President s Report. To The Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan. Doug Haroldson. Volume 38, Number 2 October-November 2015

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1 Volume 38, Number 2 October-November 2015 To The Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan President s Report Doug Haroldson During September and October I had the opportunity to visit ten Chapters in Saskatchewan. To date I have four Chapter visits planned for November ateachernd December. Chapter Executives are making every effort to keep in contact with their members and to provide programs of interest. Two major challenges facing Chapters are getting new members included and the lack of willingness to take leadership roles. Special thanks to the Chapters for the hospitality extended to Cheryle and me. Presidents Day was held on October 28. Thirty-four of 43 Chapters had representation at the meeting. This meeting provided an opportunity for receiving information, sharing ideas and discussing issues. The overall evaluation of the day was favourable. As the STS is a policy-driven organization, ongoing development of resolutions to be dealt with at the AGM is essential for developing policy relevant to the goals of the STS. Resolutions can be sent to the office at any time. The deadline for resolutions to be printed in Outreach and circulated to the delegates is March 1, The Disposition of Resolutions dealt with at last year s AGM is available on the website and from your Chapter President. The present term of the Extended Health and Dental Plan is July 1, 2015 to June 30, The financial position for the first three months is very favourable. Effective January 1, 2016, the paramedical benefit will be increased from $350 to $500. If Chapters or individuals have suggestions for improvement to the plan, please send them in to the STS Office at any time. Resolutions can also be drafted seeking improvements in the plan. These suggestions and resolutions become part of the package to be negotiated with Saskatchewan Blue Cross in the next agreement. Some requests that are affordable and sustainable can be acted upon in the interim. As of October 26, 2015, the membership of the STS was 10,892. The Operating Fund and the Extended Health and Dental Fund are all in a favourable position. The Audited Financial Statement from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015, was distributed at the Presidents Meeting on October 28, The Retirement Lifestyle Planning Committee met on October 27 to plan for upcoming presentations in March Alan Laughlin is the chairperson of the Committee. More details are included in a separate report in this issue of Outreach. Eight councillors representing the STS attended the STF Councillors Conference and Special Meeting of Council on October The guest speaker at the Conference was Joel Westheimer, an education columnist for CBC Radio s Ottawa Morning and Ontario Today shows. Three draft policies were presented and discussed. A Special Meeting of Council was held on October 31 at 11:00 a.m. A more detailed Councillor Report is in this issue of Outreach. The Recreation Committee works closely with host Chapters in planning activities. Two recent activities, Kaiser on October 14 hosted by the Wakaw Chapter and Curling on November 2-4 hosted by The Battlefords and District Chapter, were well hosted and appreciated by the participants. Special thanks to these Chapters for jobs well done. The Saskatchewan Professional Teachers Regulatory Board is now a reality. For information, please phone or toll-free at or go online at As the Holiday Season approaches, I wish each of you and your family a joyous holiday and a prosperous, healthy New Year. I look forward to serving you in the new year.

2 ACER-CART Fred Herron ACER-CART focussed a lot of effort on advocating for seniors during the recent federal election. Three documents were used widely across Canada during the election and issued on behalf of ACER-CART: A Vision for Canada, the Seniors Issues for the 2015 Federal Election and Federal Party Leaders Reply to Our Questions. It may be of interest to you to reference from time to time the promises made during the election by the Liberal Party. What follows are some of the promises made to retired teachers and to seniors: 1. Lower age of OAS eligibility from 67 to Lower yearly TFSA contribution limit from $10,000 back to $5, Meet provincial leaders within three months after election to discuss expanding CPP. 4. Increase yearly GIS benefits for single low-income seniors by nearly $1, Introduce Seniors Price Index to ensure OAS and GIS benefits Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism Mike Kaminski The three STS Executive members selected as representatives to SSM are Mike Kaminski, Sunil Pandila, and Jane Isinger. They will be participating in a member organization consultation scheduled for November 19 in Regina. SSM held a very successful Celebrating Seniors Awards pro gram on October 4, 2015, align with true increases to cost of living. 6. Restore Canada Post s door-to-door home mail delivery service. 7. Invest $20 billion in infrastructure, including seniors residences, rentgeared-to-income housing, and refurbishment of existing homes and facilities. 8. Base eligibility for compassionate care benefits for caregivers on serious illness rather than a terminal diagnosis. Allow six months of compassionate care benefits to be claimed in blocks over the course of a year-long period. 9. Eliminate the $1,000 Labour Market Impact Assessment Fee for hiring foreign caregivers. 10. Negotiate a new health accord with provinces to lower prescription drug costs and improve access to drugs. 11. Negotiate a new Health Accord with premiers that includes long-term home care funding. 12. Invest $3 billion to expand and improve health care services for people receiving home care. in Regina. Participation by the public far surpassed previous celebrations. The Celebrating Seniors Committee has already begun planning for next year s celebration. Alvin Law will be the guest speaker. Chapters are encouraged to nominate worthy seniors for any one of the different award categories. In addition, Prime Minister designate Justin Trudeau provided the following commentary in a letter to ACER-CART President JoAnn Lauber: The Liberal Party of Canada believes that every Canadian must have equal access to quality, publically funded, universal health care, regardless of their age, background, physical needs, geographical location, or income. Unfortunately, high costs and inadequate drug coverage for millions of Canadians prevent equal access to care in this country and violate this basic principle of our health care system. Advocacy Robert Wuschenny At the Presidents Meeting, October 29, 2015, Presidents responded positively to the brochure developed for the 2015 federal election. While only a few Chapters held All-Candidates Forums, many thought it was a good idea and would perhaps be interested in organizing a forum prior to the provincial election. The Advocacy Committee is prepared to collect and communicate provincial issues which may be referenced when preparing for the Saskatchewan provincial election. Chapters are asked to submit provincial issues to the STS Office by January 11, 2016, in time for STS Provincial Committee/ Executive meetings on January 13-14, Should a Chapter have questions about setting up an All-Candidates Forum, the Advocacy Committee would be pleased to try to answer them. 2

3 Reminder Saskatchewan Seniors Drug Plan If you are the primary plan holder of the STS Group Benefits Plan and are elig ible for the Sask at chew an Seniors Drug Plan, please send a copy of the confir ma tion letter to the STS office in order to have your monthly Extended Health premium reduced. If you are no longer eligible for the Seniors Drug Plan, please notify the STS Office. Letter from ACER-CART President October 25, 2015 Dear ACER-CART Members: It is a week since Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party swept into power in a most decisive way. ACER-CART thanks all its Members and retired teachers who involved themselves in the democratic process, who became informed, shared materials, and joined the discussion; and who then exercised the great privilege and civic responsibility of voting. ACER-CART congratulates all candidates who served our country by putting their names forward, engaging in a long campaign that surely took its toll on family and friends. We appreciate their courage and their sense of duty to better our society. ACER-CART looks forward to meeting with the members of the new Parliament. We pledge to work with them as they address the needs of seniors across the land, to share the insights and the vision we have of dignity and compassion for all of our fellow Canadians as they age in this country. In the months leading to the election, we have had the opportunity to link with many like-minded organizations. These coalitions gave us the opportunity to put forward our priorities as significant items to be discussed with all of the candidates regardless of their political party. We intend to pursue collaborating with organizations of similar aims so that together we can assist and influence the new government to adopt policies that are in the best interest of seniors and of all Canadians. Much has been promised, and the way forward may not always be smooth. But we have hope that circumstances will align themselves so that the new Government may fulfill its mandate to address the needs of all citizens in accordance with the values we hold as Canadians, the perception we have about who we are, and the future we want for our children and our grandchildren. Yours sincerely, JoAnn Lauber President Correction The winner of the Senior Women s Golf division was Linda Broad from Humboldt, not Linda Blake as indicated in the last issue of Outreach. Annual General Meeting Joyce Hoffman and Jane Isinger The Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan Annual General Meeting will be held at the Travelodge Hotel in Saskatoon from Tuesday, May 10 to Thursday, May 12, There will be five interest sessions from which delegates may choose to attend three. Information about the AGM will be sent to Chapter Presidents in January. Please have your delegate list in to the STS Office by April 1, The formula for determining the number of delegates remains the same: Two delegates for the first 60 paid members, or portion thereof, and one delegate for each additional 60 paid members, or portion thereof. For delegates attending the AGM, the STS pays for two nights accommodation, breakfast and lunch on Wednesday and Thursday and the banquet on Wednesday evening. When delegates receive their information, we request that they return their meal registration form to the STS office to indicate if they wish to have these meals. This is necessary for the AGM Planning Committee and catering service at the Travelodge Hotel. 3

4 Group Benefits McDowell Foundation Robert Wuschenny Clarification regarding prescription dispensing fees for multiple month prescriptions seems to be in order at this time. Some pharmacies will provide multiple month (usually three) prescriptions with one dispensing fee. It is advisable to check with your pharmacy as to what their policy is and perhaps to shop around for those that charge a single fee for a multiple month prescription. Members should also know that all Saskatchewan pharmacies automatically provide generic drugs, but if a physician stipulates no substitution, Saskatchewan Blue Cross will honour patent drugs. Effective October 15, 2015, the approved quantities for blood glucose test strips (BGTS) will change. For eligible Saskatchewan Health beneficiaries, this may affect how the BGTS are covered or how much the beneficiary will pay, according to the deductible and/or copayment. With respect to pneumonia vaccination, the drugs required are not on the Saskatchewan Formulary Drug Plan. Our Plan could not sustain the cost, but examining other avenues may have merit. However, those 65 and over recieve the vaccination free. At the recent Chapter President s Meeting on October 28, 2015, Elaine Broughton, Dr. Stirling McDowell Foundation board member, presented Certificates of Appreciation to the following Chapters that made contributions to the McDowell Foundation for : Carrot River Valley (Melfort & District) Chapter, Last Mountain Chapter, Mainline Chapter, Maple Creek-Medicine Hat Chapter, Moose Jaw Chapter, Prince Albert Chapter, Regina Chapter, Souris Moose Mountain Chapter and Wadena Chapter. Nominations Robert Wuschenny Nominations for the Provincial Executive are opened and welcomed. Deadline for submission of nominations is 4:00 p.m. the evening of the day prior to STS Executive elections (Bylaw 3). However, in order for nominations to be printed in the March issue of Outreach, they should be submitted by March 1. Evan Hardy Collegiate 50th Anniversary Celebrations May 13-14, 2016 Former Teacher Social: Friday evening, May 13 Contact: Patrick Davis (davisp@spsd.sk.ca) to be added to information distribution list Congratulations The following STS members were nominated for the SSM Celebrating Seniors Volunteer Awards: Madge Bennett (Moose Jaw Chapter) - Centenarian Shirley Blythe (Regina Chapter) Community Leadership Urban Dr. Jack MacKenzie (Regina Chapter) - Education 4

5 STF Councillors Doug Haroldson Eight Councillors representing the STS attended the STF Councillors Conference and Special Meeting of Council on October The keynote speaker was Joel Westheimer, a Professor of Education and the University Research Chair in Democracy and Education at the University of Ottawa. Westheimer s research interests include citizenship education, social studies education, social justice, pollution and education. His keynote address was Let the Teachers Teach! The Rise of Education Reformers and the Implications for Teacher Professionalism and Canadian Democracy. His second plenary session was What Kind of Citizen: Educating Our Children for the Common Good. An advocacy session with educational partners was held on Friday, October 30 at 11:00 a.m. Councillors had an opportunity to engage the various representatives in dialogue about important issues that affect education. Three draft policies, namely Intensive Supports, Teacher Recognition and Awards, and Substitute Teachers, were discussed. These drafts with possible amendments will be dealt with at the STF Annual meeting of Council on April 27-30, Gwen Dueck presented an overview and update of the Saskatchewan Professional Teachers Regulatory Board (SPTRB). On Saturday, two Notices of Motion were put forward by the STF Executive, necessary as a result of amendments to The Teachers Federation Act, 2006, that are included in the Registered Teachers Act. The basic content of Notice of Motion 1 was that the Professional Ethics Committee shall act as the Ethics and Practice Committee and the Code of Professional Competence shall be the Standards of Practice until such time as Council appoints members to the Ethics and Practice Committee and amends STF bylaws to include Standards of Practice at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Council. Notice of Motion 2 indicates that Council shall extend the appointments of the current members of the Professional Ethics Committee and Professional Competency Committee until such time as all active cases are resolved and begin making appointments to the Ethics and Practice Committee at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Council. Both were approved. The amendments include: Part VI of the Act is renamed Ethics and Standards of Practice The Federation may now provide for its members a code of ethics and standards of practice (instead of a code of professional competence) Only one disciplinary committee shall be established to handle the hearing of complaints regarding breaches of the code of ethics and standards of practice The Ethics and Standards Committee will replace the current two Professional Ethics and Professional Competency Committees. Retirement Lifestyles Planning Alan Laughlin The Committee will be presenting three Retirement Lifestyles Seminars in March 2016: Prince Albert March 5, 2016 Swift Current March 12, 2016 Weyburn March 19, 2016 Please let active teachers with whom you are in contact know about these dates. Additional information will be forthcoming. The STS office will be closed for the holidays at noon on December 18 and will reopen January 4, 2016 Attention Chapters Nominate Honorary Life Members Nominations for Honorary Life Memberships must be submitted to the STS Office by February 1, If you have worthy candidates for these awards, ensure that the nominations are submitted well before the deadline. Please check the Policy Handbook on page 32 for the required information and for the correct format of the nomination. 5

6 Recreation Calvin Bachmeier Upcoming Events Recreational Activities Participation STS Style... Bowling Host needed for 2016 Fishing Host 2016: Nipawin Chapter Details to follow Bridge Host needed for 2016 Golf Date: June 20-21, 2016 Host: Weyburn Chapter Curling Date: November 7-9, 2016 Host: Yorkton Chapter Contact: Gloria Rathgeber Phone: Contact: David Unraw Phone: Kaiser Host needed for 2016 Stitch N Quilt Host needed for 2016 If Chapters are interested in hosting provincial events please contact the STS office or a member of the Recreation Committee. We would also be open to any proposals for new events. STS Bonspiel Report Bob Krismer our requests and for their professional expertise. As a contact person who spearh eaded the event, I want to express my personal gratitude to all the hard working volunteers for their many hours of work and organization and especially to our Chapter president Carol Stevenot. Team McCallum from L-R: Lead Jim Chicilo; Third Tom German; Skip Larry McCallum, and Second John Hunchak. The Battleford and District Chapter was host to this year s Superannuated Teachers Bonspiel held at our new curling facility, the Northland Power Curling Centre. By all accounts, the curlers enjoyed their experience at the Centre with the ice and the new rocks. As in previous years, the format was a four-event bonspiel with all teams curling four games. As a host, we certainly want to thank our ice techs (Ian Naismith and Wayne Cubbon) and our rink manager, Monique Puffalt for their willingness to accommodate 6 I also want to express our sincere appreciation to Northland Power for their very generous sponsorship, which allowed us to increase the prize payouts for almost all the teams. Just as a side note, our chapter was well represented with four rinks having at least one curler from the Battlefords and took home first place honours in three of the four events. The first place winner in the A Event was Team McCallum. A big thank you to all the teams in this event which represented every corner of the province

7 Saskatchewan Senior Fitness Association (SSFA) Maxine Stinka SSFA is a volunteer, nonprofit organization designed to encourage an active lifestyle for those 50 years of age and over. The Mission Statement of the SSFA is to improve the total well-being of Saskatchewan seniors through participation in physical, cultural, social, and intellectual activities. The SSFA has three programs: 55+ Games, Workshops and Seminars and the Walking Program. The province is divided into eight districts and each year these districts sponsor a variety of competitions including whist, golf, track and field, poetry and short story writing, etc. During the even years, there are provincial and national competitions. In 2016, the provincial 55+ Games will be in the Battlefords. Curling and stick curling will be March and consists of men s, women s, and mixed teams competing in age categories 55+ or 65+ for regular curling and any gender two-person stick curling teams 55+. Hockey will be March and teams may be any combination of men and women in age categories 55+, 60+ or 65+. Entry deadline for both curling and hockey is March 1, The remaining events in the Provincial 55+ Games will be held in July 5, 6 & 7, 2016, in the Battlefords. The following events will be offered: golf, five-pin bowling, contract bridge, cribbage, pickleball, Kaiser, poetry & short story writing, swimming, scrabble, bocce, whist, bank shuffleboard, 8 ball, slo-pitch, track & field, and tennis. Participation in any of the events requires an annual SSFA membership and a registration fee. The Canada 55+ Games will be in Brampton, Ontario, August 16-19, Activities at that event will be golf, badminton, carpet bowling, contract bridge, cribbage, darts, duplicate bridge, Euchre, floor shuffleboard, horseshoes, lawn bowling, eight ball, pickleball, ice curling, swimming, scrabble, table tennis, slo-pitch, track & field, tennis (outdoor), and ice hockey (men & women). To determine the district you live in along with your district representative Congratulations to Regina Chapter member, Dr. Jack MacKenzie, the 200th recipient of an honorary degree at the University of Regina Fall Convocation, for his distinguished career in physical education and outdoor education as a teacher, administrator, innovator and volunteer. He adds the Honorary STS Executive or for more information about SSFA and its programs, check the website or contact the president Margaret Gailing-Stepp by phone ( ) or (m.gailing@ sasktel.net). The organization welcomes new and former participants. Spotlight on Superannuates Submitted by Adeline Wuschenny, Regina Chapter President Doctorate of Laws to several other distinctions including the Saskatchewan Order of Merit and most recently, the Celebrating Seniors Award in the Education Category. In the fall of 2000, the Jack MacKenzie Elementary School was opened in east Regina in honour of Dr. MacKenzie. Front row (from left) Kate McCorriston, Executive Secretary Fred Herron, Vice-President Maxine Stinka, President Doug Haroldson, Past-President Robert Wuschenny and Helen Sukovieff. Middle row (from left) Jane Isinger, Joyce Hoffman, Judy Buzowetsky and Anna Wehrkamp. Back row (from left) Roger Marchand, Calvin Bachmeier, Mike Kaminski, Alan Laughlin, Sunil Pandila and Don Gabel. 7

8 From The Editor s Desk STS Executive President/Councillor Vice-President/Councillor Past-President/Councillor Executive Secretary ACER-CART Representative Councillors: Don Gabel Doug Haroldson, Maple Creek-Medicine Hat Chapter Maxine Stinka, Assiniboine Chapter Robert Wuschenny, Regina Chapter Fred Herron, Saskatoon Chapter Fred Herron, Saskatoon Chapter Wakaw Chapter Robert Wuschenny The ghosts and goblins of Hallowe en have come and gone. Mornings are now tinged with frost and already nature is ushering in winter activities. It is also the time when we remember departed members. Another successful Presidents Meeting afforded an opportunity to renew acquaintances, meet new Presidents or their delegates and exchange ideas. The bear pit session was an opportunity not only to impart updates, but also to receive input from Chapter Presidents. Soon the holiday season will be here. Happy Holidays everyone! To The Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan To control costs, one copy is sent to households where both spouses are members. If this is not satisfactory, please contact the STS office in Saskatoon. Outreach is available online at Please the STS Office if you wish to receive notification when it is posted on the website instead of receiving a hard copy. Website: Phone: sts@sts.sk.ca Fax: Arlington Avenue Saskatoon SK S7J 2H8 Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to noon Joyce Hoffman Mike Kaminski Sunil Pandila Helen Sukovieff Members-At-Large: Calvin Bachmeier Judy Buzowetsky Jane Isinger Alan Laughlin Roger Marchand Kate McCorriston Anna Wehrkamp Swift Current Chapter Assiniboine Chapter Moose Jaw Chapter Regina Chapter Maple Creek-Medicine Hat Chapter Weyburn Chapter Saskatoon Chapter The Battlefords and District Chapter South Central Chapter Nipawin Chapter Carrot River Valley (Melfort & District) Chapter Reminder STS Office Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon. There are three visitor parking spaces located at the East side of the TCU Financial building for STS members. Publications Mail Agreement No Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: STS Office 2311 Arlington Avenue Saskatoon SK S7J 2H8 8