OCEANSIDE GRADUATE BURSARY 2010

PARKSVILLE/QUALICUM RETIRED TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION
OCEANSIDE GRADUATE BURSARY
2010

A $1,000.00 scholarship is available to a student who has graduated, or is graduating, from School District #69 and who is entering into a program of studies in Education. The money may be used to fund either undergraduate or graduate studies. Students must be intending to teach in British Columbia when qualified.

Criteria for Selection
• Registration in an university education program
• Excellent academic standing
• Participation in extra-curricular activities, preferably both school & community
• Work experience
• Proceeding to, or continuing at, an accredited Canadian post-secondary institution

Application details:
• A completed application form ( form available at www.pqrta.bcrta.ca )
• 2 or 3 references - for example: teachers, pastors, group leaders, etc.
• An up-to-date record of grade 11 and 12 marks, or post-secondary transcript
• Students graduating in 2010 may apply through their schools’ counselling department, which will select one application to be forwarded to the PQRTA for its consideration
• If a student elects not to apply through a counselling department, the application may be sent directly.
• Applications must be received by April 15, 2010 and must be mailed to:
The Parksville-Qualicum Retired Teachers’ Association c\o 1019 Maple Lane Dr Parksville, BC, V9P 1T3

The scholarship winner will be contacted directly by the PQRTA, at which point arrangements for payment of the award may be made. A $1,000.00 cheque will be made out to the post-secondary institution in which the student is enrolled/enrolling. The student will need to provide satisfactory evidence of enrolment.
The registration form follows on page 2.

THE PARKSVILLE/QUALICUM RETIRED TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION
OCEANSIDE GRADUATE BURSARY
APPLICATION FORM

NAME _________________________________________________________________

SCHOOL _______________________________________________________________

HOME ADDRESS ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


PHONE ______________________ EMAIL _______________________________


CAREER HOPES AND PLANS:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND INVOLVEMENTS (school, community, etc.)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

WORK EXPERIENCE:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTACH AN UP-TO-DATE RECORD OF GRADE 11 AND 12 MARKS, OR MOST RECENT POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTION TRANSCRIPT.

Reminder of the PQRTA Christmas Luncheon

Dear Members,

A reminder of the PQRTA Christmas Luncheon and General Meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 11:30 to 2:30 at Creek House Restaurant ( French Creek Marina on Lee Road ).

Just a quick reminder that we will again be collecting items for the Salvation Army Food Bank at our Christmas Social on December 1st. All of the items collected stay in the area to help needy families in Parksville/Qualicum and vicinity. The recent news headlines that 25% of BC's children are victims of poverty is of particular concern to teachers; one small thing we can do to help is provide non-perishable food items that children will enjoy:
canned fruits; juice; individual pkgs of hot cereals; peanut butter; hot chocolate mix; etc etc -- you'll have some favorite items in mind. Thank you for your generosity.
Also, I will have all the RTA photo albums at the Social; you might like to look through them. Incidentally, the position of Club Photographer/Historian has been vacant since our year-end June BBQ. Maybe after looking at the Albums again, YOU might consider taking on this very enjoyable chore -- just see me or speak to President Val.
Thank you, and looking forward to seeing you,
Barb Brett

Salvation Army Christmas Food Hamper

Hello Everyone!

In conjunction with our Christmas Social on December 1st, we will again be collecting for the Salvation Army Food Bank.

In previous years, they have been particularly pleased that our donations included the following:
--peanut butter and jams
--canned fish
--canned fruits and vegetables and beans
--hot chocolate
--soups
--cereals
--baby food

All of the donations go to the Salvation Army Food Bank at Lee Rd. in Parksville, and all stay in the area.
(If you would prefer to bring cash, there will be a donation tin available.)

Thank you so much for your generosity in the past; if we all start setting aside a couple of items now, we will be ready on December 1st to make the winter a little better for our local needy families.

Looking forward to seeing you at our Christmas Social,
Barb Brett bbrett@uniserve.com 250-752-7029

Christmas Is Coming and So Is the PQRTA Christmas Luncheon and General Meeting!!

Plan to come and start the Christmas Season off right by enjoying the spirit of the Season with your colleagues in retirement!

Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Time: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Place: Creek House Restaurant, French Creek (at the French Creek Marina on Lee Road)

Entertainment: Bill Cave, Brian Stovell and possibly, Ken Ryall (attendees will be asked to join in the singing of a few well-known Christmas songs)

Guest of Honour: Sheila Pither, British Columbia Retired Teachers’ Association President

Luncheon Menu: A Buffet Menu consisting of

o Roast Turkey with Stuffing and Gravy
o Almond Lemon Butter Whitefish
o Veal with a BC Mushroom sauce
o Spinach Salad with House Sesame Seed Dressing
o Pasta Grape Salad
o Tomato Mediterranean Salad
o Mashed Potatoes
o Rice Pilaf
o Seasonal Mixed Vegetables
o Cold Vegetable and Pickle Trays
o Hot Vegetarian Pasta
o Coffee or Tea
o Assortment of Squares and Buffet Cakes.

A No-Host bar will be open for alcoholic beverages.

Cost: $25.00 per person (includes gratuity and taxes). We are, again this year, very fortunate to have Bill, Brian and Ken provide musical entertainment for us. As an expression of our appreciation for their generosity in providing their fine music at no charge, the cost of each attendee’s luncheon includes an additional charge to cover the cost of the lunches for Bill, Brian, Ken and their wives; also included in each attendee’s luncheon fee is a stipend to cover the cost of lunch for our Guest of Honour, Sheila Pither.

Contact Valerie Dyer at 250-752-8824 or at tvdyer@shaw.ca to advise that you are planning to attend (members are most welcome to bring a guest). Deadline for response is November 15, 2009 as we must advise the Creek House of how many guests to expect.

Trouble managing stairs??

A ramp is accessible from the first parking lot as you come into French Creek; the ramp is located by the convenience store.

A gentle reminder:

PQRTA Policies and Procedures:

3.1.1: Notification of Attendance:

PQRTA members must contact the Programme Chairpersons no later than one (1) week before a PQRTA meeting to advise that they would like to attend and/or bring a guest to the meeting.

3.1.2 Member's Liability to Pay for an Event:

a) Once having indicated his or her intention to attend a PQRTA event, a member becomes liable to pay the announced cost of participation in that event, whether or not he or she actually attends. Failure to pay will render the member "not in good standing" until the debt is paid, and he or she may be denied access to future PQRTA events.

b) In the case of a member's defaulting guest(s), the guest(s) may be denied further access to PQRTA functions.

c) A member (or guest) is relieved of the obligation to pay if he or she notifies the PQRTA of a change in plans not less than 5 days prior to the event.

d) If at least two out of the President, Vice-President and Treasurer agree that circumstances warrant (such as bereavement or sudden medical emergency), a debt may be waived on compassionate grounds.

Province-wide Teachers' Pension Plan Consultative Process

Greetings, Colleagues in Retirement,



The British Columbia Teachers' Federation and British Columbia Retired Teachers' Association are conducting province-wide consultation meetings, throughout the Fall, for Teacher Pension Plan (TPP) members. All TPP members are urged to attend the meeting, in their area, to learn more about the future of and possible changes to the Inflation Adjustment Account (the indexing portion of the pension). This will be a very important opportunity to not only learn about the various scenarios being put forward to help address the possible shortfall in the Inflatin Adjustment Account but, also, to give your views.

The Consultation meeting for both working and retired teachers, in our area, will be held on Monday, October 19, 2009 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at The Ballenas Secondary School Auditorium , 135 North Pym Street, Parksville.

(** Please note that the online schedule says the Consultation meeting is from 3:45 to 5:45 p.m. but I have been advised by Jill McCaffery, MATA President, that it will be from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.)

Information regarding the Inflation Adjustment Acount can be found on the BCTF website at www.bctf.ca and clicking on the appropriate link or at http://bctf.ca/SalaryAndBenefits.aspx?id=19748

The link provides:
- General information on the BCTF pension consultation with updated schedules
- Pension Consultation meeting schedule, in PDF document, that includes the entire BCTF power point presentation
- Your Pension: The future is worth thinking about, in PDF document, that summarizes the BCTF pension presentation
- Presentation overview, in PDF document, on background pension information
- How the Teachers’ Pension Plan works, in PDF document
- Questions and answers, in PDF document, with definitions
- Glossary
- Register YOUR opinion:Go to the survey (**Please note: It is recommended that one complete the survey once one has attended the meeting so that one has the clearest understanding of each survey question).

Please make every effort to attend this important meeting and to give your input into our future, as retired teachers.

Hope to see you there!
Valerie Dyer
PQRTA President, 2009-10

*******
With warmest regards,
TVD

General Meeting Reminder

A reminder to all members of the RTA General Meeting on Tuesday, October 20th.

Topic - Safe Driving for Seniors
RCMP Corp. Cox will be making a presentation.

Also on the agenda is a short PQRTA meeting and time to socialize.

Time - 12:30 to 4:00 pm

Place - Royal Canadian Legion, Qualicum Beach
Veterans' Way

Refreshments - Coffee/Tea and Goodies

If you plan to attend please contace Val Dyer at tvdyer@shaw.ca or 250 752-8824 by Tuesday, October 13.

Review Committee Application Form

BCRTA
REVIEW COMMISSION

APPLICATION FORM

NAME ________________________________________

ADDRESS ________________________________________

________________________________________

PHONE ________________________________________

email ________________________________________


Teaching History_____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

1 Describe your professional involvement while teaching _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

2 Describe your experience with issues relating to constitution, bylaws, policies in various organizations ______________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

3 Other information: ______________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

4 Indicate that you will be available for the two years service to this commission.

___ Yes, I will.

Mail or email this information to the BCRTA Office, 100 – 500 West 6th Ave Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4P2 or pat @ bcrta.com by October 23, 2009.

Review Commission Opportunity

September 23, 2009


Dear Branch President,

The BCRTA is establishing a Review Commission to examine the structure and operation of our association. The first step in this process is to recruit seven BCRTA members to serve on this commission. Could you advertise this new initiative in your area and ask candidates to apply to serve on the commission via this application form by October 23, 2009.

The commission will examine the present organization of the BCRTA, looking at committee structure, their number, and purpose; office procedures; directors’ and officers’ duties; and communication methods; as well as our constitution and policies.

The commission members will serve for two years and meet via email, teleconference, and face-to-face sessions in Vancouver, but also meet with branches or zones and receive input from individual members. It is planned that the commission will have a gender and geographical balance.

Strategic planning and analysis is essential to any organization, and this commission will provide the means for logical growth and development.

Sincerely,

Douglas Edgar
1st Vice President

Enc.: Application Form

Volunteer Opportunities

Greetings, Colleagues in Retirement!

I trust that the month of September has been a pleasant one for you as we wend our way down to shorter daylight hours and lessening visitors with the beginning of the school year.

Please find attached, two documents from Doug Edgar, 1st Vice-President of the BCRTA, for your interest and possible involvement. The BCRTA is constructing a Review Committee to review its organizational structure and of course, as a consequence, to see how the BCRTA can better meet the needs of its membership. The Review Committee will consist of 7 BCRTA members who will serve for two years. Please give some thought as to whether or not serving on the Review Committee would be something that would interest you.

Just a reminder:
The PQRTA is still in need of a Historian Chairperson and a Programme Chairperson. Please contact me at 250.752.8824 or tvdyer@shaw.ca if you would like to help the PQRTA out with either of these positions. Your help would be most appreciated by your Executive and your fellow members.

As always, your PQRTA Executive realizes that there is no lack of volunteer opportunities available for retirees and that most PQRTA members are hard working volunteers for a number of worthwhile projects. For your involvement in whatever volunteer activity interests you, the PQRTA is most grateful for your contribution to helping make things better.

Wishing you all a lovely Indian Summer!

Valerie Dyer,
2009-10 PQRTA President

PQRTA Meeting Notice - October 20

Notice of PQRTA October General Meeting

Mark it on your calendar and plan to attend!

Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Time: 12:30 to 4:00 p.m.

Format of the afternoon:
· 1:00 to 1:40 p.m.: PQRTA meeting
· 1:40 to 2:00 p.m.: Break
· 2:00 - ~ 4:00 p.m.: Presentation by Corp. Cox on how aging affects one’s driving, alleviating the effect of aging on driving, recent changes to driving laws, etc.

Place: Royal Canadian Legion on Veteran’s Way in Qualicum Beach (come to the back of the Legion for entry into the downstairs hall)

Guest Speaker: RCMP Corporal Garry Cox will speak on Safe Driving for Seniors.*

Refreshments: Coffee/Tea and goodies.

Cost: $5.00 per person, payable at the door.

Please advise Valerie Dyer, before Tuesday, October 13, 2009, that you plan to attend the meeting, by contacting her at 250-752-8824 or at tvdyer@shaw.ca.

*Each participant will receive the booklet, Tuning Up for Drivers, compliments of Mr. Rick Chisholm of the Coastal Community Insurance Services (2007) Ltd.

Just a gentle reminder:

PQRTA Policies and Procedures:

3.1.1: Notification of Attendance:

PQRTA members must contact the Programme Chairpersons no later than one (1) week before a PQRTA meeting to advise that they would like to attend and/or bring a guest to the meeting.
3.1.2 Member's Liability to Pay for an Event:
a) Once having indicated his or her intention to attend a PQRTA event, a member becomes liable to pay the announced cost of participation in that event, whether or not he or she actually attends. Failure to pay will render the member "not in good standing" until the debt is paid, and he or she may be denied access to future PQRTA events.
b) In the case of a member's defaulting guest(s), the guest(s) may be denied further access to PQRTA functions.
c) A member (or guest) is relieved of the obligation to pay if he or she notifies the PQRTA of a change in plans not less than 5 days prior to the event.
d) If at least two out of the President, Vice-President and Treasurer agree that circumstances warrant (such as bereavement or sudden medical emergency), a debt may be waived on compassionate grounds.

Photos taken at To Hell with The Bell - Sept. 2009

To Hell With The Bell

Plan to attend the PQRTA " To Hell With the Bell" Breakfast at the lovely Milner Gardens at 2179 West Island Hwy, Qualicum Beach, September 8, 2009. Please come and join your retirement colleagues in celebrating "freedom from the call of the bell".

Time: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Breakfast begins 8:30 am

( Shriners Pancake Breakfast )

Cost: $15 per person payable at the door

RESPONSE DEADLINE : August 22, 2009

If you have not responded to the email of August 14 please advise Ellen Coates eacoates@shaw.ca or phone Ann Kullman 250 752-9104 if you plan to attend.

Members are reminded that PQRTA policies require members to pay for meals ordered ( Part 5.1 )

AGM Photos taken by Gerry Galey

PQRTA Bursary winner

Hi Judy,

Will you please send out the following message to all our PQRTA members.

This year we had seven applications for the $1000 bursary we offered for 2009. The candidate selected by the committee was Maggie Kirk, who is currently a student in the education program at UVic.

Ed Augustyn

PQRTA Vice President

Member of Bursary Selection Committee.

Items found at AGM

Found at the PQRTA AGM BBQ

The following items were found at the Rotary Park following the PQRTA AGM BBQ today:

- "partridge in a pear tree" cushion

- red director's chair.

If you are the lucky owners of either of these items, please contact Valerie Dyer at 250.752.8824 or at tvdyer@shaw.ca

*******
With warmest regards,
TVD