2024-25 Annual Report
Saskatoon Chapter 2024-2025 Annual Report
This past year, our chapter membership grew to almost 2900 members. There is
some variation each month, but it has remained relatively steady. In addition, we have
quite a few associate members. These are members that belong to other chapters, and
wish to support their chapters, even though they have moved to our city or suburbs.
The associate membership allows them to access our events and activities, and to
receive updates sent out by our chapter.
Our executive consists of over 30 members, who all have a role in keeping our
chapter relevant to our members. The executive consists of a President (Lyle
Markowski), Vice-President (Janet Lowndes), Secretaries (Linda Ashley, Donna
McTavish), Treasurers(Irma Kittelson, Judy Pidskalny), Past President(Temporarily
vacant), and many committees, listed subsequently. Activities (Janet Christ, Rod
Holowaty), Archives(Stella Shulhan), Cards(Pat Orchard, Gladys Somerville), Email
(Bonnie Semenoff), Honorary Life (Phyllis Wilson), Membership/Directory (Barb
Alberton, Janet Lowndes), the Voice (Darlene Danyliw), Program (Freda Robinson,
Peter Stroh), PR/Resolutions (Marg Martin, Randy Danyliw), Registration (Diane Selby),
Hospitality (Zonia Krushelniski, Corinne Morton), STS Liaison (Jane Isinger),
Telephoning (Lois Pyne), Visiting (Carol Shanner, Shirley Henderson), Website (Tom
German), and Social (Loretta Metzger, Kaye Wolfater). Many of our committees have
co-chairpersons, as we can share the load and take our vacations without disrupting
the workings of the chapter. Each of our committees functions to keep our chapter
members informed of all Provincial STS does, and of the Saskatoon chapter.
Our members are largely superannuated teachers from Saskatoon Public,
Saskatoon Catholic, and Prairie Spirit school divisions, with others who have joined our
chapter after moving here following their careers.
The Saskatoon chapter has its executive meetings on the first Wednesday of
each month at 9:30 a.m., usually at the Eamer Auditorium of the STF Building. In case
of holidays such as Easter impacting the first Wednesday, we move the date date a
week later.
Our program committee sets up a schedule of 3 to 5 afternoon meetings a year.
These are where speakers are invited to address any chapter members who wish to
learn about the topic being presented. So far this year, we have had Blue Cross (along
with Murray Wall) speak about health and dental benefits, Fraud Prevention (Saskatoon
City Police), and the Dean of Education from the U of Saskatchewan. Attendance at
these varies from 30 to 60.
We have a number of activities , such as golf tournaments (one in Sept, one in
June with around 30-40 participants), tours (Gordie Howe Sports Complex, Industrial
Machine and Manufacturing, Star Egg, Canadian Light Source at the U of
Saskatchewan) , and active events (intro to pickleball, a weekly Monday walking group,
a regular Sewing/Quilting group, a focaccia making learning session, and others as
they are desired).
The chapter hosts two socials a year, one in October and one in April, where live
music and snacks are provided. These socials are usually attended by 100-120
members. There is no cover charge for these socials. There is also a spring tea
organized by this committee.
We also host 3 banquets each year, usually the third Wednesday of September,
December and June. In September, we invited all new superannuates to a welcome
brunch, charging them a minimal amount($5), in order to get a good response. These
are attended by about 150 members. In December , our Christmas banquet hosts 300,
as this is the maximum number the venue will hold. Tickets are usually sold out well in
advance, and there are waiting lists established. Our end of the year brunch usually has
about 150 attendees.
Our telephoning and visiting committees keep in touch with members who are
hospitalized, housebound, and are not otherwise able to keep totally informed.
Our Email (Bonnie) is compiled and sent to about 1600 members each month. It
includes all activities, events, socials, and info pertinent to our chapter, as well as
updates from the provincial STS. Our website is kept current and this info is also
posted there. Our chapter publication, the Voice, is published 3 times per year. In
September, it is sent to all members, while in January and May, paper copies are sent
to those who request it, and the rest are sent electronic versions.
For this year , a bus tour is being organized to attend the Rosebud Dinner
Theatre, and Passion Play near Drumheller.
Our chapter offers a $2500 scholarship to a U of Sask student in the College of
Education, and a donation to the McDowell Foundation each year.
Our members volunteer at many places in our community. There is virtually no
event, art, sport, theatre, community service, etc., going on in Saskatoon without our
members being involved. The list would be massive.
While we feel we have a full slate of interesting, captivating, and necessary
activities and events, we do have some areas that remain a challenge. Our executive is
always on the search for new members to join us, especially those from the newly-
superannuated ranks. We also would like to gain momentum is attracting a few more
members to some of our events and activities. We keep asking how we can get new
superannuates to attend.
I have tried to give an overview of our chapter, but I simply cannot include all the
activities, events, etc., so for any I may have missed, I apologize.
Lyle Markowski
President
Saskatoon Chapter - STS
April 2025
Spring Luncheon