, a city We have a few tips about driving in picturesque hilltop towns, rolling of nearly sixty thousand. There was Italy. Have a good map and a co- countryside, a rich artistic and cul- convenient city bus service from pilot who can read the maps and tural heritage and, of course, the the train station to our hotel. The road signs while the driver focuses seemingly endless vineyards that old city boasted a maze of narrow, on the road. The A1 and other

The Gold Bridge on the Arno River, Florence

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 20, No. 3 News & Views 17 Clock Tower, Siena

Open Field, Rural Tuscany

­freeways are straight, fast and busy Gimignano and Monteriggioni. filled with locals shopping and vis- but there is not much sightseeing, The undulating landscape was a iting. Travelling in autumn meant especially for the driver. To really patchwork of grape vineyards, many of the shops and boutiques experience the Tuscan countryside olive groves, cultivated fields and were a bargain hunter’s dream. you must take the secondary roads tangled woodlands. Wherever we San Gimignano, also known as the which crisscross rural Tuscany like turned there were ancient stone Manhattan of Tuscany, has about a a plate of spilled spaghetti. The buildings or ruins that marked the dozen tall stone towers standing roads we travelled were usually long association of people with this high above the town. This striking well paved with not much traffic, at fertile land. Roads wound through skyline is a constant attraction least in October. Our car seldom open fields topped by crumbling for tourists. Parking was a chal- got above third gear, but the sight- stone farmyards. The haze of lenge, but as soon as we began to seeing was superb. smoke rising up between the hills walk through the narrow streets We eventually arrived in Pergine from burning old stalks and vines of the old city, we were swept up Valdarno. The apartment we and the morning mist provided in the exploration of this unique booked was a renovated stone many vistas of picture-perfect land- architecture. building situated in the town scapes. Language was sometimes Another hidden gem was the square. It had many original fea- a barrier but smiling and gesturing medieval town of Monteriggioni. tures including a stone sink from enabled us a rudimentary form of This small town, bypassed by the the early 1700’s in the kitchen. In communication. Everyone we met bustling growth and change of the its stone walls we could see where in the tourist industry had a work- ensuing centuries, remains com- doors had been resized and win- ing knowledge of English. pletely contained by its original dows filled in over the centuries. A The morning we went to Radda stone walls. The fortified walls huge stone fireplace with an open in Chianti, the leaves were a rich, there are surrounded by vineyards hearth dominated the living room. luminous yellow set against a and olive groves. There are ample Our main day trips in Tuscany backdrop of evergreen and cypress. parking lots for the waves of tour- included Radda in Chianti, San Restaurants and markets were ists who come during the peak

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 18 News & Views season to see the re-enactment of sights could keep a tourist busy door so you can check prices and medieval life and jousting tourna- for a month. If you go, you must menu selections before you go in. ments in this quaint town. Going in check the hundreds of books about Each item on the menu is listed October was a real bonus since the Florence to make up your own list and priced separately. Thankfully parking lot was almost empty. of must-see stops. You will not be some establishments have tourist menus with combination plates so Our final stop in Tuscany was able to see everything, so take the we could try several selections. Florence. Unfortunately, we chose time to enjoy seeing your favorites. to drop the car at the city cen- We had several must-see sites. Italy, and specifically the Tuscany tre and ran into problems with As we are art lovers, the Uffizi region were a rewarding travel bumper-to-bumper traffic, clogged Gallery, home to one of the world’s experience. If you want to avoid the one-way streets, construction and great collections of Renaissance crowds and heat of summer, fall is no parking anywhere. It was sur- and pre-Renaissance art, was a an ideal time to go there. With our prising what we saw when we were must. It is important to order gal- backpacks and suitcases in tow we lost! Looking back, the airport lery entrance tickets ahead of time said good-bye to this portion of our drop-off would have been easier on to avoid standing in long lines for trip and caught the train for our the nerves. hours, especially in peak seasons. next leg of the journey—Venice, The Duomo and Baptistry are also the city with streets of water. Florence, the largest and most wonderful stops. If you have the important city in Tuscany, has an energy to climb a lot of stairs, buy To see a partial resource list international airport as well as bus a ticket for the top of the Duomo. used to prepare for our extended and rail connections to the rest of The view of the city is stunning. trip, additional photos and video Italy. The Arno River, spanned by or to contact the author with numerous bridges, runs through the There are great restaurants questions go to: http://web.me. middle of this beautifully preserved tucked away everywhere. Most com/parableworks/parableworks/ Renaissance city. The shopping and have menus on a stand at the front Welcome.html.

Hills of Tuscany, Early Morning

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 News & Views 19 Aaahhh, Retirement! By Juanita Knight Vice President, ARTA

The Baby Boomers are turning to create and develop a new retire- ­cultivate and nourish friendships to 65 this year but frequently retir- ment structure to replace what enlarge your identity beyond your ing at about age 58. They are you have spent a lifetime at? How professional life. also known to be self-satisfied, will you adapt to being ‘underfoot’ indulgent parents, spendthrifts, or recast division of responsibility Understanding Ourselves and tree-huggers. They are prob- at home when you are there all ably consulting, working part-time day? To better understand us, Dr. A. K. (when it’s convenient), travelling a Pradeep, in The Buying Brain, Once you have made your decision lot, and are the backbone of com- discovered through neurological to retire, it often triggers some munity volunteer organizations, testing by attaching EEG sensors to poignant questions. Here you are perhaps as the newly elected chair the head, that as we age there are at 60, and what have you accom- of a charitable foundation. some cognitive and pathological plished? How do you reconcile the declines in our brains. On the other By and large, Baby Boomers have unrealized or unfinished goals of hand, as healthy, ‘normal’ adults we planned ahead and met financial your life, and are they still feasible? manage our emotions differently goals, bought new cars, updated How do you handle the feeling that from our younger peers. We have the appliances, made the renova- you are beyond your ‘best before better control over our negative tions to the house, reshingled the date’ or the indifference, ageism emotions and tend to accentuate roof and, for the most part, met and disdain that the working world the positive: mostly when it is not material goals. may have towards your retire- directly affecting us. ment? How much of your sense of Retirement Planning self revolved around the challenges Older people have greater emo- and satisfactions of your job? tional resilience, tend to not ‘sweat When should you start? By 50 is Feelings of insignificance, grief, the small stuff,’ and pick up on good says John Osborne, in The loss, disorientation and depression subtle nuanced messages and give Psychology of Retirement. Being are not uncommon. Aging is a nor- them thoughtful consideration. engaged in purpose and activity mal process not a disease. In general, retirees have broader that has meaning in your life is attention spans. key to a satisfying retirement. As drastic changes are unlikely to Future Considerations Scientific neurological evidence supports the theory that by occur in how you see the world, Moving to the location of your remaining physically and mentally your lifestyle foundation, physical dreams may seem like a good active we are able to hone and and psychological realities, your idea. Would you prefer to live in a maintain much of our cognitive skills and experience will be help- homogeneous community or in a ability. Sometimes we have trouble ful. Retirement is the continuation cross-section of society? Finding retrieving tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) of our lived experience and not a a new doctor and health care in a facts. Such moments are com- separate chapter in our life story. new location may be a challenge. pletely normal and can be helped Jules Willing, in The Reality of How can it be much different than by mnemonic taglines and triggers. Retirement suggests that although your work life? Well, as it turns In trade, we get a more positive new friends may have a similar out, plenty! attitude. background, you have no shared work life, community or history. Now that it is our turn, life will be Some Challenges Are you prepared to put the effort different! Think of retirement as How will you deal with leaving into building such new friendships? the starting point for the rest of your school and work-life in order He suggests you start now to your life.

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 20 News & Views The Power of Planning, in Brief By Juanita Knight

A 2011 publication by HSBC “The living arrangements. Perceived similar experience to their parents Future of Retirement: The Power retirement changes reflectwith their own retirement. of Planning” reported that while the demographic changes, the The recent financial crisis has there will be four people of work- recent economic developments, irrevocably changed the face ing age for every person over 65 and the post-financial crisis. and expectations of retirement. in 2012, by 2060 there will be 2. Funding for retirement and the Traditional retirement, with its just two people working for every continued shortfall in retire- ‘freedom’ of early retirement, giv- person over 65. This trend in the ment savings has changed. The ing up working completely at 60 demographics is and will continue global economic downturn and or earlier and enjoying financial to be one of the major challenges need for immediate day-to-day security funded by a state pension facing world economies. funds has undermined efforts to and an employer-sponsored pen- HSBC, one of the world’s largest save for retirement. sion, is increasingly not possible. banking and financial services 3. Households benefit by planning In Greece, state pensions currently organizations, conducts an annual for their retirement through replace up to 90% of working-age global study on the future of greater personal responsibility. incomes. The ‘intergenerational retirement. The trend of increasing Of those surveyed, 41% felt that to contract,’ that each generation of longevity of the world’s population some extent they were underpre- workers and retirees should not be is necessitating concerted efforts pared for retirement, while 64% worse off than the one which pre- to find solutions by governments, admitted to being concerned that ceded it, now seems to be broken employers, financial institutions, they would not to be able to cope in the industrialized countries. families and each one of us. financially in retirement. Women So what to do? Who will provide The bank interviewed 17,000 between 50 and 60 are likely to the retirement funds in the future? ‘financial trendsetters’ of working experience the greatest challenges in funding retirement. One in five All retirees are concerned with age, mostly between 30 and 60, retirement income, long-term who tend to be more educated didn’t know what their main source of income would be in retirement. health care and wealth transfer than average, live in urban areas (for wealthier retirees). and have greater access to the Reality seems to dawn in our 50s. Those who sought financial plan- Internet. They were interviewed On a positive note, younger women ning advice and acted on it (40%) in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, are becoming more engaged in will likely amass two-and-a-half China, France, Hong Kong, India, their retirement planning. Those times as much in their retirement Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Saudi who seek and act on professional savings as non-planners. They also Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, financial advice amass greater lev- feel more confident about later Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, els of financial wealth. United Kingdom and the United life, and worry less about coping States. The interviews revealed Retirement is being seen as a new financially in retirement. However, that those in emerging economies chapter in life. Images associated where couples share the financial tend to share the same attitudes with semi-retirement today are decision-making process, they are and behaviors as those in the devel- freedom, happiness, satisfaction, more likely to procrastinate. Of oping world, including attitudes opportunity, wisdom, wealth, hope couples who make household deci- towards retirement planning. and excitement. On the downside, sions together, 40% do not act on retirees were concerned with dis- professional advice, compared to A number of themes emerged. crimination, loss of memory, fear, nearly half of single decision- 1. Perceptions of retirement are loneliness, boredom, poor health and, maker households. Younger men are changing and what it means for overwhelmingly, financial hardship. becoming more financially engaged working patterns, leisure and Few respondents expect to have a as a result of Internet research.

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 News & Views 21 as Financial planning has the power for the new chapter in your life? well as covering those of any to improve our well-being in retire- 1. Establish some short- and long- family members who rely on you. ment. Those who are planners term goals. Younger people and 4. Implement the plan. Changing and act on their plan are likely to families should pay off debts or enjoy greater freedom, happiness, consider their protection insur- less costly than you think. Small satisfaction, opportunity, wisdom, ance needs. changes can make a big differ- wealth, hope and excitement. ence over the long term. Beware 2. Benchmark yourself. Are you on Adapted with permission from of procrastination! track to meet your goals? How “The Future of Retirement: The 5. Review your plan. Your plan needs do you compare with your peers? Power Of Planning,” published in will change with each important Typically, people should be sav- 2011 by HSBC Insurance Holdings life-event. Set a target date ing around 12–15% of their Limited, London. income in retirement funds. each year to review your 3. - - Reports from previous years are avail- cial plan. This plan will need to able at www.hsbc.com/retirement.

Will By Paul R. Foisy, Barrister and Solicitor

T not to leave your entire estate pri- events. Now the will is no longer of law when the topic of wills comes marily to your spouse. We eagerly revoked. up, I am surprised to learn that many, await the results of further discus- Under old legislation, the Intestate if not most, of my clients have never sion that our government is currently Succession Act applied when people taken the time to properly instruct a having in this regard. died without a will. There was a chain lawyer to have a proper will drawn Did you know that if you and your of distribution wherein an estate up. It is true that nobody likes to spouse died in a common disaster would be shared between spouse and focus on death, but avoiding proper wherein the order of death could not children. Now, everything goes to a planning for the inevitable can lead be determined, it used to be the case surviving spouse. to unwanted consequences after you that the older of the two was deemed pass away. to have predeceased the younger? There are many other important changes that will take effect with First, in Alberta new legislation The effect was that the older the new legislation, and there has came into effect on February 1. person’s estate would pass to the never been a more important time The new Wills and Succession Act younger spouse and the provisions of to consult with a lawyer practicing is a very important new law which that younger spouse’s will then took effect. Now, if the order of death in this ever-expanding area of law to ensure that your intentions will be pieces of legislation that can affect cannot be determined, each spouse respected upon your death. your estate and how it is distributed. is deemed to have predeceased the One of the most important sections other, which changes the net dis- of this new legislation has been sus- tribution of assets according to the pended pending further discussions, wills of the deceased parties. Paul R. Foisy is a partner at but there is a distinct possibility that A very important change to note is Nickerson Roberts Holinski & if this section comes into force, it that formerly, marriage or entering will dramatically change a spouse’s into an adult interdependent rela- [email protected] potential entitlement to your estate tionship would have the effect of Telephone: 780-428-0041 if, for whatever reason, you decide revoking a will made prior to these

22 ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION News & Views Volume 19,20, No. 3 Membership/Marketing Committee Branch Initiatives Grant (BIG)

The Membership/Marketing Branch you will need to include community concluding report that includes a Initiatives Grant (BIG) is intended members in your plans.) financial statement detailing the to assist branches to grow their actual versus the projected costs membership through a variety of Each branch is eligible to receive and an evaluation of the project useful and enjoyable activities, not $500 plus $5 per branch member specifying how a future project previously available at the branch to a maximum of $3000 annually. might be organized and carried level, with ARTA financial help. Guidelines, along with application out. The key is to provide support to and concluding report forms, are Applications should be forwarded enable branches to offer new pro- available on the ARTA website. to the chair of the Membership/ grams, new initiatives, or pilot Upon completion of the project, Marketing Committee and will be projects (large or small) of inter- each branch will need to provide accepted until the budgeted funds est to and relevant for retired several pictures of the activity and for these activities are depleted. teachers to attract new members participants, as well as a short or enhance the experience of cur- The Membership/Marketing Com­ article suitable for publication on rent ones. mittee looks forward to a variety the ARTA website and in News & of innovative projects occurring Activity participants could be regu- Views. The submitted reports will to stimulate growth in branch lar branch members, full or affiliate be distributed to the ARTA Board membership. ARTA members, or members of of Directors. Consideration of grant the greater community. (If you applications for new programs, Funding for ongoing branch spe- intend to apply for a Community new initiatives or pilot projects in cial projects is available from the Initiatives Program grant [CIP] the future is dependent on filing a Governance Committee.

ships to the mix, and the jobs that person I ask has about as much idea Finger Pointing… saw workers feeding their families as I do. Recently, someone I know continued from page 9 then retiring to collect stamps have who protested a recurring bank fee largely disappeared. was advised to put $5000 in a sec- ond account so that the tiny amount My own father-in-law had a steady Business saw new opportunities, and job at the GWG plant in Edmonton of interest would cover most of the took them. That’s understandable, making good-quality jeans. Where fee in the first account. City and but greed and shortsightedness are jeans made now? Most cit- municipal councils proudly announce destroyed the delicate chicken/egg ies used to have at least one keeping tax increases to 5%, but meat-packing plant. Where are they cycle of the workforce’s ability to earn, then hike waste disposal, sewage now? Customer-service call centres and have enough disposable income and library fees. Even more insidi- that opened locally, first moved to to spend on more than essentials. ous than user fees, though, is the Winnipeg or the Maritimes, then To conceal the need to charge constant encouragement to borrow, finally left Canada for good. more to make up for the shortfall borrow, borrow. It was not labour that caused these in disposable income, governments, The middle class is under attack, with jobs to move; rather it was business businesses and banks now charge labour on the front lines. It’s much that saw clearly that they could get ‘user fees.’ Just look at your utility worse in the US, of course, but with the work done elsewhere in the bills. The portion of natural gas, or today’s headlines about restructuring world for much less. You don’t have water, or electricity is the smallest pensions, it’s probably only a matter of to pay for health care or a pension part of the bill. I, for one, have no time before you and I—or our chil- for someone doing piecework in idea what half the other charges are dren—will be feeling terrible financial Thailand. Add robotics and container for, and when I’ve phoned to ask, the pain. That is, if you have not already.

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 News & Views 23 In Memoriam

Robert Mittoo passed away in Calgary’s Foothills Hospital on April 13, 2011. Before his retirement, he was a teacher with the Calgary Board of Education and after retiring became an ARTA member. He was also the Chair of the ATA’s Extended Disability Support Group. He is very much missed by his wife Shirley, his family, and all those who knew him. Daphne Panton passed away peacefully on Monday, January 30, 2012, with family by her side. Born in Manitoba, she grew up on a farm in Mulvihill, walking to school uphill both ways according to legend. She commenced a fifty-year teaching career at the age of eighteen and met her husband John while teaching at the Canadian Forces Base in Churchill, Manitoba. Daphne was known for her enthusiasm, creativity and unstinting generosity in whatever she did, from family gatherings, to teaching, to entertaining, to contributions to the community. She and John volunteered together for many years, especially with the Lions Club and STARS Air Ambulance.

Please note that the Calgary ­teachers who have passed away are ­remembered on the CRTA website at www.calgaryretiredteachers.ca

A word from the editor: As you can see, In Memoriam does not have many tributes this issue. At one level, that is a good thing; but the probability is that we have missed paying tribute to several who have been respected teachers in our province. In 1993, I lost my mother, a well-known teacher and school counsellor. I was both angry and hurt when there was no acknowledgement of her death, although she had been a member of the ATA all her life, and the ATRF had been advised of her death. I learned then that there was no automatic link between the ATA and the ATRF, nor is there now any link to News & Views about the deaths of our members. We have no direct access to this information, except through what is made public. Mostly, the problem is with privacy laws; but there is also the issue that some people really do not want such a personal matter advertised. At this time, the only solution is to rely on our membership to tell us about the passing of our members. News & Views will gladly print tributes to members who have passed away, but we must hear from you in order to do so. If such tributes could focus on time spent as an educator, that would help us a lot. —Robin­ Carson

News & Views Special Issue The 2013 spring issue of News & Views will be a special 50th anniversary issue, and we would love to have your input about what it should contain. In addition, we’re also looking for writing, photographs—whatever you might be able to share with us—that would fit well in the issue. Contact Robin Carson at [email protected] or with a letter addressed to the ARTA office.

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 24 News & Views Who Is Eligible to Join ARTA’s Plan?

One of the many advantages of joining the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association (ARTA) is having access to one of the most comprehensive voluntary benefit insurance plans in the retiree marketplace. Since it was introduced in 1995, participation in ARTA’s Extended Health Care (EHC) plan with emergency medical travel insurance has grown to over 7,200 policies in force, insuring over 11,800 members, spouses and dependents. The travel features include trip cancellation insurance, multiple sixty-two-day base-plan trip durations, and a two million dollar lifetime maximum per insured. Go to www.johnson.ca/arta to view details of all ARTA plans. To be eligible for the ARTA Plans, you must satisfy several conditions of membership, residency and coverage. • You must be a regular or affiliate member of ARTA (or the surviving spouse of a member). • You must be a permanent Canadian resident. • You must have provincial or territorial medicare coverage. • You must have provincial drug coverage, and must apply for the Alberta Seniors Drug Plan at age 65. • You must apply for EHC within sixty days of losing employer-sponsored group coverage. (Late entrants must submit evidence of good health, and coverage may be declined.)

Expanded Eligibility ARTA’s Plan was first introduced for eligible retired teachers, but there has been a growing demand for the unique voluntary retiree group coverage it provides. As a result of the demand, the plan eligibility has been steadily growing to include affiliate members in the education sector. Eligibility has also been expanded to include groups with a similar risk profile beyond the education sector to the public and private sectors. The first group of public sector affiliates became eligible to join ARTA’s Plan in 2008. Since that time, the growth in the number of eligible public sector groups has benefitted many retirees who may not have access to comprehensive retiree health insurance. Members of the following groups have been approved by ARTA for current or future plan participation, subject to the above conditions. Discussions are underway with new groups that are interested in ARTA’s voluntary plan for retirees. • Alberta Public Sector • United Nurses of Alberta • Alberta Judges and Masters In Chambers • City of Edmonton • City of Lethbridge • Strathcona County • City of Calgary • Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties • City of Medicine Hat • Canadian Union of Public Employees of Alberta • Health Sciences Association of Alberta • British Columbia Government Retired Employees’ Association • Alberta Institute of Agrologists • Alberta Federation of Labour • Alberta Union of Public Employees • Alberta Treasury Branch • Civic Service Union Local 52 (technical, professional, administrative and clerical workers within the City of Edmonton, the Edmonton Public Library, TELUS World of Science - Edmonton, EPCOR: Edmonton & Calgary, and Capital Power Corporation)

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 News & Views 25 Definition of Member An eligible member is defined in the Certificates of Insurance for the applicable sector—education, public or private. For example, below is the definition of an eligible member in the Extended Health Care plan for the Education Sector Certificate of Insurance, which is the governing document. “Member” shall mean an individual in good standing with ARTA, who is a permanent resident of Canada, covered by the provincial health care plan and who is • a retired teacher who has contributed to the ATRF for five years, or their surviving spouse, provided proof of such contribution is provided. (Proof shall include a letter from the ATRF or other acceptable evidence from a Board of Education stating that this is so. Contributions do not have to be made consecutively); or • a retired teacher 55 years or older, who will not receive an ATRF pension but who can provide proof in writing of having made pension contributions to the ATRF for 5 or more years, or their surviving spouse; or • a retired pre-pensionable aged teacher who has taught and contributed to the ATRF for five or more years and who would be eligible to receive an ATRF pension at age 55 or older or their surviving spouse. (Proof of contributions to the ATRF must be provided in writing); or • an affiliate member of the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association. For more information about ARTA’s Health & Wellness Benefit Plan features and eligibility, please contact ARTA’s Plan Administrator at the dedicated toll-free line 1-888-780-ARTA (2782).

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ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 26 News & Views To The Editor: (me) and eventually turns the whole mat- Thank you for the coverage update ter over to a collection on travel insurance in the last issue agency. Communication of News & Views. I have used between DFC, the hospi- Johnson Travel Insurance several tal, the collection agency, times in the past and appreciated the third-party media- the efficiency of their service, until tor and the patient is apparently the last time. non-existent. During an extended trip through It took over a year to resolve this the United States, I required medi- mess. At the conclusion, I had cal attention in Maine. We followed to pay $25.00 for a credit rating all the required procedures and check that Desjardin would not thought the matter settled. Upon reimburse even though it was they our return to Canada, however, who caused the problem. prior to accessing medical atten- tion or within a 48-hour time frame I began to receive statements I informed ARTA of my problems following medical treatment, when requesting payment from the hos- and Don Mock (bless his soul) said health issues arise while travelling pital I attended. I duly sent these he would take this up with the pow- out of province and out of country. on to Desjardin Financial Security ers that be. I do not know if this Doing so allows Desjardins to take with no result. Eventually the process has been changed and am over the situation quickly, in terms statements from the hospital were writing this letter in the event that of financial responsibility. replaced by telephone calls and other ARTA members have been letters from a collection agency caught up in a similar web with no The situation described is unique threatening further action unless I explanation. to the Benefits Committee. The usual comments we have received paid the bill. Sincerely, are from those who are apprecia- Peter Smilanich This protracted process took over tive that they were treated in a a year with numerous emails and manner better than expected. phone calls to Desjardins, which A Reply: Indeed, the writer indicated that were all met by what I can only he had accessed the travel insur- On behalf of the ARTA Health ance several times in the past with describe as stonewalling. What and Wellness Benefits Committee, a satisfactory conclusion. eventually emerged is that there I would concur that what is another process that Desjardins Mr. Smilanich experienced was Most US health care providers engages in that is not mentioned unfortunate, regrettable, and routinely bill international insur- in your article. It appears that if stressful. When we were alerted ance companies at market rates Desjardins is not satisfied with the of the circumstances last year, for medical services. For this hospital charges, they hire a third- the matter was dealt with by our reason, all travel insurers, includ- party mediator to engage with committee and Johnson Inc. I can ing ARTA’s Travel Plan insurer, the hospital to try to reduce the only reinforce the advice in the Desjardins Financial Security charges. The hospital, in the mean- information bulletins to, where (DFS), negotiate lower reimburse- time, continues to bill the patient possible, contact Sigma Assistel, ment rates.

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION News & Views Volume 20,19, No. 3 News & Views 27 Billing practices vary by facility. While nearly all of these claims- payment negotiations are smooth and prompt, on some rare occa- sions they may continue over the course of several weeks or longer. In a small percentage of such instances, the medical provider To the Editor: Be mindful of what happened to may try to ‘short-circuit’ the pro- Don’t get me wrong. I love the our Aboriginal peoples who were cess and apply pressure on DFS people who come from countries coerced into subjugation. by attempting to collect the undis- all over the world to make Canada Canadians, on the other hand, are counted charges directly from the their home. I love the variety of handing out their identity on a sil- patient. the different cultures, their dif- ver platter! All they need to hear is the word ‘prejudice’ and they turn If a collection agency should ferent ways of looking at things. I even love the diverse costumes that into jelly. The process has been contact a member on behalf of reversed. Canadians are now the a hospital at which they were emerge from all the different parts of the universe. They are beautiful victims—victims that they them- treated, DFS should be contacted selves have created! as soon as possible. Johnson Inc. and artistic. Canadians welcome will also assist the member with every culture with open arms. The Jeannette Romaniuk communications with the insurer richness of various cultures and as necessary. ideas contributes to making our country interesting, progressive To the Editor: DFS does negotiate for favourable and fascinating. Thank you ARTA, Johnson Inc., rates, which is of benefit to us, the There is, however, a problem! It and Sigma Assistel for providing plan holders, by keeping premiums appears that many of our new me with information, direction, down and the participant’s health neighbours are offended by many support and care while visiting care balance in a favourable posi- of our Canadian ways and tradi- my son’s family in Houston, Texas. tion in terms of their lifetime tions. It is, of course, obvious Like everyone, I have always been maximum coverage. The more that that when encountering a foreign concerned about getting sick in is paid out, the less one has at their culture, many traditions will seem the United States, but armed disposal when the next medical strange and difficult to accept or with my ‘Out-of-Province/Country need arises. understand. Tourists experience Emergency Medical Insurance’ Unfortunately, credit agencies are this phenomenon every time they card, I was able to get to a hospital, at times aggressive in their tactics, set foot in a new country. Yet, they get admitted, receive the necessary and some US hospitals make this do not expect their host nation to medical consultation, the appropri- agency their first call. Our discus- change their traditions in order to ate medical procedure, and get sions with the insurer indicated that accommodate them. The tourist is released from the hospital. I was they attempted to maintain regular the one who must adapt. contacted at my son’s home in communication, and that the time That is exactly the problem. Houston by Sigma Assistel where I delay was caused by the slowness Although Canadians are more than was told that I would be accompa- of the hospital to provide detailed tolerant and more than willing to nied to my home in St. Albert with accounting and recognition of the accept and allow our new neigh- the aid and care of a nurse who agreed upon remuneration. bours to live as they did in their would take care of my transporta- homeland, it is they who cannot tion and luggage to and from the While the situation is one that none accept our ways and are offended airports in Houston and Edmonton. of us would want to undergo, we by some of our harmless traditions. I felt totally taken care of by the are pleased there was a positive It should be a matter of ‘Live and ‘system.’ I have already personally resolution, and the writer’s credit let live.’ I accept you; therefore, thanked all the agencies involved rating was unblemished. you should be willing to accept me. with my event by telephone and I wanted to thank you in writing. Yours truly, This is not the case, however. Wayne Flaska Canadians are asked to give up one I thank you one more time, Chair, ARTA Health and Wellness tradition after another. Some of Brian M. E. White Benefits Committee these are precious to the children. 1994 retiree

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 28 News & Views Improving Alberta’s Seniors Care System By Noel Somerville, PIA Task Force for Seniors

While the number of seniors will Seniors are the same people who generate the home care efficiencies double as a percentage of Alberta’s built Canada’s medicare system, savings for the health budget. population over the next twenty who supported it with their taxes years, this is not what some describe and health care premiums, and who 2. Build more long-term care as a tsunami. A tsunami is a sud- assumed it would be there for them (LTC) facilities (nursing homes) den, unexpected event; but we have when they needed it. Understandably, known about the ‘baby boom’ popula- seniors feel betrayed. A small percentage of unfortunate tion bulge for the past sixty years. seniors do reach the point where It is in this context that the Seniors staying in their own home is no Unfortunately in Alberta over the past Task Force of Public Interest longer feasible. The health of some two decades, the government has Alberta, made up of representatives deteriorates to the point where they been steadily disengaging itself from of many key seniors organizations need to be monitored 24 hours a day seniors care, leaving it to the private and health professionals who work or require levels of nursing or per- sector, which, in turn, passes the costs with seniors, has set out the fol- sonal care that can only be achieved on to those who require the care. lowing prescription for improving in a properly staffed nursing home. Alberta’s seniors care system. This inaction by government has Sadly, the government’s emphasis has been on building ‘continuing now progressed to the point where 1. Create viable and the lack of adequate home care care’ facilities, few of which are drives many seniors out of their responsive home care nursing homes. Most are various own homes; where seniors are ‘Aging in place,’ an Alberta govern- types of supportive- or assisted- backing up in hospitals because of ment policy, is a win-win strategy. living facilities where, in addition to the shortage of nursing home beds; Most seniors want to remain in room and board, residents are also and where seniors who are cogni- their own homes and communities charged for the medications, nursing tively impaired, chronically ill or as long as possible, and the govern- and personal care they require. profoundly frail, and whose incomes ment wants to minimize the number Because private assisted-living are above the very low thresholds for of institutionalized seniors and the facilities do not have qualified nurs- Alberta Seniors Benefits, now find accompanying cost. ing staff, when a resident falls, the themselves in facilities where they But, countries such as Denmark and fire department is often called; or not only have to pay exorbitant fees when a resident takes a turn for the for room and board, but also have Sweden have shown that aging in place works only if help is provided worse, they are shipped off to the to pay for the nursing and personal nearest ER and become ‘bed block- care they require. to aging seniors to assist with their nursing and medical needs and the ers’ in acute-care hospitals. In such It is difficult to describe the gov- tasks of home upkeep, snow shovel- facilities, patient care is trumped by ernment’s attitude toward seniors ling, shopping, cooking, etc. shareholder profit. as anything other than callous and Accommodation rates in assisted- It is infinitely cheaper to provide penny-pinching. They seem to regard living facilities are not the $1,700/ very basic assistance to allow seniors the expertise of qualified registered month regulated rate in nursing to stay in their own homes as long as nurses and licensed practical nurses homes, but can range from $3,000 they are able than to have seniors in as wasted on seniors who have been to $5,000 or more per month, often institutional care. medically assessed as requiring in addition to the cost to seniors of long-term care. Instead, they want Alberta needs to ‘walk the talk’ and maintaining their own home, where us to settle for personal care aides in provide enough trained staff and their spouse may be living. Such sen- assisted-living facilities. fund adequate support to be able to iors find themselves living a life that

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 News & Views 29 is every old person’s worst night- 3. Stop circumventing the The existing provisions in the mare, and paying for the privilege. Nursing Home Act Alberta Nursing Home Act should be enforced so as to follow the original It is a disgrace that Alberta cur- The regulations under the Nursing definitions; and the Nursing Home rently has about 14,500 nursing Home Act provide the only guar- Act is best left separate, to facilitate home beds, about the same number antee of staffing levels in Alberta standards and monitoring. If these it had in 1992. Repeated promises nursing homes. Specifically, the provisions are to be included in any to build 1,000 ‘continuing-care’ beds requirement is that each resident of other act, all of the provisions should per year are meaningless when few a nursing home be provided an aver- be retained or reinforced. if any of these are nursing home age of 1.9 hours of combined nursing beds and we have current LTC wait- and personal care per day and that This information MUST be an ing lists of 1,600 people. 22% of that care must be provided issue for all seniors in the upcom- It is clear that the need for beds for by a registered or certified graduate ing provincial election. What can both seniors and chronic care patients nurse. we do to act in the best interest will increase in Alberta. And the sec- For the past decade, the Alberta of seniors? Fortunately, Public ond least expensive way of accommo- government has been using various Interest Alberta is proud to have dating this growth (after home care) means to circumvent these require- MLA contact teams supporting is by publicly funded and run nursing ments. Measures such as these have the public interest. homes. Alberta needs to commit to robbed the most vulnerable seniors Join their MLA Contact Teams and these future needs by planning and of the skilled care they require and strengthen a growing network of building the necessary facilities start- made them the principal target of concerned and vocal citizens! ing immediately, a requirement of government efforts to curtail its some estimated 1,500 beds per year. health care expenditures. To join, visit: teams.pialberta.org

By John White

Wieners are not allowed in our house. the sidewalk. Clouds of flies and to be sure but also rather dull and Vickie won’t have it. She claims other flying creatures circled and meatless for Canadians. that they are junk food, but the old landed. Street-famished dogs hov- Then one sunny day Mrs. G. came to adage “circumstances alter cases” ered nearby, their hair matted, ribs pick up her daughter at the school sometimes­ applies in strange contexts. stabbing through their gaunt sides. and mentioned that she was going Wild-eyed, they searched for an Some time ago, Vickie and I were to the ‘foreigner’s store.’ We had opportunity to steal a morsel. under contract to open and oper- not heard of the foreigner’s store, ate a new International School in The customers seemed to appear but it sounded interesting. Mrs. G Dushambe, Tajikistan. There was out of nowhere. A few words and cautioned us not to expect too much. much we liked about Tajikistan and a few pennies were exchanged and “It’s not Sobeys!” she warned. some things that made life difficult, the butcher would raise his cleaver. Well it wasn’t, but in one corner we but one of the things we abhorred He would hack off a chunk of meat, spied a freezer and in the freezer was their butcher shops. and the customer would deftly were Maple Leaf wieners. Yes, catch the chunk and turn for home The butcher shop opened each frozen solid with the Maple Leaf with the meat, flies and all. morning at the side of the road. sticker on the side. We counted, There, the carcass was hung in I felt ill. I too turned for home. “One, two, three . . . seventeen.” a tree—the whole carcass. The On this day, we officially became We bought them all. butcher would skin, gut and quar- vegetarians. We had eggs and milk ter it right there. The blood would from the neighbour and there were That night we sat down to a gour- flow down the street; the entrails plenty of vegetables, so we lived met meal of Maple Leaf wieners. would fall in a heap at the edge of quite well. It was a healthy diet Circumstances do alter cases.

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 30 News & Views The members of the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association actively support continued learning by funding scholarships and endowments. ARTA provides one scholarship independently and partners with Johnson Inc. to provide a second one.

ARTA–Johnson Scholarship Degree Program The ARTA–JOHNSON SCHOLARSHIPS are made possible by the generosity of Johnson Inc., the Plan Benefits Administrator for ARTA’s benefit package. Johnson Inc. provides, through ARTA, schol- arships for undergraduate students in the second, third, or fourth year of their first degree and who are related to an ARTA member. These scholarships recognize academic achievement as well as community involvement and volunteer work. Future goals, personal accomplishment and supporting letters of reference are also significant in the determination of scholarship recipients.

ARTA Scholarship Certificate/Diploma Program The ARTA Certificate/Diploma Scholarships are made possible by the generosity of Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association (ARTA). ARTA provides scholarships to students in a certificate or diploma program of two or more years at an accredited post-secondary institution. These scholarships rec- ognize academic achievement, community involvement and volunteer work. Future goals, personal accomplishments and supporting letters of reference are also significant in the overall determination of scholarship recipients.

Scholarship prizes are awarded as follows: 1st place recipient—$2,500.00 2nd place recipient—$1,500.00 3rd place recipient—$1,000.00

Application forms and criteria are available by writing to: ARTA, 409, 11010 142 Street NW, Edmonton AB T5N 2R1 or may be downloaded from ARTA’s website at www.albertarta.org Application deadline: July 31, 2012

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 News & Views 31 * RENEW * RECONNECT * RE-ENERGIZE *

Second Wind Conference April 11, 2012

The inaugural Second Wind Conference, organized for retirees in the greater Edmonton community by the Greater Edmonton Retired Teachers Associations (GERTA), will be held on Wednesday, April 11, 2012, at the Chateau Louis Conference Centre, which is centrally located at 11727 Kingsway Avenue. The conference presenters will provide information and share resources that promote health and wellness. The Second Wind begins with coffee and registration at 8:30 a.m. The keynote speaker, Wendy Edey, Director of the Hope Foundation of Edmonton, will kick off the conference with a humorous, inspirational presentation, “Audacious Hope.” Next, participants will choose three breakout sessions from a variety of seventeen interactive offerings designed to nourish body, mind and spirit. These sessions include laughter yoga, ‘a meeting of true wines,’ memory and concentration techniques, and keeping auto-mobile. The day includes coffee breaks and a delicious lunch with apropos entertainment by the Raging Grannies. Concurrently, an art show and sale featuring local artists will be open all day in the St. Michael Room at the Centre. The Second Wind concludes with a ‘wine down’ from 3:45 until 4:30 p.m. Additional information and registration forms are available on our website, www.GERTASecondWindConference.com The early bird registration fee is only $50, which includes lunch; after March 1 the fee will be $65. The Retired Teachers’ Associations of Edmonton, Parkland, and St. Albert and Area are working together to create a fascinating day for everyone involved. So grab a Second Wind and sail into spring by attending our conference on April 11, 2012. Please pass this invitation on to retired friends and family members. Non‑educators are also welcome. Attending the conference will be a wonderful opportunity for all retirees to * RENEW * RECONNECT * RE-ENERGIZE *

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 32 News & Views Is It Time for the Average Person to Speak Up? By David Flower

Corporations are using their unions. The movie was classed as not all they lost. Most of them funds and creativity not only a comedy and the union leader, lost the will to win a while ago. to elect leaders in office that portrayed by Peter Sellers, yelled A few even lost the will to fight. benefit corporations’ interests, constantly, “What about the work- But when it comes to losing but they also spend billions of ers?” That question is as relevant the will to live, to breathe, the dollars to influence lawmakers today as it was in 1959. point is—if this lot were seals to the benefit of their goals. And In 1996 another British movie, or whales, you would all be what voice do we, the citizens, Brassed Off, also classed as a up in bloody arms. But they’re have in all of this when we are ‘comedy,’ portrayed the conflict not, are they? No, they’re not. competing against billionaire among members of the local col- They’re just ordinary common- corporations that have the same liery brass band when their coal or-garden honest decent human rights as you or me? You guessed mine was closed as part of a policy beings. And not one of them has it! Our rights are annihilated. by the British Conservative gov- an ounce of bloody hope left. —Hugo Bonjean, ernment under Margaret Thatcher. If you find Danny’s speech a A People’s Power, 2010. During her term as prime minister little melodramatic, think, for one 141 coal mines were closed in moment, how the workers whose In the last several months there Britain and 250,000 workers lost have been reports from vari- jobs have been lost to ‘offshore’ their jobs. At the end of the movie companies feel, how the workers ous European nations and from Danny, the bandmaster, addresses the United States of groups of who lost their jobs at a Ford fac- a crowded Royal Albert Hall in tory in Ontario feel and countless people demonstrating about the London where the band has just economic and social conditions in other examples across North won the national brass band com- America and Europe. Think also their countries. Cynics, of course, petition. His speech captures the like to dismiss such demonstra- how 46.1 percent of Spanish 16- despair and distrust that working to 24-year-olds feel because they tions as simply being the actions people feel when they lose their cannot find jobs. Think how over of left wing anarchists and the like jobs whether as a result of govern- 900,000 British young people feel that the media loved to highlight ment policy or corporation moves who cannot find jobs, and in many during G8, G20 or Free Trade pro- ‘offshore.’ tests. But strangely enough many cases, whose parents are out of . . . over the last ten years, this of these demonstrations are not work as well. bloody government has system- destructive; they are being led by atically destroyed an entire Then look at what the ‘suits’ are ordinary people protesting the fail- industry. Our industry. And not saying. Banks are making record ure of the political, financial and just our industry—our com- profits and my bank introduced corporate system to respond to the munities, our homes, our lives. a new set of charge rates in horrendous greed of free market All in the name of ‘progress,’ December, obviously not satisfied capitalism. and for a few lousy bob! . . . a with its current profits. The British In 1959 a British movie entitled fortnight ago, this band’s pit government talked briefly about I’m All Right Jack portrayed the were closed—another thousand imposing more regulations on the conflict between management and men lost their jobs. And that’s British banks. The reaction from the

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 News & Views 33 banks was to request such changes which Warren Buffet calls the mortgage rates earlier this year be held over to 2015. Despite hav- ‘financial weapons of mass destruc- in order to encourage people to ing had to be bailed out during tion.’ Somehow curbs need to be buy homes. In many countries the crisis, those same banks and placed on financial institutions where the economic collapse had financial institutions across North to prevent them from destroying its greatest effect, the reward for America and Europe are continu- people’s lives and livelihoods in the believing that the free market sys- ing to pay huge bonuses based on name of pure greed. The same can tem was going to provide a stable the claimed need to retain their be said for corporations. and prosperous future is instead a financial wizards—otherwise they loss of jobs, curbs on pensions, and might leave the country and go to One of the difficulties in all of increasing costs for food and utili- work in Asia. There has been some this money game is that different ties. There is no apparent let up. discussion in recent weeks about economists have different­ answers; The Russell Investments strategist some British companies deciding, but, to the average working person, says glibly: “I don’t think anybody’s because of ‘political pressure,’ to the only people who are getting going to get a pay increase in rescind bonuses for the year alto- penalized are they themselves. A the next 200 years.” (One has to gether or reduce them, but only in column in the Edmonton Journal, assume he is including himself.) a few cases. Ray Turchansky quoted the chief Do you wonder why people are fed market strategist for Russell up and prepared to demonstrate So what has happened to the Investments as saying that the against the injustice of the whole majority of the ‘suits’ who were world borrowed too much money scheme of things? largely responsible for the finan- and the world has to pay it back; cial meltdown in 2008? According but who was responsible for The demeaning attitude of many to Charles Ferguson’s documentary promoting the borrowing of that politicians, financiers and much of Inside Job produced in 2010, the money? What created the problem the media to the demonstrations that have taken place since October meltdown cost over $20 trillion and was a free market system that pro- 2011 including the ‘Occupy Wall resulted in millions of people in the moted the deregulation of banking Street’ protest show how little United States losing their homes in many countries along with the respect those ‘suits’ have for the and their jobs. The average work- deregulation of corporations, while ordinary working person. It is com- ing individual has to ask whether at the same time persuading gov- mon to find the protestors referred the perpetrators of such crimes are ernments to sit on the sidelines and ever going to be punished because to as‘anarchists,’ socialists,‘bums’— watch. The people in Greece did any possible name that would deni- it is the average working person not rush into the banks and demand who is bearing the load for their grate them and their cause. Others more money; the banks went to the criticize the demonstrators for not greed. The answer appears to be people, and in the name of growth no! Nobody in government seems presenting possible solutions. What and future prosperity, offered the the critics fail to understand is that prepared to take on these rogues. money. There is more to come. The next the working people have been lied crisis may well be the Chinese real In Canada we witnessed something to about the benefits of global capi- estate bubble or in derivatives, similar when the banks reduced talism and its supposed ‘trickle down’ effect. It has benefitted the rich making them richer but has driven the poor further into poverty. Gentle Thoughts It has proved to be a major broken promise and, as bandmaster Danny Money cannot buy happiness, but it’s more comfortable to cry in a says in his speech, the protesters Corvette than on a bicycle. are ‘common-or-garden decent human beings’ who are demanding Forgive your enemy, but don’t forget his name. change. They are frustrated with a If you help someone when they’re in trouble, they will remember system that appears not to care as you when they’re in trouble again. long as profits are growing, which Many people are alive only because it’s illegal to shoot them. has led to the demonstrations. The participants feel, as Bonjean states Alcohol does not solve any problems, but then neither does milk. in his novel, that their rights have been ‘annihilated.’

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 34 News & Views Erika Foley, Branch President

This is the Wainwright Retired Teachers Association (WRTA) sitting down to their Christmas turkey dinner on Dec. 8, 2011. Each year, members bring gifts for the Kinsmen Christmas Wish program and food for the food bank. Twice a year we also look after the lunches for the Farmers’ Market by bringing sandwiches, soup and pie, and serving coffee and tea. Our members enjoy the camaraderie and meals we share four times a year. In August we hold a “To Hell With the Bell Breakfast” which the men prepare and serve.

The CRTA Art Show! The Calgary Retired Teachers’ Association is pleased to announce its fourth annual art show and sale at St. Andrew’s United Church 924 Heritage Dr. SW (the same venue as last year) Saturday April 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Come join us in both the upper and lower halls as we showcase the talents of the participating artists. We are pleased to accept cash or cheques for purchases. Those visual artists who are retirees and wish to participate may register by going to the CRTA website at www.calgaryretiredteachers.ca to download the registration form and the release form which will be on the website after March 1, 2012. Mail the completed registration form and signed release form together with the registration fee made out to CRTA to the following address: CRTA Art Show c/o 5115 Carney Rd. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2L 1G1

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19,20, No. 3 News & Views 35 Sunny Scottsdale, Arizona! Condos for rent. Check out my website for pictures and prices. www.29desertsunescape. com or e‑mail [email protected] English teaching in China. Just retired and seeking adventure or change? Five cities to choose from: Beijing, Nanchang, Yantai, Dalian and Chongqing. Accommodation is provided. Summer, half-year and full-year contracts (airfare paid). University students. Curriculum provided and full staff support. Chance to travel. Short teaching hours. Contact [email protected] Comox Valley paradise guestroom. $50 in town of Comox, Vancouver Island. Five-minute walk to marina, pubs, restaurants; one block to gym, yoga; five-minute drive to Goose Spit Beach, Crown Isle Golf; forty minutes to Mt. Washington to alpine or x‑country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking; twenty minutes to Hornby Island ferry. Airport pick‑up, town tour, morning coffee included. Private entrance, bath, TV, patio. Hotel comfort without hotel price! Contact Norene at 250‑339‑6430 or [email protected]

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 20, No. 3 36 News & Views JustJust forfor You...You...

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