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Board of Directors

Highlights from the ACER-CART Board of Directors

Please be aware that “Highlights from the ACER-CART Board of Directors” are not the official minutes from the meetings.

The ACER-CART Board of Directors:

  1. supports the objectives of ACER-CART,
  2. commits to actively participating in the activities of ACER-CART,
  3. supports the decisions adopted by the Board and the AGM, and
  4. participates in the governance of ACER-CART.

ACER-CART Board of Directors Briefing Notes

November 5, 2024

Moment of Silence

Board members observed a moment of silence in honour of Ambrose White, president of RTO (Nova Scotia).

President’s Report:

  • President has attended 4 committee and the ECRTO meetings.
  • Explanation of the most recent President’s message, emphasizing the need to continue to pressure federal and provincial politicians to work on the second phase of Pharmacare.
  • Will write another letter re: the Canadian Dental Care Plan.

RTOERO letter – background

  • ACER-CART AGM 2021
  • ACER-CART Protocol 8 proposed by RTOERO Executive Director
  • Motion for approval – Moved by RT0ERO president. Motion carried.
  • January 24, 2023
  • RTOERO presentation at Executive meeting in Toronto
  • Presentation referred to the Health Services committee
  • RTOERO proposal denied due to Bylaw 5.02: ACER-CART shall carry on its operations without pecuniary gain to the Member organizations, Board of Directors, Officers of the Executive Committee or Committee members.
  • April 25, 2023
  • Letter from RTOERO president indicating the withdrawal of funding to ACER-CART the following year
  • Follow-up with memo to Member Organizations from the ACER-CART
  • AGM 2023 – re-affirmation of Protocol 8
  • October 19, 2023 – Letter from RT0ERO indicating intent of withdraw of RTOERO membership and funding effective January 1, 2024
  • Renaissance magazine Article by RTOERO Executive Director
  • Meeting of Political Advocacy Committee endorsing open letter to RTOERO District Presidents
  • RTOERO article in fall issue of Canadian Teacher with follow-up by the ACER-CART president
  • Evan Bray radio show in Saskatchewan October 25, 2024, with follow up by ACER-CART president to Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism

Communications Committee Report

  • Briefing notes of committee meetings are published on the website in COMMUNICATIONS.
  • One-page documents are forthcoming and will be recognizable by the special banner created in the spring. Member Organizations are welcome to use the documents on their website and in their publications.
  • See Communication Committee briefing notes dated September 19, 2024

Health Services Committee

  • The five chosen 5 concepts on Aging in Place were shared. The committee is determining their next steps.
  • Committee responses to the actions on pharmacare and dental plan were also shared.
  • See Health Services briefing notes dated September 19, 2024.

Political Advocacy Committee

  • Committee chairs are working on the production of the ACER-CART Election booklet as a Federal election could be called at any time.
  • See Political Advocacy briefing notes dated October 18, 2024

Pension and Retirement Income Committee

  • Side presentation: Cost of Living graph – the loss of purchasing power since 2003 for pension plans will be shared with the Member Organizations
  • STS resolutions discussed
  • See Political and Advocacy Committee briefing notes dated October 9, 2024

Follow-up on SWOT Analysis

  • Table officers met on September 30th to review the summary of the SWOT analysis survey
  • Each statement with a 5 or more rating were considered
  • The Executive will now develop 4 pillars prior to the January Executive meeting. At this meeting main points of interest or importance will be related to each pillar

New Mode

  • Follow-up with STS to evaluate how well the New Mode platform functioned for their Saskatchewan election held October 28, 2024
  • An invitation has been extended from New/Mode for a 30-minute demo of V2 (Impact) platform on November 12, 2024.
  • A new feature of New Mode is initiating a petition.

AGM 2025

  • 2025 ACER-CART AGM – a ZOOM meeting held on June 6, 2025.
  • 2025 Western Conference – hosted in Saskatoon on June 9-11, 2025.
  • 2025 Eastern Conference – hosted in Fredericton on June 9-11, 2025.

2026 AGM Location

  • Member Organizations willing to host the in-person 2026 AGM were invited to send their proposal to the ACER-CART Executive Director.
  • Two Member Organizations have already provided proposals.
  • The Executive will decide the location at the January 12-13, 2025, meeting

Upcoming Dates

  • Board of Directors’ meetings: February 4, 2025, and April 15, 2025

Virtual Meeting – April 10, 2024

President’s Report:

  • All Regional officers to be elected, not designated.
  • Terms of office to be 2 years with elections in the even years.
  • Member Associations encouraged to work with like-minded organizations at the provincial or regional level if there is a good fit and alignment. Possible liaisons: the National Pensioners Federation, Canadian Health Coalition, National Association of Federal Retirees
  • 2024-2025 priorities have been discussed & will be presented at the AGM

Legislation Committee Report

  • Recommended changes in the By-Laws and Constitution discussed and will be brought to the 2024 Special AGM for approval.

Political Advocacy Committee

  • A third follow-up letter to be written by the president re: National Pharmacare emphasizing the development of a national formulary of essential prescription drugs and providing for the development of a national bulk purchasing strategy. The letter will also request the expansion of the list of covered drugs to include antibiotics, cholesterol medicines, blood pressure medications, and psychological medications such as antidepressants. (letter posted on ACER-CART website April 10, 2024)
  • Aging in Place, the second priority for this term, will commence following input from the Health Services Committee.

SWOT Analysis

  • Deadline for submission of SWOT analysis by Member Associations – May 30.
  • Executive to begin the reviews – June 6.

Canadian Dental Care Plan

  • Concern expressed re: conflicting information/absence of information available to retirees.
  • ACER-CART to write a letter to the major political parties requesting that the rules be reviewed and clarified to prevent unfortunate confusion and consequences for low-income retirees. (letter posted on ACER-CART website April 25, 2004)

AGM 2024 Information – Executive Director

  • Agenda update
  • Attendee registration deadline – April 20
  • AGM committee and Member reports deadline – May 15.
  • Meetings will be held at the CTF/FCE building (2490 Don Reid Drive)
  • Hotel – Delta Hotel by Marriot (101 Lyon Street North)

Communication suggestions:

  • Request for short messages that could be shared in Member publications.
  • Suggestion Member organizations could share content of their publications.

Virtual Meeting – February 1, 2024

Future of ACER-CART – The reconstituted executive believes that ACER-CART can continue as a strong voice in support of the well-being of retired educators and seniors throughout Canada.

Corporate Change Recommendations

  • Future executive to be increased to 7 members – president, vice-president, past president, 2 members from the Eastern provinces and 2 members from the Western provinces.
  • Terms of office to be 2 years with elections in the even years.
  • In-person Annual General Meetings to occur every two years in the even years (2024, 2026, 2028) beginning in June 2024.
  • Virtual (Zoom) AGMs with an abbreviated agenda to occur in the odd years (2025, 2027, 2029).
  • Regional Conferences hosted by the Members to be held in the odd years (2025, 2027, 2029) at a time convenient to the hosts.
  • Changes in By-laws, Constitution, and Protocols will be available at the Board of Directors meeting held via Zoom in April. (Member presidents, directors, alternates, and executive directors)

Priorities for 2024

  • National Pharmacare Program
  • Aging in Place

AGM 2024

  • Special AGM to be held on Thursday, June 6 beginning at 1:00 pm.
  • Meeting to be held at the CTF building to be more cost efficient.
  • Guest speaker following the special AGM.
  • AGM to continue Friday, June 7 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.
  • AGM banquet to be held at the Delta Hotel beginning at 6:30 Friday evening of June 7, 2024.

Strategic Plan

  • Members to complete SWOT analysis with their executive and return results by the end of April 2024.
  • Results to be reviewed by the executive and brought back to the Board.

Nominations

  • Application forms for nominations for the 2024 Elections to be sent out to Members in April.

National Pensioners Federation

  • ACER-CART to work collaboratively with the National Pensioners Federation on national projects/issues affecting seniors in Canada.

National Pharmacare Program letter-writing campaign

  • Links to the NEW MODE letter-writing campaign and the support letter from the ACER-CART president to be located on the home page.