Retired teachers celebrate 40 years

The Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTO) is a provincial, bilingual organization of retired teachers, administrators, and others receiving an Ontario teachers’ pension.
It originally was formed in 1968 under the name Superannuated Teachers of Ontario.
RTO is the official voice of retired teachers, promoting and protecting their interests, particularly in the area of pensions, health care, and insurance needs.
Along with the 40th anniversary celebration came the announcement that there now are more than 60,000 members, most of whom live in Ontario and are affiliated with one of 47 districts into which the organization is divided.
Members range in age from 50 to more than 100, and also includes 5,000 associate members.
RTO is the only organization with representation from elementary, secondary, public, Catholic, French, and English schools, and also welcomes college and university faculty and non-teaching educational support staff.
As well as taking care of the needs of its members, RTO operates “Projects to Others,” a fully-funded grant program of $100,000 for districts to participate in worthwhile community projects.
All districts can apply for up to $4,000 to assist with community projects such as help for the homeless, school day care for single teen mothers, programs for disadvantaged students, and other social programs.
The local RTO group (District 1) met last Friday at noon at the Emo Legion for their spring meeting and luncheon, with 44 members on hand.
The meeting began with 20 minutes of entertainment from a very talented group of elementary students from Donald Young School here in Emo.
Isaac Firth, Kennedy Latimer, Lucas Koomans, Phoebe Firth, and David Loney sang and played a variety of songs to an appreciative audience of retired educators.
Joyce Meyers thanked the students and their music instructor, Renée Martin-Brown, for taking the time out of their busy end-of-year schedule to entertain the RTO members.
After an enjoyable lunch of ham, meatballs, and salads, District 1 president Bob Barron held a short meeting consisting of several motions, including acceptance of the treasurer’s report.
Barron also announced a special advertisement concerning “Projects to Others” would be appearing in the local newspapers in the next couple of weeks.
Membership in RTO is not automatic upon retirement, nor is it free. Members pay $1.10 for every $1,000 of pension received, which is deducted by the Pension Plan board from the member’s January pension cheque.
Retirees wishing to participate in the health insurance plans must be members of RTO.
Any retired educators who are not members, and wish to join, should contact a member of the local executive.
More information also can be obtained at www.rto-ero.org/