Volume 37, Number 1 • September-October 2014

To The Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan

DPourg eHasrolidsdon ent’s Report

For many newly retired teachers resolutions. Guideline 3 outlines the Symposium provided me with this will be your first fall of not criteria and format of resolutions. some understanding of STF local being involved in school registra - Chapters or individ uals do not have associations and local bargaining. tion, welcoming new students and to wait for the resolution deadlines. attending inservice sessions. I hope Resolutions can be submitted to the Maxine Stinka, STS Vice-President, your retirement will meet your STS office at any time. is the Chairperson of the Budget, expectations. If you are not a Finance and Audit Committee. Her member of STS, I encourage you to The first fall Committee and report is included in this issue of join. More information regarding Executive meetings were held Outreach . the STS is available by going to our September 23-25, 2014, in Saskatoon. Robert Wuschenny, Past President, website at www.sts.sk.ca or A Retirement Lifestyle Planning is the Chairperson of the Group contacting the STS office at 306-373- Session was held on September 23. Benefits Committee. Our Group 3879. Membership in the STS is The STS and STF will be jointly Benefits Plan is performing well. A voluntary at an annual fee of $30. I presenting three sessions namely at encourage you to seriously consider Moose Jaw, North Battleford and our Extended Health and Dental Yorkton in March and April 2015. It Plan. In order to have these benefits is hoped that these sessions will membership in STS is compulsory. present a holistic approach to Attention In addition to STS membership, retirement planning. More details joining a local Chapter is very will be available as planning Chapter Presidents rewarding. The STS Provincial proceeds. Nominate Honorary Organiza tion is very dependent The STS is a local association of the upon the strength and involvement STF. As such our eight STS Life Members of our Chapters. councillors attended the STF Special Nominations for Honorary Life Welcome to all new members to our Meeting of Council held in Memberships must be submit- organization. Special welcome to Saskatoon on September 27 dealing ted to the STS Office by Don Gabel and Alan Laughlin who with collective bargaining. Our February 1, 2015. If you have were elected to the STS Executive at councillors will also be attending worthy candidates for these the STF Councillor Conference the AGM in May. I hope you find it awards, ensure that the nomina- October 30 - November 1, 2014. In a rewarding experience, and I look tions are submitted well before addition to these meetings the forward to your involvement. the deadline. Please check the President and Vice-President at - Policy Handbook The STS is a policy driven tended an STF local presidents’ on page 32 for organization. Resolutions from meeting on September 12, 2014. the required information and individuals and Chapters are dealt I also attended the STF Local for the correct format of the with at the AGM. Policy 3 in the Bargaining Symposium on nomination. Policy Handbook deals with September 13 in Saskatoon. The more detailed report is in this issue Executive member is responsible for of Outreach . specific Chapters. ACER-CART The Chapter Presidents’ Meeting As President I look forward to George Georget will be held on Wednesday, October visiting Chapters. I presently have 29, 2014. I urge all Chapter several booked for September, Presidents, or a representative to October and November. If you attend. This meeting is important would like me to visit your Chapter ACER-CART has been invited by for distributing information, sharing please call me at 306-662-3004 or the Canadian Teachers’ Federation ideas and networking. The Chapter (cell) 306-662-8284 or email me at to participate in a two-day meeting Presidents play an important role in [email protected] on October 4, 5 entitled CAMP VOX the STS. Strong vibrant Chapters are which will consider best practice for I hope you are having an enjoyable a key part of the STS. effective campaigns i.e., advocacy and rewarding retirement. I look work. This two-day training will The Provincial Executive members forward to working on your behalf invite participants to establish liaise with the Chapters. Each for the coming year. goals, develop campaign strategies and tactics, and to strengthen the necessary campaign skills in order to implement successful campaigns. This event will strengthen the Annual General Meeting collaborative work between active Elaine Broughton and Joyce Hoffman and retired teachers with regards to advocacy including the important work facing both groups prior to and during the next Federal The 2015 Annual General Meeting and Entertainment included in the Election. Member Associations like will be held in Saskatoon at the evaluations. Thank you to all who the STS and its Chapters are invited Travelodge Hotel from Tuesday, completed the evaluation. to consider how best to be involved May 12 to Thursday May 14, 2015. in the election and what is The goals of the AGM Planning important to teachers in retirement. The committee reviewed the 173 Committee are to present a quality This has been a focus of ACER- evaluations received from the 2014 AGM that keeps in touch with CART, and it will invite and AGM. Responses were very membership, to keep costs within facilitate the critical involvement of positive. Committee members are budget and to respond to sugges - its member organ izations and the pursuing some of the numerous tions and concerns expressed in the engagement of Chapter members at suggestions for Interest Sessions AGM evaluations. the local level.

Advocacy Robert Wuschenny

The Advocacy Committee adopted and SSM to provide leadership on entail researching party platforms to the following goals for 2014-15: issues that could impact our ascertain how these may impact our 1. To examine the guidelines in membership members. In addition, the STS Policy and the role of the 5. To continue to foster good Committee invites input from STS Committee relationships with our education- members in helping to identify 2. To identify and monitor ongoing al partners issues pertinent to superannuates. issues that may affect the Individuals may submit issues and membership In light of a Federal election in the concerns directly to the STS Office. 3. To create and foster better not too distant future, the Advocacy Issues may also be identified at the relationships with other seniors’ Committee wishes to identify issues Chapter level and Chapter Presidents organizations in Saskatchewan that may affect seniors, and thus, may bring them to the Presidents’ 4. To collaborate with ACER-CART our membership. This will also Meeting on October 29, 2014.

2 Group Benefits Robert Wuschenny

The Group Benefits Committee should be noted that the shingles insurance. Since there are different adopted the following goals for vaccine is not on the Saskatchewan eligibility requirements for top- 2014-15: Formulary. Since STS Policy has up insurance, members must been not to deviate from the contact Saskatchewan Blue Cross 1. To closely monitor the Group Formulary, the Committee did not or another travel provider to Benefits Plan and financial status recommend action at this time but inquire about purchasing top-up of the Plan will continue to monitor and seek insurance. 2. To continue to promote and further information on this issue. provide information on the Group Once again, we remind Group Benefits Plan to superannuates, Reminders to all STS members Benefit Plan members to take along including the distinction between include: your Saskatchewan Blue Cross a government- funded Plan and 1. Status and/or contact changes membership card when travelling our Plan which is funded by its from STS members must be sent outside your province of residence. members to the STS office. The back of the member ship card 3. To review the policies and 2. For travel beyond 65 days, STS includes the telephone number to procedures on the Group Benefits members of the Extended Health contact in case of an emergency Plan as set in the STS Policy Plan should purchase top-up while travelling. Handbook The Committee also reviewed the Claims Experience reports for the Extended Health and Dental Plan for the period ending August 2014 and the Claims Analysis for August Budget, Finance and Audit 2013-August 2014. Saskatchewan Maxine Stinka Blue Cross representatives were in attendance to provide information and answer questions. The Committee met with Curt Wagner, an auditor from Deloitte, who went through the STS financial statements and the STS Extended Health Fund Our Committee also addressed two audited financial statements for the year ending June 30, 2014. Both were 2014 AGM resolutions: Resolution reviewed and approved by the committee. The funds are in very good A5, Be it Resolved that the STS financial positions with the STS Operating Fund showing a surplus of attempt to negotiate an increase to $54,806 and the Contingency Fund a balance of $833,664. All reserves for the the current maximum of $1700.00 Extended Health Fund are full. Copies of the audited financial statement will per year for drug coverage with be distributed to Chapter Presidents and provided at the Annual General Saskatchewan Blue Cross for the STS Meeting in May. Extended Health and Dental Plan. The Executive also voted to transfer $22,000 from the Operations Reserve The Committee recommended to Fund to the Contingency Fund as per STS policy (Guideline 9.12). the Executive an increase to a maximum of $2000 per year. The STS membership as of September 24, 2014, is 10,565. Executive accepted the recom - Goals of the Committee were discussed and the following were accepted as mendation to raise the maximum goals for 2014-15: coverage to $2000 per year, effective January 1, 2015. 1. To create the 2015-16 budget. 2. To continue to monitor the 2014-15 budget. With respect to Resolution A16, Be it 3. To provide information to members regarding the pension plans. Resolved that the STS Provincial Executive investigate the possibility 4. To improve members’ knowledge base regarding the Extended Health and of including the shingles vaccine as Dental Plan. a part of the next negotiations of the 5. To be sensitive to new members’ expectations through liaison Chapter Extended Health and Dental Plan visits, Pre-retirement seminars, Outreach , Retirement Lifestyles Planning with Saskatchewan Blue Cross, it and the President’s message in the Bulletin .

3 STS Retirement Lifestyles Resolutions Shirley Henderson Mike Kaminski

The Committee met for a full day on for this year will still be presenting September 23. We have many new the Pre-Retirement Seminars The STS Resolutions Committee is members in the group so the dealing with the financial aspect of pleased to report that the Disposition morning was spent reviewing the retirement with some input by the of the 2014 Resolutions is now avail - presentations done in the past STS about the organization and the able on the website. covering the headings of: intro - Group Benefit Plan. The STF In addition, the Committee encour - duction, transition, vision of supports our presentations for the ages all Chapter Presidents to direct retirement, STS organization; STS holistic view of retirement through their members' attention to the Group Benefits, finances and “Just our Retirement Lifestyles workshops. In Case” file. importance of resolutions for the This year we hope to do three operation of STS as a member- The afternoon was spent looking at presentations – Moose Jaw, North driven organization. To that end we improvements, additions, deletion Battleford and Yorkton. These will invite Chapters to begin considering of items and clarification on others. be near the end of March and/or drafting resolutions for submission. A PowerPoint presentation accom - beginning of April. The earlier resolutions are drafted, panies each of the sections described the better they are researched and above when a seminar is given. Please spread the word to the active the more easily they are processed teachers. More information will be for the AGM. Please refer to Policy 3 Milton Block is the STF liaison and published in the STF Bulletin and page 17 of the Policy Handbook . he was with us for the day. The STF Outreach .

Support Services Calvin Bachmeier

Our Committee met on September 24, 2014. There are several impor tant developments that teachers should consider. Sunil Pandila has been engaged to update and monitor the website. We feel that the website should always be as current as possible, because there is nothing more frustrating than to find that information and links are no longer valid. Since he is a member of our Provincial Executive he is readily available if changes or updates have to be made. He will also be sensitive to the concerns of teachers. You should pay particular attention to a new link which has been added to our website. The website is sk.211.ca. It contains information on a number of topics. One of the advantages of this website is that it groups topics regionally. For example if you searched seniors’ housing and you were near Prince Albert it would tell you what is available in that geographic region. This could save you a lot of time on the computer. The funding for this website is not permanent so please check out the website and if you find it useful, please contact them and let them know you found their website valuable. The website is funded by the United Way. Its role is to help you find the right community or social services. “What’s New” continues on the website. It changes monthly and features an article of interest to superannuated teachers. This is the time of year that Chapters are planning their activities for the year. If you would like to sponsor a program which would be of value to your Chapter members, please consider the Chapter Support Program. The application form is only one page long, so it is not time consuming. If two or more Chapters want to go together to sponsor an event additional funds are available.

4 Outreach Saskatchewan Joyce Hoffman Seniors Mechanism Mike Kaminski

The Outreach Committee would like to thank our members for submitting articles for Spotlight on SSM held its first new Board SSM are in the process of finalizing orientation meeting in Regina on a partnership agreement. November Superannuates and Superannuates September 10. Much time was spent 13 is tentatively scheduled as the Make a Difference . Due to the with the Board orientation for the date for the next member consulta - increase in mailing costs, please coming year. Committees are being tion meeting. consider receiving your Outreach named for functions and programs. on-line, rather than as a paper copy. A motion was passed which will If you wish to receive email require staff and the Executive notification when Outreach is posted Director to provide a Police Record Office on the STS website, please email check. A Conflict of Interests Policy your request to the STS at is being reviewed to determine if and Staffing [email protected] such a tool is for the Board. Fred Herron

Secondly, if there are two copies of SSM will be contracting with Linda The STS welcomes MJ Krips as Outreach arriving in your mail Anderson to pull together the Office Assistant. MJ joined the and you only require one copy, resources in a binder in regards to office staff on September 1. please contact the STS Office at the Age Friendly/Elder Abuse Free [email protected]. Communities project. SUMA and

Notice from the Office: As passed at the 2014 AGM there is a new formula for calculating Chapter rebates. Please keep this in mind when submitting member- ship fees for STS. • Less than 50 members rebate of $10 per member; • 50 - 100 members rebate of $9 per member; • Greater than 100 members rebate of $8 per member

STS email address:

[email protected] FSronTt roSw ( froEm xlefte) Jcuduy Btuziowvetesky , 2Fre0d H1e4rron- (1Ex5 ecutive Secretary), Maxine Stinka (Vice-President), Doug Haroldson (President), Robert Wuschenny (Past-President). Check out our website at: Middle row (from left) George Georget (ACER-CART Representative), Helen Sukovieff, Kate McCorriston, Mike Kaminski, Calvin Bachmeier, Joyce Hoffman. Back row (from left) Alan Laughlin, Shirley Henderson, Elaine Broughton, Sunil Pandila, Don Gabel, Roger Marchand. www.sts.sk.ca

5 Recreation – Calvin Bachmeier Upcoming Events Recreational Activities Participation STS Style . . .

Bowling STS 2015 Bowling Registration Form Date: April 30-May 1, 2015 Host: Saskatoon Chapter Eastview Bowl – 2929 Louise St., Saskatoon, SK Contact: Rick Murza April 30 – May 1, 2015 Phone: 306-374-6323 Mail entries to: STS Bowling 2015 c/o Rick Murza 32 Leyden Crescent, Saskatoon SK S7J 2S4 Email: [email protected] Phone: 306-374-6323 or [email protected] Email: [email protected] or [email protected] • Registration Deadline is Wednesday, April 8, 2015. Fishing • Limit – 80 bowlers. Host needed for 2015 • Register as a full team, partial team, or as an individual. Tournament Fee: ______X $69 = $ ______Bridge Extra banquet tickets ______X $22 = $ ______Host needed for 2014 and 2015. Extra lunch tickets ______X $11 = $ ______TOTAL ENCLOSED = $ ______Golf NB : Make cheques payable to STS Saskatoon Chapter Host needed for 2015. Team Contact Person: Name: Curling Address: Date: November 3-5, 2014 City Postal Code: Host: Prince Albert Chapter Phone: Contact: Merv Wiesner Email: Phone: (h) 306-922-4444 or (c) 306-961-2473 Email: [email protected] (Please note corrected email STS Provincial Golf Tournament 2014 address) The Humboldt and District Chapter of the Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan was pleased to host the 2014 STS Golf Tournament at the Humboldt Golf Club on June 9-10, 2014. There were 67 participants for the Saskatchewan Scramble on the first day. Following the Scramble golfers and guests enjoyed a banquet at the Humboldt Golf Club and then were treated to fabulous If Chapters are interested in hosting entertainment by the Little German Band. provincial events please contact the The second day was the start of the medal play round and at the STS office or a member of the conclusion of play prizes were awarded in each flight. Recreation Committee. We would Senior Men’s Winner: Germaine Dauk also be open to any proposals for Men’s Winner: George Cornwell Senior Women’s Winner: new events. Sylvie Francoeur Women’s Winner: Jodi Bruce The Tournament Committee wishes to thank all who braved the elements to participate and all who helped make this event a success.

6 Spotlight on Superannuates Richard Towriss (Moose Jaw Chapter) Submitted by Adele Owatz

Richard (Rich) Towriss exemplifies a ing Meals On Wheels for that bowling very successfully for over 40 community volunteer, parent, organization. On behalf of Hunger years. They have participated in the husband and friend. He has been a in Moose Jaw, Rich delivers school STS Provincial Tournaments held member of the Moose Jaw Chapter lunches to several local schools. throughout the province. Both are of the STS since retiring from the When his children were at home, he also superior fans for our local and Moose Jaw Public School Division was President of the Sunningdale provincial teams, having held in 1998. Within our Chapter Rich Community Associa tion, Boy Scout season tickets for many years to the has held the position of Treasurer Parent Chairperson, boys’ baseball Saskatchewan Roughriders, the for six years, also volunteering as coach, girls’ fastball coach and, as University of Saskatchewan Huskies treasurer for both the Provincial well, held a position on the Senior and the Moose Jaw Warriors. When Golf and Bowling Tournaments held Baseball Executive. these games fall on the same day in Moose Jaw. He has attended you will see the Towrisses traveling several leadership workshops in Much of Rich’s life has revolved from Moose Jaw to Saskatoon to Saskatoon, sharing that knowledge around his children and their ball Regina, not wanting to miss any of with our Chapter. careers as he continues to support these games. his adult daughter and his grand- Within the community Rich has son, by watching their games and In conclusion, we are fortunate to volunteered with the Early Bird cheering them on. have Rich, Sandra and their Lions Club for over 25 years, children, spouses and now six, soon serving as President and Treasurer Bowling is now a priority for Rich to be seven, grandchildren as a part for several terms as well as deliver - and his wife, Sandra. They have been of our community.

Congratulations to Mindy Anderson, recipient of the University of Regina STS Scholarship; Our Apologies Judy Warick, Saskatoon Chapter member, was inducted into the Our apologies to the Regina Canadian Masters Athletic Hall of Fame; Chapter. The following names and, Birthday Greetings to: should have been included in the 2014 Chapter Awards list: Cheryl • Hazel Parker, Moose Jaw Chapter (95) Scherle and Ed Stelmaschuk . • Edna Burns, Moose Jaw Chapter (90) • Madge Bennett, Moose Jaw Chapter (99) The following picture of • Gladys Towriss, Moose Jaw Chapter (101) Eileen Butler , the Spotlight on • Edythe Cowan, Mainline Chapter (90) Superannuates, May-June issue was omitted.

Attention Superannuated Teachers If you withdrew teaching services during a legal strike over the course of your career and as a consequence were required to delay your superannuation in order to accumulate additional contributory service, you may be entitled to a benefit from the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation. Applications will be received until December 31, 2014. For information, please request an information package from: Todd Pearce, Administration/Governance Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation Our apologies to Eileen and the 2317 Arlington Ave, Saskatoon SK S7J 2H8 Battlefords and District Chapter.

7 From The STS Executive 2014-15 Editor’s Desk President/Councillor Doug Haroldson, Maple Creek-Medicine Hat Chapter Welcome to all new super - annuates. After each Executive Vice-President/Councillor Maxine Stinka, Assiniboine Chapter meeting the Outreach is sent Past-President/Councillor Robert Wuschenny, Regina Chapter out. You can view it earlier on Executive Secretary Fred Herron, Saskatoon Chapter the STS website by requesting notification when the edition is ACER-CART Representative George Georget, Saskatoon Chapter ready. In each edition the Councillors: Chairs of the various com - Calvin Bachmeier Maple Creek-Medicine Hat Chapter mittees will report on the Joyce Hoffman Swift Current Chapter happenings of the STS. Mike Kaminski Assiniboine Chapter Other features in each issue Sunil Pandila Moose Jaw Chapter (depending on available space) Helen Sukovieff Regina Chapter are the following: Members-At-Large: Spotlight on Superannuates Elaine Broughton Saskatoon Chapter tells a story about someone Judy Buzowetsky Weyburn Chapter who has contributed to the STS Don Gabel Wakaw Chapter and education or tells about a Shirley Henderson Prince Albert Chapter group of people doing some- Alan Laughlin The Battlefords and District Chapter thing interesting and who are Roger Marchand South Central Chapter willing to share with the rest of Kate McCorriston Nipawin Chapter the readership. Superannuates Make a Difference tells in a few sentences what your Chapter does to help out your com- munity. To The Superannuated Teachers If there is someone who has an Reminder of Saskatchewan issue, or concern or question Seniors’ Drug Plan that he/she wishes to voice, To control costs, one copy is sent to space allowing, we will put this If you are the primary households where both spouses are in. The letter should be short, to plan holder of the STS members. If this is not satisfactory, please the point, and not inflamma- Group Benefits Plan and contact the STS office in Saskatoon. tory. This section will depend on available space and the are eligible for the Seniors’ The Outreach is available online. discretion of the editorial staff. Drug Plan, please send a Please email the STS Office if copy of the confirmation you wish to receive notification If someone in your Chapter has reached a milestone birth - letter to the STS Office when it is posted on the website day (90 or older), please in order to have your instead of receiving a hard copy. provide his/her name to the monthly Extended Health STS office so he/she can be website: www.sts.sk.ca acknowledged in Outreach . premium reduced. If you Phone: 306-373-3879 are no longer eligible for Email: [email protected] “Three things in life that can Fax: 306-242-2538 destroy a person: anger, pride, the Seniors’ Drug Plan and unforgiveness.” please notify the STS office. 2317 Arlington Avenue Saskatoon SK S7J 2H8 Shirley Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to noon

Publications Mail Agreement No.40017216 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: STS Office 2317 Arlington Avenue Saskatoon SK S7J 2H8

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