Langley Retired Teachers’ Association • February 2010

open road

O’Connor’s Corner

Greetings!What a great way to start the new year with a

luncheon that featured our new lifetime members,

with their beaming smiles, and a fabulous speaker

like Terry Small. Terry captivated us with his

presentation and inspired us to make changes in our

habits.

BCRTA Review Commission

The BCRTA is establishing a Review Commission

to examine the structure and operation of our

association. If you have any comments on services

that you appreciate and/or any suggestions for

improvement at the local and/or provincial level I

would appreciate your input. You can contact me at

caoconnor@shaw.ca or 604 882 8203.

Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dates to RememberLocation: Newlands Golf Clubhouse

March 30: 11:30 Lunch

May 18: 11:30 Lunch ¶ AGM

September 7: To Hell With the Bells BreakfastExecutive Meetings: 10:00 AM

Mar 16, May 4

We are facing some challenges this year; the BCRTA will be pursuing creative

ways to advocate for changes in areas that affect our members such as these:

Harmonized Sales Tax

If you completed the chart in the last edition of Postscript you have an idea of

the additional costs you will see personally. Even the Teachers’ Pension Plan

will see an increased cost of at least $4 million a year as we contract out services

to the Pension Corporation and the British Columbia Investment Management

Corporation.

Promoting MSP at no cost for seniors in BC

Most provinces do provide MSP at no cost to seniors. BC does have a program

to support low-income citizens, which is great, but the middle class continues

to be hit with increases. We have already lost the subsidy for our Dental Plan

and face losing the subsidy for our Extended Health Benefit Plan in the future.

Promoting a Universal Public Drug Plan

From the Nov. 2008 Report of Canadian Health Coalition “…the many benefits

of prescription drugs will only be fully realized if they are integrated into our health

care system in a way that ensures they are appropriately prescribed and utilized, and

are within reach of everyone who need them.”

cont. p. 4

Mary Wright

Interested in these outings? Contact: Mary Wright: wrightwrock@yahoo.ca (604) 538-1764 OR Beverly Anderson:

bev_anderson@telus.net (604) 936-3598 OR JoAnn Lauber: jlauber@shaw.ca (604) 523 1653)

Minter Gardens a April 21st (Wed.)

Car pooling

“ I love Spring anywhere, but if I could choose, I would

always greet it in a garden.” Ruth Stout. Nestled

against 7000 foot Mt. Cheam is Minter Gardens, one

of the most spectacular show gardens in the world!

Eleven themed gardens are designed to dazzle the

senses with massive displays of artistic floral designs.

Blue Heron Reserve a May 14th (Friday)

Geocaching a May 31 (Monday)

Meet at the Gardens at 11:00. Dine at noon

at the Garden Cafe in the Envision Conserva-

tory. It offers a variety of items: sandwiches,

salads and burgers, wraps, pastas, desserts, and

gourmet specials.

Fort Langley, BC

On site are an observation tower, a 2,400 sq ft. Rotary Interpretive Centre,

bird blinds, fish spawning channels, 8 kms of walking trails, and a self-guided

interpretive walking trail.

The reserve is a 130-hectare (325 acre) site located on the undyked floodplain

of the Vedder River near Chilliwack, BC. It is home to over 200 Great Blue

Heron nests and other wildlife and vegetation including the Painted Turtle,

Bald Eagle, and Salish Sucker.

“The Adventurers’ Gang”

Fun with

A GPS is required for each car

signed up for the search. The goal

of Geocaching is to locate hidden

containers containing

“treasures”, geocaches, using

latitude/longitude coordinates

found on websites such as

Geocaching.com. Successful

seekers take something, leave

something, and then sign the

cache’s logbook.

Adventurers always

have a great time...

sign up early so we all

know “it’s a go”.

“The Adventurers’ Gang”

More Fun with

Lunch at the pub, joyful boating and sturgeon landings after. If you missed

it last time, you missed a great thing. If you went last time, let’s do it again.

Vancouver Island wineries a

June 16 (Wed.)

Ferry: 9:00 AM Horseshoe Bay

Church & State Winery

Restaurant: 12:30 to 2:30

Sea Cider Winery: 3:00 to 4:00

Cruising the Waters of the Harrison a

Oct. 20 (Wed.)

From The Archives

The display case of archival interest has been on display in the cloakroom area of the old Lochiel School-

house in Campbell Valley Park since November, 2009. Presently we have some items of interest on

display for any and all visitors, but more materials would allow us to change it every couple of months.

If you have, or know anyone who has, historical material (preferably, but not necessarily from Langley

schools) please let us know. These materials could be any old school related items-books, other paper

products, hand bells, pictures - anything that would fit in this historical environment.

Phone Merv Grigg at 604-504-7611, or by e-mail at mgrigg@shaw.ca.

In Memoriam

Robert (Bob) Coleman passed away on Feb. 9, 2010. He taught in Burnaby and Langley at Willoughby Elementary. He was a master

teacher, recognized among his peers as an outstanding teacher. It was magic watching Bob as he taught two of his favourite subjects,

social studies and art. He was a talented artist in his own right. Bob served for many years as an LTA staff rep. In lieu of flowers, a

donation to the ALS Society of BC would be gratefully accepted. 1.800.708.3228 or www.alsbc.ca

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

April 15

(so far, only one application has

been received.)

Application destination:

The BCRTA

Suite 100 550 W 6th Avenue

Vancouver, BC V5Z 4P2

Specific award criteria and an application form can be found on the website:

http://www.bcrta.ca/ or by contacting the BCRTA office: 1-877-683-2243 or

(604)-871-2260/226

At our March 30 lunch meeting, one of our members will be giving a short talk and hands-on

demonstration of lawn/carpet bowling. He would like to see us have a Retired Teachers

tournament on the new lawn/carpet bowling facilities in Langley. The LRTA members will be

invited to try out their facility on Saturday, April 17th.

Beverly Anderson

Free Lawn Bowling Event

The BCTF AGM will be held in early March this

year. We will have a report at the next luncheon

on the recommendations that were passed con-

cerning the Inflation Adjustment Account and

our benefit plans.

I’m looking forward to our next luncheon on

March 30 and our AGM and luncheon on May

18. I hope to see you there.

Annette

PS. Communication from the BCRTA and

LRTA will happen regarding these issues

including the universal drug plan; however a

personal letter or visit to our elected officials

would be even better.

O’Connor’s Corner, cont.

Golden Star Awards

Student projects involving the intergenerational interaction of students with

seniors may be eligible for the “Golden Star Awards.” The awards were

instituted by the BCRTA to encourage and recognize school programs that use

the wealth of knowledge and wisdom among seniors to enhance the learning

experience of students at every grade level, right from Kindergarten through

Grade 12

Classroom, department, school, or

district level programs are eligible for

consideration.

Three monetary awards of $3000,

$2000 and $1000 will be presented

before the end of the school year in the

communities where each of the three

programs originated.

So few

applications so far!

Easy to win this

year. Have you time

to tell a school ?

Lobbying GovernmentFar too many issues relating to seniors are being ignored, and we have the

ability to do something about this. It’s too easy to congratulate us for living

a long time, and then ignore us. The BCRTA is looking at lobbying more

effectively and has identified a communications company to instruct and

assist us. One potentially sage observation: “If you make it to the legislative

lawns you have already lost the battle!”

After the last Director’s meeting voted to accept the proposals from the

Advocacy Committee, we engaged Bruce Rozenhart of Counterpoint, a

professional lobbyist consultant, to present us with three workshops. Our

hope is that through Counterpoint, the BCRTA can adopt an effective

approach to government that will result in action on our issues. We want to

be viewed as a powerful group, yes, but one with views that are rational, dig-

nified, and worthy of note. We want our governments to respect our role as

contributors, significant voters, and as sage stewards of society. We want them

to know when we’re hurting and to know that we have sensible solutions to

offer.

The cost is for this undertaking is significant, but the results may be

worthwhile.

Help for Your Executor March 30 Lunch Topic Kevin Holte has been well received all across the province. “Fast paced

with lots of examples. I enjoyed how you made a serious topic light enough to

be learned and retained” from Qualicum Beach and “the feedback from our

group was overwhelmingly positive…easy to understand and enjoyable. We’re

already planning next year’s,” from Kamloops. Topics include how to save

on settlement fees, what is probate, dangers of joint ownership, overview

of capital gains, freezing funeral costs and more. Kevin lives in Mission

with his wife and 3 teenage sons and has been the District Manager for

Assurant Life for over 15 years.

The Banner is Done

In our last newsletter, we mentioned that we were

creating a new banner for the LRTA - and here it is.

Annette O’Connor is on the right. Great thanks to

Beverly Anderson (on the left) who designed and-

made the banner - even her father helped.

We have not journeyed across the countries, across

the oceans, across the mountains, across the prairies

because we are made of sugar candy.”

The Wit and Wisdom of Winston Churchill

Lunch Dates to Put IN your Calendar

2010/11Newlands

Nov 23, 2010

Jan 18, 2011

March 29, 2011

May 17, 2011

Stay “In the Loop” with LRTAIf you have received a recent announcement from JoAnn you are “in the

loop”. If you’d like to be among those who get the carefully chosen time

sensitive information former Langley educators are now receiving - such as

opportunities to work in elections, etc., please send an email to jlauber@

shaw.ca. That way your address will be correct

and we can contact you easily. We keep your

address confidential; it will not appear in the

email heading.

1. prunes - 5770

2. raisins - 2830

3. blueberries - 2234

4. blackberries - 2036

5. garlic - 1939

6. kale - 1770

7. cranberries - 1750

8. strawberries - 1536

9. spinach, raw - 1210

10. raspberries - 1227

Terry Small spoke at our January 26th luncheon at Newlands on brain function, brain boosting, brain health, and learning. Terry

has presented for years in Langley, and is now a well known and sought after speaker for large corporations traveling extensively to

many parts of the globe. Terry believes, " Anyone can learn how to learn easier, better, faster and learning to learn is the most im-

portant skill a person can acquire". While teachers have a relatively low incidence of Alzheimer’s, the “aging brain” must have new

challenges and new learning to thrive.

Terry has a free brain bulletin at www.terrysmall.com/newsletter.asp

One tip is to eat dark fruits and vegetables – blue, deep red, and deep green are good choices at the grocery store. The numbers after

the following represent their power as antioxidants to keep cleaning out damaged cells. Just cut out the list…and take it shopping

with you. (Why not laminate for your wallet? Don’t know how to laminate? – there’s a new skill to start with.)

Christine Toth

11. brussel sprouts - 1123

12. plum - 949

13. alfalfa sprouts - 931

14. spinach, steamed - 909

15. broccoli - 888

16. beets - 841

17. avocado - 782

18. orange - 750

19. grapes, red - 739

20. pepper, red - 731

AntiOxident Shopping List

Terry Small’s Brain Message a January 26

Langley Retired Teachers’ Scholarship Fund

Please make your cheque payable to the above and give it to Maureen Pepin, or mail to 25323 12th Ave., Aldergrove, BC, V4W 3N2

Donation Amount $______________

Name of Donor

Address

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

If applicable:

In memory of

Send notification of donation to

Name

Address

Note: If the donation is from someone other than that named on the cheque, please include the name/names desired on the

notification.

It’s time for the 2010 fundraising year for RTA Scholarships. As you know, our

funds come from our entry fees, 50/50 draw, auction, direct ask campaign, and

from interest on our bursary account. Unfortunately, the bank interest this past

year was very, very, very low, so it is important that we raise as much as possible

from our Direct Ask program if we wish to continue to give out a scholarship in

each high school in 2010.

Please send a cheque or give cash to add to the fund. Maureen will send you a

receipt for all amounts over $20. Send the money to Maureen Pepin, 25323-

12th Avenue, Aldergrove, BC, V4W 3N2 or give it to her at the luncheon.

Giving money in honour of someone who has passed away, would be a welcome

gesture. Maureen Pepin

the 2010 Scholarship Drive

The Harmonized Sales Tax Survey Results

More than 600 BCRTA members completed the

surveys assessing the impact on seniors of the HST,

indicating an $850 average, or a 2.5% equiva-

lent pay cut. The items most onerous to seniors,

according to the analysis of the survey mail-ins,

were Cable/TV, phone, dietary supplements, home

maintenance, vehicle repairs, transit, and travel.

Since then, Elections Canada has given

permission for the “William Van der Zalm

petition” to proceed, and a meeting of COSCO-

BCRTA was held on February 16th, to give

direction to a plan of action.

The joint committee

will be presenting a plan

to the next Board meeting

on March 10.

Elections Are Coming in MayOur elections are every two years...and they are coming up in May. We are

one of the busiest most active branches in the province. Being on executive is

fun. Sometimes the job of a committee chair is to act as a liaison with parallel

provincial commitees. If you prefer a less demanding role, you can serve on the

committee instead of leading it. Remember that brain stuff about staying active

and involved with your brian going? ..this is a way. Contact Judy deVries at

devries@telus.net or 604-530-7103.

This book articulates a powerful and motivational message - for both genders. Want to remain

healthy, vital, and independent until you’re 80 or beyond? These authors say this:

1. Don’t decay; exercise six days a week for 40 minutes a day for the rest of your life.

2. Do serious aerobic exercise four days a week.

3. Do serious strength exercises two days a week for the rest of your life.

4. Spend less than you make.

Younger Next Year for Women~ by Chris Crowley & Henry S, Lodge, M.D,

5. Don’t diet; but don’t eat crap. Drink a little (wine/beer) every day. No bunching up . . . no bingeing.

6. Care -- care enough to get up every day and give it a shot . . . to do new stuff, to do old stuff . . . to keep on going when you

wouldn’t mind sitting down a while. Don’t retire! Cultivate interests. Christopher Plummer agrees. Interviewed by Johanna Schneller

for the Globe and Mail (January 16, 2010) on the occasion of this, his eightieth year of life when he is starring as the elderly Tolstoy,

Plummer speaks of keeping memory and vitality: “It’s a great help to be in our business when you’re old, because you don’t retire and you

try to keep young. The danger is to retire; that’s death.”

7.Connect and commit. Re-dedicate yourself to family, friends, and companions. Keep “old Fred,” who’s in bed beside you.

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