Page 4 The Retirees' Newsletter

The Faculty and Librarian Retirees' Association, University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada

Vol.VII , No.3, June, 1997

SURVEY OF UNIVERSITY RETIREES' ASSOCIATIONS ACROSS ONTARIO

AN INTERESTING REPORT CURRENTLY ON THE INTERNET surveys the Retirees' Associations at nine Ontario Universities, under such headings as the type of organization, purposes and scope, relations with University and Faculty Association, membership fees, meetings, benefits, access to university facilities, availability of teaching opportunities, service to the University, attitude toward a provincial association.

Our Association is not among the nine, which is most likely our own fault. We have been remiss about answering questionnaires -- not surprising, the post of "secretary" being empty. (Volunteers?).

ANYWAY, HOW DO WE LOOK IN THE SURVEY, compared to the nine? If you want, you can check it out at:

http://www.lakeheadu.ca/~lufawww/lufa_www.html

OR YOU CAN TAKE OUR WORD ON IT: OUR ASSOCIATION LOOKS GOOD, VERY GOOD! On just about every count, our Association at Windsor looks to be doing what it's doing better than most.

Nevertheless, with the current rapid increase in the number of University retirees in Ontario, all can clearly benefit from sharing information and keeping in regular touch with other associations. Better late than never. Bring on the next questionnaire!

A final note: In recent weeks we have heard from David H. Copp, President of the Retirees' Association at Waterloo, asking for information on our Association, to which we have responded both by e-mail and by sending him our last two Newsletters.

CHANGES TO THE CANADA-U.S. TAX TREATY

In response to queries from some of our members living in the U.S. we have gathered

the following tax information. Hope it is of some help.

Since April 1997, there have been more changes to the way US Social Security and Canadian Old Age Security received by non-residents of the payee country have been taxed. The changes will be retroactive to January 1, 1996, when the Canada-U.S. tax treaty gave each country the sole right to tax benefits it paid to residents of the other country. The proposed new rule says that only the country in which the recipient lives can tax a benefit. Excess tax paid since is to be refunded retroactively. The change brings a return to what existed between 1984 and 1996.

GREETINGS FROM FACULTY ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

Gordon Drake, President of the Faculty Association, attended our May meeting. Addressing the meeting, he paid tribute to the Retirees' Association and expressed strongly the Faculty Association's continuing support for the interests of retirees. He referred in particular to various strategic committees, both within the Faculty Association and those set up jointly with the University, on which retiree representation is provided and retiree input is welcomed.

NEXT NEWSLETTER NOT UNTIL OCTOBER

Members are reminded that The Retirees' Newsletter is published bi-monthly, skipping the summer months. Thus it comes out in February, April, June, October and December. The next issue will appear in October, approximately two weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting. Our Constitution requires that election of officers take place at that meeting. Elected offices include that of President, Treasurer, Secretary, and two members elected at large to the Executive Committee. Nominations may be made in person at the meeting, or in writing in advance.

ANNUAL DINNER UP-BEAT AND WELL ATTENDED

Once again, kudos to John La Gaipa and his Social and Entertainment Committee ­ this time for a superb evening with dinner at the newly refurbished Katzman Lounge in Vanier Hall. It was the Association's Annual Dinner on April 19^th.

Some 40 people attended, enjoying a first-class meal prepared by the University chefs, and post-prandial entertainment by John La Gaipa, whose non-stop blend of psychological comedy and story-telling never fails.

The Committee's next planned outing is the Annual Picnic, July 20.

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