1 RTO Executive Minutes October 28-29, 2013 NSTU Building Present: Jim Kavanaugh, President Bill Berryman, Vice-President Randy Holmesdale, Past President Gary Archibald, MAL John Donovan, MAL Fred Jeffery, Treasurer George Landry, MAL Peter Lewis, MAL Al MacKinnon, Pension Rep. Herb Seymour, MAL Dorothy Smith, MAL Bill Wagstaff, MAL Regrets: John Donovan September 29, only. Membership Numbers- End of September, 2013 6997 1. Call to Order/Welcome President Jim welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order. 2. Agenda: Additions/Approvals MOTION: THAT THE AGENDA BE APPROVED WITHOUT CHANGE. BILL B./ PETER L. CARRIED. 3. Conflict of Interest None declared. 4. Minutes of previous meeting MOTION: THAT THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 9 & 10, 2013 BE APPROVED WITH REVISIONS. JOHN D./ BILL W. CARRIED. 5. Business Arising: Action Sheet President Jim reviewed the Action Sheet. The following issues were discussed. - The Lieutenant Governor Teaching Award. At this time Angela Murray, NSTU Public Relations Officer, spoke to the meeting re the reinstatement of this award with the desire to have RTO participation along with Lieutenant Governor s Representative, Chris McCreery. The deadline for applications will be in mid January.
2 MOTION; THAT THE TABLE OFFICERS REPRESENT THE RTO AND SERVE ON THE SELCTION COMMITTEE.. JOHN D./BILL W. CARRIED 6. Correspondence: In-Out President Jim answered many emails and phone calls concerning RTO matters. A formal letter was written to NSTU Executive Director, Joan Ling, requesting a meeting date with Insurance Trustee. We are awaiting a response. 7. Branch Presidents Meeting Vice-President, Bill Berryman reviewed the Branch Presidents meeting agenda with the Executive. Colleen Putt, Halifax County President will be the recording secretary. 8. Reports: a. Table Officers -The Pre-retirement dates were reviewed and all potential conflicts were resolved. -Golf Tournament There was one response for The Golf Tournament. AER - Baie Sainte-Marie will be held hosting the tournament in Clare with Ken Gaudet heading up the committee. -ECTRO 2014 The Table Officers will attend this meeting being held in Halifax in October of next year. They will also serve as the planning committee. - Pension Ad Hoc Committee MOTION: THAT THE AD HOC PENSION COMMITTEE, HAVING COMPLETED ITS MANDATE, BE DISBANDED. JOHN D./AL MACKINNON. CARRIED. -FINANCE Treasurer Fred Jeffery reported fees paid to NSTU staff for services to the RTO for postage, secretarial services, rental space and photo copier use. b. Finance Treasurer, Fred Jeffery, indicated he would give his report at the Presidents Meeting rather than the Executive meeting to save on time.
3 c. Foundation Ad Hoc Chair, John Donovan reported that work was proceeding on reviewing the guidelines and criteria for applications. Changes and updates can only be made at the Foundation AGM and then submitted for approval to the Registry of Joint Stock Companies. There was discussion on improvements to the Foundation package with the ability to make donations online and to have postage paid envelopes in Funeral Homes. The committee continues their work. d. Assessment Chair, George Landry, reported that although the Member at Large was responsible for presenting at the Pre-Retirement Seminar that the Presidents of the local Branches can still be involved.. There was also discussion of what is working well and general concerns for Members at Large. The following motion ensued. MOTION: THAT THE ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE POLL MEMBERS AT LARGE RE WHAT IS WORKING WELL AND NOT WORKING WELL AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL. GEORGE L./HERB S. CARRIED. -G Landry reported that a Member at Large worksheet/survey is being worked on and will be available in the new year. The meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m. Tuesday, October 29, 2013 The Executive meeting reconvened at 1:25 p.m. e. Communication Gary Archibald, Chair of the Communications reported on the RTO web page from web master Colin J. Campbell. - The October Newsletter was distributed and discussed. - A survey on matters of Newsletters and websites for Branches was distributed to Presidents - Gary reminded all to have articles for February Newsletter to him by January 15, 2014. - f. Membership Peter Lewis, Chair of Membership presented his report. His committee reviewed procedures for access to the RTO data base. The following motion followed.
4 MOTION:.01 ACCESS TO THE DATABASE SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING: - RTO EXECUTIVE MEMBERS - RTO BRANCH PRESIDENTS - MEMBERS OF A BRANCH MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE AS DESIGNATED BY THE BRANCH PRESIDENT - MEMBERS OF THE RTO MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE - SUCH OTHER PERSONS AS DESIGNATED BY THE RTO EXECUTIVE.02 NOTWITHSTANDING.01, BRANCH PRESIDENTS SHALL HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR RESPECTIVE BRANCH LISTS ONLY..03 ACCESS TO THOSE PERSONS LISTED IN.01 SHALL BE ON A READ ONLY BASIS.04 THE NSTU EMPLOYEE WHO IS DESIGNATED THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE RTO DATABASE SHALL BE THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN UPDATE THE DATABASE. REQUESTS FOR CHANGES TO THE DATABASE SHALL BE SENT TO THIS PERSON..05 ALL THOSE PERSONS LISTED IN.01 SHALL ANNUALLY COMPLETE THE RTO PIPEDA FORM. PETERL./GARY A. CARRIED. g. Pensions and Benefits Chair Al MacKinnon and President Jim reviewed the report with discussion from the Executive. Next meeting is January 17, 2014. h. Group of IX Vice-President, Bill Berryman gave a comprehensive report at the Presidents meeting. Some highlights in the September 26 meeting included: a. Capital Health Blood Collection issues re time restriction of samples b. Group of IX Planning report of shingles vaccine at next meeting c. Department of Seniors working on housing strategy Group of IX requesting guest speaker at next meeting d. Dental Hygiene for Seniors fair amount of regulatory work to be done. e. Seniors Pharmacare Nova Scotia taking lead in Pan Canadian pricing f. Roundtable discussion cost of hearing aids raised by NDP during election g. Fall Consultation scheduled for October 22, 2013 has been postponed.
5 Department of Seniors Meeting with Group of IX Seniors Advisory Council of Nova Scotia October 24, 2013 Vice-President and Past President Randy H. attended the meeting. Some discussed highlights include: - Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and the Continuing Care System - Housing Strategy Update - Shingles Vaccine there is no publicly funded shingles vaccine in Canada - Other Issues: Group of IX to review Liberal Party Platform affecting seniors, i. Nomination Past President, Randy Holmesdale gave his report at the Presidents meeting. The following positions are open for the year 2014-2015. 1. President 2 year term 2. Vice-President - 2 year term 3. Member at Large a) Annapolis Valley: -Annapolis/Kings/West Hants - 2 year term b) Cape Breton: Sydney and Area/Northside-Victoria/Glace Bay and Area/New Waterford 2 year term c) South Shore: Lunenburg/Queens/Shelburne 2 year term. Deadline for applications - April 30, 2014 j. Pension Ad Hoc President Jim gave a comprehensive report of the Pension situation to date and the efforts by the RTO Executive to seek clarification of our situation with the NSTU. k. Liaison Committee President Jim reported that we are waiting for a date for our meeting with the Insurance Trustees from Joan Ling, Executive Director of the NSTU. l. Resolution Committee Bill Berryman, Chair of the Resolution Committee gave his report. - Resolutions for consideration to be debated at the AGM are be submitted no later than December 15, 2013. These resolutions must be accompanied by a supporting brief. Any questions concerning resolutions may be referred to Bill Berryman.
6 m. ACER/CART Vice-President, Bill Berryman presented his report. The Annual General Meeting for ACER/CART took place in Ottawa from May 30 to June 1, 2013. President Jim and Vice-President Bill B. attended. The meeting provides a unique opportunity for the Executive, Directors and Observers from the member associations to discuss issues of importance, to share action plans and to seek advice from colleagues. A full report may be found on page 18 of the October 2013 Newsletter. 9. Other/New Business a. Executive Timeline President Jim reviewed the October Timeline for the Executive. b. Golf 2014 The 2014 Golf Tournament will be hosted by the AER Baie Ste Marie Branch and will be held on September 17, 2014 at the Clare Golf Course. c. Strategic Planning Follow-up Priorities have been set and are being pursued. d. Insurance Trustee Rep.- Benefit Requests- Meeting with Trustees e. Electronic Storage of Forms We are still waiting a response to our request for a designated RTO meeting room. f. AGM Elections and April Newsletter Inclusions vs putting info in Pre- AGM packages Candidates will be given the opportunity to submit a write-up in the April Retired Teacher. g. The Expense of Running the Executive The Finance Committee is reviewing this matter. h. RTO Position in the NSTU Not being pursued at this time.
7 i. Are there other seniors groups that should be considered for affiliation? 55+ Games and Seniors Council of Nova Scotia will be looked into by Gary Archibald. j. Consideration re setting up a social network (Face book and/or Twitter). Not being pursued at this time. k. Curling Some interest from Cape Breton and Kings there could be 2 tournaments in a different place at the same time. 10. In-Camera MOTION : TO GO IN-CAMERA. PETER L./ BILL B. CARRIED. MOTION: TO COME OUT OF IN-CAMERA RANDY H./HERB S. CARRIED. 11. Adjournment 4: 35 p.m. Recorded by Dorothy Smith October 28 & 29, 2013