FROM THE BRANCHES
SWARTA : Our New Life Members
SWARTA awarded four special branch members with new lifetime memberships . Who are they , and how are they spending their retirements ?
Follow the link to find out . bit . ly / SWARTA-Lifetime-Members
Another Year in the Books : ARTA ’ s AGM
Vi Oko ARTA Honorary Member
At the 2024 annual general meeting , ARTA ’ s past year was reviewed by executive and committee chairs , the budget for the 2024 – 25 fiscal year was ratified , and three officer and seven vacant committee positions were filled by elections . Deb Gerow and Lawrence Hrycan were re-elected as president and treasurer , respectively . Ray Hoger is the new ARTA vice president and Lorna McIlroy continues in her role as past president .
Cheryl Dawes ( Communications ), Laurie Semler ( Governance ), Alain Levesque ( Pension & Financial Wellness ), Denis Espetveldt ( Strategic Planning & Advocacy ), and Joyce Loucks ( Wellness ) were elected to four-year committee terms . Patricia Atkinson will serve a five-year term on the Health Benefits Committee , and Rod Lowry will serve the final year of a vacated position on the Wellness Committee . As of October 1 , ARTA had a total of 32,254 members ( a 5 % increase from last year ), and 29,696 of them have health-care coverage under one of the ARTA Benefit Plans . In comparison , ATRF Vice President of Pension Services Julie Joyal reported to the AGM that 37,302 retired teachers are currently collecting a pension — with 156 of them 100 years old or older .
An innovative pharmacy model in Canada , ARTARx is designed to financially benefit its members and help fund the ARTA Benefit Plans . The member-owned pharmacy experienced tremendous growth — a 28.2 % increase — over the last fiscal year and is presently working on expanding its services with a planned Calgary location .
The Alberta Retired Teachers Charitable Foundation ( ARTCF ) financially supported programs offered by the Carya Society of Calgary , the Parkinson Association of Alberta , Jewish Family Services Calgary , the Alzheimer Society of Calgary , the Bethany Care Foundation , and Eldercare Edmonton .
In summary , ARTA and its eighteen branches continue to thrive .
Deb Gerow President
Ray Hoger Vice President
Lawrence Hrycan
Treasurer
Lorna McIlroy Past President
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