Win Valuable Prizes! (or at least a book}

We are still looking for a logo for ACER-CART and a name for our Newsletter.  Unfortunately our contest last year attracted very few entries, mainly because it was publicized too late.  So get your creative juices flowing and send us your ideas.

Logo

Our initials ACER-CART might lend themselves to some intriguing design possibilities.  Think of CN, one of the all-time great logos.  Not to say that we wouldn’t also consider graphics and pictures, provided they can be easily reproduced.  No more than two colours otherwise it gets very expensive to print letterhead, etc. 
 

Newsletter Name

Preferably should be bilingual, i.e. understandable in both English and French.  Two examples, unfortunately already taken, are Liaison and Horizons.  Since the number of such words is limited, we will also consider easily translatable names (e.g. News/Nouvelles).

Deadline: December 1^st, 2004

Send your entries to: Pierre Drouin, Executive Director, ACER-CART,
1397 cr Norview Orleans  ON   K4A 1Y4
e-mail address: drouinpjl@hotmail.com.

Highlights From AGM 2004

Delegates to the 2004 Annual Meeting of ACER-CART spent a beautiful two days in Ottawa June 4^th and 5^th, enjoying the sunshine, and discussing a wide range of topics dear to the hearts of retired teachers and, indeed, all seniors.  The official Minutes of the meeting will be posted as soon as they are available but here in the meantime is a fairly brief look at what we discussed and what we need to do about it.

Communications

While appreciating the improvements in internal communications made over the past year, we agreed that this is an ongoing effort and must be continued.  The website is up and running and now our webmasters need input from our member organizations.  Send us your news, on a regular basis, so that we can include it in our “What’s New” section.  Include photographs! 

Also, we still don’t have a logo or a name for the Newsletter.  Please encourage your members to get their creative juices stirring and send entries to Pierre, before December 1^st.  We’re still holding on to valuable prizes for the winning entries.

The Executive will continue to communicate with the regions on a regular basis and we will keep you abreast of any actions taken by Val Alcock, our President, as follow-up to the various motions carried at the AGM (including copies of letters).  Only just over a week to go before we know who our national government will be for the next four to five years.

Health Care

Agreed that this is a major priority and that our emphasis should be on Long-Term Health Care.  A number of motions were passed which will be communicated to the federal health minister as soon as possible.  In addition, member organizations are asked to communicate with their provincial health ministers to make them aware of our concerns.

Another concern is the establishment of a National Prescription Drug Agency and this also will be communicated to the appropriate levels of government.  In addition, we will voice our concerns regarding accountability for funds transferred to the provinces and territories, and the desirability of publishing audited reports on a wide basis. 

Pension and Retirement Income

A number of improvements were suggested to the regulations regarding RRSPs and RRIFS and these will be communicated to the appropriate authorities.  The thrust of all our motions was basically to enhance incomes of seniors by relieving the tax burden on them. 

Liaison with Other Seniors’ Organizations

We enjoyed very informative presentations by the Congress of National Seniors Organizations and the Canadian Seniors Partnership and Seniors Canada On-line.  We agreed to increase networking with other organizations to promote health and pension issues.  A number of member organizations already do this at the provincial level and we were convinced of the need to create a more cohesive voice for the concerns of all seniors.

Varia

We said a sad goodbye to Aline Petrie of CTF, who has been secretary and tower of strength to ACER-CART since its beginning.  Aline is retiring to beautiful British Columbia and we wish her and her family all the best in their new lives.  We owe a great debt to the Canadian Teachers Federation, without whose support we would not have been able to survive, and Aline made a major contribution to this support.  Always cheerful and efficient, she was a pleasure to work with and will be missed.

Once again, Johnson Inc. earned our thanks for hosting a most enjoyable dinner for delegates and for picking up the bill for one night at the hotel.  In addition, their representative, Cathy Kuhlman, made an interesting presentation on “Wellness” and the information and resources available from sources as disparate as the federal and provincial governments, pharmaceutical companies and drug stores.

As usual, our provincial reports and exchange of information were very much appreciated and we agreed that more time would be given to this item at the next meeting.  In fact, it was agreed to expand the meeting to two full days in order to cover the agenda without having to rush through certain items.

Respectfully submitted,
Pat Steele,
Communications Committee Chair

Meet your Executive Committee

President: Val Alcock

Val was a Principal in elementary schools in Northwestern Ontario and holds supervisory officers’ papers.  She served on teacher federation provincial boards and committees and on CTF Project Overseas teams; was on the provincial board of the Ontario Red Cross; and was always involved in many clubs and committees in Kenora.  She moved to Nanaimo, BC, upon retirement but continued to serve on the Executive and as President of RTO/ERO.  After the death of her first husband she remarried and has three stepsons and a stepdaughter in Manitoba.

Vice President and Regional Director (West): Pat Brady

Pat Brady took early retirement after 33 years of teaching in the public school system of BC, having taught at all levels of that system.  He was active in his local teachers association, serving many years on the local executive including the office of President.  He also is a Past President of the BC Teachers' Federation; the Canadian Teachers' Federation; and the BC Retired Teachers' Association.

Pat continues to be involved on the Executive of his local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion; is completing his 11th year as a member of the Senate of the University of BC; and is a Vice President of the Council of Senior Citizens' Organizations of BC.

Regional Director (Centre): Pat Steele

Pat was on staff at the Provincial Association of Protestant Teachers of Quebec for almost 25 years before taking early retirement in 1997.  She is presently Vice-President of the Quebec Association of Retired Educators and has attended the last two CART AGMs as Director.  She is an avid bridge player and birder, and volunteers at a local library in her home town of Montreal.

Regional Director (Atlantic): George Little

George Little took early retirement after 34 years in the U.K. and New Brunswick school systems in 1994. For the last 27 years he had been English Department Head in Simonds High School in Saint John, N.B. He was active in the local of the NBTA, heading up various committees, and since retiring he has served on the NB Society of Retired Teachers local as Vice-President and President, and sits on the provincial executive - he is co-editor of the NBSRT magazine Reflections, and served for four years as provincial director on the ACER-CART Board.  In retirement he is involved in many volunteer activities, principally with UNICEF, the Cancer Society and the Kidney Foundation.

Executive Director: Pierre Drouin