his poem, written by Lloyd Dennis, appeared last

summer in the Orillia Packet and Times. It is reprinted

with the permission of the Orillia Packet and Times.

A former elementary teacher

and principal, Lloyd Dennis

served as Director of

Education for Leeds and

Grenville, prior to his

retirement. He was a

member of The

Royal Commission

on Learning in the

early ’60s that

produced what

became known as

the Hall-Dennis

Report. He now

resides in Orillia.

See page 10.

RTOEROt h e n e w s l e t t e r o f t h e r e t i r e d t e a c h e r s o f o n t a r i o s e r v i c e t o o t h e r s

N E W S L E T T E R

March 2001

2 3 6 10 12 13 18President’sMessage

Executive Director

HomemakerTax

Member’sPoem

ComputerEase

Project—Serviceto Others

MembersWrite

Good morning class!

T

R T O / E R O n e w s l e t t e r

pring is rapidly approaching andsoon the snowy cold days will be butmemories. Here at 18 Spadina Roadthe staff, executive and committees

have maintained a busy schedule and haveenjoyed introducing Terry to his manyresponsibilities as our new Executive Director.

An issue that has generated considerablediscussion and concern has been the report ofthe Ad Hoc Committee Studying the Structureof Districts and Units. Your input has beenheard! The Committee has prepared its finalreport for the Spring Senate in May. PresentDistrict boundaries remain the same, withprovision for the formation of new Districts andUnits. I believe the proposal will enableRTO/ERO to meet the needs of its members,and consider the realities of geography andlanguage.

Another issue that recently surfaced is theexpressed interest of both the OTPPB and OTFin the potential provision of a universal healthplan for both active and retired teachers. Such aplan, if deemed feasible, may be in the bestinterests of all, as it could possibly lower premiumrates because of the large numbers involved.

RTO/ERO has held discussions with both OTFand the OTPPB concerning the potential of sucha health plan. Two of our members are part ofOTF’s delegation to Quebec City to learn first-hand about the Quebec model of a universal

health plan for their retired teachers, includingthe related costs, benefit coverage and theadministration of the plan. This will give us abetter understanding of the pros and cons ofsuch an approach.

Both the OTPPB and OTF are sharinginformation as it becomes available and haveassured us that RTO/ERO’s interests will becarefully considered in current and futurerelationships. Our present health provider,Johnson Inc., is also providing valuableassistance. The RTO/ERO Executive will keepmembers informed on this important initiative,although it may be some months before thisreaches the decision-making stage.

During the November meeting of yourProvincial Executive five major goals wereestablished for 2001 and beyond. The identifiedgoals are:

l Service to Others

l Building Relationships

l Marketing RTO/ERO

l Restructuring Initiatives

l Financial Stability

For the first time, but definitely not the last, allProvincial Committee Chairs were invited to ourJanuary Executive meeting to consider theselong range goals, determine priorities anddevelop strategies. By working closely togetherwe believe that we will better meet the needs ofpresent members, have strong programs andservices to attract new members, and continueto grow as a strong successful organizationcommitted to retired teachers.

We are also planning a forum to be held at ourMay Senate so that District Presidents and Senatorscan become partners in achieving our goals, withthe support and assistance of all members.

We understand that there will be a considerablenumber of retirements again this year. We askyou to reach out to those who are retiring inyour community, and encourage them to joinyou in RTO/ERO.

In the meantime, continue enjoying thesewonderful retirement years!

Val Alcock,President

SP r e s i d e n t ’s M e s s a g e

Published regularly by The Retired Teachers of Ontario / les enseignantes et enseignants retraités de l’Ontario

18 Spadina Road, Suite 300/18, chemin Spadina, bureau 300 Toronto ON M5R 2S7

[T] (416) 962-9463 / 1-800-361-9888 [F] (416) 962-1061 [W] www.rto-ero.org

Communications Committee

Publication information submitted by individuals or outside organizations does not imply endorsement by RTO/ERO.

The Newsletter accepts paid advertising in camera-ready format. Contact the RTO/ERO office for conditions and rates.

George Lamacraft, District 20 (Chair)Helen Biales, District 7Carolyn Racicot, District 27

Wayne Scott, District 14Francis Sharon, District 28John Zangari, District 7

March 2001

2

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M a r c h 2 0 0 1

I n t r o d u c t i o nHEW! Don’t let anyone ever tellyou that an organization dedicatedto the needs of retirees is calm andsedate. Au contraire! RTO/ERO is a

hustling bustling place, constantly on the go,dealing with all manner of issues on a dailybasis. In this, my first column, I would like toshare with you what I have done and what I amdoing to quickly learn about the culture, processand people who make up RTO/ERO. As well, Iwill attempt to provide a snapshot on the statusof a few key issues on our plate, in theknowledge that the President’s column hastouched upon other important initiatives.

E n t r y P l a nAs of this writing (mid-February), I have metwith literally dozens of people on an individualbasis and will continue to do so throughFebruary. In total, I will have met with close to60 people including staff, Provincial Executivemembers, Committee Chairs, some Senators andDistrict representatives, various internal partners(Investment Managers, Bankers, Auditor,Webmaster, Legal Counsel, Johnson Inc.) andwith representatives ofmany of our externalpartners (OTF, TeacherAffiliates, OTPPB,Principals’ Councils,Trustee Associations).

These meetings haveproven very valuable ingiving me a betterunderstanding of what is important to RTO/EROfrom the vantage point of a variety ofperspectives. My goal is to develop a concisereport in early March that will include a summaryof what I have heard, some personal conclusionsand suggestions for potential future actions. ThisSummary Report will first be presented toProvincial Executive in March and then shared

with all who might have an interest in such areport.

P o s t - R e t i r e m e n t H e a l t hB e n e f i t sRTO/ERO members in a number of Districtshave been negatively impacted in terms of post-retirement health benefits as a result of localcollective bargaining—facing increasedpremiums and/or reduced coverage. RTO/EROhas been tracking this issue for over a year,gathering information from various Districts,looking for patterns and exploring potentialoptions. On the recent advice of legal counsel,the Provincial Executive has decided to pursuethis matter one step further by having legal counsel assess the potential in three specific categories:

l An individual who retired under a collectiveagreement;

l An individual who retired outside the scope ofa collective agreement—through a Board-sponsored early-retirement plan;

l An individual who retired as a non-unionemployee.

We are in the processof gathering relevantinformation andappropriate data oneach on these three testcases. At this stage, it isimpossible to predictthe outcome. TheProvincial Executive

does not want to raise false hopes orexpectations, or make premature commitmentsthat we may not be able to fulfill. We will keepyou informed as this matter continues to unfoldover the coming months. The Health Servicesand Insurance Committee will also be kept fullyapprised of the status of this continuedexamination and exploration.

Terry Lynch,Executive Director

E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r ’s U p d a t e

W

Continued on page 4

I have sought both advice andopinion on the present and futureposition of RTO/ERO and havebeen most impressed with the

candid and thoughtful responses.

4

R T O / E R O n e w s l e t t e r

E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r ’s U p d a t e

RTO/ERO PROMOTIONAL ITEMSA VISOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8.00

Navy visor

B NOTE BLOCK (5 pack) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10.00Extras $2.40 each

C UMBRELLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$13.00Blue executive umbrella with automatic open

D SWEATSHIRT (picture not available) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$16.00Navy Blue M L XL XXL

PRICES INCLUDE TAXES / SHIPPING IS EXTRAALLOW 2-3 WEEKS FOR DELIVERY

A

B

C

NEW ITEM

To place your order contact the RTO/ERO Provincial Office (416) 962-9463 • Toll Free 1-800-361-9888 • Fax: (416) 962-1061E-mail: spadgett@rto-ero.org

SHIP TO:

Name: _________________________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________________

City: _______________________________ Postal Code: _______________

Phone: _________________________________________________________________

Mail Order To:The Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTO/ERO), 18 Spadina Road, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario M5R 2S7

Item Size Qty.Method of Payment

Cheque oMoney Order oPayment is dueupon receipt of invoice.

U s e o f P e n s i o n P l a n G a i n sAs RTO/ERO’s new representative on the OTFPension Committee, I can attest to the fact thatwe were well represented by my predecessor onthis committee, then Past President, Jim Baker. Ihave attended two meetings, in January andFebruary, during which the committee finalizedits analysis and report to the OTF Executive.RTO/ERO has been treated as a partner in thesediscussions, with our specific priorities given fulland careful consideration. This Newslettercontains a special insert on the final dispositionof the $6.2 billion in pension plan gains, asrecently determined by the OTF. Credit must begiven to our Pension and Retirement ConcernsCommittee for their ongoing advocacy efforts onbehalf of the membership.

P e n s i o n E n t i t l e m e n t R e v i e wIn January, the Provincial Executive obtainedlegal advice to determine what, if any, furtheraction could/should be taken on the ongoingsaga of the 1997 lump sum payments from theOntario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board thataffected a number of our members. After careful consideration of its options and inconsultation with the Pension and RetirementConcerns Committee, it was determined that no

further action be taken on this issue byRTO/ERO. Individuals who may wish to pursuethis matter further can still do so throughindividual action.

RTO/ERO genuinely recognizes the hardshipthis issue has caused to some of our members,and greatly appreciated the ongoing support fora number of efforts made to redress thissituation. Regrettably, but realistically, therecomes a time when it is simply not feasible tocontinue, given the limited chance of futuresuccess. RTO/ERO will continue to do its best torepresent the interests of our members in futurepension matters.

C o n c l u s i o nMy entry process, our current long-rangeplanning process and my many daily contacts withindividual members have given me every reason tobe confident about the future of RTO/ERO. Ithank you for making me feel welcome. While Istill have much to learn, I am getting morecomfortable with each passing day. I will verysoon be out to visit a number of Districts, havingbeen invited to attend and speak at meetingsacross the province. I look forward to getting toknow you on a more personal level.

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n August 12th I had the privilege ofmaking my first powered parachuteflight. A remarkably calm Saturdayevening that was described as the best

flying day of the year, it was an opportunity forme to take to the air once again, reliving a varietyof adventures and fond memories from my past.Here is the rest of the story.

A cross between an ultralight and a parasailingdevice, the main structure of this unique openaircraft resembles a small Everglades airboat onwheels, attached to a modern rectangularparachute. Bumping down the grass airstrip, theraspy Bombardier engine roars just inchesbehind your head, the rear-facing propellerproviding the forward motion necessary to raisethe parachute off the ground. The pilot thenexpertly controls the lift from the chute and heand his student passenger lift off to soar abovethe surrounding landscape.

At this point, I should explain that the trulyremarkable part of this story is that I am 73 yearsold. Oh yes, I am also wheelchair-bound, theresult of a series of strokes from which I neverfully regained my mobility. As a former scubadiving enthusiast and paratrooper in the Dutchmilitary, as well as an air-traffic control officer inIndonesia, I am no stranger to adventures ofland, sea and air, but it has been many years sinceI have experienced such a thrill.

During the 45-minute flight, we covered manyhectares of tremendous scenery, high above thefields and small communities of ruralsouthwestern Ontario. Completely exposed to theelements, I imagined this was the closest thing toflying like a bird, with the warm late-summerthermals tugging vigorously at my trousers andwindbreaker. Safely strapped into our seats, thepilot and I were connected through an intercomin our helmets, and he pointed out a variety ofsights below, which certainly took on a differentappearance from the air. We saw examples oftraditional and contemporary life interspersed:families waved enthusiastically from their decks

in a just-built subdivision while nearbyMennonite farmers on horse and wagonharvested hay and corn.

People in their cars stopped to look and wave,and even from our vantage point high above Icould see their smiles and wondered if they couldsee mine as well. I suppose we were quite a sight,the rainbow-like parachute lit up by the sun andstanding out dramatically against the darkeningblue sky. We cruised along a winding riverbed,marveling at the geometric patterns MotherNature was carving into the rich soil. As longshadows mixed with the vibrant colours of theimpending sunset, we made our way back to theairstrip and, just for fun,buzzed my family memberson the ground, getting solow that their many photoslook like close-ups. Ourremarkably smooth landingwas as much a testament tothe pilot’s skill as it was aresult of many years ofimprovements to thetechnology of parachutes.Jumping with my oldWWII parachute you werenever quite sure exactlywhere or how hard you would land.On more than one occasion, treesand buildings became hazardsrather than interesting sights!

I am extremely grateful to my sonMark for hosting this escapade andfulfilling a wish I had expressed inpassing just a few months before. Despite thechallenges that arise from debilitating injuries,disease, or simply aging, I hope everyone seeksout little adventures like this from time to time.Don’t be afraid to tell your family members andloved ones what interests you. You may besurprised to find out that they actually still listen!

–Bessel J. VandenHazelRTO/ERO Member, District 41, Elgin

Adventure!!

O

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Is Your Household a Victim of the“Homemaker Tax”?

any Canadians are unaware of thelarge tax penalty exacted by ourincome tax system on householdsin which one spouse has a much

higher income than the other. This is usuallythe situation where one spouse is the“breadwinner” and the other the “homemaker.”

A simple example using two households is agood way to explain how the tax penalty occurs.The Browns and the Smiths are two couples thathave the same household income, say $50,000.However, in the Brown household one of thespouses has the full$50,000 income,whereas in the Smithhousehold each spousehas an income of$25,000. To keepthings simple, assumethey have nodependents.

Simply because Canada’s current income taxsystem subjects that $50,000 income in theBrown household to a higher rate of tax thaneither of the two incomes in the Smithhousehold, the Browns will pay about $2500more income tax for tax year 2000 than theSmiths. This assumes they are all pre-retirementand under age 65 – it gets worse as they retireand turn 65. Because of the way the federal taxformula deals with the “pension amount”, the“age amount”, and the spousal deduction, by thetime both couples are retired, reach age 65, andstart collecting Old Age Security, the differencein their income taxes will be about $3800 (InOntario, under the year 2000 tax formulas andrates of OAS).

If you don’t see the unfairness in this differencein taxes between the two households, thenconsider these points:

l A basic principle of fairness in taxation is

horizontal equity – people in the sameeconomic situation should pay the sameamount of tax. The Browns and the Smiths alllive at the same economic level (becausetypical couples share within the home), so thehousehold taxes should be the same.

l A couple should have the right to determinetheir own division of labour within thehousehold (this is supported by family law, atleast in Ontario), without penalty under thetax laws.

l Child-rearing means a sacrifice in earnings.Even if this sacrifice iscompensated for byextra economic effortby one spouse, there isstill the homemaker taxpenalty because ofdifference in incomes,and it persists and

grows through the pension years.

l Many other situations dictate a single incomein the household e.g. care-giving, a handicap,studying, volunteering, amateur sporttraining, unpaid artistry.

It is particularly unfair to pensioners, becausemany got married and formed their division oflabour when full-time child-rearing andhomemaking were still popular. It is too late forthem to arrange their household finances to suitthe tax law, which did not become reallypunitive in this respect until tax year 1988, withthe reduction of the number of tax bracketsfrom nine to three. Also, the matter is moreurgent for pensioners, because they don’t have asmany years to spend waiting for tax reform.

In 1966 a Royal Commission recommendedelimination of this tax penalty, and there havebeen lobbying and introduction of bills to thatend. However, governments have resistedreform for various reasons.

M

Federal and Provincial governmentsbase many benefits on household

income. It seems inconsistent therefore,to not also base income tax on

household income.

7

M a r c h 2 0 0 1

There is another tack altogether. Why not justask the administrators of our pension (OTPPB)to split the pension coming into a householdinto two equal parts? After all, CPP benefits canbe split – and even the folks at CPP advise thatsuch splitting saves on taxes!

RTO/ERO, particularly Ron Poste (currentlyChairperson of the Pension and RetirementConcerns Committee), has also been working toeliminate this penalty, earlier through taxreform, and more recently through pension lawreform.

In consultation with RTO/ERO, I became aguinea-pig and sent a letter to the OTPPB askingwhether my pension could be split. Theiranswer was no, the reason being that theOntario Pension Benefits Act and the Teachers’Pension Act do not permit it.

You are strongly invited to contact Ron at theRTO/ERO Provincial Office and let him knowyou are concerned, and would like to see reform.Even if you are not affected by the tax penalty, ifyou think your fellow retirees have a legitimateconcern, your expression of support is valuable– especially so because it is not based on a vestedinterest.

You can also contact your local MPP, and askhim/her to help in getting the necessary Actsamended to allow pension splitting in Ontario.

The author can be contacted atfrank.e.stokes@sympatico.ca or (613) 838-5700.

–Frank StokesRTO/ERO Member, District 27, Ottawa-Carleton

WWaanntteedd …… YYoouurr IInnppuutt!!Ideas for the RTO/ERO priorities for the potential 2002 Pension Negotiations process.

Suggestions are being sought from Members, District Executives, Provincial Executive and the Pensionand Retirement Concerns Committee.

A “shopping list” of these ideas will be presented to the May 2001 Senate for priority ranking.

The Pension and Retirement Concerns Committee will prepare the background on the top prioritiesidentified by the Senate and make recommendations to the Provincial Executive.

The Provincial Executive will determine the RTO/ERO priorities to be submitted to OTF shouldnegotiations take place in 2002.

Forward your suggestions by mail, fax, email to reach the RTO/ERO Provincial Office by April 2001,attention Ron Poste, Chair, Pension and Retirement Concerns Committee.

health professionals with immediateaccess to medical and personal informa-tion when needed.

“Now that retirement is a reality, so is thelikelihood that retirees have developed orwill develop a medical condition thatneeds to be known by health professionals– whether it is an emergency or routinesituation. When we are out in the field, wefrequently encounter retirees who don’trealize that they need to identify morethan the ‘traditional’ conditions associatedwith older adults,” Hatten adds.

She explains thatretirees tend to readilyaccept that conditionslike diabetes or heart-related problems, andtheir treatments, mayrequire medical iden-tification. However,she adds they shouldalso consider othervital needs like hor-mone replacement,blood pressure or cho-lesterol medication, anti-inflammatories orblood thinners (including aspirin), whichshouldn’t be interrupted for any period oftime or otherwise need to be known byhealthcare professionals. Likewise, aller-gies to substances like latex, morphine orsulfa are common among older adults andalso need to be identified.

“Studies show that one in five Canadianshas a condition that needs to be known.This ratio narrows significantly for olderCanadians,” Hatten says.

Member Peter Smith knows first hand theprotection and peace of mind that comeswith MedicAlert® membership. After kid-ney surgery, his doctor recommendedMedicAlert to ensure health professionalswould know of the leftover affects of dialy-sis and his regimen of immuno-suppressants,in the event he could not speak for himself.

“It is very unlikely that I could explain all ofmy medical information if I was incapaci-tated. Also, I travel quite a bit and wearingmy MedicAlert identification gives me a great sense of comfort,” Smith says.

Whether a member is at home or abroad,emergency responders can immediatelyaccess MedicAlert’s Emergency Response Centre for essential medical andpersonal information, by calling the hot-line number on the back of a member’sbracelet and necklet. MedicAlert’s ERC isaccessible 24 hours a day, in 140 lan-guages, from anywhere in the world.

You have waited your whole life foryour new “active lifestyle,” and the

last thing you need is for a health condi-tion to get in the way of your freedom.

Like the freedom to enjoy off-season travelfor the first time in 35 years or a game of golf on a weekday in September. Tovolunteer for a local charity event insteadof the annual fun fair. To eat brunch on aTuesday instead of a Sunday or play asport instead of coaching it.

“Increasing your activity level doesn’thave to be a dream as long as you takeresponsibility for your health protectionand management. And the first step ismaking sure your conditions are identifiedfor healthcare professionals,” says TracyHatten, manager of regional services forCanadian MedicAlert Foundation.

Recognizing this, RTO/ERO and MedicAlerthave joined forces to offer RTO/ERO mem-bers and their spouses a savings of $10 on aMedicAlert® bracelet or necklet of one’schoice with each new registration or re-order.

Canada’s largest membership charity,MedicAlert protects members by provid-ing emergency responders and other

For more information or to register with MedicAlert, call 1-800-668-1507.Please identify yourself as an RTO/ERO member when you call. MedicAlertrepresentatives are also available to provide educational presentations.

MedicAlert helps make retirement freedom a reality.

istrict 27, Ottawa-Carleton, hasstarted a financial campaign in orderto build a six-room school, at therequest of the villagers of Watté, in

Ivory Coast, Africa. At the present time, 182students aged between six and fourteen years oldare studying under a burning sun, with only theirfinger and the sand as school supplies.

Although this village has nomeeting place, water orelectricity, they are readyto provide the land andthe labour required tobuild the school. Butmoney is needed tobuy the constructionmaterials. Once the schoolis built, it will be turned over to the villagers who will be able to obtaingrants for its operation and maintenance.

We have received the plans for the school, andheld meetings with the Missionaries of theConsolata who will supervise the project, aswell as with the Guadeloupe Foundation, aNon-Governmental Organization (NGO), whowill present our project to The CanadianInternational Development Agency (CIDA). Thecost for this project is approximately $60,000.CIDA will match dollar for dollar any project over$50,000, if requirements are met. The

Guadaloupe Foundation assures us we shouldhave no problems. Any money left over will gotowards the purchase of library books.

Retired teachers have just received a 2.5% increase in their pensions. People in Watté do notearn $2.00 a day. We eat three meals a day andsometimes snacks between meals. They have amaximum of one meal a day and sometimes none at all.

People in Watté are convinced that theway out of misery and poverty

is through education. How aboutgiving them a helping hand? An

official income taxreceipt will be sent forevery donation. Please

label your cheque toRTO/ERO School Project

and send to: Betty Scarlett,Treasurer RTO/ERO

District 27, 3 Glenbrook Way,

Nepean, ON K2G 0V1.

On behalf of the villagers of Watté, we thank you for

your generosity.

–Pauline Trudel, Project Co-ordinatorRTO/ERO Member

District 27, Ottawa-Carleton

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M a r c h 2 0 0 1

School Project in the Ivory Coast

D

GGeett yyoouurr NNoommiinnaattiioonnss iinnttoo tthhee PPrroovviinncciiaall OOffffiicceeN o m i n a t i o n s f o r O f f i c e o nt h e P r o v i n c i a l E x e c u t i v eGuidelines: Nominations must be approvedat a District Executive meeting and thenomination form signed by both the DistrictPresident and District Secretary. Thecompleted nomination form must reach theRTO/ERO Provincial Office no later thanAugust 15, 2001.

A p p l i c a t i o n s f o rM e m b e r s h i p o n S t a n d i n gC o m m i t t e e s a n dE x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e sGuidelines: Nominations must be approvedat a District Executive meeting and thenomination form signed by the District/UnitPresident. The completed nomination formmust reach the RTO/ERO Provincial Officeno later than August 15, 2001.

Contact Sandra Padgett at the ProvincialOffice for the appropriate nomination form.

Good morning class! I am your teacher for the yearQualified and certified, and found acceptableBy those in charge.See, this is my certificate; it is my passport into the

strange land of learning Where children dwell.Odd, isn’t it, that such a flimsy paper Could open such a gate,Or that its sterile tone could herald Such an awesome route.This is to certify – and then it shows my name,Having complied with the regulations Prescribed by the Ministry of Education Is hereby granted – And at the end, properly affixed With rubber stamp,Are the names of two people whom I do not know But who must know me for thus they Gave me licence to stand here And say, Good morning class.All manner of folk are licensed in my adult world – Those who drive, and hunt, and fish,And fly and practise law.Having complied with the regulations Having passed their examiners,They have their certificate to practise; To make things, do things, buy things and

kill things Within the law.

Such

men carry their certificates,Wear them, post them, fly them, hang them and

mount themAs signs of success, symbols of authority, permits

to practise.And I have mine.

Like the others, if firmly based upon the law “It is my duty” – says the law – To teach diligently and faithfully the subjects in the

courses of study Prescribed by the regulations; To encourage you in the pursuit of learning; To maintain order; To use the English language in all communicationsOr because you are silent, or Because you want for something from me? Is it the ghostly presence of my power So freshly recalled in the regulations? Surely not.

No, it has to do with you – and me You and me together.This is it, the moment of Truth, the time beyond

the limit of the book.Scant comfort now my licence,For you and I are vulnerable together; We are vulnerable to the defeat that all people suffer When they fail to reach for greatness When the time is opportune.And class, that time is now.For this is no ordinary room, you

no ordinary people And I no ordinary person.This room is an area where The adults of tomorrow come to wrestle with The unknown; to weave from the warp and woofOf past and present a ladder for tomorrow.It’s a garden where the mind grows – A temple where tomorrow’s peopleLearn to dedicate their livesTo their fellows.This room is a lab where you can learn To cure the sickness of the world; It is a link between my past and your future.

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R T O / E R O n e w s l e t t e r

Good morning class!

It is the only place in my society where ordinarypeople are kept by law.

And who are you? To be sure, you are little children, here to learn – Bad and good, quiet, noisy, clean and dirty Smart, and not so smart; children, students; pupils,You are all the ordinary things that we have always

called you; But in the magic of this hour you are More than all of these.You are the way to greatness and nobility To gentleness, to kindness and compassion To a better time for men.What a pity that the words of regulations That stipulate for you and me Are too impotent to describe this time.

And what of me? To be sure I am a teacher, certified to teach But I am also a person, an ordinary person.I am all the things both good and badThat God gives to people.I have no Godly power over you, no magic wandTo wave you into destiny.I do some things well, and others not so well,Just as others do.I have my hopes and fears, my idiosyncrasies;I have a job to do, and no guaranteeThat I can do it well; but I shall try.And so together you and I, the teacher and the classWill explore the world of learning.May I, along the way, be caught by the spiritThat is the root of my profession –The spirit of service devoted not to myselfBut to you.

Perhaps the time’s auspicious for us all; For now’s the time For gentle souls to stand Midst the cacophony of progress And temper the sound with single notes Of the better side of life.Such notes are still the teacher’s trade In drawing life’s design; Love of beauty, love of grace,

Purity of line.And if there be divine designs For me to trace I’ll find the ageless markings clear To guide my hand.Kindness and compassion, loving care,Individual difference; Belief in what I do, integrity; The gentle touch, the helping hand; And over all, that faith that feeds Both hope and inspiration.

May you in turn be caught, not by the self-indulgent habit

But by compassion and commitment.Perhaps, between the lines, this was The purpose hidden on my certificate.I shall assume so,As now, I muster all my courage And offer what I have to say as I begin by saying Good Morning Class.

–Dr. Lloyd DennisRTO/ERO MemberDistrict 17, Simcoe

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12

R T O / E R O n e w s l e t t e r

C o m p u t e r E a s e

was curious as to how many sitesthere were for Canadian Seniors.When I keyed in the words Seniorsand Canadian in my favourite search

engine, Google < www.google.com >, I found thatthere were nearly 61,000 sites that talked aboutCanadian Seniors. Imagine the number ofinternational sites.

There were many sites that caught my attentionbut one in particular, from New York, referred toGeneration A, defined as activeadults over the age of 50.

Seniors are interested in manythings, and they are using the Webto search out information thatexpands their interests. The rangeof information is bounded only bythe limits of one’s own imagination.

A number of Canadian sites aregood starting points. At < www.infoseniors.com >, theCanadian Senior CitizensInformation and Services Centre,one can find information about health, travel,government services and programs.

On the Wired Seniors Network, found at < www.ageofreason.com >, you can sift through over 5,000 links to sites of interest to Seniors.Relax and enjoy.

Are you looking for educational programs? Try < www.seniornet.org >, the Senior Net. They lista variety of computer and Internet relatededucation programs and resources. Although thisis an American site, the Internet doesn’t know this.

Some of the sites, such as Seniors’ Links – Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat, have both French and English pages. Feel free to check< www.gov.on.ca/mczcr/seniors’/english/links.htm >

If you substitute “french” for “english,” you willget the French version.

Watch Out World, Here ComesGeneration A

I also encourage you to check Seniors Search, aplace for “Wired Seniors, in a web of their own.”They can be found at: < www.seniorssearch.com >I think it is possible to even get lost in this site. Itreally does cater to Generation A.

Do you want a free Web Page, but feel you can’tcreate one? Senior Globe.com, at < www.seniors-r-us.net >, will help you make your very own WebPage, and best of all, it is FREE. Even though thisis an American site, Canadian participants are

welcome.

There may be some of you who have found out about theElderhostel experience. Theyspecialize in educational trips.They are present in more than 75 countries. Their site at:< www.elderhostel.org > is well worth visiting.

There are so many more that areon the must see list. One standbythat has always been veryinformative is the AARP

(American Association of Retired People) site at:< www.aarp.org >, or its Canadian cousin CARP,at: < www.carp.ca >. They recognize that manyolder people have the time and the desire to be“wired” and cater to a wide variety of interests andneeds.

Take the time to read and evaluate informationcarefully. Not everything is necessarily true orwhat it seems up front.

H a p p y S u r f i n g !Computer Ease is a regular feature of theRTO/ERO Newsletter. Share your ideas with theauthor at: < waynes_stuff@hotmail.com >

–Wayne ScottRTO/ERO MemberDistrict 14, Niagara

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P r o j e c t — S e r v i c e To O t h e r s

icture if you will, a family of five, thebaby only a few weeks old, theapartment so small there is no spacein any bedroom for his crib. The

accommodation isunbearably hot in thesummer and poorlyheated in the winter.The young familystruggles to make endsmeet and is never ableto get ahead becauseover 50% of theirearnings goes toproviding shelter. Likeall young couples, theydream of owning theirown home but, realistically, know it is impossibleto save anything for a down payment. There aremany families in Brant County in similarcircumstances. What can they do?

The young couple mentioned above read in thelocal paper about Habitat For Humanity, aChristian, non-profit organization funded byprivate donations and supported by volunteers ofall faiths. They read that the organization’smission is to offer homeownership to familiesunable to acquire asimple, decent,affordable homethrough conventionalchannels. They wereinformed that if theyapplied and theirapplication wasaccepted, they mustagree to partner withHabitat and be willingto contribute 500 hours of “sweat” equity. Thefamily must also have the financial ability to paythe mortgage (held by Habitat for Humanity), thetaxes and the insurance on the new home.Habitat, using donated funds and materials, thenbuilds the home for the selected family, a home

with an interest-free mortgage, geared to theirincome.

I serve on the Family Selection Committee thatreceived this family’s application. After several

interviews by committeemembers and thedetermination that theymet the necessarycriteria, they wereselected to have our firstHabitat home in BrantCounty. As the liaisonbetween the family andHabitat, I have watchedthe changes in the familyover the past year. The

little girls have been bringing home excellentreport cards from school and the pride shown bythe family in their new home is most rewarding.

Our second build has recently been completed,thanks to the generous contributions from ourprivate and corporate community, including themuch appreciated $4000 grant from RTO/EROProject—Service to Others Committee. Thededication of this house took place on September30, 2000.

Another elated family offive has received a“Hand Up,” not a “HandOut” from Habitat ForHumanity, Brant. Themost excited member ofthis family is probablythe ten year old son,who not only has a newhome but has made newfriends and can walk tohis new school.

It was very gratifying to me, being a year-roundvolunteer, to see retirees, many of them retiredteachers, hammering, painting, trimming androofing, and thoroughly enjoying the camaraderie of building together, and lunching on the food

Habitat for Humanity

P

Putting up the walls.

Continued on page 14

Volunteers, including several retired teachers, eating lunch.

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R T O / E R O n e w s l e t t e r

provided daily by local church groups, sororitiesand businesses.

Kirk, the young son of the Habitat family, and hismother shared their feelings with this poem toexpress their thanks.

A hand up, not hand out Is what Habitat is all about.

Joining together across the land Giving families like us a helping hand. Family and friends, strangers alike From wee morning hours to late in the night. Prove dedication and caring build

foundations strong Insulated with joy to last all winter long. Walls of understanding, built support Nailed with kindness that warms the heart. Without everyone who joined to build Our dream of a home, would not have

been fulfilled. To all of the people who played a part. We thank you all from the bottom of our

hearts. Let us continue together to build homes andhope!

–Donna Nail, Selection Committee Habitat for Humanity–Brant

World Exchanges Inc.TEACH ENGLISH IN CHINA

The China Teaching Program of World Exchanges invites retired teachers toteach at Chinese universities/colleges and ESL centers.Experience first-hand, one of the world’s oldest and most diverse civilizationsand more importantly, make lifelong friends with the Chinese people.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Ontario Teacher’s CertificateBENEFITS: • Tax free high Chinese salary/vacation allowance

• Paid accommodation/international airfare/medical care• Mandarin lessons• Travel opportunities in China

SUBJECTS: English, computers and social sciences. Apply enclosing: • Two copies of current resume

• Two current passport-sized photos• Qualifications• Two references

To: CHINA TEACHING PROGRAM, WORLD EXCHANGES INC.Attn: Jenny Jung1 Yonge Street, Suite 1801, Toronto, Ontario M5E 1W7

Email: wei@chinateaching.com • Website: www.chinateaching.comTel: (416) 369-9992 • Fax: (416) 369-0515 • START DATE: September 2001Deadline: July 27, 2001 (for 2001 academic year). Applications accepted throughout the year.

The Habitat Home completed in 2000.

The Habitat Home built in 1999.

P r o j e c t — S e r v i c e To O t h e r s

ince the introduction of theRTO/ERO Long Term Care Plan atthe May 2000 Senate, thousands ofmembers have requested enrollment

kits. To date, more than 1,000 policies have beenissued. On average, the application process takessix weeks from the time you submit yourapplication to the time you are notified if youqualify for the RTO/ERO Long Term Care Plan.

If you haven’t considered applying for theRTO/ERO Long Term Care Plan, don’t wait untilyour health is failing. Submit your applicationwhile your health is good. Since the rates aretied to your age at the time of your application,the earlier you apply, the lower your rates willbe. The RTO/ERO Long Term Care Plan canease the uncertainty of the future for you andyour family.

If you have been considering making anapplication for the Long Term Care Plan, here’swhat you can expect when you apply:

1. You are required to complete amedical questionnaire along withyour application form. It isimportant that you answerall the questions asaccurately as possible.The medicalquestionnaireprovides a basicsource ofinformationregarding yourhealth, your lifestyleand your livingenvironment.

2. Each application isreviewed individuallyby a medicalunderwriter. Theunderwriter’s role

is to qualify the application for coverage. Theunderwriter will contact you to conduct atelephone interview to verify the answers yousupplied on the medical questionnaire andget additional information directly from youwhenever possible.

3. In many cases, the underwriter will request,through Johnson Incorporated, medicalrecords from your physician(s) to completeyour file and to assist the underwriter inqualifying your application.1 If yourphysician charges a fee for the release of yourmedical records, the cost is borne by theinsurance company. The medical records aretreated with the utmost confidentiality andare only accessed by the medical underwriterreviewing your application.

Medical records are important in that theyprovide the underwriter with the physician’sinsight regarding your current state of health

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H e a l t h S p e c i a l

RTO/ERO Long Term Care Plan –Have you applied yet?

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R T O / E R O n e w s l e t t e r

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as well as the future medical implications ofany conditions you may have. Theinformation supplied by the physicianclarifies the answers you supplied on yourmedical questionnaire and helps theunderwriter qualify your application. Fulldisclosure is important because once you areapproved you are covered for all pre-existingconditions and your coverage cannot beterminated if your health deteriorates.

1 You can help expedite the process byencouraging your doctor to provide anyrequested information as quickly as possible.

While all RTO/ERO members and their spousesare eligible to apply, not all will qualify forcoverage. To qualify, you must providesatisfactory evidence of good health to theinsurance company. You may qualify even if youhave a pre-existing medical condition or have

been treated for a chronic illness. Unless youalready require assistance with any activities of daily living or suffer from a cognitiveimpairment, there is a good chance you will beapproved for coverage.

We have produced a video about the need forlong term care insurance and how the RTO/EROLong Term Care Plan can help you and yourfamily in planning for your future. If you wouldlike to view the video, two copies have been sentto each RTO/ERO District, care of the Presidentand your local Health & Insurance ServicesRepresentative.

If you have questions about the RTO/ERO LongTerm Care Plan or would like assistance incompleting your application, contact theRTO/ERO Plan Administrator, JohnsonIncorporated, at (416) 920-7248 or 1-877-406-9007.

M a r c h 2 0 0 1

Books for Malawiast summer, District 23, City ofNorth York, helped out with a projectconnected with Elkhorn PublicSchool. A former Canadian teacher

(now minister) came to speak to the school aboutwhat life is like for schoolchildren in Malawi,Southern Africa. She talked about their dailyhome routines and then on to school life. Duringher talk, she mentioned that the children aretaught in English and how eager they are to readbooks. The trouble is that there is a dearth ofbooks available to them. With approximately 200 children in each elementary grade,schoolbooks are a scarcity and the children have to

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rely on what they copy from the chalkboard toimprove their reading. Elkhorn students wanted tohelp and, within a month, had gathered over 800children’ books to send to Malawi. The bigproblem was the shipping costs that came tonearly $800. This is where District 23, City ofNorth York, came to the rescue. With a promise of$300 if the rest could be found, WillowdalePresbyterian Church donated over $200. The restcame from individual donations and a businesscompany. The books sailed to Malawi in July andhave been put to excellent use by hundreds ofMalawi students.

–Nina Hillier, RTO/ERO MemberDistrict 23, City of North York

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R T O / E R O n e w s l e t t e r

M o r e o n t h e H e a l t hP r e m i u m I n c r e a s e sAs a follow-up to the articles in the DecemberNewsletter and the comments from a fewmembers, I would like to emphasize the following:

l Most participants in our health plans are veryresponsible users of the benefits but we all mustbe proactive in our vigilance, effective healthconsumerism, and good living habits;

l A few quotes and comments in my articles referto possible behaviours and attitudes ofthe few;

l Premium increases have generally beengenerated by increased use (not overuse orabuse), increased costs of new and, in somecases, better drugs, government downloading,the ODB plan not bringing on new drugsmore quickly and introducing a new ‘limiteduse category’, doctors not prescribing ‘generic’when possible or prescribing more expensivedrugs because one has a health plan, and useof certain benefits simply because a new timeframe has been introduced (e.g. eyeglasses).

l Important medium and long term strategiesthat will lead to controlling premiums andthe need to use health plan benefits are:practising preventive living habits in the areas of diet, exercise, and leading an active life;becoming more educated about one’s health and taking charge.

–George Meek, Chair,Health Services and Insurance Committee

A n O u n c e o f P r e v e n t i o n

In the December 2000 Newsletter, Special HealthArticle, George Meek stated:

“We encourage all members to be wise healthconsumers, to practise preventive medicine and toimplement the old adage that ‘an ounce ofprevention is worth a pound of cure.’” Thissupposition is most appropriate when it pertainsto health care and its escalating costs. A person

who accepts responsibility for his own health anduses the doctor as his consultant, needsinformation and guidance to make this shift. Ourorganization could provide support, guidance,workshops and incentives to motivate members toeducate themselves and to encourage this move toself-care and prevention.

China cannot afford Western style medicare so itis encouraging its people to use the ancient, self-healing system of “Quigong” to stay healthy andprevent chronic illness. Today, 88 million Chinesepractise daily this deep breathing, meditation inslow-motion, internal healing program.

RTO/ERO cannot duplicate China’s centrallyorganized program but it can encouragemembers to:

l Drink more water

l Exercise daily – walk, walk, walk

l Reduce calorie intake – veggies, veggies, veggies

l Be a life-long learner – try new things

l Integrate socially – volunteer, join, join, join

l Become a spiritual being with an inner core

If we can take charge of our health we can keepour health premiums reasonable, and can teachthe next generation the importance of preventionand wise health consumerism.

–R. M. Warling, BeavertonRTO/ERO Member, District 28

Region of Durham

RTO/ERO received a considerable number ofresponses to a letter from James F. McDonald published in the December 2000 Newsletter.The overwhelming majority took issue with theauthor’s position on teachers’ unions.

In order to provide an opportunity for members to express theirviews under “Members Write,” letters should not exceed 200words. Letters should be directed to Clara Rodriguez at ProvincialOffice or by email: <crodriguez@rto-ero.org>

Letters that appear in this column are the personal opinions of thewriters – our members. We will endeavour to publish two or threeletters in each Newsletter.

Members Write

Moved or Moving?

( )

Personal Information (Please Print)

Mr. Mrs. Miss Other

LAST NAME FIRST NAME AND MIDDLE INITIAL DATE OF MOVE

ADDRESS - STREET/BOX/R.R. APT. NO.

CITY PROVINCE POSTAL CODE TELEPHONE NUMBER

SOCIAL INSURANCE NUMBER NUMBER AND/OR NAME OF RTO/ERO DISTRICT WITH WHICH YOU WISH TO BE AFFILIATED

- -

-

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M a r c h 2 0 0 1

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R T O / E R O n e w s l e t t e r

Publications Mail Agreement No. 1551876

People/Places/Events

service to others Au service d’Autrui

18 Spadina Road, Ste. 300/18 chemin Spadina, bureau 300 Toronto ON M5R 2S7

Vaughan Road CollegiateInstitute/Academy 75th Anniversary Reunion allclasses. May 4-5-6, 2001. Contact < www.vraa.org > or John Lubelski (416) 789-1052,email < jlub@ionsys.com >, or Jack Parker at (705)484-0534, email < jparker@rcoc.ca >

Stratford Normal School Class of 1944-45Reunion, Wednesday, May 9, 2001 at the Festival Inn,Stratford, Ontario. Contact Jack Bean, 154 Ann St.,Kitchener, N2B 1Y3, telephone (519) 742-9448.

Pickering High School 50th Anniversay Reunion,June 8-9-10, 2001. All former staff, students andfamilies are invited. Bring photos or memorabilia. Formore information telephone (905) 683-4760, fax (905)683-0491, email < ddsb.durham.edu.on.ca > or writePickering High School 50th Anniversary, 180 ChurchStreet North, Ajax, L1T 2W7.

Commonwealth Public School, Brockville,50th Anniversary Reunion, Saturday, May 5, 2001,1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. All former staff and students areinvited. For information telephone (613) 924-2052.

Toronto Normal School, Class of 1949-50Reunion, September 2001. Contact Jack Teggart,354 Victoria Park Ave., Toronto, M4E 3S8,telephone (416) 690-5999, e-mail < teggart@window-net.com >

Central Secondary School in Hamilton,first-ever Reunion, September 29, 2001.If you attended the school during the decade of the’50s, you are invited. For more information contact < communities.msn.com/centralsecondaryhamilton >or write to P.O. Box 718, Shelburne, L0N 1S0.

Floradale Public School 40th AnniversaryReunion, April 28, 2001. All former staff, students andparents are invited. Please send memorabilia orphotocopies of memorabilia to the attention of TheFloradale Reunion Committee at 210 Paisley Blvd. W.,Mississauga, L5B 2A4. For information email ConnieRusynyk < erindale@sympatico.ca > or call BarbMyers at 905-542-3666. Also visit our web site at < peel.edu.on.ca/floradale >

Peterborough Normal School 50th Reunion,Wednesday, October 3, 2001, Class of 1950-51 to beheld at Canadian Canoe Museum, Peterborough. Forinformation contact Keith Borland at 705-742-8560,email < wkborland@ptbo.lqs.net >

North Bay Normal School Class of 1950-51.A reunion is being planned for May or June 2001,in Sudbury, date and place yet to be determined.Contact Ray Kaattari, 1105 Kantola Rd., Lively,P3Y 1H8, telephone 705-692-0795,email < rpoots@cyberbeach.net >

London Normal School Class of 1937-38Reunion, Tuesday, September 11, 2001; 12:00 p.m.luncheon. Contact Jack Burger, 29 Dunwich Dr.,St. Thomas, N5R 4T7, telephone (519) 631-3081, orHelen Duncanson, 401-120 Grand Ave., London,telephone (519) 439-4310.