If you will indulge me one more time , I would like to take this annual opportunity to reflect on the past year , and then attempt to be ARTA ’ s Nostradamus for the year ahead . Personally , I find hindsight the easier of the two activities .
Greetings from the President
Future Shade by Gordon Cumming
“ A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in .”
— Greek Proverb
If you will indulge me one more time , I would like to take this annual opportunity to reflect on the past year , and then attempt to be ARTA ’ s Nostradamus for the year ahead . Personally , I find hindsight the easier of the two activities .
The Annual General Meeting in October concluded our 50 th
‘‘ anniversary celebrations , and certainly it has been an outstanding year . From an organizational perspective we have built our capacity to meet the needs and expectations of our rapidly growing membership . We have achieved this by improving facilities and technology , and expanding our staff complement to meet the demand . Similarly , committees are coming of age and expanding and extending their mandates .
If there is a central theme that pervades the organization , it is a thrust to foster ‘ Active Aging .’ For all of us , aging is inevitable . However , for most retirees , the desire to contribute and engage in a productive lifestyle serves not only the needs of family , friends and community , but also their own best interests . The past year demonstrates that this aspiration has been strongly mentored by the work of ARTA ’ s committees .
A particular acknowledgement has to go to the 50 th Anniversary Ad Hoc Committee , that understood its mandate went beyond mere
For most retirees , the desire to contribute and engage in a productive lifestyle serves not only the needs of family , friends and community , but also their own best interests .
celebration and was to create an ongoing legacy for the organization . There was the quilting and curling , the golf and ARTA authors , the photography and the ARTA outstanding volunteer awards .
All were great projects ; however , the awards particularly moved me , because they allowed branches and members at large to acknowledge the commitment and dedication of those who have made a difference . Each one of the fifty awards presented had a unique and moving story of a fellow retiree who daily impacts their
‘ community and beyond .’ I had the honor of presenting the
‘‘ six Calgary awards . Their contributions provide an example of service and commitment recognized across the province . Accomplishments included community activism , leadership on ARTA and CRTA boards and committees ; nurturing folk music and musicians ; being a ‘ White Hatter ,’ goodwill and parish volunteer , and mentor to grieving children ; demonstrating leadership in ‘ Optimist ’ endeavors , including concerts , hampers , ‘ Women in Need ’ and band competitions , Master Gardener at the Calgary Zoo ; establishing a lifetime involvement and a legacy of commitment to the homeless orphans of Brazil ; fifty years of Science Fair leadership at the local and national level ; and leadership in Rotary ‘ Stay in School ’ and ‘ Student Programs .’
Fifty awards barely scratches the surface of recognizing the contributions of our members ; however , ARTA , through the Human Resources Committee , will continue this initiative ; and , collectively , we will continue to have the
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