RTO/EROPrime District 12 Norfolk Time Issue 54 Spring 2016 Remembering Our Closed Norfolk County Schools In this issue President’s Message 2 Trivia Challenge 13 Ist Vice President’s Report 3 Foundation News 14 Health Services and Insurance 4-5 Club News 15 Project: Service To Others 6-7 Egerton Ryerson Bell Awards 16-17 Goodwill Report 8-9 2015 Financial Report 18 Spring Luncheon 10-11 Classifieds 19 Garden Party Invitation 12 RTO District 12 Directory 20 PrimeTime President’s Our new Executive Director, Jim Grieve, talked of all the benefits of healthy, active Message living and for the need of RTO/ERO to market itself, especially through the vehicle Margaret Payne of the Retirement Planning workshops. Our last one was held jointly with Brant this past fall. As Spring is just around the corner, it is indeed The RTO/ERO Foundation continues to exciting to be a member focus on geriatrics and on gerontology of RTO/ERO and to see research and training at the post-secondary how this wonderful institutions across the province. Johnson organization can benefit so many people. Insurance has pledged $250,000 over five years to the Foundation. RTO/ERO has come to the rescue for two different groups since the Fall. Firstly, thanks to the initiative of Joanne Weeks, we were able to assist those members of US Steel who had lost their health benefits through no fault of their own. RTO/ERO stepped in and offered coverage to those members who had an education connection Mark your calendars for the Spring and many people took advantage of that. Luncheon which is fast approaching, on Quite recently RTO/ERO has also been able May 4, 2016. We are continuing our to offer the health plan benefits to members series of honouring teachers who worked in of RTIP/ARM who were hit with rising schools that have closed. This year we are prices and lower coverage. RTO/ERO again honouring those in the western end of offered open enrolment with no medical Norfolk County. The schools we are needed so that the transition was very focusing on are as follows: smooth. All of us know of the benefits of our health plan but our organization is much St. Williams South Walsingham more than that. It offers camaraderie, Normandale Bell Mill social activities and many opportunities to Cranberry P.S. Potash benefit the community. I urge all members East Middleton South Middleton SS #7 to suggest to prospective retirees in the field Forestville Clear Creek of education to become a member of RTO/ Goshen Cultus ERO. Fairground St. Gabriel’s At the Provincial level, the new President is Please refer to pages 10-11 for details! Martin Higgs with June Szeman moving to Past President. The new Code of Conduct for RTO/ERO is being rewritten and will be sent out to Districts Our Cover again and may be ready for discussion at The photograph, courtesy of Paula Razokas, Spring Senate. was taken outside South Middleton SS12 on the Rhineland Road circa 1938. The school had also been a community centre for some time but is now her home. !2 Spring 2016 1st Vice Archives Report President’s The Archives continue to be housed at the Waterford Heritage and Agricultural Report Museum at 159 Nichol Street in Waterford. Plans are to have our file cabinet of Ruth-Ellen Kelly resources moved to the Archives Room when it is completed. This will provide us Over the winter with an area to peruse the files and keep months, much them up to date. planning has taken place to organize events for you. Book Clubs continue to Donations meet and the Walking Club will begin Thanks to Virginia Birnie for her again in April. A group of five has been donation of photos and articles from her planning the next three Spring Luncheons teaching career over the last number of where we will Remember Our Closed years. Virginia and I went to London Norfolk Schools. Our plans are outlined Teachers’ College in the same year and even on the middle pages of this publication. though she was not from Norfolk, we ended Please check it out! up working on the same staff in 1970. I enjoyed looking over her collection of Provincially, members are beginning to plan pictures and have included one picture for the 50th Anniversary of RTO/ERO from the Simcoe Reformer of 1980. I in 2018. Even though they still have two remember many years ago, Virginia was on years to plan, the celebration will be here the Grievance Committee of Norfolk before you know it. What do you think is Women Teachers' Association. We had the most important accomplishment of our a rather interesting meeting with the organization over the last 50 years? Director of Education who said that we were pioneers in this particular endeavour. Please submit your response to me at Virginia reminded him that Women have [email protected] or 519 426 9207 always been pioneers. I will compile your ideas for our local 50th Anniversary Celebration. !3 PrimeTime You may access the information through Health 1 877 519 2378 or Services and www.bestdoctorscanada.com or contact Insurance Plan Benefits Service at 1 877 406 9007 Report Learn more about this benefit on page 4 of the latest Update (which you received in Virginia Birnie the mail a while ago). More Extended Health Care Plan RTO/ERO Group Insurance Benefits Updates Program… from Update 2016 As of January 2016: The following benefits have been added to • Prescription Drug benefit maximum has the Extended Health Benefits Plan. Please increased to $3200 check your latest Update 2016 for more in • Paramedical Practitioners maximum has depth information. increased to $1200 • Acupuncture and foot care services For 2016: provided by a registered nurse will be Best Doctors has been added and includes reimbursed under the paramedical the following: practitioner benefit • If you would like an expert opinion • The Eye Examination benefit has regarding your medical diagnosis and increased to $150 for multiple visits in treatment options you can call Best any two calendar years for you, your Doctors spouse and eligible dependent children • There is no limit to the number of times • Maximum for prescription eyewear and which you may have a consultation for contact lenses has increased to $400 • The consultation is confidential per insured person in any two • You may call if you have questions about consecutive years a medical condition and would like • Additional lifetime maximum for new further interpretation lenses required due to eye surgery has • You may call if you need assistance also increased to $400 per insured finding a top specialist or treatment person facility for your condition • Maximum for repair or purchase of • You may call if you need assistance hearing aids has increased to $1100 per navigating the health care system person every five calendar years • This new service is available at no cost to members who are enrolled in the RTO extended health benefit plan !4 Spring 2016 Dental Plan Updates Reimbursement has been updated to the 2016 Fee Guide for General Practitioners • Limited benefit payable for members applying for Dental Plan as a "late applicant" has been increased to $500 per insured person for the first 12 months of coverage Monthly Premium Rates as of January 2016 • Extended Health Care - increase of 4% • Dental Benefits - increase of 2% • Semi-private Hospital and Convalescent Care - unchanged Reasons To Purchase RTO/ERO Welcome New Insurance if you are looking to Retirees! purchase health benefits and are an Retirement Brunch RTO member September 14, • RTO/ERO offers the largest voluntary 2016 group insurance plans for retired All new retirees, education employees in Canada including anyone who • RTO/ERO is a not-for-profit has retired since organization, any surpluses are retained October 2015 or have recently moved to by the group insurance plans Norfolk are welcome to celebrate this new • RTO/ERO plans are owned and managed time of life. Location to be determined. Stay by members tuned! • Over 91, 000 participants are insured Note District 12 Norfolk RTO/ERO RTIP/ARM policyholders looking for another Annual General Meeting option for health insurance, can enrol in this group insurance program with no medical Egerton Ryerson Bell Awards insurance program and is available to you Fall Luncheon until late March. October 12, 2016 Vittoria Community Always contact Johnson Insurance for Centre further information at 1 877 406 9007 Honouring those who have been RTO/ERO members for 25 years. !5 PrimeTime Project: Service to Others Computers for Norfolk Community Help Centre Peter Scovil Project: Service to Others is pleased to report that the provincial RTO provided the full $4,000 we requested for four computers and a printer for the literacy classes at the Norfolk Community Help Centre. The Centre works with Low German speaking Mennonites who have immigrated from Latin America to western Norfolk County. Frank O’Connor, Peter and Hazel The Centre helps the participants develop program, the women have learned enough life skills so they can be more fully involved English to read novels. The new computers in Canadian society, while still respecting funded by RTO are being used by women in their values and traditions. the second and third levels. They are learning computing and English literacy Due to their distinct language and cultural skills as they do internet research, skills background, these families have difficulties most of them aren't able to develop at home. interacting in Canadian society, resulting in social exclusion and deprivation. This has There is a high school credit program made them less able to take full advantage offered through the Grand Erie District of health and social service supports and School Board in the same building for those employment opportunities.