In 2013 , the Alberta Retired Teachers ’ Association ( ARTA ) celebrates 50 years as a voice for retired teachers in Alberta . Fifty years in a not-for-profit realm , or any other for that matter , requires the dedication and passion of a lot of people , with good luck along the way . While ARTA is not unique in this regard , in most cases ARTA has been especially effective in responding to opportunities and taking full advantage of the good breaks when they presented themselves .
Executive Director ’ s Report
Everybody Can Be Great by Daniel Mulloy
Everybody can be great … because anybody can serve . You don ’ t have to have a college degree to serve . You don ’ t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve . You don ’ t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve . You only need a heart full of grace . A soul generated by love .
— Martin Luther King , Jr .
In 2013 , the Alberta Retired Teachers ’ Association ( ARTA ) celebrates 50 years as a voice for retired teachers in Alberta . Fifty years in a not-for-profit realm , or any other for that matter , requires the dedication and passion of a lot of people , with good luck along the way . While ARTA is not unique in this regard , in most cases ARTA has been especially effective in responding to opportunities and taking full advantage of the good breaks when they presented themselves .
One of the defining characteristics of ARTA has always been the number of passionate , dedicated volunteers and staff . The association has been fortunate to have had men and women who love to serve and who take pride in ensuring that teachers can have a truly rewarding retirement .
ARTA ’ s growth over the last five decades has been a reflection of its members . In a way , the association has grown up with its members over the years . Very early on founders understood that in order to build the type of association they envisioned , they would have to focus on the fundamentals : member service , hiring and developing great people , and choosing the right partners . ARTA has always had a clear understanding of how the association was built and what our members needed to do to be successful . Building strong relationships , listening to our members ’ needs , recruiting talented staff and volunteers , and
encouraging all retired teachers to get involved in the community were just a few of the values that paved the way for ARTA ’ s success over the last fifty years .
Today we are well served by dedicated and enthusiastic leaders . ARTA is larger now and we are serving members we would not have imagined back in the early years . But despite all the changes , our fundamental approach to serving our members remains the same . ARTA will continue to be an association dedicated to member service . Our principles are the basis of our strategic plan and are reflected in the structure of our association . ARTA is led by a Board of Directors , and its committees are dedicated to enhancing our members ’ retirement experience . This approach helps us bring expertise , continuity and familiarity to every member .
I hope that in another fifty years the leaders of ARTA will reminisce about the 100 th year of service and how the leaders in 2013 set forth a path for future success . I also hope that in 2063 they will attribute all the years of extraordinary success to the past and present dedicated volunteers , staff , partners and members of ARTA .
News & Views Spring 2013 5