Thanks again for the opportunity to share some thoughts as the calendar turns to 2014 and we move on towards spring .
Greetings from the President
On Tour by Gordon Cumming
It is good to have an end to journey toward ; but it is the journey that matters , in the end .
— Ernest Hemingway
Thanks again for the opportunity to share some thoughts as the calendar turns to 2014 and we move on towards spring .
ARTA followed its Annual General Meeting with a vigorous start , and I wended my way back and forth to Edmonton on a regular schedule , as committees
‘‘ and representatives involved themselves in their various capacities on your behalf . This winter will long be remembered for the number of storms , depth of snow , speed of wind and level of discomfort by those of us who make weather a daily topic of discussion . Never mind the fact that we grew up in an era where the snow was always past our knees , walked to school at – 30 °, skated on outdoor rinks , and shunned toques in favor of earmuffs that never fit . Too often this year ’ s blizzards chose to demonstrate their worst on the days we had to travel . The weather was best tolerated if you stayed indoors .
Well , I cannot tell a lie … in January , at our house we cheated . As the Calgary Airport was heading for yet another series of cancellations and delays , we managed to clear the runway and headed for a cruise through the Panama Canal . Our rosy cheeks , clear of the frosty
For us , the best story was our knowledge that because of the commitment of governments , employers , unions and ourselves during our careers , we were able to join the others and enjoy ourselves , secure in our future .
weather , soon sported colour courtesy of the sun ’ s rays . Shorts , rather than parkas , were the order of the day .
As so often happens on these sojourns , we met pensioners and retirees from across the country , the continent and the globe . Included were many retired teachers … lifelong learners looking to experience firsthand the subject of lessons taught to a plethora of students over lengthy careers . Such is the nature of travel that the journey of inquiry that began years ago in the classroom becomes the field trip of retirement .
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There were the two elementary administrators who , for ten dollars , commandeered the serenading guitarist ’ s instrument and treated us to an impromptu program . Friends since fifth grade , they at one point contemplated careers as professional musicians and now were launching their retirement . The sixth grade teacher from New York loved every minute of his thirty-two years in the classroom , followed by six years of substituting . Meanwhile , the couple from California had left teaching early to go into real estate and escape the growing tension of their circumstances . There were as many unique stories as there were individuals . For us , the best story was our knowledge that because of the commitment of governments , employers , unions and ourselves during our careers , we were able to join the others and enjoy
Greetings from the President continues on page 6 .
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