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The Retirees' Newsletter

The Retirees' Association, (Faculty, Librarian, Administrator), University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada

Vol. VII , No. 5, December, 1997

A REGULAR FEATURE

THE LETTER BOX

BILL AND BETTY COLBORNE WRITE FROM PORT ELGIN

October 8^th, 1997

Congratulations on the fine Newsletter. It is our main remaining contact with the news of the University, particularly with the retirees.

On the personal side, we enjoyed a summer at the beach. Downhill skiing is being phased out in favour of cross-country skiing. We are still enjoying travelling to new countries. We leave for Egypt in two weeks for a three-week tour.

Our best wishes to our U. of W. friends.

WALT ROMANOW WRITES FROM EDMONTON

July 2^nd, 1997. (Note: Readers will recall that the October issue of The Newsletter was an abbriviated version, and this letter was held over).

This is in response to comments in the April issue, where you ask for ideas about how a retirees' association should function. You say, "nobody has yet written the book on what retirees' associations should do. So let's hear it with ideas!"

My impression is that what you have achieved in Windsor in six years has been particularly worthwhile! For example, there's no other group would have done what you've accomplished for retirees in terms of looking after their pension concerns. My hat's off to you for that ! (Thanks, Walt!!, Editor)

However, since you ask, there is one other thing that retirees' associations like ours might do ­ and maybe do it really well ­ and that is to function, from time to time, as an informal "think tank" on certain public issues...

(Walt elaborated on that last point, and I have included a condensed version of his suggestions in a feature article on page 8 , below. Editor)

CORMAC SMITH WRITES IN REPLY TO PAT GALASSO'S LETTER OF OCTOBER 10TH

To the Editor, The Retirees' Newsletter.

Sir,

Those reading Dr. Galasso's letter of October 10^th (distributed at the Association's Fall Meeting on October 16th) may be forgiven for concluding that the Retirees' Association is dominated by secretive, complacent and condescending people. I can assure you that I have found the contrary to be the case.

No one has "sloughed off" my enquiries about the pension, or told me how fortunate I should be with the Money Purchase (MP) plan. Rather, I have been provided with two precise formulae which specify my pension, based on an agreement openly arrived at, and agreed to by all the representatives of the Faculty Association. These formulae were provided with no detectable degree of condescension, and involved little more than grade 5 algebra.

This is not to disparage what Dr. Galasso may have advocated in the past, but I am sure he would be the first to admit that many others have proposed similar courses of action. I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

Cormac Smith

LIST OF PAID-UP MEMBERS WILL BE IN FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER

The February issue of The Newsletter will carry an alphabetical list of the entire paid-up membership of the Association, complete with mailing addresses, telephone numbers, and the University area of affiliation (department, school, faculty, library or administration. Members have found this to be a very useful list to have. Look for it in the February issue.

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