October 29, 2024

October 2024 WCRTA Communication

Reminder to save Friday, November 29 on your calendars for the WCRTA Christmas Luncheon.

Watch for details and RSVP information soon.  Bob Ronnie Catering will be supplying the turkey dinner.  Following the dinner, we will be entertained by award winning singer-songwriter from Ponoka, Shalaine Stebner.  We will be having our annual fundraiser for the Alberta  Retired Teachers Charitable Foundation. 

 

The fall of 2025 will bring the 50th anniversary of our branch.  We would like to put together a committee to make plans to recognize this milestone.  Let us know if you are interested in being part of planning for this anniversary.

 

Your WCRTA executive has been working on a long overdue revision of our branch constitution.  A draft of this revision will be available following the Christmas luncheon for anyone that is interested.  Wider distribution will happen in the new year with the hope of adopting a revised constitution at our spring luncheon.

 

Our WCRTA branch held its Welcome to Retirement/To Hell With the Bell Breakfast on Aug. 27, 2024 with 72 in attendance.  This event also functioned as our AGM.  The current executive was re-elected for the 2024-2025 year.

President – Frank Tschabold

Vice President – Rob Pearn

Past President – Juanita Knight

Treasurer – Devin Pfahl

Secretary – Barb Leidl

Dorothy Ungstad paid tribute to the following colleagues that passed away in the past year:  Joyce

Hagemann, Allan Koole, Eldred Stamp, Barb Uhl, Keith Jahraus, Helen Neufeld, Lori Williams, Rachel

Rutz, Verlea Mack, and Rhoda Vold.

As part of the program for this event we had greetings from ARTA Past President Lorna McIlroy, information from Laurie Bauer of Orbit Insurance, which is an ARTA partner, Lawrence Hrycan shared Public Interest Alberta highlights, and we had a wonderful slideshow presentation by Marilyn Hoar about her work and travels in various locations around the world.

New retirees Marica McWhinnie, Ron Labrie, Luc Gratton, Penny Gratton, Rosalie DenOudsten, and Lorraine Stevenson were recognized.

At the November ARTA board meeting there will be an election for directors for the Alberta Retired Teachers Charitable Foundation.  If this opportunity is something that you are interested in let me know.  Nomination packages should be submitted by Nov. 9.

 

The ARTA  AGM was held on October 1, 2 in Edmonton.  Your WCRTA delegates were Maria Lentz, Doug Gill, Karen Klassen and Frank Tschabold.  Lawrence Hrycan from the WCRTA branch was re-elected to the executive committee as treasurer.

 

Other ARTA information to note:

The writing contest deadline is Nov. 15.

ARTA Benefit Plan Changes take effect Nov. 1.

There are a variety of webinar topics available through ARTA.  Check out the most recent ARTA Facts or the

ARTA website.