Volume 27, Number 3 • January-February, 2005 To The Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan The President’s Notes -- January 2005 -- Executive Meeting Horst Sawatzki tain its fundamental respect as a Readers Note professionally administered entity, New Year’s resolutions have been accountable to its members, trans- 1. Chapter presidents – your AGM made; some put on ‘hold,’ others parent in all its business transac- package should have arrived. ‘oops’, simply forgotten. tions, focused and supportive of Your homework is waiting. 2. Pst – you, or chapters -- want a Your Executive met on January 12- legislative change and requirements good deal on STS pins, call the 13, 2005 and resolved to deal with this organization of 7300 members office. committee reports, liaison issues, with monetary responsibility near- 3. Treadmill – here I come, ‘now and plans for the 32nd AGM. Let’s ing 1 million dollars as well as con- where did we leave off?’ listen in: "Oh, it is cold out there tractual and legal responsibilities -32C plus wind-chill, translates into needs to address the following: -51C"-- this message slices across •Current and projected auditing pro- the room. cedures – to meet current approv- Remembering Ladies and gentlemen, let’s start ... ed and required regulation we recommend that… This recom- Harry Costello Benefits Report – All indications mendation will be presented to are that we are on target in terms of the delegates at the 2005 AGM. At this time we remember expected claims ratios. Specific Harry Costello, who passed •Contract of Employment between question and concerns have been away on Tuesday, December this organization, STS and its dealt with. We need to remind par- 28, 2004. Harry was a col- appointed Executive Secretary- ticipants of (See Bert’s Report for league, mentor and friend to All aspects, the ‘why’, ‘how’, specifics.) many of us. After teaching for ‘terms’ of such a contract were many years in the Prince Albert Finance – Financial statements for shared and reviewed by the Collegiate System, Harry November, December and the Executive – with a unanimous joined the STF staff as an ‘cash-flow’ spreadsheet report endorsement by the executive. I Executive Assistant. In this show that income and expenditure am pleased to report that Fred capacity he took a lead role in are not on a collision course. has accepted a contract of the improvement of the Projected [preliminary] 2005-2006 employment effective February Teachers’ Superannuation budget expectations look promising 1, 2005. Plan. He also assisted – projected income, expenditures, With the support of the Executive I Superannuated Teachers as fees will be fine tuned for executive proposed that the STS centennial they worked to form Chapters consideration and subsequent project for 2005 reach beyond pic- of STS and to form a Provincial approval at the AGM in March and tures, histories, trinkets etc. Our organization. May respectively. project is a $1000 contribution to In 1983, shortly after his retire- In other regular reports, adminis- UNICEF to help victims of the ment from the STF, Harry was trative matters were dispatched in tsunami tragedy in Asia - we do elected a Councillor for the accordance with set policy and or care. STS. He served as President in practice. OK that is done -- now to 1986-87 and was made an some other important, timely and Honorary Life Member in 1988. necessary issues. In order to main- Group Benefits Committee Present: Bert Gordon (chair), Don Some other points of clarification in Dental Plan Bartel, Derwyn Crozier-Smith, the Extended Health Plan are: Shirley Dyck, Fred Herron, Doreen 1. Electronic Dental Billing will be Lloyd, Ed Magis, Horst Sawatzki, 1. Private clinic costs are not covered available March 1, 2005 from all Shirley Henderson, Wally Derkach, unless they are recognized by the dentists who wish to participate. Provincial Health Department. Darwin Forbes (Blue Cross) and 2. Blue Cross is changing the word- Bob Wilhelms(Blue Cross). 2. Our contract covers walkers and ing in Section 5 D.3 – Major We welcomed Bob Wilhelms, the crutches but does not include Restorative Benefits in the Dental new Blue Cross representative. Bob coverage for canes. The wording Contract to remove the Pre-exist- will be working with Darwin. will be changed to the standard ing Conditions Limitations. Blue Cross language so that canes Membership in the Benefit Plans will be covered. Other Topics continues to increase. As of 1. The question of providing cover- February 1, 2005, 2793 members are 3. Blue Cross will provide a defini- tion of Geriatric Chairs. age to STF non-teaching staff has participants in one or both of the been reviewed by Blue Cross. plans, up from 2564 on July 1, 2004. 4. Re: payment of costs for medical They feel that the risk to our plan The Claims Ratio (ratio of paid services outside of Saskatchewan/ is minimal to zero. The resolution claims to revenue) during 2004 was Canada, participants should be to include them, which was 77.4 % and our surplus continues to aware that they are responsible for tabled at last years AGM, will be grow. January is usually a heavy paying for the cost of treatment, reviewed this year. and then they will be reimbursed month but even so, the second year 2. Participants are reminded again figures should be very favorable. If by Blue Cross. Even in the event of major expenses the Plan member that they must provide the STS present trends continue the plans office with written notification of should be in a good position when will probably have to make an ini- tial payment. In any event, they changes in the status of their cov- we begin to negotiate the new con- erage. (ie: A change in the num- tract for February 1, 2006. If you must contact Canassist at the appropriate number shown on the ber of participants, change in cov- have thoughts about improvements erage, etc.) and changes that could be made, back of the card. Each situation is please forward them to our office. treated on an individual basis. Questions can be directed to our 5. For drugs placed on Exceptional office during morning office hours, We received further clarification re: Monday to Friday, to Fred Herron at Coordination of Benefits between plans. Drug Status, you must provide Blue Cross with a copy of the let- 306-374-7265, or to me at 306-763- • When both partners have single ter you receive from the Provincial 7113. coverage, either within our plan Prescription Drug Plan. - Bert Gordon or when one is on our plan and the other on another plan, there are no coordinating benefits. Canadian Teachers' Federation • When one partner has Family/Couple coverage and the The STF is hosting the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian other has single coverage, the Teachers' Federation on July 14 - 16. Susan Bates is coordinating this person with Family/Couple cov- event and reported to our Executive Meeting. They have selected their erage will be able to claim for logo which is a stylized map of Canada highlighting Saskatchewan. The their own costs as well as the gift to the delegates will be a copy of the book Happy Centennial remaining portion of the cost of Saskatchewan. She also reported that sponsorship is in place and that our their partners unused coverage. donation will be used for printing costs such as menus and program. The banquet will be held at the Western Development Museum and will be a • When both partners have Saskatchewan foods meal. Family/Couple coverage, both would be eligible for coordinat- They still need volunteers to help with driving, at the information desk, ing benefits. with host office, family events, and at the registration desk. If you would like to be on the list of volunteers phone Susan Bates at 384-7221. 2 STS Activities Report Ed Magis, Audry Blais, Calvin Bachmeier Churchill Manitoba Ecology Jude McMullen, Dennis Clubsee Tour: Polar Bears & Ellen Lokinger C Event - Kindersley - Wayne & •October 25 - 31 or November 1 - 7th Pauline Welte, Wilf •Car pool to The Pas, overnight in Heisler, Norbert motel, board train for a 23 hour Tetzlaff, Bill Sexsmith journey through forest, taiga and D Event -Moosomin - Dave & tundra to the northern port of Sharon Meyers, Dan & Churchill on the Hudson Bay. Gerri Day Day Bethune & District Daily field trips to look for Arctic E Event - Canora - Arnold Homecoming 2005 Makowsky, Ernie wildlife, visit local historic areas July 1 - 3, 2005 and the Eskimo museum. Gabora, Don Bahrey, Please forward contact informa- Accommodation is at the Michael Spelay tion of former residents to: Box Churchill Northern Studies 85, Bethune, Sask. S0G 0H0 or Centre. A private Tundra Buggy [email protected] takes you to Wapusk Park to see Tentative Events: and learn about polar bears. Upcoming July 1- Bethunes 99th Sports Day July 2- Pancakes, parade, Tours, •Group size: Maximum, 14; mini- Games, BBQ, Dances mum, 7; Events July 3- Church, Brunch, Fashion •Cost: $1395.00; Deposit: $139. Full & Talent Show fee due: August 1 Bowling - Saskatoon May 3 & 4, 2005 •Educational Income Tax Receipt: $139.00 Bridge - •Train Sleeping accommodation Moose Jaw 2005 Avonlea’s Alive in not available on this trip Curling - 2005 A Celebration of Saskatchewan’s Moosomin November, 2005 Nature Saskatchewan Spring Meet Centennial in Avonlea Summer Golf - Festival •JUNE 10 - 12TH, 2005 Melfort 2005 July 1, 2 and 3, 2005 Winter Festival - December, 2005 •Eastend, SK, home of T-Rex Stitch & Quilt - Discovery Centre; situated in the Information at www.avonlea.biz Kenosee Lake October 2, 3 (click on events) or phone 868- Frenchman River Valley; field & 4, 2005 2103 or 868-2213 trips along the river and to the T- Rex dig.