timewise - csspenprofile audri wilkinson: “i really love my 6 ... peter zakreski, fcl saskatoon....

INSIDE:

2005 ANNUAL REPORT

2006 POCKET-FACTS PULLOUT

INSIDE:

2005 ANNUAL REPORT

2006 POCKET-FACTS PULLOUT

S P R I N G • 2 0 0 6

TimeWiseTimeWiseTimeWiseS P R I N G • 2 0 0 6

TimeWiseTimeWise is published at least twice a year by the Co-operative Superannuation Society Pension Plan (registrationno.0345868), Box 1850, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7K 3S2. Phone (306) 244-1539.TimeWise is the official publication of the Co-operative Superannuation Society Pension Plan and is provided freeto all active contributing members of the Pension Plan through the Pension Plan’s member organizations and to allretired members of the Pension Plan.Opinion and comment expressed in TimeWise does not necessarily reflect the official policy of the CSS Pension Plan.This issue of TimeWise is printed on RESOLVE COATED GLOSS which contains 50% recycled fibre of which aminimum of 15% is post-consumer waste.

Board of Directors

President – Peter Zakreski

Vice-President – Wayne King

Directors – Earl Hanson

Gerry St. Pierre

Laura Vance

Audri Wilkinson

Staff

General Manager – Bill Turnbull

Investment Manager – Eldon Braun

Accounting/Investment Officer – Joel Sawatsky

Member Services Manager – David Kapeluck

Information Officer – Muriel Baribeau

Systems Administrator– Vaun John

Programmer – Rob Peddle

Office Administrator – Fiona May

Office Administrator – Rhonda Ens

Office Administrator (Part-time) – Joanne Monk

FEATURES4 News Briefs

5 2006 Annual Meeting Update

5 Thank-You!

11 Pension Projections from CSS Pension Plan

12 “I Know That!” Contest

REGULAR COLUMNS9 In Remembrance

10 New Pensions

CONTENTS

SPECIAL FEATURESElection of Employee Delegates 2

PROFILE

Audri Wilkinson: “I really love my 6

job with Concentra Financial. But it’s never really the job,

it’s the people.”

SPRING, 2006 Volume 29, Number 1

Mike GartnerRetail Facilities Manager

Federated Co-operatives Limited,Saskatoon SK

(Saskatchewan Region)

SPECIAL

FEATURE

2 TimeWise • Spring 2006

The 2006 Annual Meeting of the Co-oper-ative Superannuation Society was held

on March 31, 2006 at the Sheraton CavalierHotel in Saskatoon.

The election of employee delegates to the2006 Annual Meeting involved theAlberta/BC/Northern Canada region, theManitoba/Eastern Canada region, and thePensioners.

Six candidates were nominated for the fourdelegate positions in the Alberta/BC/NorthernCanada region. The four successful candidateselected for a two-year term are: Jeff Ambrose,Eastalta Co-op Ltd., Vermilion AB; WilfredHarms, Calgary Co-operative, Calgary AB;Ritchard Noonan, Calgary Co-operative,Calgary AB; and Gerry St. Pierre, BarrheadDistrict Co-op, Barrhead AB.

Seven candidates were nominated for thethree delegate positions in the Manitoba/Eastern Canada region. The three successfulcandidates elected for a two-year term are:Travis Dreger, Twin Valley Co-op, Birtle MB;Audri Wilkinson, Concentra Financial,Winnipeg MB; and Judy Yeo, Federated Co-operatives Limited, Winnipeg MB.

One candidate was nominated for thePensioner delegate position. Ben Plemel of St.Gregor SK was therefore elected by acclama-tion as the Pensioner delegate.

The above delegates joined the sevenSaskatchewan region delegates (who wereelected for a two-year term last year) at thisyear’s Annual Meeting. The Saskatchewanregion delegates are: Mike Gartner, FederatedCo-operatives Limited, Saskatoon; EarlHanson, Southwest Credit Union, SwiftCurrent; Ronald Inkster, BCU Financial,North Battleford; Celeste Labrecque, TCUFinancial, Saskatoon; Pieter McNair,Kelvington Credit Union, Kelvington;

Charlene Rehn, Saskatoon Credit Union,Saskatoon; and Doug Wiebe1, Federated Co-operatives Limited, Regina.

The above fifteen employee delegates,along with the fifteen employer delegates, rep-resented employee and employer members atthe 2006 Annual Meeting in Saskatoon.

The fifteen employer delegates areappointed by the following employer organi-zations: Credit Union Central Alberta (onedelegate), Credit Union Central of Manitoba(one delegate), Credit Union Central ofSaskatchewan (three delegates), ConcentraFinancial (one delegate), and Federated Co-operatives Limited (nine delegates). The fol-lowing employer delegates were appointed bythe above organizations as follows:

• Credit Union Central Alberta: PaulRossmann, Calgary AB;

• Credit Union Central of Manitoba: BrianPeto, Winnipeg MB;

• Credit Union Central of Saskatchewan:Robert Effa, Yorkton SK; Cheryl Loadman,Saskatoon SK; Garth Melle, Regina SK;

• Concentra Financial: Wayne King,Saskatoon SK;

• Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL):Beryl Bauer, FCL Director; Andrea L’Ecuyer,FCL Saskatoon; Richard Lemoing, FCLDirector; Art Postle, FCL Saskatoon;Glennis Scharf, FCL Saskatoon; RodShivak, FCL Saskatoon; Glen Tully, FCLDirector; Laura Vance, FCL Director; andPeter Zakreski, FCL Saskatoon.

The CSS Pension Plan extends its appreci-ation and thanks to all nominees, both suc-cessful and unsuccessful, for their interest inthe Pension Plan’s democratic process.

ELECTION OF EMPLOYEE DELEGATES

Travis DregerGeneral Manager

Twin Valley Co-op Ltd., Birtle MB(Manitoba/Eastern Canada Region)

Jeff AmbroseGeneral Manager

Eastalta Co-op Ltd., Vermilion AB(Alberta/BC/Northern Canada Region)

1 Doug Wiebe was appointed by the employee direc-tors to complete the balance of Rosalynne Tayler’sterm which was vacated when Rosalynne retiredfrom Federated Co-op in Saskatoon.

TimeWise • Spring 2006 3

Ben PlemelRetiree

St. Gregor SK(Pensioner Delegate)

Audri WilkinsonManager, Relationship Management & Sales

Concentra Financial, Winnipeg MB(Manitoba/Eastern Canada Region)

Judy YeoFinance and Control ManagerFederated Co-operatives Ltd.,

Winnipeg MB(Manitoba/Eastern Canada Region)

Doug WiebeRegional Manager

Federated Co-operatives Limited, Regina SK

(Saskatchewan Region)

Wilfred HarmsVice-President Marketing & Operations

Calgary Co-operative Association,Calgary AB

(Alberta/BC/Northern Canada Region)

Earl HansonVice-President Wealth Management

Southwest Credit Union, Swift Current SK(Saskatchewan Region)

Pieter McNairGeneral Manager

Kelvington Credit Union, Kelvington(Saskatchewan Region)

Ronald InksterVice-President of Finance

BCU Financial, North Battleford SK(Saskatchewan Region)

Ritchard NoonanVice-President Human Resources Calgary Co-operative Association,

Calgary AB(Alberta/BC/Northern Canada Region)

Charlene RehnFinancial Planner

Saskatoon Credit Union, Saskatoon(Saskatchewan Region)

Gerry St. PierreGeneral Manager

Barrhead District Co-op Limited,Barrhead AB

(Alberta/BC/Northern CanadaRegion)

Celeste LabrecqueOperations Manager

TCU Financial, Saskatoon SK(Saskatchewan Region)


The tentative schedule of RetirementIncome Options (RIO) workshops for

2006 is as follows:

Swift Current SK April 8Dauphin MB April 29Calgary AB June 3Red Deer AB September 9Saskatoon SK October 14 & 26Winnipeg MB November 4These 3-hour RIO workshops are

designed for members and their spouseswho are approaching retirement.Participants will receive a wealth of infor-mation with respect to all the retirementincome options available to them for theirfunds in the CSS Pension Plan.

Members 50 and older with more than$30,000 in the Pension Plan will receivean invitation to attend the RIO workshopin their area. Members and their spousesare encouraged to attend this very worth-while workshop.

The tentative schedule for the 1-dayRetirement Planning Seminar (RPS) for2006 is as follows:

Nanaimo BC March 20Edmonton AB May 12Saskatoon SK June 14Brandon MB October 3Regina SK November 15The RPS is designed for members and

their spouses who are nearing retirement(i.e., 50 years of age and older). The objec-tive of the RPS is to provide informationand help participants search for their ownanswers in planning for a meaningful, suc-cessful and happy retirement.

Topics that are covered include health,housing, legal matters, psychologicalaspects of retirement, use of time, sourcesof income, and financial planning.Members and their spouses are encour-aged to attend a RPS about 10 years beforethey expect to retire.

Registration brochures for the RPS aresent to the employer members for distribu-tion to the appropriate employee members.

The above RIO and RPS schedule isalso posted on the CSS Pension Plan’s website: www.csspen.com

2006 RIO & RPS Schedule

Congratulations to the 10 lucky winnersof the Fall 2005 “I Know That!” con-

test. Each winner has either received a copyof Ernie J. Zelinski’s book “How to RetireHappy, Wild and Free” or Jill O’Donnell’s,Graham McWaters’, and John Page’s book“The Canadian Retirement Guide”. The 10lucky winners whose names were drawn atrandom on November 28, 2005 are: KeithBoechler, Saskatoon SK; Donald Bzdell,Regina SK; Bernice Kotzer, Theodore SK;Arlene Lee, Holland MB; Edmund Mazur,Weyburn SK; Lori Megyesi, Saskatoon SK;Mistylee Nielsen, Bonnyville AB; Verna R.Orlesky, Westlock AB; Theresa M. Rea,Moosehorn MB; Marjorie Rivera, WinnipegMB. The crossword puzzle solutions for theFall 2005 contest are as follows:

Across:3. A total of 169 new pensions started during the

first nine months of 2005. 5. With unit pricing the investment income, gains

and losses are allocated to members on anongoing basis.

6. The T4A slips for 2005 will be mailed directlyto pensioners by early February 2006.

8. When a member converts pension funds into amonthly pension, the funds from their Accountare used to purchase long-term bonds.

10. On your Annual Statement not only will yousee some of your pension account informationreported to you in dollars, but also in numberof units.

Down:1. Because the unit price for the Balanced Fund

and the Money Market Fund are updated daily,the Pension Plan can no longer extend theyear-end contribution deadline into the newyear.

2. Over the longer term, investment forecasterscontinue to expect single digit returns forstocks and bonds to become the norm.

4. Laura Vance was the first woman ever to beelected to the Board of Directors of PioneerCo-op.

7. With Flexible Retirement Payments, any fundsleft in your account at death will always beavailable to your spouse, family or estate.

9. In January 2005 seven delegates representingthe Saskatchewan region were elected for a 2year term.

Details of the latest contest appear on pg 12.

“I Know That!”Contest Update

NEWS BRIEFS

The contribution limit to the CSSPension Plan for 2006 is the lesser of:

• 18% of employment earnings, or

• $19,000 (the maximum dollarlimit).

Please note that this limit is calculatedon a year-to-date basis. In other words, ifan employee’s year-to-date compensationto March 31, 2006 was $6,000, then

his/her contribution limit to the end ofMarch was $1,080 (i.e., 18% of $6,000).Consequently, all employee and employercontributions combined to March 31,2006 cannot exceed $1,080.

The amount that an employee (andhis/her employer) can contribute to thePension Plan for 2006 is separate from thelimit that the employee can contribute tohis/her own RRSP for 2006.

2006 Contribution Limit

The Co-operative SuperannuationSociety (CSS) Annual Meeting was held

on Friday, March31, 2006 in Saskatoon.

Delegate SeminarAt the Delegate Seminar held the

evening prior to the Annual Meeting, dele-gates discussed several items. The first itemfor discussion was the Plan’s new MoneyMarket Fund (MMF). The MMF was intro-duced on January 26, 2005 as a lowerrisk/lower return investment option formembers nearing retirement. Delegatesconcluded that although not many mem-bers are using the MMF as they near retire-ment, it is expected to become more popu-lar as time passes.

Second, the Delegates discussed addinga new Variable Benefit Payment option forretiring CSS Pension Plan members. TheIncome Tax Act Regulations were amendedin September 2005 to allow DefinedContribution (DC) pension plans, such asthe CSS Pension Plan, to offer VariableBenefit Payments. However, most provinceshave still not amended their pension legis-lation to permit Variable Benefit Payments.

Thirdly, the Delegates reviewed pro-posed amendments to the CSS PensionPlan’s Rules & Regulations that would allowthe Plan to offer Variable Benefit Payments.

Directors ElectionsTwo Director elections were held at the

Annual Meeting. Wayne King ofConcentra Financial, an employer dele-gate, was re-elected to the Board for athree-year term by acclamation. The twoother employer Directors are PeterZakreski of Federated Co-op in Saskatoon,and Laura Vance a Federated Co-opDirector.

Earl Hanson of Southwest Credit Unionin Swift Current SK, an employee delegatewas re-elected to the Board for a three-yearterm by acclamation. The two otheremployee Directors are Audri Wilkinson ofConcentra Financial in Winnipeg, andGerry St. Pierre of Barrhead District Co-opin Barrhead AB.

Plan Rule ChangesAt the 2006 Annual Meeting the

Delegates approved amendments to theCSS Pension Plan’s Rules & Regulations toenable the Plan to offer Variable BenefitPayments. These will only become avail-able across Canada as each provinceamends its pension legislation. Onceprovincial requirements are known, theCSS Board of Directors will set policies toallow CSS members access to this newretirement income option.

Variable BenefitsAs noted above, the Plan’s Rules now

permit retirees to receive Variable BenefitPayments directly from their CSS account.Unfortunately, however, before applica-tions can be made and payments can actu-ally be processed, provincial pension lawsmust be changed. The Plan is workingwith provincial pension regulators toencourage prompt action. We are alsodeveloping Variable Benefit informationand communications, Variable BenefitForms and IT system changes. We stillexpect to be ready to offer Variable BenefitPayments before the end of 2006.However, actual timing will depend on thenecessary changes to provincial pensionlaws being passed.

A Variable Benefit Payment from non-locked-in (unrestricted) funds will besomewhat similar to a RRIF from a finan-cial institution. While a Variable BenefitPayment from locked-in (restricted) fundswill be subject to applicable pension legis-lation, and thus somewhat similar to a LIF,LRIF, or PRRIF from a financial institu-tion. For more background information on this new retirement income option,please refer to the “Flexible RetirementPayments” article in the Fall 2005 issue ofTimeWise beginning on page 6.

session explaining the retirement productsavailable from financial institutions. Onbehalf of plan members, the CSS PensionPlan extends its sincere appreciation toConcentra Financial for its involvement inthe RIO workshops for the past eight years.

Karen Timoshuk, who has been leadingthe Pension Plan’s Retirement PlanningSeminars for the past several years, willnow assume a similar role in the Plan’s RIOworkshops. Karen and David Kapeluck,the Pension Plan’s current MemberServices Manager, will present the Plan’sRIO Workshops in 2006.

2006 ANNUAL MEETING UPDATE

Aspecial thank-you goes out to MikePaynter, former Member Services

Manager for the CSS Pension Plan. Sincehis retirement from the Pension Plan inJanuary 1998, Mike has been one of thePlan’s presenters at its Retirement IncomeOptions (RIO) workshops held in variouslocations throughout western Canada.

At the end of 2006, Mike announcedthat he will no longer be participating inour RIO workshops. This will allow Mikeand his wife Louise more time to travel and

visit with friends and family. It will alsogive them more time for their volunteeractivities. On behalf of the many membersthat Mike has personally worked with overthe years, we want to say thank you for ajob well done, and wish Mike and Louiseall the best as they continue to enjoy theirwell-deserved retirement.

Concentra Financial (formerly Co-operative Trust) will also no longer beinvolved in RIO workshops. Over the pastseveral years, Concentra’s focus has shiftedaway from delivering retail retirementincome products. For the time being,therefore, Plan personnel will take over the

Thank-You!



Audri Wilkinson admits she had asomewhat dim view of credit unions

before she began working for one about18 years ago in Portage la Prairie, MB.Until then, Audri had spent most of hercareer in the trust company industry. Shenever questioned the prevailing assump-tion in that industry that credit unionswere inferior to banks. But it didn’t takeher long in her new position to begin tosee that this simply wasn’t true.

“One of the first things I noticed wasthat the credit union’s computer systemswere much more advanced than anythingI had seen at trust companies or banks,’’says Audri, an Oakville, MB resident whobecame one of three employee delegatesof the CSS Pension Plan for theManitoba/Eastern Canada region in2004, and then joined the Plan’s Board ofDirectors as an employee director in2005.

Audri would soon come to realize that“credit union advantage” reached wellbeyond technical innovation. She learnedhow credit unions were the first institu-tions to provide their members withadvantages such as daily interest, andweekly and bi-weekly mortgage paymentoptions. She appreciated the fact that staffcould make a decision at their local creditunion without having to go through“some ivory tower in Toronto.’’ And shewas impressed by the status afforded tomembers of the credit union.

“I saw they really did have the mem-bers’ best interests at heart,’’ says Audri,now manager of relationship managementand sales at Concentra Financial inWinnipeg. “And I still see testament tothat every day.’’

So perhaps it’s not surprising that laterin her career, when Audri had the experi-ence and opportunity to make her owncontribution to this people-first tradition,she dove right in. Audri played an integralrole in the arduous political lobbying effortthat resulted in retiring Plan members inManitoba gaining greater freedom in theuse of their retirement capital.

“I had the ability to make a differencebecause of my background and I felt I hadan obligation to contribute to this effort,’’says Audri, who’s married with a blendedfamily of three daughters. “It was the rightthing to do.”

Today, Audri is happy and relievedabout changes to the Manitoba pensionlegislation that she helped bring about.And she’s pleasantly surprised with thenumber of members who’ve thanked herfor her work on the issue. For Audri, how-ever, hard work comes naturally.

Growing up on the farmAudri grew up on a mixed farm south

of Brandon in an area called the BrandonHills. The oldest of five children – fourgirls and a boy – Audri was no stranger tohard work. She helped look after the cat-tle at a time when this involved muchmore manual labour than it does today. Inthose days, says Audri, the kids chipped inon the farm work as soon as they were oldenough to contribute.

“By the time I was 13, I was haulinggrain in a three-ton truck,’’ says Audri.“That’s just what things were like backthen. You had your sons and daughters inthe field.’’

Audri recalls that life on the farm inthose early years was quite Spartan com-pared to farm life today. Her parents hadvery little when they started out.

“We didn’t have running water until Iwas 11. And I went to a one-room school-house until I was in Grade 6.”

Even with the substantial amount ofwork involved in being the eldest childgrowing up on a farm, however, Audri stillmanaged to find a little bit of time for

BY DAVE YANKOPROFILE

Audri Wilkinson“I really love my job with Concentra Financial.

But it’s never really the job, it’s the people.”

IN OUR CONTINUING SERIES OF PROFILES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

FEATURED IN THE ISSUE IS AUDRI WILKINSON, WHO JOINED THE BOARD IN 2005


organized activities outside of her homeand school.

“I was in 4-H. In those days, the girlswere in 4-H sewing club,’’ she says,laughing.

While Audri’s parents didn’t havemuch when they started out, theyworked hard and earned success. They’renow retired and living at Virden, MB.Audri has a deep respect for their char-acter and achievement.

“There’s nothing I admire more thanmy parents and their work ethic. They hadnothing when they started and they’re verysuccessful now. It’s all because theyworked hard.’’

Audri was bused to high school inBrandon, where she took an interest in thearts, drama and life beyond the farm. Thecity tugged at her heart.

Leaving the farm and starting a career

“I left home during high schoolbecause I wanted off the farm and wantedto get to the city, like many young girlsdo.’’

Her move to Brandon marked thebeginning of her career in the financialservices industry. It’s a time Audri remem-bers with fondness and laughter.

“I came into the financial servicesindustry just because I needed a job. In1974 I went to Brandon and got a job man-ually rolling coin at the Bank ofCommerce, and I rolled coin for eightmonths. I was the longest coin teller theyever had.”

She moved on to Canada Trust for acouple of years and then decided to set offfor Winnipeg. She had few plans but plen-ty of youthful confidence that thingswould work out.

“I borrowed Dad’s truck, drove downPortage Avenue – no idea where I wasgoing. Didn’t have a job. But I had allkinds of luck in my eye. And there werelots of jobs around in those days, so I gotone just like that.’’

She worked in trust companies inWinnipeg for a number of years beforelanding her first credit union job atPortage Credit Union in Portage la Prairie.And that’s when her opinion of the creditunion system took a 180-degree turn.

“Frankly, I didn’t want a job at a creditunion but none of the banks were hiring.After I got that credit union job, though, Iwould never go back.’’

Today, Audri’s job at Concentra inWinnipeg involves ensuring Manitobacredit unions have the programs and sup-port required to carry out their day-to-daybusiness. Part of her job involves training

people who counsel CSS Pension Planmembers on retirement income options. Itwas in this role that she began to twig tothe level of concern over restricted accessto retirement funds.

Helping change pension legislation

Like most provinces, Manitoba legisla-tion imposed pension spending restric-tions during retirement. What Audri washearing from the people she was training –as well as from her own clients – was thatplan members wanted access to more oftheir capital. They wanted to have moremoney in the early years of their retire-ment, when they could use it for traveland other activities they were interested inand able to pursue.

Pension spending restrictions cameinto being at time when governments feltcitizens required protection against injudi-cious handling of capital. But what was

happening instead, says Audri, was thatsome retirees were being forced to live onan insufficient amount of retirementincome. And the capital that remainedwhen they passed away went to their chil-dren in what amounted to forced estateplanning. The intentions of early legisla-tors may have been good, she says, buttoday’s world is a different place.

“People have more tools now to helpthem make decisions, and more qualifiedadvisors.”

Audri’s job at Concentra provided herwith good knowledge of retirementincome products and plenty of experiencesharing information with others. Sheentered the fray in 2001 as part of a grass-roots movement. Their first efforts failedto move the government to change its pen-sion legislation. But Audri said there wasnothing to do but regroup and try again.

It took another four years of lobbying,meetings, letter writing and presentationsbefore the Government of Manitoba acqui-esced and agreed in May of 2005 to changethe legislation to unlock 50 per cent ofcapital at retirement time. Before that hap-pened, however, Saskatchewan changedits pension laws to unlock 100 per cent ofthe funds.

“This was a surprise,’’ says Audri.“Nobody expected Saskatchewan to go100 per cent release. We, as a system, wereadvocating for a 50 per cent release;unlocking half of the money and leavingthe other half locked in.’’

Audri says that while it may be tempt-ing to think Saskatchewan’s move forcedthe hand of Manitoba legislators, that’snot necessarily the case. She says thatwhat really turned the tide in Manitobawas an intensive lobbying effort of provin-cial MLAs by CSS Pension Plan members.

“It was the Manitoba members of ourpension plan – because we are the largestdefined contribution plan in Manitoba.Our people went to their MLAs.’’

How did it feel to win a five-year battlefor change?

“There’s nothing I admiremore than my parentsand their work ethic.”


“I was relieved,’’ says Audri. “Therewas a lot of speaking at different co-opand credit union events, lots of e-mailsasking people to call their MLAs, to meetwith their MLAs or to send their MLAsletters.’’

The changes effectively removed theprovince’s spending restrictions from 50%of a member’s capital at retirement. Withmore than 6,000 active and non-activemembers in Manitoba, the CSS PensionPlan represents the largest group of peopleaffected by the new legislation.

The pace of change for the Plan and itsmembers is not slowing. In September2005, the federal Income Tax ActRegulations were amended to add a newretirement income option within the Planfor its members. Once the provincesaccommodate these new federal changes,retiring CSS Pension Plan members will beable to receive a monthly pension from thePlan, transfer their money to a financialinstitution, and/or keep their money in thePension Plan and have the same flexibilityas if they’d transferred their money out toa financial institution.

Involved in the communityAudri’s role in the fight to change

Manitoba pension laws took up much ofher spare time over the last five years. Nowthat that’s over, Audri has a little more timefor family and hobbies.

“I like to work in my yard. I was bornand raised a farm girl so I like having dirtin my hands. I like to be in the yard, to dolandscaping, work in my shrub and treebeds. And I like to decorate: I know everypaint finish known to man! I can tile myown floors – I have my own tile saw – andI can muck and plaster, and install a lightfixture.’’

If she needs help with heavier work,she looks no further than husband SteveFord.

“Steve’s an incredible handyman,’’ saysAudri. “If I need a door in a wall, the doorgets done. He’s absolutely incredible

when it comes to making a wonderfulhome for us.’’

They say that if you want to get a jobdone, give it to a busy person. Whoeversaid this must have had Audri in mind.For several years she and Steve were heav-ily involved in a community project toupgrade the Oakville arena, whose naturalice surface greatly restricted recreationactivities for Oakville kids.

“Most often, we didn’ have ice until thethird week of December, and it was usual-ly melting around the second or thirdweek of March. It was a very short season.And we have four minor hockey teamsand a figure-skating club. It was reallytough for the kids to be competitive.

“Even at the figure skating carnivalduring the second week of March, we’doften set up pylons at certain corners ofthe rink because the ice would be meltingand the girls couldn’t do their solos there.Or they would just be soaking wet.’’

As chair of the fundraising committee,Audri was behind the push to raise$175,000 required for the proposedimprovements that featured an artificial iceplant. But there was a big problem. Thereare only 500 people living in Oakville.

Somehow, Audri and her committeemanaged to raise $244,000.

“We got about $60,000 in grants andthe rest came from our community andcorporate sponsors,’’ says Audri. “Thecommunity just got on a roll. Once the

momentum started, the money just keptcoming in.’’

Audri says community spirit and astrong sense of history played major rolesin the successful fundraising effort. TheOakville rink is 40 years old. There are anumber of families with three generationswho played hockey at the arena, she says.And the local figure skating club is olderthan the arena.

“Our figure skating club is almost 50years old. And for 42 years, it was underthe leadership of the same coach. That’s atypical example of community spirit inOakville.’’

Steve was the project leader for theinstallation work, which was undertakenentirely by volunteers.

“And in the fall of 2005, for the firsttime ever, the Oakville arena had artificialice.’’

At work and in her community, Audrihas built a legacy she can be justly proudof. But when she looks back on hercareer, it’s the people who figure mostprominently.

“I love my job with ConcentraFinancial. But it’s never really the job, it’sthe people. People of the Manitoba creditunion system are the salt of the earth. I’mreally proud to be associated with them.Really proud.’’

“The community just got on a roll.

Once the momentumstarted, the money just

kept coming in.’’


Beverley HineFederated Co-op, Regina SK

Henry HinzCalgary Co-op, Calgary AB

Milton JevningFederated Co-op, Edmonton AB

Henry KehlerAltona Co-op Services, Altona MB

Richard KnorrHepburn Co-op, Hepburn SK

John T. LockhartGlenboro Co-op, Glenboro MB

John MannFederated Co-op, Regina SK

Antonio R. MarcotteNorthern Sask. Co-op Stockyards,Prince Albert SK

Mike MateychukFederated Co-op, Saskatoon SK

Betty C. MathesonDrumheller Co-op, Drumheller AB

James B. McCallumCalgary Co-op, Calgary AB

Terry O. McCannConsumers’ Co-operative Refineries,Regina SK

Verlie C. McFadyenParkway Co-op, Roblin MB

N. Roger McFallonFederated Co-op, Calgary AB

Carol McHattieSaskatoon Co-op, Saskatoon SK

Norman W. McLeodPincher Creek Co-op, Pincher Creek AB

Larry MitchellSaskatoon Co-op, Saskatoon SK

Lois M. MortonWeyburn Co-op, Weyburn SK

Anton NeufeldPineland Co-op, Nipawin SK

Marvin M. NunweilerKindersley Co-op, Kindersley SK

Howard J. ParksDavidson Co-op, Davidson SK

C.G. PattersonFederated Co-op, Saskatoon SK

Homer R. QuintonSouthern Alberta Co-op, Lethbridge AB

R. Kristian RasmussenSherwood Co-op, Regina SK

Ernest W. ReynoldsElfros Co-op, Elfros SK

Josephine RisslingCredit Union Central, Regina SK

Elsie O. RudeValhalla Co-op, Valhalla Centre AB

Frances SawchynFederated Co-op, Saskatoon SK

Thomas K. SimmondsDistrict #7 Public RelationsFederation

Ralph S. SmithFederated Co-op, Winnipeg MB

Lillian StefansonElfros-Mozart Credit Union, Elfros SK

John M. ThomasConcentra Financial, Edmonton AB

K. Ronald VipondPioneer Co-op, Swift Current SK

Larry G. WilsonRimbey Co-op, Rimbey AB

Eloi E. WilversEstevan Co-op, Estevan SK

Allen L. ZastreRed River Co-op, Winnipeg MB

R

Keith D. AlexanderCalgary Co-op, Calgary AB

Clara AndrushchyshynStony Plain Co-op, Stony Plain AB

Pierre AugerArctic Co-op, Winnipeg MB

Mary BardenhagenEckville Co-op, Eckville AB

George BaronEdmonton Co-op, Edmonton AB

Acie BeckettFoam Lake Co-op, Foam Lake SK

Martha BelliveauSt. Paul Co-op, St. Paul AB

Gordon H. BrennanRed River Co-op, Winnipeg MB

June BroomDinsmore Co-op, Dinsmore SK

Jerome ClassenSt. Benedict Credit Union, St. Benedict SK

Pauline CochranYorkton Co-op, Yorkton SK

Mary CojocarKayville Co-op, Kayville SK

Raymond R. ColemanPioneer Co-op, Swift Current SK

Morley CoulingEckville Co-op, Eckville AB

Ernest W. CoutuSpalding Co-op, Spalding SK

Margaret CunninghamCommunity Health Services,Saskatoon SK

Mrs. Willy DebroekertMainline Co-op, Salmon Arm BC

Roy E. DowsonMatador Co-op, Kyle SK

Henry DueckSt. Paul Co-op, St. Paul AB

Irene DupuisFederated Co-op, Winnipeg MB

Adonias DuvalSt. Malo Co-op, St. Malo MB

Margaret A. DyckSun Valley Co-op, Altona MB

Roland FenwickConsumers’ Co-operative Refineries,Regina SK

Jacob GoertzenCalgary Co-op, Calgary AB

David GordonCalgary Co-op, Calgary AB

Erica GurskiMeadow Lake Co-op, Meadow Lake SK

Germaine GuyBattlefords Co-op, North Battleford SK

Cuong HauGrande Prairie Co-op, Grande Prairie AB

David HeinFides Co-op, Saskatoon SK

In emembranceIN THIS REGULAR COLUMN WE ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE PEN-

SIONERS WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US. TO THEIR FAMILY

AND FRIENDS, WE EXPRESS OUR SINCERE CONDOLENCES.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Lorraine BarkerMainline Co-op, Salmon Arm

Donald G.BoldPeninsula Consumers Co-op,Saanichton

Robert M. HigginbottomFederated Co-op, Vancouver

Patricia L. JeffersonAlberni Co-op, Port Alberni

Vicki L. MooreWilliams Lake Credit Union

Loraine PilonUcluelet Co-op

ALBERTA

Edith AdolphEdmonton Co-op

Carol AspellInnisfail Co-op

Glenna AttridgeCalgary Co-op

John CapponCalgary Co-op

Emeline ChornohusSt. Paul Co-op

Yvonne DingrevillePincher Creek Co-op

Milos DivicCalgary Co-op

Donald G. CheaterNorthern Co-op Trading, La Ronge

James J. CoteSouthland Co-op, Assiniboia

Darlene CurtisBattlefords Co-op, North Battleford

Carolyn DanbrookGovan Credit Union

Dennis J. DeforestSaskatoon Co-op

Joanne DunneDelta Co-op, Unity

Sr. Emma J. HartmanFides Co-op, Saskatoon

James F. LokingerMidway Co-op, Leroy

Mary LuepkePioneer Co-op, Swift Current

Doug MartensFederated Co-op, Saskatoon

Heather McLeanCommunity Health Services,Saskatoon

Ronald P. MichaudPioneer Co-op, Swift Current

Gloria A.J. NelsonElfros-Mozart Credit Union

Stan J. NeufeldMeadow Lake Credit Union

Rosalie PankiwFederated Co-op, Regina

Gloria ReasonStoughton Consumers Co-op

Shirley RichterHorizon Credit Union, Melville

Dennis MillerRed Deer Co-op

Ismail MohammedFederated Co-op, Edmonton

James C. MurrayStony Plain Co-op

Jane MyersCalgary Co-op

Roy NordstromTuxedo Credit Union, Calgary

Leroy OverackerDrumheller Co-op

Jill RathwellCalgary Co-op

Mahindra RelanCalgary Co-op

Glen G. SaurBeaver River Co-op, Bonnyville

Wendell SmithFederated Co-op, Calgary

Geraldine R. TillerRed Deer Co-op

Louis VargaPincher Creek Co-op

A. Fay VickersRocky Mountain House Co-op

Gloria WoodPincher Creek Co-op

Leonard ZylmansThe Grocery People, Edmonton

SASKATCHEWAN

Emile H. BaloghKipling Co-op

Robert BowerLloydminster Co-op

James DunnCalgary Co-op

Ann-Marie C. EdgarCredit Union Central, Calgary

Lorrette EllisEdmonton Co-op

Sherron L. FoxFirst Calgary Financial

Elizabeth GeisingerCalgary Co-op

Gunda GibbinsCalgary Co-op

Ken HamaliukAndrew Co-op

Betty HawreliakCalgary Co-op

James C. HughGrande Prairie Co-op

Myrna JohnsonCalgary Co-op

Wayne L. JohnsonBoyle Co-op

Colleen KleinCalgary Co-op

Gerda KrohnRocky Mountain House Co-op

Helen M. LohseRed Deer Co-op

James E. MarshallFederated Co-op, Edmonton


PNew ensionsINCLUDING THE 50 NEW PENSIONS COMMENCED FROM OCTOBER

2005 TO DECEMBER 2005, A TOTAL OF 219 NEW PENSIONS COM-

MENCED IN 2005. THIS IS SAME NUMBER OF NEW PENSIONS COM-

MENCED IN 2004. THE FOLLOWING 88 NAMES REPRESENT THE

NEW PENSIONS COMMENCED FROM OCTOBER 2005 TO FEBRUARY

2006 INCLUSIVE.

An asterisk * denotes that these pensioners are surviving spouses ofdeceased members of the CSS Pension Plan.

*

*


Pension Projections from CSS Pension Plan

Colleen SchmaltzKindersley Credit Union

George N. SearsonNorthern Co-op Trading, La Ronge

Kenneth J. SlusarchukCredit Union Central, Regina

Doreen A. SwiftFides Co-op, Saskatoon

L. John VinekLloydminster Credit Union

Katherine E. WebsterFederated Co-op, Saskatoon

Pat WilsonSaskatoon Credit Union

MANITOBA

Wayne BjarnasonGlenboro Co-op

Violet BurtonLeaf Rapids Co-op

Estelle I. ComtePembina Co-op, St. Leon

Thelma GuentherSteinbach Credit Union

Isaac W. GullageArctic Co-op, Winnipeg

A. Elaine KuhlVanguard Credit Union,Rossburn

Norbert C. LabossierePembina Co-op, St. Leon

Marge LoeppkyAltona Credit Union

Beatrice McKayRed River Co-op, Winnipeg

Martin S. NechwediukManitoba Co-op HoneyProducers, Winnipeg

Brenda E. PetersCredit Union Central, Winnipeg

Mervin V. SachvieBeausejour Co-op

Muriel SeperSteinbach Credit Union

Cathy F. WhitfieldCarpathia Housing Co-op,Winnipeg

Josephine WisnoskiSwan Valley Co-op, Swan River

Darlene L. YurchukCrocus Credit Union, Brandon

ONTARIO

Janice HuntCredit Union Central of Canada,Toronto

Lloyd PerreiraInterprovincial Co-op,Mississauga

Christine SmutnickiPenfinancial Credit Union,Welland

One of the retirement income optionsavailable to members of the Co-oper-

ative Superannuation Society Pension Planis a monthly pension paid directly by thePlan. CSS therefore provides members withannual “pension projections”, or estimates,for retirement planning purposes.

Your CSS Pension Plan AnnualStatement includes estimates of yourmonthly pension at different retirementages, based on assumed future contribu-tions, using hypothetical rates of return andlong-term interest rates. You may havenoticed that the estimates provided on yourstatement sometimes change from year toyear. This is because the rate of return andinterest assumptions used in the calcula-

tions are varied to correspond with changesin the economic environment.

It is important to remember that thepension projections on your AnnualStatement are only calculated for one typeof pension – a “Single Life” pension with afifteen-year guarantee. Further they are cal-culated using only one set of return andinterest rate assumptions for everyone.Therefore, the projections on your state-ment can be significantly different from thepension that you will actually receive. Youractual pension will not be based onassumptions. It will be calculated usingyour personal account balance, your age atretirement, the type of pension you selectand the actual long-term interest rate avail-

able on the date that your pension starts.If you are thinking about retiring soon

and starting a CSS Pension, you areencouraged to contact the Plan for addi-tional pension projections before finaliz-ing your termination date. CSS would bepleased to provide you with up-to-datepension projections for all of the pensiontypes offered by the Plan, based on yourcurrent account balance and intendedretirement date. Although these up-to-dateprojections will also vary slightly from thepension amount that you will finallyreceive, they will provide you with the bestinformation available to help you decidewhether you are ready to retire.

*


“I Know That!” Contest

Complete the crossword puzzle below and mail your entry to the address below. Entry forms must be received no later than Friday, May 19,2006. The first ten correct entries drawn at random on May 23 will each win a copy of Patricia Lovett-Reid’s book “Live Well – Retire Well” orEric Kizner’s and Richard Croft’s book “Protect Your Nest Egg”. “Live Well – Retire Well” provides strategies for a rich life and a richer retirement.“Protect Your Nest Egg” shows how to guard your money during changing times. Answers to all of the crossword puzzle clues below can be foundin this issue of TimeWise and the 2005 Annual Report. See page 3 for a list of winners and the correct crossword puzzle solution to the Fall 2005“I Know That!” Contest.

ENTRY FORMMail to: “I Know That!” Contest, CSS Pension Plan

P.O. Box 1850, Saskatoon, SK S7K 3S2

Name (Please print): _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Employer: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Home Address: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

City: __________________________________ Province: ______________________________ Postal Code: ______________

If my entry is one of the first 10 correct entries drawn on May 23, 2006, I wish to receive a copy of:

❏ “Live Well – Retire Well” or ❏ “Protect Your Nest Egg” (Please check one)

Enter Our “I Know That!” Contest and You Could Win a Copy of “Live Well – Retire Well” or “Protect Your Nest Egg”

Across4. The oldest of five children – four girls and a boy –

Audri was no __________ to hard work.

7. From January 1 to December 31, 2005, the__________ price of the Balanced Fund increasedfrom $10.00 to $11.2172.

8. The Plan’s investment in actively managed non-North American equities consists of units in a__________ fund holding a diverse portfolio of com-panies located in Europe, and the Pacific Basin.

9. The average age of the non-retired members of thePlan increased to 44.61 at the __________ of 2005,from 44.31 at the end of 2004.

10. The objective of the RPS is to provide informationand help participants __________ for their ownanswers in planning for a meaningful, successfuland happy retirement.

Down1. Since his retirement from the Pension Plan in

January 1998, Mike has been one of the Plan’s__________ at its Retirement Income Options (RIO)workshops.

2. High crude prices generally have a __________ effecton the Canadian economy.

3. At the 2006 Annual Meeting the Delegatesapproved amendments to the CSS Pension Plan’sRules & Regulations to enable the Plan to offer__________ Benefit Payments.

5. The Money Market Fund’s primary objective is to__________ capital.

6. Despite historically low long-term interest rates,219 retiring members started a monthly pensiondirectly from the __________ in 2005 at an averageage of 60.78 years.

4

7

3

9

6

2

8

5

10

1

with the people youtrust

plan

Conexus Credit Union Southwest Credit Unionwww.conexuscu.com www.swcu.sk.ca780-1666 778-17001-800-567-0101 1-800-381-5502

Prince Albert Credit Union Advantage Credit Unionwww.princealbertcu.com www.advantagecu.com953-61001-800-667-7477

BCU Financial Saskatoon Credit Unionwww.bcufinancial .ca www.saskatooncreditunion.com446-7000 934-40001-866-446-7001 1-866-863-6237

You don’t need convincing that a Retirement Plan

is a necessity. But there is something you might

not know:

We have Certified Financial Planners on staff.

Just as important is the trust: You know us

– and we know you.

We will develop a Retirement Plan that’s right

for you. We’ll take the time to give you the best

possible advice, free of charge.

You know you’ll receive what you expect from your

credit union and no less.

Every step of the way, we’re dedicated to your

financial health and wealth. Today, as always, we

want to ensure you receive the full benefit of

credit union expertise.

Contact your Certified Financial Planner today for

your Retirement Plan.

287-3730 extension 22

timewise - csspenprofile audri wilkinson: “i really love my 6 ... peter zakreski, fcl saskatoon....

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