RTO DISTRICT 32  EXECUTIVE MEETING

                                                           Monday, January 22, 2024

1.WELCOME:   Pat welcomed everyone.

2. PRESENT: Pat Rogers, Caroll Carkner, Jill Cass, Ruth f Barton Dempster, Linda MacKinnon,  Pauline Sarrazin, Melanie Beaupre, Lynne Current, Anne Marie Farnworth, Dorothy Kinkaid, Mary Leduc, John Healey,  Kathy  Findlay,  Bill  Young

Regrets:   Dorothy Kinkaid, Richard James

3. AGENDA: addition of Request for funds
4. MINUTES: No changes

5. 5. BUSINESS ARISING

Caroll reported that the pamphlet is ok to use. Mary will prepare the information we want to put on it for District 32

6.PRESIDENT’S REPORT    Pat

Items from December District President Zoom Meeting The gathering of member input for the organizational renaming project continues. Thousands of responses have been collected from a survey sent to all members. If you haven’t responded, the survey will be open until the end of January.

New name for District 44 Formerly named Région du ciel bleu, District 44 is now Franco-Nipissing.

Meeting dates on the RTOERO Calendar All 2024 meeting and event dates are posted on the RTOERO Calendar of Events at https://rtoero.ca/events/. Please review ahead of scheduling district meetings to avoid conflicts.

Elections and Appointments Applications for positions on the Board of Directors, the Governance and Nomination Committee, and all other Committees are now available via the RTOERO website: https://rtoero.ca/about/electionsand-appointments/. The deadline for applications is February 9, 2024

Motions to the Annual Meeting The deadline for districts to submit motions for the May 14, 2024 Annual Meeting is February 14, 2024 George Heughan from District 25 was wondering if there are any other districts who feel if the need to travel on the weekend to attend RTOERO events, workshops or forums ought to be curtailed. Since the Board, to date, does not seem to deem this a item of importance, perhaps those who agree with my concerns would consider joining us in making an official overture or bylaw amendment to prohibit scheduling events to begin on the weekends. The initial belief is that accommodation costs are lower on a Sunday night, however this is a moot point when considering that the Fall Forum lands, for example, right in the middle of the Toronto International Film Festival and no room rates are affordable during this festival. If you wish to proceed with an official motion in this regard, please let me know and I will get the ball rolling.

Please don’t “Reply to all” when replying to an email invitation that includes other invitees.

Foundation Auction     In Spring 2024, the RTOERO Foundation will be hosting an online silent auction open to RTOERO members across the country as well as RTOERO staff, board members, partners, family, and friends. The proceeds will directly fund programs promoting healthy, active aging.

Member Milestone Certificates will be sent to districts at the end of February,2024.

Other news     After January Board meeting, Community Grant applications will hopefully go live on February 1 pending Board acceptance of committee’s recommendations. There will be a Zoom/Webinar on February 13 of all District Community Grant Reps, Presidents and First Vice Presidents. This will be to familiarize attendees with new on-line system. This year the committee is currently reviewing 230 scholarship applications! This is the most we have ever had since the beginning of offering scholarships.

Pat will check with George Heughen from District 25 to see if the Executive supports his suggestion about curtailing RTO meetings and workshops on the weekend.

7. VICE PRESIDENTS’ REPORT Val (No report)

8. TREASURER’S REPORT Anne Marie

As of January 21, the account balance is $9048.52, with no outstanding cheques. Our district grant will be deposited on February 15th in the amount of $18,000. Our reserves are at 50% of the grant, so we have attained the projected outlook of the 2023-24 Reduction Budget.

The executive reviewed the Balance Sheet, Budget vs. Actuals and Transactions Details. They were approved and the Treasurer will send them back to Jim Grieve and Ewa Romanski at RTOERO.

The Budget for 2024 was discussed using the Actuals from 2023. The treasurer will use the recommendations from the executive to finalize the Budget. It will then be approved by the District Executive, and then sent to the CEO and CFO at RTOERO before February 9, 2024.

A motion was presented to award $300 bursaries to each of the following eight schools; Rockland DHS, Russell HS, VCI, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Francis Xavier, TR Leger Embrun, TR Leger Rockland and TR Leger Hawkesbury.

Correspondence was received from five of the ten Food Banks, thanking us for our generous donation.

Motion by Anne Marie to continue giving $300 Bursaries to the 8 schools in our area. Seconded by Jill. Carried

Motion by Anne Marie to accept the 2024 Budget Recommendations     Seconded by Lynne   Carried

Motion by Anne Marie to accept the Treasurer’s report   Seconded by Kathy     Carried

8. SECRETARY’S REPORT & CORRESPONDENCE Linda   No Report

9. COMMITTEE REPORTS

1. GOODWILL Melanie

November:  

Birthdays: 6 birthday cards were sent as well as flowers to Bernard Cayen for his special birthday.

Anne Marie presented Wyman Bradford with flowers for his special birthday                                    Condolences:                                                                                                                                                          Nicole McAllister’s brother, Michael Chamberland, passed away                                                             Darlene Cooke who lost her mother-in-law                                                                                                     Linda MacKinnon whose mother passed away                                                                                                 Thinking of you: – sent to Wendy Barton

December:                                                                                                                                       Birthdays: 6 birthday cards were sent                                                                                                                            73 Christmas cards were mailed to those 70+ and 30 Christmas gifts were sent to those 80+

January:                                                                                                                                          Birthdays: There were no birthdays                                                                                                Correspondence: Nicole McAllister thanked us for our condolences on the passing of her brother.

MEMBERSHIP & RPW      Pauline & Bill 

1. Membership Changes: for Nov and Dec 2023.
2. A) Address Changes: Address changes were sent to executive members for Nov and Dec
3. B) Transfer Out:

Nov:                                                                                                                                                              1) Kelly Canning- to Actively Employed                                                                                                    2) Denise Gauthier- to Actively Employed                                                                                                           3) Carolle Rose- to Actively Employed                                                                                                                 4) Evelynne Dagenais- to Ottawa-Carlton

1. C) Transfer In:

Dec:                                                                                                                                                                         Lucie Dauth- Orleans- from Actively Employed                                                                                                  District 32 has 175 members as of Dec 31, 2023.                                                                                                Last year at this time we had 179 members.                                                                                                        Current Actively Employed membership # 32                                                                                         January 2024, updated membership lists, including retired and actively employed members for District 32 were emailed to the district president. Modified lists were sent to social media, goodwill reps and remaining executive members.                                                                                                                 3. Recruitment packages: to be distributed in March to the 13 schools plus 3 T.R. Leger Colleges in our district                                                                                                                                               Contents:                                                                                                                                                           -RTO info booklet Esprit (insurance info)                                                                                                              -Renaissance magazine                                                                                                                                                   -Cover letter from District 32 president                                                                                                                 -Latest District 32 newsletter

4) RPW 2024:                                                                                                                                                      Our RPW this year will be held at Russell High School on Tuesday February 27.                                                  Check-in (snacks and refreshments): 4:30pm                                                                                              Presentation start time: 5:00pm                                                                                                                               End time: 6:30pm approx.                                                                                                                                       Catering: with Big Bite Bistro in Russell : menu yet to be confirmed

Volunteers will be needed to greet and mingle with the registrants. We will need at least 2 and maybe more depending on the number attending. Digital posters have been posted on our district website and Facebook. Executive members have also been sent posters by email and are asked to help spread the word.                                                                                                                                                                Hard copies will be delivered to all schools in the district by Bill and Pauline.

1. C) COMMUNICATION Caroll,  Kathy , John

Kathy will send out the next Newsletter in late March.

Caroll will put on information about the RPW.

John – send things to him for the website

1. D) MEMBER SERVICES Anne Marie   

Next Member Services Committee meeting is March 18-19.

1. E) BENEFITS    Ruth

Our plan will now be known as Entente. It is still the same insurance plan but with a new brand.

The 2024 edition of Communique is filled with information about our health plan. For individuals that file their own taxes, page 9 has excellent tax tips.

Individuals that have questions about using My Insurance portal, page 13 deals with several questions.

A chart with 2024 Premiums can be found on page 9 has excellent tax tips.

1. SOCIAL Sandy & Jill                          

On Thursday morning, the seventh of December, forty-one of us met at Place 1967 for a delicious lunch. Food items and one hundred and sixty dollars were collected for the Riceville Food Bank. Many thanks to Percy Higginson for delivering them. We also thank Karl Holmes and Pauline Sarrazin for delivering eighty-five dollars raised for the Chrétien Viens et Vois in Hawkesbury. Our president Pat Rogers presented a cheque to Prescott Russell Valoris to help buy presents for needy children. Chocolates were left at everyone’s place and David Nieman provided ceramic ornaments too. Due to a very healthy budget this year thirty-seven people went home with a festive door prize. As always it was great to chat with colleagues and all were wished a very Merry Christmas.

1. GOVERNANCE & NOMINATION Caroll

Caroll has resigned from the Governance committee as she is running for a Board position.

1. COMMUNITY GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS Mary, Lynne

John reported that park benches would cost around $2,000 + plaque. Board wants recognition for improving the lives of Seniors.

John also looked into S.N. Conservation. Perhaps we can give a donation in the Fall if we have money.

Prescott Russell Residence in Hawkesbury requires funds for a lift. Maybe we can use for a Community Grant. We will wait for the criteria to be presented.

1. I) PAC No Report
2. J) RTOERO FOUNDATION Dorothy  No Report

11. NEW BUSINESS

1- Funding For Caroll’s bid for Board of Governors

Motion by Lynne that we give Caroll $200 for expenses   Seconded by Mary       Carried

2- Funding to send a representative to Future Aging Summit.

Motion by Anne Marie to give up to $1500 for the expenses. Seconded   Lynne    Carried

3-Request for Funds for the Prescott Russell Foundation. – We will donate funds if we have money in the Fall.

Next Meeting Date:  March 4, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

Adjournment: