• Volunteer Opportunities
  • Volunteer Website Approval Form

    • WELCOME TO OUR WEBSITE

    Click on the above image to view the full SPRING 2021 RTO NEWSLETTER!

    ☞ 2022 RTO Annual General Meeting Resolutions ☜

    The RTO Resolutions Commitee invites resolutions from the RTO Executive, RTO Branches and individual RTO members. All resolutions submitted to the committee must be accompanied by a brief that describes the intent and rationale for the resolution.
    Briefs should be concise and clear.
    Submitted resolutions will be presented for debate and approval at the 2022 RTO AGM.
    What might be of interest as a resolution? Some examples - perhaps the RTO should look at particular governance issues; perhaps there are aspects of insurance coverage that need to be addressed; possibly there is an area of advocacy that we need to consider.

    Please submit you resolution, using the website form to RTO Resolutions Chair

    All submissions must be received by the committee by December 15th, 2021.

    ALL THE NEWS FIT TO PRINT!

    ► A Provincial State of Emergency order is now valid until Sunday noon on November 28th., 2021 Check HERE to determine which existing public health directives around social distancing and social gatherings remain in place.



    #NOVASCOTIASTRONG!





    .

    Congratulations to the following Executive members elected for a 2021-2023 term.

    Bonnie Mahaney Secretary ☆ 2-year position

    Peter Lewis Treasurer ☆ 2-year position

    The following MAL members were elected by acclamation for a 2 year term:

    Marlene Boyd ☆ Member-at-Large - Strait Region.
    Judy Knowlton ☆ Member-at-Large - Halifax Metro Region.
    Brian Noble ☆ South-West-Shore Region.
    Jim Harpell ☆ Chignecto-Central Region.
    We thank Laureen Murphy, Patricia Hillier, Audrey Matheson and Stephen Surette for accepting the position of Returning officer in their regions.

    2021 RTO Annual General Meeting Resolutions

    Note: In accordance with the RTO Constitution, Resolutions submitted to the 2021 AGM and can be found here. These resolutions were presented at the RTO AGM in Halifax, for debate and approval.

    Final deposition of these resolutions is available HERE.



    Medical Alert Devices

    Northwood Medical Alert Devices

    The RTO has negotiated a three-year agreement with Northwood Corporation on the following benefits for members and their families (spouse/partner/parents/parents-in-law/children, sister, or brother) .

    ► A discounted Basic Alarm System

    ► A discounted Automatic Fall Detection System

    For a detailed description of these items including costs and contact information.Click HERE

    If you have any questions please contact Bill Berryman at 902-633-2211 or by e-mail at:.



    New Insurance-Related Benefits in the 2020 Teachers’ Provincial Agreement

    On November 18, 2020 members of the NSTU ratified a new 4-year collective agreement
    Upon ratification, the following ancillary benefits will be retroactive to August 1, 2019:

    ► 80% coverage of the Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (Free Style Libre).

    ► Increased supplement from $600 to $750 for hearing aids purchases, In any 36-month period.

    ► increased cost of maintaince of prosthetic or other appliances to $200 in any 12 month period.
    ► 80% coverage for cochlear implant upgrades, parts and accessories


    Johnson, our consultant, is working closely with our insurance provider, Medavie Blue Cross, to ensure these new benefits are added to our plan as quickly as possible.
    To get a better understanding of the new benefits, when they will be available and how to submit claims, please refer to the following Frequently Asked Questions.
    Remember: You can also review these or the many other benefits and programs available to you through the NSTU Group Insurance Plan, by visiting our website at www.nstuinsurance.ca



    Teachers Pension Plan Review

    The NSTU and government of Nova Scotia have agreed to jointly hire a panel of three independent pension experts to study the NSTU pension Plan.

    ► The panel will be appointed no later than January 8, 2021, and the expectation is to have recommendations on potential actions by the summer/fall of 2021.

    ► The panel will travel/engage/consult with plan members and educate members about the challenges facing the Teachers Pension Plan and the range of actions which could help achieve a fully funded plan within a reasonable period.

    ► Panel expenses will be funded by the government and the recommendations are non-binding for both parties.

    .

    ► If you have thoughts, concerns and questions please contact a member of the RTO executive, your local Branch President or a member on the RTO Pension and Benefits Committee

    .

    Nova Scotia Teachers Pension Plan (NSTPP) 2020 Annual report

    UPDATED APRIL 29, 2021: The 2020 Nova Scotia Teachers Pension Plan (NSTPP) Annual Report is available for member viewing online on the TeachersRs 2020 Pension Plan website under NSTPP Members Publications.



    NSTU Group Insurance Trustees have rebranded MEDOC®

    MEDOC® is a registered name for the Travel Insurance program of Johnson Inc., where this product was previously underwritten. (Since 2014, the RTO Medoc® underwriter provider has been Medavie Blue Cross.)

    To ensure the brand of our plan is easily identifiable, the NSTU Group Insurance Trustees have re-branded the name of our travel insurance from MEDOC® to NSED Travel Insurance, effective September 1, 2020. . You will receive the same great coverage, just under a different name and the contact information remains the same as it is on your ID card. The ID card you currently have will remain valid and an updated ID card referencing this name change will be issued at a later date.

    To help understand why, we have put together the following Frequently Asked Questions
    If you have further questions regarding this name change, please contact the Administrator, Johnson Inc., at (902) 453-9543 or 1-800-453-9543 (toll-free). You can also find more information regarding your NSED Travel Insurance Plan and all of your other NSTU Group Insurance benefits by visiting www.nstuinsurance.ca

    NSTU/RTO Deals & Discounts

    Be sure to check for the latest NSTU/RTO Deals & Discounts ( OCTOBER 2021) HERE
    or on the side bar.





    COVID-19 INFORMATION

    Below are sources for the latest updates on Covid-19

    ► The NOVA SCOTIA HEALTH AND WELLNESS SITE has all the latest Nova Scotia information pertaining to Covid-19 and can be accessed HERE.

    ► A Provincial State of Emergency order is now valid until Sunday noon on November 28th., 2021
    Check HERE to determine which existing public health directives around social distancing and social gatherings remain in place.

    ► The PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA maintains a list of affected areas HERE

    ►Frequently updated FEDERAL INFORMATION and links to sources for information is available at Coronavirus Information - Canada

    ►To View DAILY GLOBAL UPDATES from Johns Hopkins on transmission and confirmed cases within countries are available CLICK HERE


    Advance Care Planning (ACP) provides you an opportunity, to promote conversations about your wishes and values for your future health care.
    We acknowledge the challenges that we face dealing with Covid-19. This is a very concerning time for many people with serious conditions and palliative care needs, as well as their families, friends and communities.
    For many people, Covid19 has provided an opportunity to reflect
    on their health and what they would want should they become seriously ill.

    Advance Care Planning is a process that helps people prepare for future health care decisions and to choose decision makers in the event they are unable to speak for themselves.

    The RTO has been partnering with the Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association to help people and their families prepare for a serious illness through advance care planning education.
    Retired teachers have paticipated by delivering presentations and workshops in communities throughout the province. The goal is to help Nova Scotians receive health care that is appropriate for their condition and aligns with their values, wishes and beliefs.

    Research imdicates those who participate in advance care planning are better satisfied with their care, have require fewer aggressive interventions, place less of a strain on caregivers and are more likely to take advantage of hospice resources or die at home.
    Tools and resources to help you begin can be found at: http://nshpca.ca/advanced-care-planning.

    You can follow the NSHPCA on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/nshospicepalliativecare/ For more information on Advance Care Planning you can contact
     Advance Care Planning or The Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association
     The Retired Teachers Organization and the Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association are  jointly providing leadership for the planning to our membership and community.
     If your RTO Branch is interested in conducting an Advance Care Planning Workshop, please  contact your Branch President or Alyson Hillier at alyson.hillier53.com




    IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM JOHNSON INC

    Johnson Inc has CLOSED their branches to walk-in traffic effective March 17th., 2020.
    Johnson operations and claims teams will continue to be available by phone to support RTO members. To keep RTO members informed they update through their website www.johnson.ca/coronavirus



    Nova Scotia Pension Services

    Out of concern for the health of our members, retirees and our team members, we have decided to minimize in-person contact within our office, effective Monday March 16, 2020. Effective Monday, NS Pension Services Corporation will be closed to anyone who does not have a prescheduled appointment with us.Specifically, unplanned drop-in visits from our members and retirees are suspended until further notice. We continue to welcome contact by phone or email. You may contact us by calling the following numbers, between 8 am and 5 pm AST: 1-800-774-5070 (toll free in NS), 1-902-424-5070 (long distance), or 902-424-5070 (local).
    You may also email us at pensionsinfo@nspension.ca ; and check out our website https://www.novascotiapension.ca/

    Click on the above image to view the full SPRING 2021 RTO NEWSLETTER!

    ELDER ABUSE

    WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW!

    One of the four priorities which emanated from the ACER-CART AGM, in June 2017,

    was to investigate and develop strategies to produce resources

    for retired teachers and seniors to counter elder abuse.

    As Chair of the ACER-CART Political Advocacy Committee I was tasked to respond to this priority.
    I spent considerable time researching the issue and produced a position paper for the ACER-CART Executive Committee.
    The Committee thought the information was so urgent and timely that it was decided to provide the information in a document entitled "Elder Abuse " in English and French and presented it to ACER-CART delegates at the June 2018 AGM
    An information brochure is available here to view, in English OR French.
    Bill Berryman - ACER-CART President




    WELLNESS LINKS

    Wellness
    a dynamic process of change and growth and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life.

    If you have questions regarding your health and well being
    be sure to check out the Wellness Links
    on the side bar.


    NEW: October, 2019 RTO Wellness Symposium images

    are now available HERE
    .




    -->

    Declaration of Agreement
    Concerning a National Health Care Strategy for Seniors

    During the Canadian Association of Retired Teachers (ACER-CART) Annual General Meeting at the Canadian Teachers Federation Building in Ottawa on June 3-4, 2016 the following resolution was approved by delegates from the thirteen organizations:
    That ACER-CART recommend to its member organizations that they endorse the Declaration of Agreement concerning a National Health Care Strategy for Seniors.
    This document was then debated at the RTO Executive meeting on August 9, 2016 and the following motion was approved unanimously:
    That the RTO endorse the Declaration of Agreement concerning a National Health Care Strategy for Seniors.
    Click below, to view details of the Declaration of Agreement and the endorsements received to August 17, 2016, as approved by the RTO:
    (English Version) , Declaration of Agreement concerning a National Health Care Strategy for Seniors
    or (French Version), Une Déclaration D'accord National sur les Soins de Santé pour les Aînés




    ACER-CART Recommends McMasters Optimal Aging Portal

    Newspapers and the Internet cover lots of stories about health care for the aging Canadian, but the emphasis is usually on drama (dramatic findings from a new study, dramatic events with no mention of related scientific research), with less emphasis on substance.
    Readers are left to wonder which information to trust.
    At the recent June board meeting, The Canadian Association of Retired Teachers (ACER-CART) unanimously passed a resolution to support the McMaster University Optimal Aging Portal as part of a platform for the development of a National Seniors Strategy.
    The Portal features quality scientific evidence about healthy aging information that can help Canadians remain healthy, active and engaged as long as possible, and to manage their health conditions.
    The Portal evaluates health research and resources, telling users whether free health resources on the Internet and in newspaper stories are based on scientific research, are reliable, and are worthy of note.
    The articles are written in consumer-friendly language.
    Users can register for free at: McMasters Optimal Aging Portal and gain easy access to search the full content of the Portal. To keep up to-date with new research and receive lists of new content recently added to the Portal, users can opt in to receive Email alerts about how to stay healthy, active and engaged as they grow older. Users can also follow@Mac_AgingNews or the Portal on Facebook for news and evidence about optimal aging.



    SPRING 2021 RETIRED TEACHER NEWSLETTER

    The Retired Teacher Spring 2021 Newsletter is now on line. See above to read the Current Issue

    Comments can be sent to to the




    Seniors Advisory Council of Nova Scotia (Group of IX)
    2019-2020 Priorities

    The Seniors Advisory Council of Nova Scotia will advocate for seniors in this province
    for measurable improvements in the following priorities
    by being informed and influencing the decision makers in various government departments
    responsible to carry out the actions of the priority.

    ► Patient Centered Health Care

    ► Support the Continued Implementation of SHIFT: Nova Scotia’s Action Plan for an Aging Population

    ►Financial and Pension Security in Retirement

    ► Facilitate the Participation of Seniors in Nova Scotia’s Economic Recovery

    ► Support for Caregivers

    Note: The work of the Seniors Advisory Council will be facilitated via communication and reporting mechanisms to and from its membership and government.
    More details are available here. If you have any questions please contact Bill Berryman at 902-633-2211 or by e-mail at:.


    MEDOC® Insurer

    Medavie Blue Cross is your MEDOC® provider The NSTU Group Insurance Trustees announced that effective September 1st., 2014, Medavie Blue Cross was now your MEDOC® provider for the Travel Insurance and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance.. Additional information is available here. (However, if you have questions about the programs, you must call Johnson Inc. 902-453-9543 (Local) or 1-800-453-9543 (toll-free).


    External Links - The Retired Teachers Organization of the NSTU provides links to external sites as a service and convenience to visitors and is not responsible or liable for the content, accuracy or appropriateness of those sites. The presence of a link does not imply that Retired Teachers Organization of the NSTU necessarily endorses the services, products or information provided on these other sites or agrees with the views expressed therein. If you use the linked sites, you will leave the Retired Teachers Organization of the NSTU website, and you do so at your own risk.

    Accuracy - While we make every effort to ensure that the material on this site is up to date and accurate, the Retired Teachers Organization of the NSTU cannot guarantee that our web site will be error-free. You acknowledge that your use or reliance on the site or materials is at your own risk.

    Last Updated: November 14th., 2021