Good day everyone: The Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism is celebrating “Let No One Be Alone” week from January 25th to the 31st. Let No One Be Alone week is dedicated to reaching out and connecting with older adults who live alone as well as those living in care facilities. Spiritual Practice Art Exercise Communication Music Nature Virtual Travel and Events
AGM Information and Health/Dental Plan Benefits
Hello Everyone: I am attaching some information I received from our provincial association concerning a virtual AGM on May 13th and 14th. Also included are some details on additional benefits to our health plan.
The following members volunteered to attend the provincial AGM that was postponed last year: Jacquie Barton, Juanita Brown, Erv Henderson, Glenda Lazurko, and Marj Wlock
If any of you are unable to attend virtually through Zoom, please let me know and I will find a replacement for you.
Take Care
Doug Ingham
Attachments area
Message and Information from the STS
Good Day Everyone and Happy New Year. 2020 has been a trying year in many ways. Some of us have had personal losses and all of us have been struggling to deal with the effect that Covid-19 has had on our lives. However, we bat on as best we can knowing that 2021 will be a much better year.
We decided last summer to curtail our activities until January ’21. We had hoped that the worst of the pandemic would be behind us, but that does not appear to be the case. While vaccine programs are underway and there is light at the end of the tunnel, it is premature for us to plan any future get-togethers until we get a handle on this pandemic. As a group I know we are doing our part to keep everyone safe.
Since we are not spending any money, I do not think that we need an Annual General Meeting this year. It is possible that we could have an AGM using Zoom, but with my technological expertise, I am certainly not the person to be running it. I have attended several Zoom meetings. They are challenging in several ways, not the least of which is getting the technology to work properly.
I am certain that the summer will bring us some relief and I hope that we can get together for our Brunch Without the Crunch in September and begin our fall activities. We shall see how things develop.
The weather has been warm, the stock market is doing well (and therefore so is our pension plan), and the days are getting longer. We are on the road to better times!
Terri Mitchell has sent us a Liaison report and some other important information which I am attaching.
Doug Ingham
Provincial STS Update
Good afternoon, everyone!The Provincial Executive met via Zoom yesterday. I have prepared the attached report for distribution to our membership and I would greatly appreciate your help in facilitating that process. Of significant interest is the decision to move to a virtual format for an AGM in the new year, and there will certainly be much more to follow in that regard.
I hope you are all enjoying the warmer weather this week and staying safe and healthy. I very much appreciate your messages and updates regarding your Chapters as well as news of your families and various other activities.
Thank you for your continued attention to STS matters and I look forward to further communications with you.
Have a fine day,
Terri Mitchell
Chapter Liaison STS Chapter Liaison Report and Greetings from Terri Mitchell, November 3, 2020
Updates From The STS
- STS Office Opening
The STS Office has opened by appointment only as of October 13, 2020. In order to protect the health and safety of visitors and staff, we ask that you:
- call (306) 373-3879 to schedule an appointment
- wear a mask as you enter the building at 2311 Arlington Avenue
- read and follow the signage in the building
- use the available hand sanitizer upon entering the office
- wait in the hall if staff is seeing another member
- not enter the office if you are feeling unwell
- Audited Financial Statements
Typically copies of the audited financial statements for both the Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan and the STS Extended Health Fund are distributed at the fall Presidents Meeting. Given the COVID-19 situation and the inability to gather for a Presidents Meeting, you will find the two sets of Audited Financial Statements for the year ended June 30, 2020 attached to this email. Some summary comments about the statements are found below. If you have further questions regarding these statements, or would like a hard copy of the statements mailed to you, please contact the office.
STS Operating and Contingency Funds
- The auditing firm Deloitte provided a clean audit with no concerns expressed
- The Operating Fund is in a strong financial position and had 2019-20 revenues exceeding expenses by $410,137 largely due to the impacts of COVID-19, such as:
- Postponement of 2020 AGM
- Reduced Executive expenses due to electronic meetings
- Reduced office expenses due to delays in technology enhancements
- Reduced Outreach expenses due to cancelled issues
- STS Policy Handbook Guideline 9 provides guidance regarding the allocation of this surplus to the Reserve Funds
STS Extended Health Fund
- The auditing firm Deloitte provided a clean audit with no concerns expressed
- The Extended Health Fund is in a strong financial position and had 2019-20 revenues exceeding expenses by approximately $4.2M largely due to the impacts of COVID-19, such as:
- Reduced claims for paramedical services
- Reduced claims for regularly scheduled dental visits
- Changed patterns of accessing benefits
- This completes the second year of what is now a four-year agreement with Blue Cross extending to June 30, 2022
- Chapter Rebates
Chapter rebate cheques and membership lists will be mailed to Chapter Treasurers in the next week.
- STS Extended Health Plan Travel Benefits
Many questions are being asked regarding Extended Health Plan Travel Benefits. Travel benefits have not specifically changed with the COVID-19 situation. However, please be reminded if you contract COVID-19 or experience any kind of illness or injury prior to leaving on your trip for which symptoms occur and/or require medical investigation, diagnosis, treatment or hospitalization within three months immediately preceding your departure date, it will likely be considered a pre-existing condition and medical coverage will not occur. Travelers are also recommended to be aware of, and follow, Government of Canada Travel Advisories. See the Blue Cross website for more information
https://www.sk.bluecross.ca/covid-19-information.
Please Note: If you have further questions or concerns please use the sts@sts.sk.ca email. Do not reply to this email.
Chapter Liason Report
Good evening, Everyone!I hope you are all well and keeping busy with various fall activities…like digging carrots and potatoes and maybe even combining, all of which have occupied our time in the last week or so. In addition there was a fall meeting of the Provincial STS Executive that happened via Zoom on Monday.
I have attached a report and I ask that you kindly share it with your members. More detailed information will be available in the next issue of Outreach.
Thank you for your consideration and keep healthy and well!
Terri Mitchell. Chapter Liaison Report September 21, 2020
Fitness For The 55+
Introducing our new 55+ Master’s Class!Starting October 5th, we’ll be running a class specifically for our Masters! This class will be focused around improving your range of motion, building strength, and making fitness fun and enjoyable.As we creep up that age hill, it’s so important that we’re looking after ourselves in all ways that we can. Ensuring we are getting our daily activity in, and making the most of our opportunity means that we’re investing in ourselves in the best way possible!Join your friends for some low intensity activity, strength building, mobility work, friendship, and coffee!Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, from 9-10AM, starting October 5th.This is an 8 week program and will run until November 27th.Cost: $170+GST/month15 spots available only!Pre-registration by sending us a message, calling us (306.782.2161) or emailing us – info@crossfitfunction.com.
STF Diaries
Good News! Our STS Diaries are here so we can mark down the appointments that we don’t have!! Actually, I am surprisingly busy even with the reduced activities of our group as well as most others.
Normally, we would distribute the diaries at our Brunch Without the Crunch, but of course that is not possible this year. So they will be available for pick up on a first come first serve basis in the mail boxes at my house (36 Logan Crescent EAST), as well as Juanita Brown’s (48 Winfield Place) and Gwen Keith’s (42 Willow Crescent).
Stop by and pick them up at your earliest convenience. Call ahead, text, or just stop by.
For those of you who can not pick one up or make arrangements to have one picked up, I will deliver it to you. ( No Les, I’m not travelling to Vancouver Island!) In town deliveries only. Call me at 306-783-3029 and leave a message if there is no answer.
Cheers,
Doug Ingham
Information From Our Provincial Association
Our provincial association has sent us some information compiled by Age Friendly Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism. The attached information relates to staying safe during the economic reopening of our province and also some concerns of seniors. May 1-How Age-Friendly Communities Stay Safe one page handout – Transportation one page handout- Finance
A Message From Terri Mitchell
I hope this message finds you healthy and happy. As we will not be gathering this week for our AGM and we will miss all the visiting and catching up, I thought I would reach our to folks via a brief note–mostly to visit and to touch base. The note is attached and I kindly ask that you share it with our membership for me.Happy Spring and keep safe and well.
Thank you,
Terri Mitchell. Happy STS AGM Week to The Yorkton Chapter (1)