President's Message . . . continued from previous page
where one man is honoring his mother’s memory
by putting on a Ukranian dinner annually where
he makes it into a fund raiser for the Alzheimer’s
Society. The first year his donation was realized
from having 85 people attend the dinner five years
later he is anticipating exceeding the number of
350 that attended last year and raised $75000. And
some people think that one person doesn’t make a
difference in the scheme of things. With passion
attached to your actions it is amazing what one
person can accomplish and when that passion is
shared by others for a common cause that benefits
eveyone, it can change the world. I am still looking
for invitations from other chapters. You all are
making things happen in your communities with
your own special brand of how to enjoy each other’s
company and lives. All of your endeavours are
important and appreciated. Share them with the
rest of the world.
I am still writing about RTAM in the newspaper
Lifestyles 55. You will find these 500 word articles
in the centre of the paper with other articles from
the Manitoba Seniors Coalition. A really neat thing
that happens as well is, if you go online to www.
lifestyles 55.ca, and use your computer to read
the articles, is that when you click on the RTAM
logo you go straight to the RTAM Website. This is
part of the Manitoba Senior’s Coalition initiative
related to the election campaign but extends to
March 2020 and gives us the opportunity to tell the
world about RTAM once a month until the end of
March. Ongoing radio clips with a program entitled
“Coffee and Conversation with Connie” aired at
10.37 am and 3.37 pm every day educate those
who are listening to the work of seven Coalition
organizations who are participating. For instance,
Tom Dercola and I were volunteer retired teachers
on a noon radio show aired Friday, November 15,
2019 that featured why everyone needs to have a
flu shot. To access this program go to www.cjnu.
ca, click on archives then follow the prompts to the
date this program aired and listen. The range of
this station is mainly Winnipeg and surrounding
area but with this website it is available to the
whole province.
4 n
RTAM KIT Winter 2019
Ralph Cibula and the Website committee, working
with the office and Blue Ink Media have, and are
redesigning the RTAM Website. It is evolving into
a very useful tool to let you know about things like:
volunteer opportunities, special events that are
happening related to older adult activities around
wellness, retirement happenings, RTAM events
and chapter news. Please visit often and view the
progress.
Other events include speakers at our RTAM Board
lunch breaks: in October, on Wednesday, October
16th, MTS President, James Bedford and MTS Vice
President, Nathan Martindale, as well on Thursday,
October 17th, a local author discussing her book on
the 1919 General Strike; two Wellness Seminars, one
in September on Photography at the Qualico Centre
in Assiniboine Park and one in October dealing
with Extreme Winter Driving; RTAM’s annual
meeting with the TRAF Board again strengthening
relationships with TRAF and of course with MTS
and active teachers. I also attended the ACER-
CART Western Division meeting of the four Western
provinces that was held in Edmonton in early
November. We viewed the new Johnson offices
and the new Alberta Retired Teachers Association
building. Lots of new ideas but as always we were
searching for ways that the membership of the
various organizations can be better served and find
some common goals to work towards to improve the
well-being of all our members across Canada.
As you can see your RTAM Board is very busy
and your influence as retired teachers in your
communities is reaching many people in need.
I attended the funeral of Ray Bisson, a recent
RTAM Board member and active member of the
EFM Chapter a couple of weeks ago where his
influence in his community was very evident.
The St. Boniface Cathedral was full, not only with
family but with members of the French community
that had served with him on many community
endeavours. His service was truly appreciated and
he will be missed.
In closing, all the best to you and yours in the
Holiday Season and a Happy and Healthy New Year.