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OTPP President addresses Senate
Jim Leech, President and CEO of OTPP
addresses Senate
Provincial Executive
Members of Senate
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The keynote speaker at Senate was Jim Leech, President and CEO of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP). While addressing the specifics of the economic downturn and the impact on the pension fund, his overriding message was that the team at OTPP continues to provide the best pension service and investment management. He acknowledged that this is more challenging in the current market, but emphasized that OTPP is committed to their members, both active and retired teachers.
In terms of the specific economic impact, Leech noted that there was an 18% decrease in the pension plan, as compared to losses in similar markets of up to 50%. However, he said that last year was a humbling year for OTPP, as they lost extra value gained in the plan in the past few years; they are back at the 2004 value. They spent the past year in a defensive position and will continue in this mode until there is an opportunity to seize the market again and invest more aggressively.
Leech praised his staff, saying that the smart actions of the OTPP saved billions of dollars in further losses and he believes they will earn the lost value back in a few years. He prognosticates that 2010 will see a turnaroundin the economy.
Leech also emphasized that while the value of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan fell, the value of the pensions that retired teachers receive has not been affected since these members’ benefits are protected by legislation.
Pension reform, according to Leech, is a vital issue for all Canadians and he strongly believes the next federal election or the one following it will be fought on this issue of reform. He commented, “A solution is necessary to address the over 70% of Canadians who are without pensions.”
Provincial Executive motions and news
Passed at the P.E. meetings of April and May 2009
• Moved that a District Treasurers’ Workshop be held in 2010.
• Approved the RTO/ERO Strategic Plan, as revised, and requested it be included in the Senate agenda for information.
• Received the report of the Project – Service to Others Committee, and extended its thanks to the committee.
• Approved the proposed HSIC Group Benefits Training Program.
• Approved funds for a second printing of the RTO/ERO Extended Health Care passport covers for RTO/ERO Health Plan members.
• Approved, in principle, the RTO/ERO Investment Policy, as revised.
Other Business
The Provincial Executive also discussed and reviewed:
• Presentations from RTO/ERO’s Investment Managers, TD and RBC
• Political advocacy plan development
• Technological study update
• Marketing Plan for 2009
• Evaluation of the District Presidents’ Workshop
• RTO/ERO member survey – interim report by Goldfarb
• Completion of Review of Johnson Inc. consulting services
Major Senate decisions
During the two-day meeting, the following major decisions were made by Senate:
• Resolved that a District Presidents’ Workshop will be held in 2010.
• Approved the consolidated financial statements for 2008.
• Retained the firm of Grant Thornton, LLP as auditors for RTO/ERO in 2009.
• Added a new category to the Membership Eligibility section of the RTO/ERO Constitution, allowing a retired teacher receiving a pension from a non-designated Ontario private school to join.
• Expanded an existing category in the Membership Eligibility section of the Constitution that previously applied only to those with teaching certificates, that now allows any individual, actively employed in education, who is not retired and will be eligible upon retirement to be a Full or Associate member to become a member.
RTO/ERO Donation: The Lieutenant Governor’s Club Amick
Senate approved the recommendation from the Provincial Executive that the 2009 charitable donation of $10,000 from RTO/ERO be made to the Lieutenant Governor’s Club Amick.
According to its website, the club, established by former Lieutenant-Governor James Bartleman, “is for children in Ontario’s remote First Nation communities. Each club member receives a children’s book and an activities-oriented newsletter four times per year. The goal is for young Native children to create their own home libraries, to receive packages addressed in their names featuring a newsletter together with a special book selected just for them, and to keep the literacy light burning.”
The donation will be presented by the Provincial Executive at the RTO/ERO Blue Jays game on August 22, 2009
Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship
Nominations for the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship are now being accepted. Established in 1973, the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship honours Canadians, who through exceptional, long-term efforts, have made outstanding contributions to life in their communities. Recipients will be presented with their medal by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario at a special ceremony at Queen’s Park in the Fall of 2009.
You are invited to participate by nominating a deserving citizen. Nomination forms are now available on-line on the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration’s website at:
www.ontario.ca/honoursandawards
You can submit your nomination online by choosing the “Electronic Nomination” option. If you require a hard copy of the form to be sent to you or for any further information, please contact the Ontario Honours and Awards Secretariat at 416.314.7526. Nominations must be received by August 17, 2009.
Source: Government of Ontario
RTO/ERO members who have won the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship include:
1997 - Glenn Mallory, District 13, Hamilton-
Wentworth, Haldimand
2003 - Patricia Anzovino, District 14, Niagara
RE-Net update
by Simon Leibovitz, Director
of Administrative and Member Services
On behalf of the Communications Committee, I am pleased to inform you that the conference formely entitled, “From the Provincial Office” is now “Provincial News”.
All members of RE-Net are encouraged to check “Provincial News” on a regular basis (e.g. weekly), as news, reports, papers, information from the Provincial Office, the Provincial Executive, and Provincial Committees will be found here, in one easy and convenient spot.
In “Provincial News” you can also find the newsletters “Liaison” and “Health Matters” as well as liaison reports from the Provincial Executive and Committees.
In the main body of the“Provincial News” conference, there is general information, such as the Senate agenda and materials package, while information specific to each committee and the Provincial Executive can be found within the sub-conferences (folders) of “Provincial News”.
The Committee trusts you will find this information useful, timely and hopes you will visit RE-Net and check out “Provincial News” on a regular basis.
No excuse for elder abuse!
by Norbert Boudreau, Executive Director, ACER-CART
Did you know that elder abuse can happen to any one of us? I always thought that it occurred only to older seniors unable to take care of themselves.
Since 2002, June 15 has been set aside to raise public awareness of abuse of older adults. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day started in Madrid in 2002 when countries throughout the world adopted the United Nations International Plan of Action on Ageing.
Elder abuse is defined by any action which causes harm to an older person by a person in a position of trust. There are different types of elder abuse including physical, sexual, mental, neglect or even taking advantage of an elderly person’s money. Financial abuse, in fact, is the most common form of elder abuse.
Often, elder abuse is caused by a family member or a friend, and oddly enough, it is hardly reported to the authorities. Abused elders are sometimes afraid of their abusers. It could be that they depend on the abusers for the necessities of life, or are even ashamed that it is happening to them. They also fear that their loved ones will be jailed or that they themselves will be put away in an institution.
My better half has complete control of her father’s finances. She could, if she wanted to, empty his bank account and he wouldn’t even know that he’s being fleeced. He has complete trust in her ability to take care of him and his finances. Although elder abuse happens in situations like this, contrary to popular belief, elder abuse happens to people who are quite capable of making decisions for themselves. Elders are taken advantage of because they are considered easy targets.
There are signs and symptoms of elder abuse. Keep an eye out for unexplained injuries, neglect or diminished self-esteem. Sometimes abused elders are fearful, withdrawn and are reluctant to talk openly about their situation. If a senior person is not dressed appropriately or is unkept, especially when you know that this person would not be seen like this in public, this may be the time to investigate and to discretely ask questions.
If you know or suspect that a friend, family member, neighbour, or acquaintance is being abused, do report it to the police or health or social services. Elder abuse is never acceptable. Do assist seniors who are at risk.
Ottawa honours hockey coach
by Mary Durst, District 27, Ottawa
 District 27, Ottawa presents Brian Kilrea with the annual Celebrity Award.
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On Thursday, May 21, 2009, at its Spring Luncheon, District 27 Ottawa-Carleton RTO/ERO presented its sixth annual Celebrity Award to Brian Kilrea, “winningest” coach of the Ottawa 67’s, for his thirty-two years of commitment to hockey. District 27 created the award in 2003 to recognize a local celebrity who has made a significant contribution to the well-being of children and young people in the National Capital region. The recipient designates a local charity to receive the award which is now one thousand dollars.
New RTO/ERO website
Set to launch in late summer 2009, the new and improved RTO/ERO website will be more dynamic, user-friendly and interactive.
Developed in collaboration by Simon Leibovitz, Director of Administrative and Member Services and Renée Mercuri, Communications Associate, prior to her maternity leave in April, the new website is being designed by LMA Communications Inc., a Toronto based marketing and web design company.
Updates will include:
• New menu structure - conceived by Renée for easier navigation or movement around the site.
• Revised and new content, where appropriate
• French content reviewed for accuracy and translated
In addition, LMA is developing a content management system (CMS) to allow Simon and other staff, without a background in HTML coding, the ease to update the site on a more regular basis than in the past.
These changes are considered “Phase 1” of an ongoing project to expand the website to offer social networking and other electronic communications tools in the next couple of years.
In Memoriam
The Provincial Executive and Provincial Office staff were saddened by the passing of Health Services & Insurance Committee (and former Member Services Committee) member Dave Ross, District 26, Kenora.
We recognize Dave’s tremendous contributions to these Committees and his dedication to RTO/ERO, both locally and provincially.
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SUBSCRIBE TO
LIAISON ONLINE
Sign up for the French version of Liaison and the English version. Please forward either version to your District members.
Thank you to the over 310 people who have already subscribed to Liaison online.
Please send comments and suggestions to liaison@rto-ero.org | |
More new logos for Districts
In order to recognize RTO/ERO’s history, beyond its 40th year celebration last year, and to assist with the branding of the organization, the original RTO/ERO logo was enhanced by adding RTO/ERO’s slogan and founding year.
Districts are welcome to use this logo, where appropriate, in their own promotional materials. You can also use the original logo if it is more convienent to do so, or the new RTO/ERO pin design.
These logos have been made available on RE-Net and can also be downloaded from the RTO/ERO Members’ Only website.
If Districts need assistance in using any of the RTO/ERO logos, please contact liaison@rto-ero.org.
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RTO/ERO deadlines & events
• Nominations for Provincial Executive - June 30, 2009
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Deadline for RPW applications for 2010 is
September 30. The deadline to be an RPW
presenter is August 31. Information will be
mailed to Presidents and will also be available
in the Members’ Centre of the website.
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Toronto Blue Jays Game - Sat. August 22; Contact Koji Hasegawa 416 341-1475 or koji.hasegawa@bluejays.com
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New promotional materials, such as information kits, membership brochures, health brochures and applications are available from Kelly MacDonald; all but the kits are also on the website.
Note
Please forward any District Executive changes for 2009-2010 to Dianne Vezeau
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