RTO/ERO District 27
Retired Teachers of Ontario
Member Contributions
RTO/ERO Members are invited to submit articles, reviews and opinion pieces.
Planning ahead - a responsible choice
by Norbert Boudreau
Throughout their lives, most parents do all they can to protect their family. When it comes to their funeral arrangements, wouldn’t you think that it would be as important to relieve your loved ones from making stressful decisions on your behalf?
Death, especially your own, is not a very pleasant subject to consider. Even though we are all conscious that we will not live eternally, for many, planning for after-death is not a priority. If you died suddenly, would your loved ones be aware of your last wishes?
For many reasons, it’s obvious that a will would bring peace of mind, but it’s also important to think about your funeral arrangements.
If you’ve lost a loved one recently and if you were the person responsible for the funeral arrangements, you know that there are a multitude of very difficult and costly decisions to be made in a very short and emotionally charged period. Death never comes at a convenient time!
What type of funeral would you want? A traditional service with a celebration of life at a church and burial with casket? Would you prefer a cremation with a more simple ceremony at the funeral home? If you haven’t planned ahead, it’s your loved ones who will have to decide. Let’s not fool ourselves. Often in emotional situations, we don’t always agree. By planning ahead, we can avoid unnecessary disputes.
Shop around and take your time to compare the funeral services offered and the costs. Generally, funeral homes offer the same basic services but the costs may vary. Some funeral homes are more luxurious and may offer services not found elsewhere. By discussing with specialists, you can have the plan that you want, and, more importantly, your loved ones will not be preoccupied with stressful decisions that you can make. By planning ahead and making funeral pre-arrangements, the costs are frozen which means that you purchase a service at today’s price for something that will probably happen many years from now.
For most of us, life insurance will cover most of the cost of the funeral but, by not planning ahead, we neglect the emotional aspect. Leave clear and concise instructions and avoid problems.
For further information consult the funeral homes in your area and/or go to the following websites:
www.funeralplanning101.com
www.funeralplan.com
Also you may read the RTO/ERO Fact Sheets H8, E8, E9, H3 and A10. Log onto the provincial RTO/ERO website under the Members' Center: http://www.ero-rto.org/members_center
by Norbert Boudreau
Throughout their lives, most parents do all they can to protect their family. When it comes to their funeral arrangements, wouldn’t you think that it would be as important to relieve your loved ones from making stressful decisions on your behalf?
Death, especially your own, is not a very pleasant subject to consider. Even though we are all conscious that we will not live eternally, for many, planning for after-death is not a priority. If you died suddenly, would your loved ones be aware of your last wishes?
For many reasons, it’s obvious that a will would bring peace of mind, but it’s also important to think about your funeral arrangements.
If you’ve lost a loved one recently and if you were the person responsible for the funeral arrangements, you know that there are a multitude of very difficult and costly decisions to be made in a very short and emotionally charged period. Death never comes at a convenient time!
What type of funeral would you want? A traditional service with a celebration of life at a church and burial with casket? Would you prefer a cremation with a more simple ceremony at the funeral home? If you haven’t planned ahead, it’s your loved ones who will have to decide. Let’s not fool ourselves. Often in emotional situations, we don’t always agree. By planning ahead, we can avoid unnecessary disputes.
Shop around and take your time to compare the funeral services offered and the costs. Generally, funeral homes offer the same basic services but the costs may vary. Some funeral homes are more luxurious and may offer services not found elsewhere. By discussing with specialists, you can have the plan that you want, and, more importantly, your loved ones will not be preoccupied with stressful decisions that you can make. By planning ahead and making funeral pre-arrangements, the costs are frozen which means that you purchase a service at today’s price for something that will probably happen many years from now.
For most of us, life insurance will cover most of the cost of the funeral but, by not planning ahead, we neglect the emotional aspect. Leave clear and concise instructions and avoid problems.
For further information consult the funeral homes in your area and/or go to the following websites:
www.funeralplanning101.com
www.funeralplan.com
Also you may read the RTO/ERO Fact Sheets H8, E8, E9, H3 and A10. Log onto the provincial RTO/ERO website under the Members' Center: http://www.ero-rto.org/members_center
On Being Retired
by Norbert Boudreau
What were you most concerned with when you first started to teach? Retirement? I doubt it as you’d be hard pressed to find anybody planning for retirement at the beginning of their career! Similarly, when you first retire your needs in thirty years rarely figure in your immediate plans. For many, what’s important is to have enough money and a good health insurance. For example, for some, to travel and to profit from a well deserved retirement is far more important. We all know that as we grow older changes will have to be made.
Thanks to the pre-retirement workshops offered by RTO-ERO over the past few years, future retires have become well versed in planning for retirement. Pension, financial considerations, health benefits & insurance as well as personal retirement factors are all important topics dealt with in these workshops.
After having experienced a plane crash and cancer, I soon realized that I would not live eternally. I had to start thinking about my future. I firmly believe that there’s a gradual and sometime unconscious evolution happening in retirement. Passing from one stage to the other must be done smoothly.
When I first retired, I didn’t feel quite ready to give-up teaching entirely. I continued to teach as an extended occasional teacher for three years. I even taught English to young Japanese students for many years. I had to go through that stage of my retired life. The time came one day to go on to other hobbies.
Soon after I retired, I got involved in RTO-ERO as newsletter editor at the district level. It was a period of my life when I started to like writing. Even though I’m not a writer, I take pleasure in informing colleagues on a variety of subjects.
I live in a condo with a very small piece of land which is really not too difficult to take care. Even though, I’m in excellent health, I’m already contemplating a move into an apartment. In a few years after that, the logical step would be a move into a retirement home. It’s always best to choose the residence of your choice. Someone else’s choice may not suit you! It is a topic of a personal research that I will certainly share with my colleagues.
Traveling all over the world is a passion for me. For many years during my teaching career, I chaperoned groups of students on exchanges abroad. It was natural to continue doing this after I retired. Perhaps one day I’ll have the opportunity to share my experiences with retired colleagues. In spite of best laid plans, things change because of illnesses or accidents. However, it doesn’t appear too logical not to have any plans. One must organize his retirement. Take the initiative to organize your life in order to have a smooth transition between the different stages of your retired life. You have choices to make.
2010-02-20
by Norbert Boudreau
What were you most concerned with when you first started to teach? Retirement? I doubt it as you’d be hard pressed to find anybody planning for retirement at the beginning of their career! Similarly, when you first retire your needs in thirty years rarely figure in your immediate plans. For many, what’s important is to have enough money and a good health insurance. For example, for some, to travel and to profit from a well deserved retirement is far more important. We all know that as we grow older changes will have to be made.
Thanks to the pre-retirement workshops offered by RTO-ERO over the past few years, future retires have become well versed in planning for retirement. Pension, financial considerations, health benefits & insurance as well as personal retirement factors are all important topics dealt with in these workshops.
After having experienced a plane crash and cancer, I soon realized that I would not live eternally. I had to start thinking about my future. I firmly believe that there’s a gradual and sometime unconscious evolution happening in retirement. Passing from one stage to the other must be done smoothly.
When I first retired, I didn’t feel quite ready to give-up teaching entirely. I continued to teach as an extended occasional teacher for three years. I even taught English to young Japanese students for many years. I had to go through that stage of my retired life. The time came one day to go on to other hobbies.
Soon after I retired, I got involved in RTO-ERO as newsletter editor at the district level. It was a period of my life when I started to like writing. Even though I’m not a writer, I take pleasure in informing colleagues on a variety of subjects.
I live in a condo with a very small piece of land which is really not too difficult to take care. Even though, I’m in excellent health, I’m already contemplating a move into an apartment. In a few years after that, the logical step would be a move into a retirement home. It’s always best to choose the residence of your choice. Someone else’s choice may not suit you! It is a topic of a personal research that I will certainly share with my colleagues.
Traveling all over the world is a passion for me. For many years during my teaching career, I chaperoned groups of students on exchanges abroad. It was natural to continue doing this after I retired. Perhaps one day I’ll have the opportunity to share my experiences with retired colleagues. In spite of best laid plans, things change because of illnesses or accidents. However, it doesn’t appear too logical not to have any plans. One must organize his retirement. Take the initiative to organize your life in order to have a smooth transition between the different stages of your retired life. You have choices to make.
2010-02-20
Success Stories
by Norbert Boudreau
It seems like yesterday that RTO-ERO’s District 27 was celebrating the advent of the 21st century. Let us remember and reminisce on the happenings of the first decade
With dinners, dances, golf tournaments, the unforgettable Fridolinades, and “Soirées Canadiennes” organized to collect thousands of dollars for the needy, the major millennium “Haiti project” was a total success. Eight other worthy local causes were recognized and funded by the district and the provincial Project Service to Others throughout the decade. District 27 is also very proud of its local recognitions: The Awards for Exceptional Services, the Celebrity Awards initiated in 2003 and the Student Bursaries for Excellence, set up in 2004. All recognized worthy individuals
The Social Club created in the early 80’s became part of RTO-ERO in 2002. With lessons on Monday mornings, social bridge on Mondays and Thursdays and duplicate bridge on Wednesdays continued to be one of the most popular activities of RTO-ERO.
RTO-ERO members also appreciated the many organized international trips, the Shaw Festivals and the visit to the Niagara-on-the-lake wineries, the Shakespearian Stratford Festivals, the musicals in Toronto, the visits in La Mauricie, Quebec City and Montebello, the cruise to the Madeleine Islands, the mega stage presentation of the “’Echo d’un people”, and the educational visits to the Beth Shalom’s synagogue, the Buddhist and Hindu temples and the Greek Orthodox Church including attendance at the National Orchestra’s open rehearsal.
Every year, the district, in collaboration with RWTO recognized their senior seniors with the ever popular 80+ afternoon tea. The contribution of the “Entre-Nous” choir who brought joy to the elderly in local retirement homes is a success story as well.
In 2006, the district celebrated 35 years of success with a “Book of Memories, an Ecumenical Service honouring its past-presidents, a Bridge Extravaganza, an annual event that continues to this day and a Fashion Show.
The first comprehensive Retirement Planning Workshops started 2005. Future retirees were treated to a wealth of knowledge on pension, financial considerations, health Benefits & Insurance and personal retirement factors. Other workshops and seminars on health issues, wills and estate planning and women’s self protection were appreciated by members.
Provincially, the district was well represented on the executive and on standing committees. Five of the past presidents are still actively involved in the affairs of retired teachers of the district.
As we continue to enjoy life and the many activities organized by dedicated volunteers let us remember and honour the lives of all the dearly departed, including three local past presidents. May the second decade of this century be as successful as the first one.
2010-02-25
by Norbert Boudreau
It seems like yesterday that RTO-ERO’s District 27 was celebrating the advent of the 21st century. Let us remember and reminisce on the happenings of the first decade
With dinners, dances, golf tournaments, the unforgettable Fridolinades, and “Soirées Canadiennes” organized to collect thousands of dollars for the needy, the major millennium “Haiti project” was a total success. Eight other worthy local causes were recognized and funded by the district and the provincial Project Service to Others throughout the decade. District 27 is also very proud of its local recognitions: The Awards for Exceptional Services, the Celebrity Awards initiated in 2003 and the Student Bursaries for Excellence, set up in 2004. All recognized worthy individuals
The Social Club created in the early 80’s became part of RTO-ERO in 2002. With lessons on Monday mornings, social bridge on Mondays and Thursdays and duplicate bridge on Wednesdays continued to be one of the most popular activities of RTO-ERO.
RTO-ERO members also appreciated the many organized international trips, the Shaw Festivals and the visit to the Niagara-on-the-lake wineries, the Shakespearian Stratford Festivals, the musicals in Toronto, the visits in La Mauricie, Quebec City and Montebello, the cruise to the Madeleine Islands, the mega stage presentation of the “’Echo d’un people”, and the educational visits to the Beth Shalom’s synagogue, the Buddhist and Hindu temples and the Greek Orthodox Church including attendance at the National Orchestra’s open rehearsal.
Every year, the district, in collaboration with RWTO recognized their senior seniors with the ever popular 80+ afternoon tea. The contribution of the “Entre-Nous” choir who brought joy to the elderly in local retirement homes is a success story as well.
In 2006, the district celebrated 35 years of success with a “Book of Memories, an Ecumenical Service honouring its past-presidents, a Bridge Extravaganza, an annual event that continues to this day and a Fashion Show.
The first comprehensive Retirement Planning Workshops started 2005. Future retirees were treated to a wealth of knowledge on pension, financial considerations, health Benefits & Insurance and personal retirement factors. Other workshops and seminars on health issues, wills and estate planning and women’s self protection were appreciated by members.
Provincially, the district was well represented on the executive and on standing committees. Five of the past presidents are still actively involved in the affairs of retired teachers of the district.
As we continue to enjoy life and the many activities organized by dedicated volunteers let us remember and honour the lives of all the dearly departed, including three local past presidents. May the second decade of this century be as successful as the first one.
2010-02-25
Thoughts of Our Canadian Soldiers at War
by Brian Jones, Author
"Throughout history, war seems to be a necessary way to put a halt to an out of control, possibly ruthless leader that might be willing to destroy another country or its people. To be fighting for a just cause has given honour to the soldier defending the values of good people around the world. Sadly, though, there are casualties on both sides. Boys become men and friends and brothers may be lost. That is the true sadness of war. That is why we need to learn and keep close to our hearts the memories and thoughts of our Canadians at war."
[Read More in PDF Format]
by Brian Jones, Author
"Throughout history, war seems to be a necessary way to put a halt to an out of control, possibly ruthless leader that might be willing to destroy another country or its people. To be fighting for a just cause has given honour to the soldier defending the values of good people around the world. Sadly, though, there are casualties on both sides. Boys become men and friends and brothers may be lost. That is the true sadness of war. That is why we need to learn and keep close to our hearts the memories and thoughts of our Canadians at war."
[Read More in PDF Format]
©2012 RTO/ERO District 27
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