New Westminster Branch

 

 

New Westminster Branch Executive

 

 

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Branch News and Events

 

To: NWRTA Member From: NW Retired Teachers’ Association and BC Retired Teachers’ Association Date: December 29, 2011

 

The NWRTA hopes you had a rewarding Christmas celebration.

This notice is coming to you because the BC Government has made significant changes that will impact your teaching license. Bill 12, Teachers Act, has been introduced, passed and received Royal Assent.This Act will eliminate the BC College of Teachers on January 6, 2012 and therefore all the previous granted non-practicing certificates that many of us held in retirement.

The new BC Teachers’ Council, when it is established, will be responsible for certification issues. The Honourable George Abbott, Minister of Education, has indicated that there will be only one category of certification, practicing and fee paying.

Since then the BCRTA has met with Deputy Minister James Gorman and he indicated that the new Council could decide to establish a new non-practicing certification.

If it were not for the many letters, emails and phone calls to the Minister, BCRTA would not have had an opportunity to be heard. It is my opinion that we need to continue to express our dismay about the lack of a non-practicing certification by writing letters or sending emails to the Minister, Assistant Minister and the Opposition Critic.

What has the BCRTA done?...................

Read the full letter (pdf)

 

 

New Westminster Branch Report 2011

Our year always begins with the “No bell” lunch. New retirees are invited and provided a complementary lunch. Thanks to the BCRTA for assistance through the Recruitment and Retention Grant. About 20 members and new retirees enjoyed the opportunity to have lunch uninterrupted by bells!

The fall is the time start tax planning for the next year. A quest speaker at our fall meeting provided some suggestions to assist with estate planning and finding ways to reducing income taxes.

Providing assistance to graduates of NWSS students through a bursary is part of the purpose of our organizations. The major fundraising activity is the Christmas auction. This is an exciting and energetic event with lots of bidding, and even trading after the wining bids. The event raised more than $500 from the 21 participants. Thanks are due to all the bidders and donators.

All Teachers’ Pension Plan retirees received notice in February of the change in the Extended Health Care benefit program. Members had an opportunity to receive information, ask questions and make decision on the new plan at our winter meeting in February. Linda Watson, a pension plan trustee and retired teacher from North Vancouver, gave us a presentation of the new unsubsidized plan and compared it to the current subsidized plan.

In the spring our meeting was focused on Age Friendly Communities, a workshop from COSCO and presented by Judy deVries. We were fortunate to have a representative from New Westminster City attend to comment on what is happening in this are in our community. As well a representative from Ministry of Health, Seniors Healthy Living Secretariat attended to comment on provincial activities to make communities more age friendly.

Finally, the summer meeting. A picnic at Port Royal Park, but still no summer. The weather was cool but the reception and interaction was warm for the 20 participants. Potluck BBQ provided all the necessary food groups for a good picnic – hot dogs, beans, chips, pop, and even pie and ice cream for the end, and that ended another successful and rewarding year for the branch.

Respectfully submitted,
Dale Lauber, President

 

 

New Westminster Branch Archives