Decades of Distinction

The Fabulous Fifties

Spring 2011 Issue 44

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Highlights Our President’s Message 2-3 Membership Committee Report 4 Egerton Ryerson Bell 5 Something New – Walking Club 6 Travel Report 7 The Fabulous Fifties Crossword Puzzle 8 Spring Luncheon Notice 9 Decades of Distinction 10-11 Health Services Report 12-13 Project Service to Others Report 14-15 Goodwill Report 16 Puzzle Answer Key 18 Norfolk District 12 Directory 19-20

Prime Time

Our President’s

Message

Decades of Distinction Look in this issue for Ruth-Ellen's invitation to those RTO members who taught in the 1950’s to get an idea of what these events will be like.

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Hello friends! And I really mean friends. My retirement life has definitely been richer with you in it. A lot has happened since my message in the last PrimeTime. It has been wonderful to welcome new executive members into the fold: Ruth-Ellen Kelly, 2nd Vice President and Membership Co-chair, Janie Forsythe, Secretary, and Margie Ridson, Membership co-chair. I've been very impressed with them all. Kudos to all the District 12 executive board members for their continued fine work. Vice Presidents, Treasurer, Goodwill, Health Services, etc.---just read down the list at the back of this PrimeTime and give these people a pat on the back for the work they voluntarily do for all of us. Your Project Service to Others Committee has fielded two applicants this winter, and done considerable legwork and refining of the applications. They have recommended that the Haldimand Norfolk Literacy Council be funded for the purchase of a “Dualboard” or “Smartboard” to be located at their Simcoe branch. We will see if Provincial approves this project. Many have attended workshops and Senates in Toronto: Tony Dekeukeleare - Webmasters' conference, Ginger Pullen -Treasurers' and Presidents' workshop, Ginger, Doug Thompson and Stu Ross - Fall Senate, to name but a few. Once again the Travel Committee has organized trips to three events: My Fair Lady, Billy Elliot and Camelot. Thank you Virginia Birney and Nancy Smiley! We now have a New Initiatives Committee, consisting of Virginia Birney, Janie Forsythe and Ruth-Ellen Kelly. It is an adjunct to the Goodwill Committee and will provide more service to our members and it hopes to inspire more involvement from our members . Look further in the pages of this PrimeTime for some of their ideas (Movie Night, Walking Club). These energetic ladies have also come up with a plan for future Luncheons. They are starting with a series entitled Decades of Distinction. Look in this issue for Ruth-Ellen's invitation to those RTO members who taught in the 1950’s to get an idea of what these events will be like. You don't want to miss this Spring Banquet!

On another note, we don't want to think only of ourselves. As teachers we are generous people and care about the welfare of those in our communities. I had an interesting discussion with Dave Garner recently where he pointed out the need the caring pantry/food bank has for donations. We both agreed that food is a pretty important priority! I suggest that all of us give some thought to appropriate ways our District can help (and be seen to be helping) people with needs such as these, and communicate your ideas to the branch executive. Finally, thank you to Fred Guidolin who always does such fine job with our PrimeTime newsletter. Enjoy! Movie Night! How would you like to get together now and then and see a movie? Other districts leaders tell me this is popular among their members. I thought it would be fun and decided to give it a try here in District 12. The idea is to meet at a designated time and movie theater and see a show with RTO friends! The problem is that at the Simcoe Strand Theater, the week's movies aren't announced until Monday afternoon. I will check the listings on the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month and if there is an interesting film, will have it posted on our web site. I will start by getting a group together on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month starting after mid-April. Interested? Contact me with any thoughts or suggestions! Ginger Pullen 519 582 2661 pullenging@yahoo.com

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The New Initiatives Team, of which I am a member, plans to diversify activities for our members. We are beginning at the Spring Luncheon by honouring our members who taught during the 1950’s or before. Make sure you read the notice about this event in this newsletter. Join us on May 4th as we remember “The Fabulous Fifties”.

Membership Committee Report Ruth-Ellen Kelly The Membership Committee has been busy gathering information about teachers who will be retiring soon. We made contact with all schools, delivered posters and requested names or numbers of prospective retirees. Included in our membership are all educational workers: teachers, educational assistants, educational support staff, secretaries, maintenance staff and bus drivers. Our main purpose is to inform them about retirement options. Of course, we want to encourage them to become members of RTO-ERO and to keep active on the education front. This year’s information meeting for prospective members will be held on April 28, 2011 at the Muriel Bridge Room of St. James United Church in Simcoe, from 4p.m. to 5:15p.m. Members of the Executive will be on hand to answer your questions regarding membership, fees, health plans, travel, political advocacy as well as other opportunities available. Come out and join us for an informative and enjoyable hour! If you know of anyone who is considering retiring in the next year or so, please let them know they are welcome to attend any of our retirement information sessions. The April session mentioned above is the first meeting and our second is a joint collaboration with Brant to be held on October 29, 2011 in Brantford. The advantages of membership in RTO are many. Personally, I enjoy socializing with former colleagues, telling stories and just saying, “Do you remember when...?” At the fall luncheon, I had the opportunity to speak to my grade 10 geometry teacher and tell him how much I appreciated his classes and his patience. I’m sure it was the only math I passed! It became one of my favourite subjects to teach...imagine that! Membership also gives you a chance to be of service. Our numerous committees allow occasions to use your many talents to benefit the whole organization as well as yourself. You can put as little or as much time into these volunteer positions as you wish. It could be as simple as offering a ride to someone who no longer drives so they can enjoy our Spring or Fall luncheons. Perhaps you would like to join us on the Membership Committee or even become a committee chair. All committees are listed on the back pages of this newsletter.

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Egerton Ryerson Bell Award Ruth-Ellen Kelly Eleven teachers will be presented with the Egerton Ryerson Bell Award at the Fall Luncheon. A suitable replica of a school hand bell was selected with a title inscribed "Egerton Ryerson Award" commemorating the founder of Ontario's education system and a native son of Norfolk. The award honours those teachers who have supported Norfolk RTO for 25 or more years. A suitable inscription "In Appreciation For Many Years of Valued Support of RTO-ERO District 12, Norfolk" is engraved on the award. These names will be recorded in a book called "The Egerton Ryerson Book of Remembrance". All have been notified by phone and by mail and I hope every recipient will be able to attend this fall. I have learned much working on the Executive for the past six months. My duties include organizing the Egerton Ryerson Bell Award presentation as well as assisting the 1st Vice-President with various tasks. It is particularly enjoyable working with Mary Antoniolli again. It’s been quite some time since our days at Windham Central and those famous trips to Quebec!

GRADUATES OF LONDON NORMAL SCHOOL OR

LONDON TEACHERS’ COLLEGE

The Faculty of Education, University of Western Ontario is looking for graduates of London Normal School and London Teachers’ College to be Honorary Alumni of the Faculty of Education at Western. If you’d like to be included, send the information indicated below: Name, address, e-mail, maiden name, year of graduation from Normal School or LTC and indication of whether you are also Western grads.

Send information to Patricia McLaughlin at: pmclaug@uwo.ca

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Something New Want to be active outside a little more? Join other members of RTO who would like to enjoy the fresh air and a little exercise on local trails! Walk as far as you like, at your own pace. We’d like to walk on the second and fourth Thursday Mornings, beginning at 9:30 AM. Below we have outlined the first three dates. After that, watch our website (www.norfolkrto-ero.on.ca) for where we’ll meet! To start, we’ll explore the Lynn Valley Trail. (www.lynnvalleytrail.ca) For further info, please call Janie Forsythe at 519-428-3158 or send her an email at janeforsythe@sympatico.ca . April 28 Meet in the parking lot on Prospect Street, just east of

Highway 6, Port Dover May 12 Meet in the parking lot on Blue Line Road, just north

of St. John’s Road May 26 Meet in the parking lot at Memorial Park, 292 Owen

Street, Simcoe

Invalid Email Addresses The following no longer work. If you are the former owner of one of the following email addresses, please send your current address, name, and the address you have replaced to rto@norfolkrto-ero.on.ca. Norfolkdr@aol.com norbet@execulink.com hudson@flarenet.com bally@flarenet.com kjull@kwic.com marion.macgowan@kwic.com nrobinson@kwic.com smelkofarms@kwic.com sross@nornet.on.ca tickner@simcom.on.ca candjanderson@sympatico.ca walpolen@sympatico.ca

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Travel Report Virginia Birnie and Nancy Smiley By early January, the itinerary for the 2011 travel year had been solidified so Nancy Smiley and I, of the Travel Committee, with the very much appreciated help of Ruth Ellen Kelly and Mary Antoniolli, stuffed 550 travel brochures and a list of upcoming events into envelopes and mailed them to all members. The response was great….we have a waiting list for a seat to see My Fair Lady playing on April 29 at the Shaw Festival and another waiting list to see Billy Elliot, a Mirvish Production, at the Canon Theatre in Toronto on May 25. Seats are still available for Camelot playing at the Festival Theatre in Stratford on September 9. Call Virginia at 519-426-5162 or send an email to nvcrbirnie@sympatico.ca to reserve a seat. I keep a waiting list and then, if possible, I am able to accommodate people who have made the commitment to participate in a trip and when an unforeseen circumstance arises may have their money refunded if someone else is able to take their ticket. “Never say Never” that you won’t be able to take part until you have received a phone call from me just prior to the particular trip. I am currently looking at another approach for planning travel trips for the 2012 RTO Travel Committee. The proposal will be presented to the RTO Norfolk Executive at the April Executive meeting. Updates will be given in the fall issue of Prime Time. It is always great to receive the phone calls from you to ask questions or sign up for the RTO trips. Virginia Birnie and Nancy Smiley

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The Fabulous FiftiesRTO/ERO

District 12 Norfolk

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Across4. Canada's teen idol from Ottawa5. First to climb Everest6. Canada's Christmas catalog7. Now it's called Air Canada (three words)9. Charlton raced chariots in this film (two words)

13. Canadian Forces in the UN fought here14. She was Canada's Queen15. US President in 195216. Chevrolet's two seater sports car18. She wanted that doggie in the window19. Ford's Fifties fluke23. First faster than four minutes for a mile24. This Arrow first flew in 195725. The Cup Toronto used to win26. She was Prime Minister for a day

Down1. Cuba's rebel leader2. Norma Jean's screen name3. He rocked Around the Clock5. Elvis' hotel8. The first satellite

10. His suspension caused hockey riots in Montreal11. Canada's first native born Governor General12. He was The Chief in 195716. Toronto's first TV station17. Front Page Challenge host20. A huge St Lawrence engineering feat21. Long serving Minister Of Education22. Ontario's Premier

Answer Key on page 18

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Norfolk District 12 Spring Luncheon

Decades of Distinction

Wednesday May 4, 2011

Vittoria Community Center 11:00 am Memorabilia on display

Music by The Melody Drive Band

12:00 noon Luncheon Ruth Reimer Catering

Pineapple Glazed Baked Ham Mashed potatoes and Gravy

Vegetable Medley Spinach Mandarin Salad

Ruth's Famous Desert Buffet

1:00 Speaker Lynne Lydell Upping Your Attitude: Transitions in Life

Cost $15

RSVP to Ginger Pullen

by Wednesday April 27th 78 First Ave,

Delhi, ON N4B 1G3

519 582 2661 pullenging@yahoo.com

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Health Services Report Stu Ross By now, we should all have received our 2011 Health Services booklet outlining the coverage that RTO makes available through Johnson's Insurance. You should also have received in the same mailing a separate booklet outlining the coverage available for out-of-province/out-of-country travel. These are important documents that are only updated and mailed out every three years, so keep them handy but safe. The travel booklet should always be taken with you, even if your travel is only out-of-province. It has important contact information in it and if you need it when traveling, it will become as indispensable as your passport. Those who read my Annual Report last fall might recall that I have been lobbying the provincial Health Services and Insurance Committee, (HS&IC), to consider incorporating coverage for “catastrophic” drugs in our heath insurance plan. The drugs that would be covered are new on the market, very expensive and represent an increasing proportion of prescriptions overall. As part of that lobby, I proposed a motion at the fall 2010 Senate that would have required the HS&IC to report on the viability of including such coverage on an optional basis in our plan. My motion was soundly defeated, primarily on the grounds that the increase in premiums would be a deterrent to future subscription to our plan. However, I remain hopeful that the concept of catastrophic drug coverage will, one day, be seen as a necessary part of our plan, one that we can not afford to not afford. Stories abound of people, not just RTO members who, confronted with the cost of such drugs, have been forced to sell their homes or otherwise incur debt, just to maintain a decent quality of life, or sometimes life itself. These drugs are not covered by the Ontario Drug Plan so seniors are fully exposed to their cost, (thousands of dollars per month). Let us hope that our provincial RTO leaders will soon realize that the demographic that they represent is the most in need of such coverage. On a more upbeat note, it seems that there is increasing emphasis being placed on improving the longevity and quality of the lives of our members through changes in their lifestyle. A proactive, preventative approach to seniors' health is taking its rightful place alongside the curative or treatment-based approach.

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In the recent past, the merits of daily walking have been outlined and programs to promote similar activity have come from the provincial office. Be sure to see our information about trail walking on page 6 of PrimeTime.

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The latest edition of Health Matters, available at the RTO members website, has an extensive article on “falls”, for example. In the recent past, the merits of daily walking have been outlined and programs to promote similar activity have come from the provincial office. This is good news, not just because it leads to longer, more productive lives, but also because the longer a Health Plan participant remains healthy, the lower our insurance premiums become. Insurance statistics show that active seniors tend to maintain their health to an age closer to their death than do seniors who lead sedentary lives. This leads to fewer cases of “death by hospital”. So, it's spring! Let's all get out there and do our bit to keep the insurance premiums down and the hospital wards empty.

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Project: Service to Others Report Peter Scovil In 2010, District 12 received $2680 in funding from the provincial RTO to purchase sculling oars and a cox box speaker for the Silver Lake Rowing Club. These have made it possible for more young people to participate in a sport that includes numbers of students from our local high schools. The club also works with elementary students helping them develop their strength and skills on indoor rowing machines. The club was fortunate to be able to purchase six pairs of oars, used at a regatta, for the price of two pairs of new oars. The RTO/ERO logo and name were placed on each oar. When the work was completed there was a formal presentation by Hazel Andrews (see photo). The cox box speaker enables the coxswain at the back of the boat to provide instructions to a team of rowers as they train and compete. RTO hopes that by supporting the club, we will encourage youth and people of all ages to learn a new sport and participate in an activity that promotes physical fitness and good health. As you know, with the Misner Dam needing repair, the club cannot practice on Silver Lake in Port Dover. For the past season, smaller groups have trained at Tillsonburg and at a small lake near Oakland. The club still had some very good results last year, including several gold medals this past summer. To see what the club is up to, and how successful some of their athletes have been, please check www.silverlakerowingclub.com. This year, we are applying for funds to help purchase an electronic whiteboard for the Simcoe office of the Haldimand Norfolk Literacy Council to aid them in their work of improving literacy and mathematical skills of adults in the area. This new technology is being used more and more in schools in our area and throughout the province. We expect to know if our application has been accepted by the time of the Spring Luncheon on May 4.

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Goodwill Report Barb Luchka Happy Spring, everyone! It's amazing how an increasingly creaky, old body becomes light and energetic (well...sort of) when spring rolls around once again! How do I know it's spring? The robins are back, of course! If they can stand these few snowy aftershocks of winter with a song in their hearts, then so can I. Our snowbirds continue to flock home to Ontario, also. Welcome back to all of our fine, feathered friends! Happy Birthday to the following members on their milestones! 80 YEARS Katherine Burbidge January 14, 2011 Donna DeSerrano January 22, 2011 Marjorie Wooley March 17, 2011 Bernard Cranshaw May 31, 2011 85 YEARS Roger Cloet January 1,2011 Grace Smith February 28,2011 Don Gardner May 23, 2011 90 YEARS Gladys Todd December 25, 2011 95 YEARS Margaret Jarvis March 16, 2011 Here's an early mention. Evelyn Potts will be 99 years young on September 7, 2011! On a sad note, we will be missing these members. October 2010 Maxine Vakaras 61 December 2010 Harry Yaychuk 70 Jack Fick 65 January 2011 Janet Pleasance 98 Elizabeth Fisher 87 February 2011 Stephen Vank 82 Miriam Koszela 69 March 2011 Carol Lerch 69 Also, Gladys Campbell 95 Kurt Johnson 78

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Youth is not a time of life — it is a state of mind

It is not a matter of red cheeks, red lips and supple knees. It is a temper of the will; a quality of the imagination; a vigour of the emotions; it is a freshness of the deep springs of life. Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over a life of ease. This often exists in a person of fifty, more than in one of twenty.

Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years; People grow old by deserting their ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, But to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, doubt, self-distrust, fear and despair— These are the long, long years that bow the head And turn the growing spirit back to dust. Whether seventy or sixteen, there is in every being’s heart a love of wonder; the sweet amazement at the stars and star-like things and thoughts; the undaunted challenge of events, the unfailing childlike appetite for what comes next, and the joy in the game of life.

You are as young as your faith, As old as your doubt; As young as your self-confidence, As old as your fear, As young as your hope, as old as your despair. In the central place of your heart there is a wireless station. So long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, grandeur, courage, and power from the earth, from others and from the Infinite—so long are you young. When the wires are all down and the central places of your heart are covered with the snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then are you grown old, indeed! Samuel Ullman 1840-1924

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How did you do? I’ll admit some of these were tricky, especially about Ellen Fairclough, PM for a day. She was our local MP for Hamilton West. You’ll see many of these clues and answers on our Spring Luncheon Fabulous Fifties PowerPoint Presentation! It was a fun project for this issue. Watch for more of these crosswords in the next PrimeTime. If you have an idea or suggestion for future puzzles, let me know. Alfred Guidolin PrimeTime Editor

The Fabulous FiftiesRTO/ERO

District 12 Norfolk

C1 M2

H3 A4 N K A H5 I L L A R YE6 A T O N S E R

L T7 R A N S8 C A N A D A A I R L I N E SB9 E N H U R P R L

Y O U T R10 YM11 D12 T B I N

K13 O R E A I N R CS E14 L I Z A B E T HS F K A E15 I S E N H O W E R

C16 O R V E T T E D17 K RB Y N P18 A G E E19 D S20 E L D21

L F22 B V E UT R B23 A N N I S T E R A24 V R O N

O K S W LS25 T A N L E Y F26 A I R C L O U G HT R Y P

Across4. Canada's teen idol from Ottawa [ANKA] 5. First to climb Everest [HILLARY] 6. Canada's Christmas catalog [EATONS] 7. Now it's called Air Canada (three words)

[TRANSCANADAAIRLINES] 9. Charlton raced chariots in this film (two words)

[BENHUR] 13. Canadian Forces in the UN fought here [KOREA]

14. She was Canada's Queen [ELIZABETH] 15. US President in 1952 [EISENHOWER] 16. Chevrolet's two seater sports car [CORVETTE] 18. She wanted that doogie in the window [PAGE] 19. Ford's Fifties fluke [EDSEL]

Down1. Cuba's rebel leader [CASTRO] 2. Norma Jean's screen name [MARILYN] 3. He rocked Around the Clock [HALEY] 5. Elvis' hotel [HEARTBREAK] 8. The first satellite [SPUTNIK]

10. His suspension caused hockey riots in Montreal[RICHERD]

11. Canada's first native born Governor General[MASSEY]

12. He was The Chief in 1957 [DIEFENBAKER] 16. Toronto's first TV station [CBLT] 17. Front Page Challenge host [DAVIS] 20. A huge St Lawrence engineering feat [SEAWAY]

21. Long serving Minister Of Education [DUNLOP]

Please

Note Prime Time submission deadlines

Spring Issue

March 15

Fall Issue August 15

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Norfolk District 12 Directory DISTRICT EXECUTIVE 2010-2011 President Ginger Pullen 582-2661 pullenging@yahoo.com Past President Beth Wheatley 426-8480 wheatley@kwic.com First Vice-President Mary Antoniolli 443-5858 rayantoniolli@yahoo.com Second Vice-President Ruth-Ellen Kelly 426-9207 2kelly@sympatico.ca Secretary Janie Forsythe 428-3158 janeforsythe@sympatico.ca Treasurer Don Gardner 426-2381 dgardner@amtelecom.net DISTRICT BOARD (Includes District Executive, Committee Chairs, Newsletter Editor, Provincial Officers, and others as needed) COMMITTEE CHAIRS Archives Diana Moir 583-0225 moir@kwic.com Goodwill Barb Luchka 428 6346 Health Services Stuart Ross 586-7681 ross.stu@hotmail.com Membership Margie Ridzon 582-3952 mdridz@execulink.com Newsletter Fred Guidolin 582-2945 alfredguidolin@sympatico.ca Pension Concerns Peter Wheatley 426-1905 wheatley@kwic.com Political Advocacy Doug Thompson 426-1063 gunner@kwic.com Project Service To … Peter Scovil 443-7297 peterandalma@sympatico.ca Travel Virginia Birnie 426-5162 nvcrbirnie@sympatico.ca Webmaster T. Dekeukelaere 426-3541 rembrandt@kwic.com DIRECTORS Jack Beamer 428-1537 j_beamer@hotmail.com Howard Clark 426-1605 yvonneclark_3@sympatico.ca Muriel Dennis 586-7418 mjdennisca@amtelecom.net Sandy Honsberger 426-9478 waynhons@yahoo.com GOODWILL COMMITTEE Mary Frances Bergen 429-3639 Cynthia Burroughs 443-8753 Ella Eecloo 582-0575 Rose Pettit 582-1274 Mary Anne MacDonald 426-9636 Nina Robinson 586-2494 Donna Woodcock 428-4031

Norfolk District 12 Directory MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Sheila Evans 583-3094 Margie Ridzon 582-3952 Jo Anne Barber 426-4496 Mary Antoniolli 443-5858 POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Lee Buffin 583-0429 Howard Clark 426-1605 Donna Hudson 443-5354 Andy Putoczki 582-1952 COMMUNICATIONS / WEBMASTER Tony Dekeukelaere 426 3541 TRAVEL COMMITTEE Nancy Smiley 426-2847 nsmiley16@hotmail.com PROJECT SERVICE TO OTHERS Muriel Dennis 586-7418 mjdennisca@amtelecom.net Hazel Andrews 428-0551 hazelmarion@hotmail.com David Walker 426-3834 ARCHIVES Diana Moir 583-0225 moir@kwic.com

We’re on the Web! See us at www.norfolkrto-ero.on.ca

Prime Time Editor

Alfred Guidolin 36 Melody Drive

Delhi, Ontario N4B 3E1

519 582 2945

alfredguidolin@

sympatico.ca