Executive Committee Updates

Executive Committee Report for the September 2024 e-newsletter

Activities and Correspondence

The board and the Executive are continuing working on the bylaws and policies that have the legal sections from the Corporations Act. We were instructed by our lawyers not to change the bylaws too much. If you are interested in The Corporations Act and why it’s important that RTAM stay within the guidelines of the Act this link can be accessed: https://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/archive/c225(2022-03-15)e.php?df=2021-05-12
The office and Executive are also working on the new website privacy policy, and this is important to avoid potential liability issues.
We have also developed a grid showing payouts and amounts taken directly from our claim form, and as suggested, we include this in the new policy manual as well for clarity and transparency.

Meeting and working with MTS Executive

The RTAM Executive is looking forward to meeting and working with MTS Executive on a professional partnership agreement.
The purpose of the agreement is to formalize the relationship between RTAM and the MTS in areas such as:
- formal meeting of the executives;
- observer status at their respective Annual General Meeting;
- annual presentation to its Group Benefits committee, etc.

Emeritus-Emerita Committee

We had a very open and worthwhile relationship with the RTAM Emeritus-Emerita Committee. The board will continue to work with the Emeriti Committee. This year we had a 3 hour in person meeting which allowed the office, the Board of Directors, and the committee to share their thoughts, ideas, and suggestions about the direction of RTAM. The primary goal would be giving those in the Emeritus-Emerita Committee:

a). Status time to share their thoughts on the past year and goals for the upcoming year.

b). Allow the board to interact with the committee members and review a pre-approved set of topics and questions (such as getting historical context, reviewing proposals and plans if needed or seeking feedback on upcoming changes to the organization).

c). Tasked to this committee such as Emeriti events (speaker series, museum tours) or projects like the Annual Report.

Networking

As everyone knows by now Manitoba Teachers Society (MTS) and the Manitoba School Boards Association (MSBA) have reached a provincial teacher bargaining agreement.
- While many of our RTAM members are retired, and this information may be of little concern, RTAM’s interest would be the Substitute Teachers part of the agreement.
- Many of our retired members sub in public schools, and wages and working conditions are important to us.
- We also have a very effective Substitute Teachers Committee which is very concerned about the insurance coverage of retired teachers while on the school worksite.
  - If you're interested in joining the Substitute Teacher Concern Committee, please email the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ACER-CART news: On April 20, 2024, Bill Berryman president of ACER-CART wrote a letter on behalf of the Association canadienne des enseignantes et enseignants retraités-Canadian Association of Retired Teachers (ACER-CART) to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on concerns related to access rules and complications for low-income retirees unable to participate in the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).
- This letter was also sent to the Honourable Pierre Polievre, leader of the Official Opposition and leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party and Yves-Francois Blanchet, leader of the Bloc Quebecois.
- ACER-CART represents 88,234 retired teachers in all provinces and our concern is that while most retired educators have access to dental plans, some retired teachers with very small pensions have declined coverage because their low retirement income makes the dental plan unaffordable.

Board Information

Committee Reports Due: September 6, 2024, at 12 pm (CDT)
Executive Meeting: September 16, 2024, 9 am by Zoom
Directors Meeting: September 23, 2024, 9 am (CDT) by Zoom
Chapters will be internal; KIT will be updating the members on who has stayed and who has left. Chapters will meet after the summer break.
Committees will need to start in September. Chair will work the office build their committees to send reminders to members and prepare to begin work for the Board,
We have the Board meeting online in September.

I am looking forward to a RTAM fall AGM.

Please check the event page regularly for a list of upcoming events. Keep having a restful and enjoyable summer!

Sincerely – The Executive Committee

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., President

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Past President

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Secretary

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Treasurer

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Executive Director

RTAM MEMBER BENEFITS	STUDENT BENEFITS
1. The project will provide the means and incentive to increase communication between RTAM members and their family high school students they are sponsoring.	1 Portfolios encourage the collection of artifacts and evidence by the student to support their successful writing of award and scholarships applications.
2. Recognizing the importance of a post-secondary education, RTAM members can feel pride in the role they will play in supporting their family members to be awarded funding to help with the high costs of today’s world.	2 Portfolios help students focus on their knowledge, skills and attitudes to support their successful applications for bursaries and scholarship.
3. This project will provide RTAM members with an opportunity to experience renewed passion in their roles as teacher and mentor working with their family members.	3 Portfolios help students track their changes and growth in important leadership skills through their high school experience.
4. RTAM member involvement with their family members will promote positive mental health opportunities during a time when COVID has caused many to experience social and physical isolation.	4 Portfolios assist the student in becoming more aware of their own learning experiences and history.
5. RTAM member involvement will support a sense of purpose in their lives and offer them a sense of social value to society.	5 Portfolios provide a framework to encourage students’ self-assessment leading to a more accurate choice of how they want to spend their future, their career aspirations.
6. RTAM members will increase their opportunities to know and understand their youth family members’ challenges and issues while developing a relationship and creating a sense of trust.	6 Portfolios provide a framework with resources for building a resume and completing university/college entrance applications as well as job applications.
7. RTAM members can offer direct input into the writing of the applications to enhance the students’ chances of being successful.	7 Portfolios save the student the time and agony of trying to recall their experiences and gather all their information to complete applications in their graduating year.
	8 Portfolios provide students support to practice informed decision-making regarding their personal and professional opportunity selections.

Open Hours:

Executive Committee Updates: September 2024

Executive Committee Report for the September 2024 e-newsletter

Student Success Portfolio Program

Mentoring: The Role of the RTAM Sponsor

October 27^th is National Mentoring Day!
Celebrate the day with your family member!

September Discussion Starters

October Discussion Starters