A.G.M June 2017
The General Meeting of the Laois Branch of RTAI took place in the Laois Education Centre on Thursday 1st of June and was well attended (33 members).John Mulhare in his first meeting as Chairman welcomed all and before business there was a time for reflection on recent bereavements as sympathy was extended to Deirdre Challoner on the death of her husband John Challoner-Mountmellick,to Bernie Downey on the death of her brother Lar Fitzpatrick-Portlaoise,to Nancy Bracken on the death of her sister Josephine O Sheehan,to Mary Fogarty on the death of her sister Joan Ryan-Upperchurch,Tipperary. The Chairman congratulated Sheelagh Coyle (RTAI Vice-President),Mary McCarthy (District Representative)and Joe Hickey (Standing Orders Committee) on their elections at the National Convention in March.
After the Minutes our General Secretary Billy Sheehan updated the attendance on developments concerning retired teachers pensions
-reduction/elimination of PSPR.
- the Alliance of Retired Public Servants.
- the prospects of Pension Parity.
- the Annual Convention
- Comhnasc magazine.
- Legal Status of the Organisation (proposal to establish a Company Limited by Guarantee)
- Teaching after Retirement (strongly advised to take out Substitute Membership of INTO- as RTAI can not deal with any issues involving retired persons teaching)
Social matters were next on the agenda
Mary McCarthy informed the meeting of a change of date for Roscrea Golf Outing to MONDAY 4th SEPTEMBER with Tee Box start at 1100 am.Anyone who doesnt wish to play is welcome to attend for lunch and after-golf get-together c. 300pm (Catherine Lorrigan main organiser)
Among the other social items discussed was the possibility of Yoga Classes in October,Bridge Learning and playing,Theatre trips and Tours (eg. Derry /Seamus Heaney Centre)
Sheelagh Coyle reminded members of the opportunities of taking UCD Life-long Learning Courses (8 week courses).
The Meeting was followed by a very social Lunch at the Education Centre .
Since the Meeting there have been developments on the issue of Pension Pay Parity with good news especially for those teachers who retired since March 1st 2012.Ive added an Attachment to this e-mail with further details on this if you are interested.
Proposed extension to Lansdowne Road Agreement
Also there is an attachment from Catherine Coleman re. the Seamus Heaney trip to Derry which the Carlow Retired Teachers are undertaking.Catherine is going on this trip and any other Laois members interested in travelling with the Carlow group should contact Catherine.
Seamus Heaney Trip to Derry
Also since the meeting a Calligraphy Course has become available to our members.This is a Beginners Course of 4 weeks starting on Thursday 4th October (11.00 am-2.30 pm) and continuing for following 3 Thursdays in the Josephine Hardiman Studios in Punchestown,Co. Kildare.The cost is €150 and places are very limited.If you are interested please contact Mary McCarthy (087-2221490) as soon as possible.
Also our fellow member Seamus Rhattigan has kindly offered his services to teach Bridge to anyone interested in learning from scratch or improving - in the Laois Education Centre commencing on Thursday 7th September and continuing on the following Thursdays (10-11am).Please let me know by e-mail (seanmullaney@eircom.net) or text (087-6324547) if interested.
The next Informal Meeting is on the 4th July in the Maldron Hotel at 2.30pm and all are welcome.