Summer 2013 NEW Members Save Exclusive Discounts! on Worldwide Travel Save up to $900* per couple! Collette Vacations, a major provider of guided travel since 1918, is offering ARTA members the chance to save on trips to all seven continents. From Italy to Australia to the wonder of South America and beyond, embrace your dreams. We seamlessly handle the details – you experience the world. This unbelievable offer can be used on the purchase price of both the land and air portions on any of the escorted tours listed on this flyer. How does it work? Call your local agency and advise the booking agent that you are travelling with Collette Vacations. OR Call Collette Vacations at 877.604.8086. In both cases provide your ARTA Affinity Member code: R844-AX1-918 On all air-inclusive tours, receive roundtrip home to airport sedan service!† For more information call 877.604.8086, or visit www.collettevacations.ca and order your FREE brochure! * Savings amount varies by tour and is valid on new bookings only. Offers can expire due to space or inventory availability. Space is on a first come, first served basis. Offers are not valid on group or existing bookings or combinable with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply; call for details. † Not valid on group travel. Service is offered on all air-inclusive departures when within 100 km radius from most major Canadian gateways. One transfer per room booking. Additional stops are not permitted on route. Other restrictions may apply; call for details. Travel Industry Council of Ontario Reg#3206405 BC Reg#23337 FL028 The Magazine of the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association Summer 2013 Vol. 21:4 news & views Table of Contents Editor Robin Carson Assistant Editors President’s 50th Articles Vi Oko 5 Message Anniversary Bev Sawyer It Has Always Graphic Artist Executive Been ARTA! Hazel Adair 6 Director’s ARTA Liaison 7 COSCO Workshops Jerry Stefanyk Report 30 in Alberta Printing Central Web Letters to the Seniors Care Designer 8 Editor Isn’t Working Hazel Adair 19 History of CARTA 34 news & views is published In My NEARTA Wellness four times a year by the 9 Opinion History of CERTA Conference Alberta Retired Teachers’ 22 36 Association (ARTA). Improved In Memoriam Contributions to History of SDRTA Walking With news & views 16 24 38 are welcome. Poles They may be sent to History of STARTA 409, 11010–142 Street NW, 26 Edmonton, AB T5N 2R1 Columns or email Bridge and Information [email protected]. Cribbage Lynne Butler 29 Deadline for submissions 10 Tournament Contests for the fall issue is 2 July 25, 2013. What Are Travel Tel.: 780‑822‑2400; Office Information We Doing 3 Alberta only: 12 Touring in Poland 1‑855‑212‑2400; Now? fax: 1‑780‑447‑0613; 12 and Ukraine Scholarships email: [email protected]; Perry 4 website: www.arta.net 14 Dorgan From Our Members Second Wind Return undeliverable 4 Canadian addresses to Classified 409, 11010–142 Street NW, Diane Britton Autumn Leaves Edmonton, AB T5N 2R1 31 39 40 Advertisements 12 29 32 On the cover: “Sunshine Near Cameron Lake” What Are We Bridge and Touring in by S. Stanger Doing Now? Cribbage Tournament Poland and Ukraine Contest 15 Contest 16—Trivia Winners ARTA has two Gift Cards generously donated by TW Insurance for ARTA Contest #16. by Jerry Stefanyk Just answer the three questions correctly, submit your correct answers to ARTA before the deadline date of July 19, 2013 and hope that your entry is the one drawn. Two prizes will be awarded. Congratulations to the ARTA Question 1: In what year did the Edmonton Oilers last make the news & views Stanley Cup playoffs? Contest 15 Question 2: What was the last year the Calgary Stampeders played in winners. a Grey Cup Game? We had three Question 3: How many staff does ARTA currently employ? (Please winners for this count full- and part-time staff.) contest and these lucky Send your answers to: three won a ARTA, Contest #16, 409, 11010–142 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5N 2R1 ‘surprise pack’ The contest officially closes July 19, 2013, at 1:00 pm. The contest is consisting open to all ARTA members in good standing, both regular and affiliate. of ARTA 50th Entries received after the closing date and time will not be considered. anniversary Winners will be notified shortly after the closing date. Decision of the material. judges is final. Email entries are not considered. The winners are Rob Boyd, St. Paul; John Schwonik, Gwynne; and Warren Debert, Calgary. A big thank you to everyone who entered. We appreciate you taking the time to do so and we hope you enjoy entering as much as we enjoy creating these contests. 2 Summer 2013 news & views Deadlines Fall Issue: ARTA Office News July 25, 2013 Winter Issue: October 25, 2013 Spring Issue: by Evelyn Morin Members requiring a claim form January 25, 2014 for reimbursement can access it on Membership renewal notices our website at www.arta.net or by Summer Issue: April 25, 2014 have now been sent out. You calling ASEBP at 1-855-444-2782. can renew your membership by If you are not on the benefit Your letters and sending a cheque payable to ARTA ideas are welcome. plan and do not wish to continue Please send them to in the enclosed envelope, paying your ARTA membership, please online with Visa or MasterCard, or newsandviews@ call the office at 780-822-2400 shaw.ca by calling the office with a credit and request that we make your card number. ARTA does not membership inactive. Doing so accept cash payments. will prevent you from receiving Please note, because we have renewal notices in the future. IMPORTANT over 8,000 renewals to process, it CONTACTS may take some time before you ARTA receive your new card and receipt. 780‑822‑2400 The applications are processed Toll‑free: in the order they are received in 1‑855‑212‑2400 Travel Assistance for Email: the ARTA office and we would [email protected] appreciate your patience and ask ARTA Members you please not to call the office news & views Are you planning your next [email protected] to inquire if your application getaway? Is travel on the horizon or has been received. Thank you news & views for you? Do not fret! 409, 11010–142 Street NW for your patience and for your WEBCORP is an online Edmonton, AB T5N 1R1 understanding. resource that provides extensive ATRF Since ARTA’s transition to information about your travel 780‑451‑4166 our new retiree benefit plan Toll‑free: destination. It is provided by AXA 1‑800‑661‑9582 administrator, the Alberta School Assistance, ARTA’s emergency Employee Benefit Plan (ASEBP), Email: travel provider. Whether your trip [email protected] there has been a change that is to Belize, Hong Kong, Mexico or CPP & OAS Benefits members should be aware of— Ireland, you can use this tool to Toll‑free: your prescription drug claim first find current health alerts, security 1‑800‑277‑9914 goes to Alberta Blue Cross for alerts, health providers, emergency ASEBP adjudication through the Alberta contacts, vaccinations needed, Claims: 1‑855‑444‑2782 Health Coverage for Seniors weather, currency, and much TW Insurance plan. If your prescribed drug is more. If you require immediate (Home and Auto) 1‑855‑894‑2782 not covered under the Alberta assistance while on vacation, you Prescription Drug Formulary, Pension Deposit Dates can call 1-888-996-9003 to reach (Third last business day of Alberta Blue Cross will notify AXA representatives quickly. the month; early at Christmas) you that they are not paying Access WEBCORP by visiting June 26 July 29 August 28 Sept. 26 the claim, and the claim will http://arta.zonassist.com with the Oct. 29 Nov. 28 then be forwarded to ASEBP username ARTA and password Dec. 20 Jan. 29 Feb. 26 March 27 for reimbursement for eligible ARTA2012 for comprehensive April 28 May 28 prescription drug expenses. pre-trip planning. Summer 2013 3 Scholarship * RENEW * RECONNECT * RE-ENERGIZE * Information 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 TW Insurance to provide a second one. ARTA–TW Insurance Second Wind Scholarship Degree Program The ARTA–TW INSURANCE Conference SCHOLARSHIPS are made possible by the generosity of TW Insurance. TW Insurance 2013 provides, through ARTA, scholarships for under‑ graduate students in the second, third, or fourth year of their first The Second Wind, a conference for retirees in the greater Edmonton degree and who are related to area arrives on Wednesday, September 25, 2013, and you are invited! an ARTA member. These scholarships recognize academic This event will be held at the Chateau Louis Conference Centre and achievement as well as community the registration fee includes a lunch both delicious and nutritious, involvement and volunteer work. along with noon‑hour entertainment. An art show and an art sale Future goals, personal feature local artists. accomplishment and supporting letters of reference are also At Second Wind you will find significant in the determination • information and resources that promote retiree health and wellness; of scholarship recipients. • inspiration to remain actively engaged in your community; ARTA Scholarship • opportunities for social interaction and mental stimulation; Certificate/Diploma Program • methods to raise the profile of retirees as valuable and productive The ARTA Certificate/Diploma members of society; Scholarships are made possible • strategies to promote membership and involvement in ARTA and by the generosity of the Alberta the branches. Retired Teachers’ Association (ARTA).