SMU Retirees Association

Luncheon for Retirees

A social luncheon is planned for Wednesday, January 25th at 12:30 p.m., at the Best Western Chocolate Lake (located just above the roundabout, on the left as you go up St. Margaret’s Bay Road). You and your spouse or guest would be most welcome; if you are planning to attend, please notify either Geraldine at 454-0416, or our Treasurer, Elaine McCulloch, at 860-1747, so that they can let the folks at Best Western know how many diners to expect.            

Halifax and Film

On Sunday, January  29th, Ron Foley MacDonald, Film Curator at the Dalhousie University Art Gallery, will speak on “Halifax and Film” in the  Flex Room, 2nd floor, McNally Main;

Other Coming Attractions

• in February,  presentations on current research activities by M. Heukaeufer and J.  Young;
• on Sunday, April  29th, our speaker will be Sandra Barrie, a local expert on the poet  Elizabeth Bishop; and
• MP Megan Leslie is  confirmed for Wednesday, May 23rd.  
  

Membership Renewal

If you would like to renew your membership in the Saint Mary’s University Retirees’ Association for 2012, please remit your dues in the amount of $25.00, payable to SMURA, to our Treasurer, Elaine McCulloch, 12 Lexington Ave., Fall River, NS  B2T 1E7. Dues are for the calendar year. It would be of considerable help to Elaine if you could include both your mailing address, and your e-mail address, in your mailing to her.
 

Welcome

Welcome to the web site of the Saint Mary's University Retirees' Association.  We are a relatively new group, formed in 2005, to respond to the needs of those near retirement, or those who have already retired.  Membership is open to faculty and other staff at Saint Mary's University.  We are affiliated with C.U.R.A.C., the College and University Retirees' Association of Canada, a body representing (directly or though provincial federations) 46 different member associations at institutions of higher education across Canada.

This is a critical time for retirees, both at Saint Mary's and in the larger Canadian context. More and more Canadians are retiring, as the age structure of the population changes.  The viability and adequacy of pensions has been a focus of debate and concern.  Health care and health insurance are obviously also issues, as we face shortfalls in funding and facilities for care and treatment of illnesses that impact particularly on seniors. Mandatory retirement laws and practices have been challenged in Canada and are under review in most jurisdictions, as an aging and healthier population feels itself able to make a continuing contribution to their communities.

At Saint Mary's these national issues are mirrored in our current discussions.  We have held several very successful meetings on post-retirement investment, with the help of TD Waterhouse.   We have also had, in response to members' concerns, a series of two presentations comparing options for continuing health care insurance after retirement.  We have begun discussions with the Faculty Union, which now controls expenditures on benefits.  The status of retiree at the University is in transition, and it is important that we have an input into future policies.  Your association has also had discussions with the University administration over several issues of concern to members.  We are generally concerned that the University recognize that retirees have an on-going need for participation in the academic life of the university, and for the kinds of arrangements and support that will facilitate this participation.

We also recognize that an academic community, like other communities, rest on social ties and relationships.  The Quarter Century Club at Saint Mary's has played the role of maintaining contact with older faculty and retirees and in having a program of stimulating intellectual and cultural events, and we look forward to encouraging these sorts of activities, as well. Several interesting afternoon sessions have been held on topics as diverse as research opportunities for seniot scholars and walking with pilgrims in Europe.  The annual September picnic was held this year at the home of Lilian and Michael Falk at 1591 Conrose Avenue in Halifax, which turned out to be a great success. Michael Devenney spoke on "Using Analytics to Make the Best Retiree Decisions" in October 20 and outlined an insightful approach to making the best decisions in regard to retirement.

Most important, though, is your own involvement in the association.  This is the only way we can respond to  the needs and concerns of faculty and staff at the University, and improve our prospects for retirement.

Geraldine Thomas, President, SMURA