RTO-ERO District 9

Message from District 9 President
– Sheila Jankowski With the approach of spring, comes the sense of renewal and growth. However, we’re not exactly starting with a ‘clean slate’ because much of the work that has gone on over the winter will direct us in the year ahead. District Annual General Meeting, October 8, 2010 We had a great turn out for our AGM with 137 members attending. This number is up from our last AGM so this is a good sign of growth in our District. Recognition and awards were presented to various district members. Three members of our Quarter Century Club attended and were presented with RTO/ERO 40th Anniversary pins. In total we have 112 members who have been part of our District for 25 years or more. President Linda McKenzie honoured four members who were retiring from the Executive Board. Linda thanked them for their incredible contributions and presented them with gifts and certificates: Joe Hogan, Political Advocacy, Arn Mathers, Health Services Committee, Flo Keillor, Provincial Retirement and Concerns Committee, and Dianne Josling, Past President. President’s pins were presented to the past president Dianne Josling, the current president Linda McKenzie and to me, the incoming president. Clare French won our newsletter name contest with his winning entry ‘Clean Slate‘ which we used for the first time on the December 2009 Update issue. Clare received a complimentary dinner at our upcoming Spring Annual General Meeting 2010. Our entertainment was provided by Nancy Kraemer, a former Grade 1 teacher who took us back to our younger days with her humorous presentation of her teddy bear collection. She was pleased to donate her $100 gift to the Thamesview Food Grains Project 09 which was matched four to one by funds from the Canadian International Development Agency. We were very honoured to have Marg Couture who was the Provincial First Vice-President at the time, as our guest speaker. In her address, Marg complimented District 9 RTO on the consistent and engaged turnout of our members. Marg also gave special thanks to Flo Keillor for her outstanding contributions as Chair of the Provincial Pension and Retirement Concerns Committee and in particular for the preparation of a superb Pension and Retirement Concerns handbook for all districts. Executive Board Activities - Working for You Over the last 6 months I have learned what an incredible Executive Board I have to work with. They have worked very hard on your behalf to continue the things we have done well in the past and to initiate new programs. On Oct. 19th, three Executive members Willi Laurie, Marty Bond and I, along with Bill Farnell and Joe Laurie attended a PD Wellness Day put on by District 41 in St. Thomas. We learned a lot about how it was organized and run on that day. But more importantly, we saw what fun the day was for their members. The joy and laughter was infectious. It convinced us that we should pursue our own PD Day. Thanks goes to Bill Farnell, Chair of the PD Committee, and his members Marty Bond, Georgina Reynolds and Elaine Haney for meeting over the winter months to get this new initiative off the ground. On Oct. 28 Jane Cousineau attended the ETFO Retirement Workshop in Mitchell and provided participants with RTO/ERO information kits and the chart comparing our Health Plan to others. It was a great opportunity to see who was considering retirement. Jane and her RPW committee of Flo Keillor, Dixie Lee Arbuckle, and Annie Dozois have also been busy this winter preparing for our own Retirement Planning Workshop which will be held April 13. If you know people who might be retiring, please show them the flyer in this newsletter or direct them to it on our website. Lorne Rideout’s CLR committee composed of Linda McKenzie, Doug Bundy, Dave McClure, Bud Walker, Dave Hurley, Louise Bell and John Conroy has also met this winter to provide you with the excellent ‘slate’ of plays and excursions which are listed in this newsletter and posted on our website. On April 7, Carol McDonnell will be attending the Provincial STO Committee meeting in Toronto where they’ll be deciding which Service to Others projects will receive the $4000 grant. Looking forward, I hope to see many of you at our spring District Annual General Meeting on May 4. If you know any of the new members listed in this newsletter, please extend your own personal and warm invitation to them to attend. Perhaps you can car pool or arrange to meet them at the hall. Let’s make them feel welcome. Executive Board members will be attending a number of provincial workshops in Toronto this spring. Cathy Hugill attended a Goodwill Workshop in March, Marty Bond will attend a Treasurers’ Workshop in April, and I will attend the Presidents’ Workshop on April 15-16. In June, Joe Jankowski will attend the Health Services Workshop. We need someone to take on the role of Webmaster and to attend the Webmasters’ Workshop on June 8. Please let me know if you’re interested. To keep informed about your organization, please refer to our Clean Slate newsletter which is produced three times a year and to our website at www.rto-ero.org/district/9/ .