PARTA Newsletter – June, 2022

President’s Message

 

This will be the last newsletter until the fall.  It is hoped that we will be able to meet in person and resume our regular monthly meetings.  Please stay posted for information from our wonderful secretary, Judy Cruise.

Iona Robertson – PARTA President, Ernest Clintberg – Benefit Plan Trust Chair and

Ron Thompson – HARTA President attended the ARTA Board of Directors’ Meeting in Canmore, May 23-24 prior to the ARTA Retreat.  Some highlights of interest to members:

  • Governance Committee: Online Application is active for Scholarships and Bursaries for family members attending post-secondary education in the fall of 2022.
  • Committee Name: Nomination Committee
  • There are two positions opening for Trustees of the ARTA Benefit Plan Trust Fund. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate, please look at the ARTA website or call Iona to get the nomination package. To date, one (1) nomination has been submitted.
  • Alberta Retired Teachers’ Charitable Foundation: The Donor Wall has been relocated to ARTA’s new offices. The donor wall has been doubled in size to ensure that the Foundation will be able to continue to recognize the generosity of Branches, Members and Partners as they pass the $500 threshold of donations.  Current Partnerships (Organizations to which the ARTACF contributes:
  • Parkinson Association of Alberta – Granted $25,000 at our January 2021 meeting.
  • Alzheimer Society of Calgary – Granted $30,000 to provide caregiver education sessions and public education events.
  • Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories
  • Health Benefits Committee: The following organizations have been accepted into the ARTA Benefits Program: Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors, Chartered Professionals in Human Resources and College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta have been accepted as eligible Affiliate members.

 

Resource List of Groups/Organizations

Dedicated to Improving Life of Seniors in Alberta and Canada

 

For those of you who have the time and inclination to look up issues regarding seniors both provincially and nationally, here are some organizations and websites that you might find interesting and beneficial:

ACER-CART Website: https://acer-cart.org .

A national organization dedicated to providing leadership to its community of Members and to forging relationships with like-minded groups to promote objectives on behalf of retired teachers and other seniors.

Friends of Medicare (FOM): Website: www.friendsofmedicare.org.

Canadian Association of Retired People (CARP):  Website: https://www.carp.ca/living-well.

Reports & Studies | Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Website: https://policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/higherstandard.

National Pharmacare: – June 2019 Hoskins Report Recommends Single-Payer Universal Pharmacare. Website: https://santishealth.ca/insights/hoskins-pharmacare-plan

CanAge: Website: https://www.canage.ca.   Information and access to webinars.

To advance the rights and well-being of Canadians as they age – to live vibrant and connected lives.

COSCO – Council of Senior Citizens Organization.  https://coscobc.org

To assemble, co-ordinate and advance proposals and resolutions concerned with the welfare of elder citizens and submit them to the appropriate government bodies to advance social and physical

welfare of all elder citizens.

AAG – Alberta Association on Gerontology:  Website: https://www.albertaaging.ca

MP and MLA Location Resource: To find or contact your MP or MLA, use the following websites:

  • Members of the House of Commons: https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members
  • Legislative Assembly of Alberta:

https://www.assembly.ab.ca/members/section-title-member.

 

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ARTA Office Reopening:  ARTA staff have returned to the office, and members can start booking appointments online at arta.net and myarta.net or call: 780-822-2400.

 

ARTA Retreat 2022:

The ARTA “Welcome Back” Retreat, was held again after 2 years.  Laurie Semler joined the group for this 2-day event at the Malcolm Hotel in Canmore following the Board of Directors’ Meeting.  Apart from the great opportunity to see our colleagues again, there were great meals offered and an impressive roster of very accomplished keynote speakers:

  • Bob Gray – “I’m No Good With Names, But I Never Forget a Face!”
  • Thomas Homer-Dixon – “Commanding Hope: The Power We Have to Renew a World in Peril”
  • Elaine Chin – “Welcome Back”
  • Susan Biali Haas – “Becoming Whole Again: Foundations of Mental Wellness, Healing, and Resilience”

 

ARTA Rx Delay: After some unforeseen delays and the ARTA Rx initiative is continuing to be a high priority for ARTA.  Staff have been hired, the physical office space is being renovated and transformed and the necessary business documents and licenses are being acquired.

Having overcome the challenges of the past 2 years, Executive and Staff are now hopeful that the Rx program will be up and running to serve the members, as planned, in the very near future. Please stay tuned for the information.

Second Wind Conference:

The Second Wind Conference is back! It is open to all retirees and will be held at the

Chateau Louis Conference Centre on Thursday, September 22, 2022.

Highlighting the conference is a keynote address by Dr. Adrian Wagg, Professor of Healthy Ageing at the University of Alberta and the Alberta Health Services Chair in Healthy Ageing. He is recognized nationally and internationally for his research and promotion of health literacy. An enthusiastic, knowledgeable line-up of presenters will address such topics as follow:

 

  • Balanced Fitness
  • Cooking for One or Two
  • Fantastic Feet
  • Fraud Prevention
  • Hearing
  • My Health, My Home
  • Qigong
  • Smartphones and Tablets

Take advantage of the $95.00 early bird special up until July 31 when the regular fee of $110.00 comes into effect.  Visit the website at secondwindconference.ca to view information and download the registration form.

 

ARTA Writing Contest 2022:  Obtain all information on arta.net-> wellness-> Writing Contest. You will find: rules, guidelines, entry forms and instructions.  The deadline for entries is Friday, November 18, 2022.  Winners will be announced in the March 2023 news&views.



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