Central Algoma

 

The Members of Central Algoma RWTO have welcomed a return to in-person meetings with our first gathering on October 26, 2021.  For attendance at our meetings, Members are required to show proof of full vaccination against Covid-19, wear masks (except when eating lunch) and keep a safe distance apart.  We have kept a sign in book for contact tracing.  Members were comfortable with the necessary protocols and were very happy to be meeting again after so long.The executive have planned meetings for November, April, May and June.  Of course, all plans are contingent on the Public Health situation in Algoma.

Cathy Pirrie

President, Central Algoma

2021-2023

Covid-19 update:

COVID 19 has certainly turned  lives upside down.  Our Central Algoma branch welcomes new members  but at this time we are not holding meetings until further notice.  The convention that we were to host has been cancelled for this June, being replaced by a virtual meeting.  Our executive meeting will be held in January at which time we will see what we can do re spring programming.
However, we are still hiking on country backroads where social distancing and fresh air keep us safe and in good spirits. Our  book club continues  via Zoom meetings monthly.  So we can keep connected.
More information about future meetings will be forthcoming to members once decided.
If you are interested in joining, please contact our president,

To join us please contact:

Branch President: Cathy Pirrie- pirrie@sympatico.ca

or Secretary: Maureen – alnmoe@shaw.ca

Our hike this morning on the North Shore

Our hike this morning on the North Shore 

Christmas Silent Auction is always a favourite.

Our Central Algoma Teacher Support   (CATS) group has , with a grant from RTO, put together four suitcases full of dementia related activities for caregivers to borrow.

 

Incoming president Jean, is passed the hat from outgoing president, Marg

2018-2019

The Red and White Gang

The hiking group gets its marching orders  before finding Lost Lake.

Smelt fishing done the easy way!

The May theme dinner  was scheduled when the smelts were ready to run and included no cooking or cleaning of house by the members of the theme dinner group.
 37 of us met at the Sault Ste Marie curling club for an evening of camaraderie and huge servings of smelts.  Many memories of times past dwelled on going  out late at night  with nets and bonfires when the smelts were running north of the Sault.  Late nights were okay back then.
Hiking in April in Central Algoma has its challenges.  Snow fall in the sugar maple bush on St.Joseph Island made our short hike magical but made us wonder when spring would ever arrive.  The pancake brunch at Gilbertson’s Pancake House   was a fine time to catch up with other members of our hiking group.

When our Lion Safari travelogue had to be cancelled at the last minute, the creative minds leapt to the rescue. The Lion King theme song became our message. Amazing what can be done in 24 hours.

With credits to the stage show “Menopause” and the song, “The Great Pretender”, these same women had us in stitches with sketches about Post Menopause.

The Hiking Interest Group

A hardy few made the blustery hike along the farm roads in Desbarats in March. When is spring coming?

Children’s Musical Literacy

The Central Algoma Branch of Retired Women Teachers, represented by President Marg MacKay, presented a cheque for $200 to teacher, Jaimie Miller at Echo Bay School. Ms. Miller submitted a request for funds to purchase musical instruments to aid in developing children’s musical literacy to further improve the school’s music education program. New brain research recognizes that musical training can improve reading skills, language processing and social skills. These literacy skills are what this retired women’s teacher group is trying to encourage with an annual donation to an elementary school in the Central Algoma area.

In the photo from left to right:

Teacher Jamie Miller, Marg McKay and Principal, Erin Hemsworth

December 2017 Meeting

Thessalon Zion United Church

A sea of red and green

2017-2018 Events

Upcoming Events

RWTO Central Algoma – Meetings 2021-2022

October 26, 2021

Program:  Amid the Amish

November 30,2021

Program:  Christmas and Silent Auction

 

January 19, 2022

Joint meeting with Sault Ste Marie

Guest:  Nancy Bell, Provincial President

via Zoom

April 20, 2022

Program:  To be confirmed

May 19, 2022

Program:  Raising the 12-sided barn

June 14, 2022

Flower arranging

*Meetings are contingent on the Public Health situation in Algoma and will be confirmed

by our telephone committee to each member in advance of each meeting.

 

 

Thursday, September 12, 2019 

“We Hear You” 

Time: 11 a.m. 

Place: Bar River Hall 

Cost: $15 

Speaker: Kerri Tuckett, Canadian Hearing Society 

Members bring a potential member who will receive a free lunch. 

Sign up for interest groups 

Caterer: UCW/WI 

Wednesday, October 23, 2019 

Joint meeting with the Sault Group 

Time: ?. 

Place: Sault Ste. Marie 

Cost: ? 

Speaker: Provincial President: Karen Clark-Lauzon, Insurance Convenor: Donna Hemeron 

More details to follow. 

Tuesday, November 26, 2019 

Christmas in Technicolour 

Time: 11: 00 a.m. (possibly 10:30 to distribute meat pies) 

Place: Zion United Church, Thessalon 

Cost: $15 

Bring a contribution so we all can do some Christmas shopping at the Silent Auction. 

Wear your most colourful Christmas sweater. 

Bring an article of food for Thessalon Food Bank also. 

Caterer: Zionettes 

Wednesday April 22, 2020 

On Safari 

Time: 11:00 a.m. 

Place: Grand Gardens North 

Cost: $15? 

Speaker: Director of Breton House 

Bank 

Caterers: Grand Gardens North 

More details to follow 

Thursday, May 21 2020 

“We will welcome Will” 

Time: 11:00 a.m. 

Place: Sowerby Hall 

Cost: $15 

Speaker: Will Samis on Amish / Mennonite communities 

Caterer: Fred Falls 

Tuesday, June 16, 2020 

Tiptoe through the Tulips 

11:00 a.m. 

Place: Bruce Station Hall 

Cost: $15 

Speaker: Anne Cranston: Flower Arranging 

Bring vases and flowers from your garden and we will make flower arrangements to donate to shut-in members 

Wear: your gardening gloves and hats 

Renew membership. 

Information about our Interest Groups is located in the newsletter.

We welcome  retired women with a teaching career in elementary, secondary or post secondary field.  Contact our Vice-President,  Cathy, at 705-843-1485 for more information.

As a member you are  eliglble for supplementary health insurance  that tops up what you would receive from RTO  or ARM.  Contact Marlene at 705-256-1681 or check out the main RWTO webpage.

rwto.org

Current Newsletter

Archived Newsletters

Feather in our Hat Award

June 2020

With the support of  a RTO grant, our Central Algoma Teacher Support ( CATS) interest group created five collections of dementia  friendly activities for families living with dementia at home.  The activities are in local libraries and day away programmes  and can be  borrowed to enrich the lives of residents and to provide respite for family caregivers.

  June 2007

In partnership with the Bruce Mines and Plummer Additional Union Public Library, the branch’s history binders were digitized to add to  the library’s electronic  local history database.

 CORA BAILEY AWARD WINNERS

Honouring Exceptional Contributions To Our Branch

2006      Marg Snider

2007      Shirley Kent

2008      Martha Summers

2009      Glenis Johnstone

2010       Ruth Juhola

2011       Marny Pollard/Alice Ward

2012      Ruby Vaughan

2013      Nancy Konzuk

2014      Joyce Ratz

2015      Marlene Falls/Carol Neave

2016     Verna Lapish

2017   Muriel Hornby/Kathy Greening

2018   Gayle Manley, Ruby Buck, Nina Warnock

2019   Cathy Bennett, Anne Wildman

Barbara Bain Award

For increasing our membership

2017-2018

  • within Tier 2,
  • Middle Size Branches

2018 – 2019

  • within Tier 2,
  • Middle Size Branches

SHARING WITH OUR COMMUNITY

 

CASS graduation award:    $500
Donation to Hilton Beach library:  $300
Winner of book board  Marg McKay: $100.
Donations to 2 local libraries:  $400

 

 

Nina Warnock 1938 – 2019
For years Nina was an integral part of our branch, preserving our history in creative and complete binders. She is now at peace.

Rev. Canon Muriel Hornby  1922-2020
Muriel taught elementary school  and enriched our meetings with stories from her life in war-torn England.  She was an active participant in the book club and the theme dinner group. She is sorely  missed.