PEIRTA Published with the generous support of Newsletter Prince Edward Island Retired Teachers’ Association VOLUME 10 ISSUE 3 FA:LL 2017 From the President I have been tasked by my news- ing forward to another school letter editor to get articles for the year. Remember that first week September newsletter to her by where you dragged your body August 25. Well, nothing excit- home on Friday and collapsed on ing happened so far this summer the nearest chair, sofa or bed with and I see more of the same in the a lemonade or “something” to future. However, the weather and celebrate the first week’s sur- the state of my health have been vival. I really look back on my excellent, so nothing exciting is 35-year career with such good good. I hope this newsletter finds memories. you all in similar good health and I hope the present group of teach- that you thoroughly enjoyed your ers will be able to say the same. summer. Sometimes we think that the pro- wonderful. I remember when the end of July fession is all doom and gloom, brought panic because my holi- but I expect the retirees of our era One momentous occasion this day was half over; on the heels of were saying the same about our summer was my adoption of a that thought, came guilt when I chances of survival. I look at the cat. Oh yeah, I really needed thought of all the people who challenges new teachers face and that!! He is one year old, and his only had 2-4 weeks off. I have to compare them to my beginnings. name is Murphff (spelling very important). He has me pretty well say that by mid-August I was I think I had it pretty darned digging out the books and look- easy!! However, if you talk about trained now and life for him is those old jelly pads we (some of good. My son was in just after us) used to make copies, buying the adoption and said, “I’ll be INSIDE THIS ISSUE your own box of chalk, class size telling everyone that Mom is a Page 2—To/From the Editor; Executive 30 with grades 1-8 and braving crazy cat lady.” As usual when Page 3—From the President (cont’d), RTA the winter snow and winds to go one of my children annoys me I Student Awards; Newcomers; Insurance to the outside privy, these young- pull out the old: “You’re out of Page 4—ACER-CART sters think we’re nuts. Time See President, 3 Page 5—2017 Annual General Meeting moves on and we just try to mud- Page 6—History of PEIRTA dle along with it. Whichever way Visit our website at Page 7—PEITF Corner you cut the cake, retirement is www.peirta.com Page 8—PEI Party Line PAGE 2 PEIRTA NEWSLETTER FALL 2017 From the Editor association and its executive. We live in situation. This would be too late to ef- a time where our defined benefit pen- fect a difference. Our executive deserve You will note our president’s plaintive sion is consistently evaluated. Our ex- our support and our attendance at meet- lament that I asked her to have her arti- ecutive has been very successful in de- ing to ensure that support. So retired cles to me by August 25. In case any- fending our position in this matter and teachers, when our next annual meeting one thought I was being unusually effi- has secured one of the best deals in the comes in November please consider cient, I will tell you that my early dead- country for our retired people. Our attending and lending your support to line was due to two sets of circum- health insurance has been improved and our executive. Really, it is only one day stances: 1)the executive wanted to meet sustained mainly through the efforts of in the year and our hard working and mail the newsletter early, and 2) I our elected executive. executive deserve our unqualified sup- port. was preparing for a trip to Iceland and When we look at all of this we have to Jim MacAulay had to have the newsletter pretty much remember that our executive has to keep finished before I left on Sept. 6. its members educated in all of these (Jim MacAulay is a retired teacher/ Hooray! matters. Executive members have to administrator, a past president of both the Letters to the Editor spend time preparing and defending PEITF and PEIRTA, and current VP of Editor: positions on all matters that relate to our ACER-CART.) For some time I have been thinking retired teachers. Those executive mem- PEIRTA Executive does not necessarily agree with about writing a note to our publication. bers give freely of their time and exper- opinions expressed in material authored by those I have followed the progress of our tise to represent us exceptionally well. other than official representatives of the PEIRTA, and organization over the past number of As individual retired teachers we have a information about opportunities offered by others is for information only—no endorsement is implied. years with great interest and respect. responsibility to support our executive. Our editor has taken our newsletter to When we hold our annual meetings a Next issue mid-February. Submit material to [email protected]. new heights in regard to keeping retired very small percentage of our members teachers informed. Our letter now goes see fit to attend and support the efforts If you wish to read this newsletter online instead of receiving a hard copy, send me an email and I will let to over one thousand individual retired of our elected officials. I am sure that you know when each issue should appear on our site teachers. Our presidents have consis- should we receive a decrease in our pen- and on the PEITF site. tently reported in each edition.. As indi- sions or a drastic cut in our health insur- Letters to the editor should be a maximum of 200 vidual retired teachers we have an obli- ance, numbers would swell immedi- words, must include a one-line bio, and may be edited gation to support the initiatives of our ately—demanding an answer to the for length.. PEIRTA Executive and Officers 2016—2018 President: Joyce McCardle (902-436-6960) [email protected] Vice-President: Cynthia MacDonald (902-566-4680) [email protected] Past President: Sheridyth MacNeill (902-892-4440) [email protected] Secretary: Ruth Sudsbury (902-436-6664) [email protected] Treasurer: Ronald C. McIntosh (902-687-2996) [email protected] Representatives by County: Prince (English): Leah Harris (902-859-2896) [email protected] Queens (English): Peter Meggs (902-566-1757) [email protected] Kings (English): Emma McQuaid (902-583-2978) [email protected] Francophone: Maria Bernard (902-724-5123) [email protected] Membership Chair: Pat McCardle (902-892-1915) [email protected] Pension Committee Representative: John Rowe Group Insurance Representative: Kimball Blanchard [email protected] PEIRTA Webmaster: Bill Oehlke [email protected] Newsletter Editor: Marg Stewart [email protected] PAGE 3 PEIRTA NEWSLETTER FALL 2017 Cont’d from 1 PEI Newcomers the will” threat. They all worry Volunteer Tutor about that $200 inheritance. Program We are still waiting to hear about The PEI Association for New- the 90- vs. 30-day drug prescription comers to Canada has created a refills. As late as mid-July there was still no change or end to pharmacy Volunteer Tutor Program to negotiations. Remember we started support low income refugee and meeting in Dec./15? I expect Cyn- President Joyce with Heather Crane, immigrant students. The pilot thia will still be writing about this!! Spirngvale, a Bluefield grad, winner project will support students at of the PEIRTA $1000 scholarship If you are still reading, you will be Birchwood Intermediate and awarded to a student entering the shaking your head and wondering Colonel Gray High School and Bachelor of Education Program. about my sanity and how I can ram- will run in three cycles during ble so endlessly. Would you believe the school year. Tutors have the this is my last newsletter article? flexibility to volunteer for as You will probably be relieved to many, or as few, as their hear that. Where did the two years schedules will allow. EAL go? I have enjoyed my term as your Tutor Training includes an president, but will gladly turn it over online 4-hour course and a to Cynthia, who will be a wonderful president. Thank you for reading classroom session. For more my rambling articles (all 5-10 who details on the program please Katelyn Kennedy-Drake, Brudenell, contact Project Coordinator did). a graduate of Montague High, was Jill Olscamp at [email protected] Remember the AGM is Thursday, this year’s winner of the $500 Nov. 2 at the Jack Blanchard Family PEIRTA Bursary for a student or 902-628-6009, ext 223. Centre; we hope to see you there. graduating from the B.Ed. Program. Group Insurance Update ~ Kimball Blanchard A the June meeting of Group Insur- $1.55 per month. interruption insurance to our mem- ance Trustees, some relatively minor bers. changes were made to group insurance Health Insurance The rates for basic rates. health insurance for retirees have not There has been a change in the al- been increased this year even though lowable amount for prosthetics. Insurance for Retirees The life insur- active teachers will have a rate in- The previous coverage provided ance programs have been in a deficit crease.