rto retired teachers of ontario scarborough newsletter: toronto, rto/ero, benefits, 16, women

'Beyond the Blackboard' logo designed by Reg Walker. 'Beyond the Blackboard' name created by Marion Axford

The deadline for submissions for Spring's Beyond the Blackboard is
Friday, January 20, 2012

NOTE: See our Photos Page (also linked to our Main Page) for additional photos

This coming year our District is celebrating its 40th year in RTO/ERO. The first Senate meeting was held in March 1968 and on December 4th, 1968, ten areas were set up — Fort William, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, Windsor, Waterloo, St. Catharines, Dufferin/Peel/Malton/Simcoe, Toronto, Peterborough and Ottawa. By 1972, adjustments and changes had been made to the Constitution and there were 24 voting districts at the Senate (Scarborough and East York being the 24th, thus District 24). Today we have 49 districts, including two in British Columbia. Bob Lamb wrote, "The first meeting of the Scarborough/East York District was held on February 16, 1972."

I have been trying to find some of our early history but, over time, much has been lost, misplaced and forgotten. Fifteen years ago, when we celebrated our 25th anniversary, the treasurer received a $50.00 annual honorarium. Irene Pantaleo had been our treasurer since its inception but passed away in November 1982. Since Irene had not received the $50.00 it was given to her daughter, Rose Bortislissi. Rose donated the money to the executive to be used in such a way as to honour Irene's memory. It was decided that a book would be purchased to establish a Book of Remembrance. This book was to have a brief history of District 24 and brief recorded obituaries of all deceased members commencing in 1982. This book was to be available at all Annual Meetings for perusal.

From a paragraph in the September 1984 Newsletter, Ivan Notter and Howard Eubank wrote "At the moment, we have purchased a beautiful book that everyone can be proud of; the minutes over the years have been scrutinized and we have compiled a list of the 12 people who have served as our presidents; and, from the minutes of the very first meetings which have been preserved, we have been able to write up a fairly detailed description of those early sessions." And "The History of the EARLY YEARS of District 24 was to be included in our special book of memories." The first two people honoured in the book were Irene Pantaleo and Gordon Brown.

Have you ever seen this book? I have never seen it and knew nothing about it until I was doing this research. If you know anything about this book, please call me and tell me what you remember. If we are lucky, maybe someone has saved it for us.

At present we have newsletters going back to 1983. If you have any that are older, we would appreciate a donation of them to our Archives.

(This information came from Bob Lamb's book, The First Generation – The Superannuated Teachers of Ontario, the RTO/ERO Web Site and old District 24 Newsletters and compiled by Donna Hubel.)

Q: Dear Editor, I like your newsletter. I was looking at the very large Executive list and saw a last entry 'Ex-Officio'. What gives?

A: It is always pleasing to know someone is reading. Bill Sparks is on a Provincial Committee of RTO/ERO and because of that, we ask him to join our Exec to share information; 'ex-officio' is Latin for 'out of his office' or 'because of his position".

The Editor asked Bill to explain his role:
The Constitution Committee is a committee of the Provincial Executive, unlike a Standing Committee, which belongs to Senate. The committee reviews the constitutions and by-laws of every District in the Province, at least once every five years. They go through carefully, looking for errors or omissions, ensure congruence with the Provincial Constitution and look for improvements which may be recommended to all Districts. They review all resolutions from Districts, Committees and the Executive to be presented at Senate. There, they act as a Resolutions committee, assisting Senators with amendments or new resolutions. Two members of the committee are the official Speakers, running the business of Senate while the other three members each take a turn in the Speaker's podium during a session. The chair of the committee is the Past-President of RTO and another member of the Executive, a Member-at-Large, serves as well, as liaison. They meet three times a year and at the two Senates. On the Monday afternoon before Fall Senate they also offer a one hour orientation session for new or returning Senators and Observers.

This is my fourth year coming up on the committee and I hope to be re-appointed to serve for many more years. I enjoy reviewing Constitutions and I like the role of Speaker. It is my pleasure to serve our members both provincially and here in District 24.

All District 24 members are welcome to attend our Executive Meetings. These are the dates through June 2012:

November 10, 2011
January 12, 2012
April 12, 2012
May 17, 2012
May 24, 1012 (AGM)
June 14, 2012

Refreshments are from 9 to 9:30, with our meetings beginning at 9:30AM and ending around noon.

We meet at the Kingsway Arms Retirement Residence, southwest corner of Eglinton and McCowan. Go south on McCowan and turn right on Landmark - go straight through to Kingsway. Parking is available, in designated areas, at the back of the building.

Please direct any questions or concerns to our interim treasurer. Contact information for Bonnie can be found on page 2.

RTO/ERO
The Retired teachers of Ontario/les enseignantes et enseignants retraités de l'Ontario — commonly referred to as RTO/ERO — is a provincial organization of retired teachers, administrators and others receiving pensions and allowances under the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board.

RTO/ERO is the best organizational friend a retired teacher can have. Formed in 1968, RTO/ERO is dedicated to the needs of Ontario's retired educators and is their official voice, promoting and protecting their interests, particularly in the area of pensions, health care and insurance.

Your Provincial

Executive for 2011-2012:
Past–President:,Joan Murphy
President:,Jim Sparrow
First Vice:,Leo Normandeau
Second Vice:,Norbert Boudreau
Provincial Executive:,June Szeman and Margaret Clarke

l-r: Leo, Jim, Joan, Norbert, Margaret, June

Ken Bennett, President of Johnson Inc announced that the company was making a contribution of $300,000 to our Charitable Foundation. In addition, another $13,000 was donated by Johnson – they had promised to donate $20 for every insurance quote made between June and September of this year.

Harmony Printing, the company who prints our newsletter, was given a big round of applause when it was announced that they had provided the design and the printing of the pamphlet You're Invited — free of charge!!

Liz Gjerek and Don Gain, Harmony Printing

Representing D24 (l-r): Senators: George Denny & Donna Hubel: Observers: Bonnie Clarke & Hal McCullough

Our own Bill Sparks had the opportunity to act as the Speaker for a portion of Senate!

Vision and Inspiration
The RTO/ERO Charitable Foundation intends to leave a lasting legacy by creating opportunities for research and for initiatives that seek to improve the quality of life of seniors across Canada.

The RTO/ERO Charitable Foundation was inspired by The Retired Teachers of Ontario and was established by active and retired teachers who fought to ensure their present and future peers benefited from pension reforms. Now they continue this legacy to serve others by expanding their reach to support the lives of all senior citizens.

Mission
The RTO/ERO Charitable Foundation aims to raise funds to increase the numbers of professional and support staff qualified and trained in geriatric care as well as to support research and programs that improve the quality of life of seniors in Ontario and Canada.

The RTO/ERO Charitable Foundation, a separate corporation from RTO/ERO, will raise these funds through:
* individual voluntary contributions
* fundraising activities by individuals, RTO/ERO Districts and community groups
* corporate and institutional contributions
* planned giving
* bequests

All contributions to The RTO/ERO Charitable Foundation are eligible for a tax receipt.

In 2009, the Canadian government officially recognized that there is a shortage of geriatric specialists across the nation while acknowledging the important contributions seniors make to Canadian society.

Beginning in 2011 and throughout the course of the next three years, The RTO/ERO Charitable Foundation will raise $3 million to establish, maintain and support The RTO/ERO Endowed Chair in Geriatric Medicine at the University of Toronto. The University of Toronto Department of Medicine houses the largest geriatric medicine specialty training program in Canada. Furthermore, the RTO/ERO Chair will have a national and international impact by generating money to support innovative models of geriatric care and education.

See page 3 of the winter edition of Renaissance for greater detail concerning the RTO/ERO Charitable Foundation.

Recently, The Charitable Foundation established a board that includes Ray Ball, Joan Murphy, Jim Sparrow, and Margaret Couture, with Valerie Mah serving as Chair. An Honourary Advisory Group includes the Honourable William Davis, Stephen Lewis, Lyn McLeod, David Cooke, Lise Routhier-Boudreau, Dr. Bette Stephenson and Dr. Roberta Bondar.

Contact Gordon at gcressy@rto-ero.org OR 416.962.9463 or 1.800.361.9888, ext. 245

By supporting this Charitable Foundation with our donations, all our lives, and the lives of other Canadians, will help improve the quality of life to which we all aspire.

~ this information was compiled from RTO/ERO materials and the Board of Directors of the RTO/ERO Charitable Foundation during October, 2011 by Donna Hubel, President, District 24

Co-operation from the weatherman, eighty-six good natured golfers and a group of hard working, generous volunteers all helped make the 2011 RTO – District 24 Breakfast for Kids Golf Tournament a very successful event.

The "golf hole" sponsorship initiative was supported by twenty-two generous individuals, businesses and financial institutions. Four District 24 members donated a total of $420 to add to our generous total of funds. Additional support came when five guests joined our whole group for lunch.

All teams enjoyed the morning on the course, supporting The Breakfast for Kids programs. Golfers and volunteers returned to the Mill Run Golf Club hungry and eager to have lunch. Our District would like to thank the Mill Run Golf Club kitchen and serving staff for another satisfying meal.

Every golfer received a District 24 "40th Anniversary" golf ball and had an opportunity to choose something from the prize table. There were also individual and team awards given out. Congratulations to the following "skilled" players:

Most Accurate Drive Ladies: Yvonne Anderson
Most Accurate Drive Men: Peter Brown
Closest to the Pin Ladies: Dianne Leahy
Closest to the Pin Men: Dave Racine
Most Accurate Putter Ladies: Nancy Speer
Most Accurate Putter Men: Bill Hindle

Low Score Ladies Team: Nancy Speer, Cathy Wolch,
Linda Sherlock, Sandy Miike
Low Score Men's Team: Bob Annis, Bill Kemp, Ken Andrews, Dave Corless
Low "Mixed" Team: Faye Griffiths, Dave Racine, Yvonne Anderson, Bryan Rosa
Most Honest Team: Dianne Leahy, Mary-Ellen Doxtater, Jeanne Jenkinson

Special mention and a huge THANK YOU to the following volunteers for contributing in so many different ways to help make the tournament a success: Jerry Chadwick; Elaine Cook; David, Gary and Brenda Fick; Yolanda and Bill Hindle; Donna Hubel; Bill Sparks and Doris Maier.

After all deposits were made and bills paid, the end result was a BIG WIN for The Breakfast for Kids programs to the tune of $6,600. Congratulations to everyone who contributed — the Kids in these Nutrition Programs are the BIG WINNERS!

District 24 Executive members Bonnie Clarke, Marilyn Hodge, Hal McCullough and Lothar Maier represented our District at the various presentations on October 20th. Fiona Bowser, Student Nutrition Community Development Senior Manager-Food Share, chose the sites and also accompanied the group.

We are proud to share the names of the 2011 sites benefitting from our involvement and the support of so many of our RTO members and their friends.

TDSB East York - Thorncliffe Park Jr. P.S. - $3000.00
- a "three food group" morning meal program that serves 1800 students daily TDSB - Scarborough - Heron Park PS - $1500.00
- a "two food group" morning snack program that serves over 300 students daily TCDSB - St Boniface CS - $1500.00
-a "three food group" morning meal program that serves 350 students every morning
-a "two food group" afternoon snack program serving 350 students every afternoon Sunshine Community Birchmount Club (Birchmount and Finch) - $600.00
-a community program that serves breakfast and dinner daily to 45 students from JK-12

Sunshine Community Birchmount Club * Heron Park P.S.

Thorncliffe Park Jr. P.S. * St. Boniface C.S.

Leaders at each site were thankful for the cheque presentation. They were eager to explain all the benefits derived from their particular program. Our visit once again opened our eyes to the continued nutritional needs of children in Scarborough and East York schools.

On behalf of all the children and young adults who will benefit from our support, I want to send out a huge THANK YOU. You continue to make a difference in the lives of children. I encourage and invite you to support the 15th Annual RTO – District 24 "Breakfast for Kids" Golf Tournament in 2012. Please look for details early in the New Year.

Welcome back to our All COLOUR newsletter! I hope you enjoy our colour format as much as I do putting it together.

This issue will also be going to the schools in the legacy boards of Scarborough and East York. The decision to print in full colour and to send the Fall issue to the schools was made last spring. We felt it was better to spend the money on putting a copy in the schools rather than spend it sending a letter to the Union Stewards to let them know the Spring copy was coming. We get twice the coverage in the schools for about the same money spent! Drawing attention to our organization can only help to increase our membership — and that's good for all of us!!

On September 23, a small group of the Executive met at Donna Hubel's home to "stuff" the envelopes for our last "letter to the Union Stewards".

I would like to thank (l-r) Gloria Courtney, Reg Walker, Les Coombs, Bonnie Clarke and Donna Hubel (who also hosted our little gathering) for helping at our "Stuphing Party" on Friday, September 23.

We continue to remind you that if you move, please let Dianne Vezeau (left) at Spadina know! You will find Dianne's contact information on page 8 in this newsletter.

When a newsletter is returned to us because the member has moved, the Post Office charges us a $1.10 fee to return it, plus 60 cents postage. That's a $1.70 just to get each undelivered newsletter back! Since it would cost us another $2.20 to re-send that newsletter, we do not re-send any newsletters that are returned to us — it's just too expensive!

Please… when you send an e-mail to a member of the Executive, preface it with RTO and use the Subject line that is indicated. It helps us separate your message from the piles of junk e-mail that's out there!!

Check us out! There is no way we can include all the photos in our newsletter — look on our website for more!!

If you move, please let Dianne Vezeau at Spadina know! You will find Dianne's contact information below.

Then you need to contact dianne vezeau at RTO/ERO:
In Writing: 18 Spadina Road, Toronto, on M5R 2S7
By Phone: 416.962.9463 OR 1.800.361.9888 (Ext 223)
By E-mail: dvezeau@rto-ero.org

We're Going Green…
I'm sure you know by now that we are offering you the opportunity to read your copy of the newsletter on-line and not get a paper copy delivered to your home.

Save a tree! Save the District money on printing and mailing costs! Money that can be put to other uses in our District!

It's simple! I ask that you send the following pieces of information:
   your name
   your full address, including postal code
   your phone number
   your e-mail address
   to me at: hal@powergate.ca along with a line to say you would like to read the newsletter on-line. I will send you a return e-mail to indicate that your name has been put on our NO Newsletter list.

We seem to be asking for a lot of information, but we want to be sure that we are deleting the correct name from our Membership List. (No need to panic folks – we are only removing you from the District copy of the Membership List — you're still safe at 18 Spadina Road!!)

If both you and your partner worked for Scarborough and/or East York you have a decision to make. You can continue to get 2 paper copies. Or you can opt to have one paper copy and one on-line copy, or you can opt for both of you to read it on-line. If it applies to you, let me know which you prefer.

If, after trying the on-line version you decide reading it this way is "not your thing", let me know and we'll put you back on the mailing list!

When the newsletter has gone to the Post Office I will send you an e-mail to let you know that it has been posted to our website and how you can access it.

Remember: the choice is yours! If you do nothing, you will continue to receive your paper copy of the newsletter!

As of the end of October, 115 members had opted to read this newsletter on-line. This will save the District over $250.00 on this mailing alone. May we add your name?

Each year, every 90th, 100th and older birthday celebrant is honoured with a special card and a donation to Breakfast for Kids given in his or her name. This year's recipient of the birthday funds was the Breakfast Club at St. Patrick Secondary School in the TCDSB. Needless to say, the recipients were extremely happy to receive the RTO – District 24 donation of $720.00 and expressed their sincere appreciation.

When I am notified, Get Well, Thinking of You or Sympathy cards are sent to members or their families.

Please inform me if you know of anyone who should receive a card. Contact:
Marilyn Hodge — Goodwill (Cards)
416.284.9984 OR E-mail: mjhodge@sympatico.ca
E-Mail Subject Line: RTO - Goodwill

The following members have celebrated a special birthday between July and December of 2011.

90th Birthday Celebrants: William Bartollotta, Dorothy Beausoleil, Grace Griffin, June Hall, Joseph S. Outschoorn, Audrey Sewell, Margaret Shapiro

Carol was born in St. Boniface, Manitoba and grew up in a military family. Her brother was born in Grand Forks, BC and her sister was born in Ottawa. She has lived in St. Hubert's, Québec, Ottawa, Downsview (Toronto), Namao (Edmonton) and Trenton — and has been through 12 public schools and one high school. Trenton is called home because that is the place where she lived the longest.

Carol attended Peterborough Teachers' College in 1964-65 and then spent two years in Shannonville, in a 3-room school. Looking back, she says that this was the best teaching experience that she had. She moved to Toronto in 1967 and taught one year in Etobicoke and two years in Scarborough at Buchanan P.S. After staying home for 4 ½ years with her two boys, she worked for the London-Middlesex District Health Unit in the Dental Division for three years in supervisory positions. Returning to Toronto again in 1978, she started working with students with developmental disabilities under the former Metro Toronto School Board at Lawson School. Twenty-seven years later (and two divestments — to Scarborough and TDSB) and after working in Lawson, Beverly Glen, Hudson Sr. P.S., G.B. Little, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Birchmount Park, C.I., David & Mary Thomson C.I., West Hill C.I., and Maryvale, Carol retired in June 2005.

Many activities kept her busy through the years — taking thirteen years to complete degrees at York and OISE, raising two boys and working on many board committees. She was involved with the Council for Exceptional Children at the local and provincial levels and served as president of the Scarborough 568 and the Ontario Subdivision for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities.

Now that she is retired, her life is busy with volunteering (in a Grade 1/2 classroom and a monthly dance at Lawson School), working with the Retired Women Teachers of Ontario (as past president and putting together the newsletter), and, of course, with RTO. In between, she does travel and also spends time in Vancouver and Ottawa where her sons live. In between all of these activities, Carol quilts, knits, crochets, plays cards and attends theatre productions.

As the 2nd VP of RTO, District 24 and chair of Project: Service to Others, she looks forward to honouring members and providing support for a community group.

Although this is our fall edition, I'm guessing that as you are reading this we are already experiencing some icy winter temperatures.

It was hot in June when I attended the annual RTO conference for District Health Reps. This year we were privileged to hear presentations from two guest speakers, the first being Dr. Ian Blumer from the Charles H. Best Diabetes Centre at U of T, who recently earned the Canadian Diabetes Association's Award of Distinction for his work in this field. Since District 24 provided you with a Health Seminar last October on this very topic followed by a newsletter review, here are just a couple of reminders about this disease. Since Diabetes can result in stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and is the leading cause of blindness and amputations, prevention should be your first course of action. Eat a healthy diet, exercise, control your weight, don't smoke, control your blood pressure (130/80 or less) and blood glucose levels, take cholesterol lowering medications if necessary. Your Body Mass Index is the rule of thumb for determining a healthy weight, which is easily determined in non-metric units by Googling BMI Calculator. (Read more from the doctor at www.ourdiabetes.com. )

Our second guest speaker was Jennifer Weldon from Osteoporosis Canada, who presented the following information. Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue. This leads to increased bone fragility and risk of fracture. Osteoporosis is often known as "the silent thief" because bone loss occurs without symptoms. Osteoporosis is sometimes confused with osteoarthritis, because the names are similar. Osteoporosis is a bone disease; osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints and surrounding tissue. Jennifer spoke of the concerns the society has these days due to the aging population, and an increase in fractures, particularly in the wrist, hip and spine. Over two million Canadians have Osteoporosis; one in four women and one in five men over 50. The major factors in bone health are genetics, hormones and nutrition (including Calcium intake as well as Vitamin D3 —individuals should consult their physician for personal amounts). The society has developed new clinical guidelines for initial Bone Mineral Density scans; adults over 50 to identify high risk individuals, and anyone over 50 with fragility fractures (ones that occur spontaneously or following a minor trauma such as a simple trip or a fall from a standing height). Who should get regular scans? Everyone over 65, post-menopausal women age 50-64, and anyone with a disease or condition associated with Osteoporosis. Risk factors for bone density issues are smoking, more than one alcoholic drink daily, a fragility fracture and a parent with a hip fracture. (While writing this in late October, I was informed in my conversation with the Osteoporosis Society's National Education Manager that their statistics are changing and their 'White Paper' on their website provides the most recent data. Look for a feature article about Osteoporosis in our spring newsletter.)

If you are a subscriber to our E-NEWS you will have noted that November was Osteoporosis Month. I included an article about Osteoporosis and information about their '60 Second Osteoporosis Quiz'. Try it for yourself at www.osteoporosis.ca. Click on the heading 'Osteoporosis and You' and using that pull down menu select 'Checklist for Risk Factors'. Of course there is a wealth of information about this disease available on the website or at 1.800.463.6842. (Maybe you'll decide it's time to send your request to Hal to be added to his monthly E-NEWS list to receive the latest news and information from your district. See page 8.)

Are you aware of the Star newspaper sponsored website healthzone.ca? It includes information on preventative health, diet and fitness, aging, the latest medical developments and discoveries, and in-depth listings for health resources in the GTA. When you click on topics of interest to you, this site links you to their previously published newspaper articles. The articles are copyrighted, of course, so if you check out this website you'll have access to plenty of facts that I couldn't begin to provide for you here.

Once again, our annual Health Seminar was held in October. It was presented this year by the Arthritis Society to a capacity crowd. I thank Joan Varley who spent early morning time helping me set up the display and food tables as well as cleaning up afterwards, and for thanking our guest speaker. Be sure to read all about it in Gloria Smith's report on the next page.

Do you know a teacher or any other person involved in education who is retiring or is turning 65 and will need to leave a school board's or other group health plan? If so, please remind them about RTO's transfer requirement: they must complete their application to move from one group plan to our group plan within 60 days. (Applying early is better - coverage will begin the day after their old policy ends.) Should they miss this deadline they may still join our Dental plan, but they are limited to a maximum of $100 coverage the first year. To join our Extended Health plan they must complete a medical questionnaire. Johnson Inc. informs us that they experience approximately a 50% decline rate for such applications.

News from Johnson Inc.: It has been confirmed that the renewal rate for the Supplementary Travel Plan has been increased by 10% effective, September 1, 2011. Members currently in the plan have already been contacted and it is important to remember that if you do not wish to continue this coverage then you need to let Johnson Inc. (our plan administrator) know of this decision. Also from Johnson: Those of you who are health plan members need to be congratulated on the fact that many of you are accessing generic drugs when filling a prescription. This has increased over 2010, and is a savings to you, the member (in effect stretching your claims maximum), as well as to our plan. Johnson Inc. is aware that not all members are able to use generic drugs and therefore the plan has, and will continue to pay for either brand or generic.

At the annual District Health Rep conference, one of our sessions concerns questions which continue to arise concerning RTO's Extended Health Care Plan, so I will be bringing many of them to your attention in this and future issues of Beyond the Blackboard and E-NEWS.

Q: In Ontario, a visit to the chiropodist every 2-3 months for toe nail work for diabetics, ingrown toe nail prevention, or other reasons is the norm at a cost of about $28- $30. A long stay RTO snowbird may need to visit a podiatrist at an initial visit cost of about $143 for the same service, and the follow-up, if required, is about $114. What coverage is available to our member?

A: The Out-of-Province/Canada travel benefit is designed for medical emergencies. Therefore, while travelling outside your province of residence, chiropodists' services remain covered under the Paramedical Practitioners benefit of the Extended Health Care Plan. It is important to ensure that the practitioner is licensed in the province or state where the services are being performed.

Wherever you are spending your winter months, be sure to read the article on travel vaccines in this issue, be safe and active. I'll have more for you in our Spring newsletter.

Health Seminar Report

The Annual Health Seminar on Understanding Arthritis was a great success with full attendance. Several publications on arthritis were available. Following a delicious continental breakfast, Marilyn Tregwin warmly welcomed everyone and introduced Donald Lofthouse, a volunteer with the Arthritis Society.

There are over 100 types of Arthritis. Mr. Lofthouse touched on those that we see most often, the diagnosis, self-management of the condition, and treatment. Arthritis, which is an inflammation of the joints, affects 1.8 million people over the age of 15 years in Ontario. Two thirds are women.

Osteoarthritis is degenerative and tends to affect the shoulders, back, knees and hip. Risk factors are age, family history, excess weight or joint injury. Pain and swelling is experienced. A cold pack may help. An x-ray is needed to assess the progression of this arthritis.

Inflammatory Arthritis includes rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. These are autoimmune diseases. Many joints may be affected with pain and swelling. Triggers may include a viral infection or environmental factors. Risk factors include age, family history and smoking. Blood tests and x-rays will help your doctor with a diagnosis.

If you are experiencing pain or swelling in the joints talk to your doctor early for a diagnosis. Physical changes may lead to emotional changes and challenges. Take a friend or family member with you.

In order to manage your arthritis you may need to balance activity with rest. Proper nutrition is important. Assistive devices may be helpful. Other health care professionals may need to be involved. Medication may need to be prescribed.

An excellent website for information is: www.arthritis.ca or you could also contact:
The Arthritis Society
393 University Ave. #1700
Toronto ON M5G 1E6
416.979.7228 or 1.800.321.1433
e-mail: info@on.arthritis.ca

Joan Varley thanked Mr. Lofthouse for his informative talk on a condition that we or our family members may experience. A special thank you goes to Marilyn for organizing this seminar.

From my personal experience, I have found these resources helpful:
Arthritis Self-Management Programme: 416.979.7228 ext. 3395 — speak to Mary.
This is held over six weeks in two-hour sessions. The cost is $35.00 or $50.00 a couple for the book and the course. There will be a course beginning in January at the Arthritis Society's office at 393 University Ave. There will be another course in April held at Providence Villa, 3276 St. Clair Ave. at Warden Avenue.

The Arthritis Society will also put you in touch with a Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist or Social Worker. OHIP covers this. Call: 416.979.7228 ext. 3381.
Pool therapy in an arthritic pool is in many Long Term Care Centres for a very reasonable cost. Some hospitals also have an arthritic pool programme. A doctor's permission is required. In addition, www.myjointreplacement.ca is an excellent website.

Gloria Smith

Vaccines for Travel
When travelling, you may be at risk for a number of illnesses that can be prevented by vaccination. As you age, your vaccine-acquired protection against many illnesses may decrease. Your risk of getting certain diseases may also increase.

You should see a doctor, nurse or health care provider for a health assessment before you travel abroad. This provides an opportunity to:
* review your vaccination history
* make sure you are up-to-date according to the provincial vaccination program
* assess your needs based on where you plan to travel and what you plan to do.
Additional shots may be recommended depending on your age, anticipated travel activities and local conditions. Remember that preventing infection through vaccination is a lifelong process.

List of Vaccines Recommended for Travel
The following diseases can be prevented by vaccination. Your health care provider may recommend that you get vaccinated against one or more of these diseases prior to travel: chicken pox, cholera, diphtheria, European tick-borne encephalitis, measles (rubella), Haemophilus influenza type b disease (Hib), Hepatitis A and B, HPV (human papillomavirus), influenza, Japanese encephalitis, measles, meningitis (meningococcal disease), mumps, pneumonia (pneumococcal disease), polio, rabies, tetanus, typhoid, whooping cough (pertussis), yellow fever.

Required Vaccinations
Some countries require that you have received a Yellow fever vaccination within the past 10 years and have an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis before you can enter the country. Many countries require this proof of yellow fever vaccination if you've passed through an area where yellow fever may occur. Without such proof, you may be refused entry, quarantined or vaccinated. For example, Saudi Arabia requires proof of meningococcal vaccination for all pilgrims and proof of polio vaccination for all children going to Mecca during the Hajj.

Vaccination Records
Keep your family's records in a safe and accessible place and carry copies when you travel. If your destination requires proof of yellow fever vaccination, you must carry the original International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis. Keep a copy of this certificate at home.

See the Canadian Immunization Guide, Seventh Edition, 2006 for Recommended Immunization Schedules and more information about Immunization of Travellers, or visit the Public Health Agency of Canada website at: www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/reason_raison4-eng.php

Source: Public Health Agency of Canada

:) She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.
:) No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.
:) I have been to a lot of places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone. I've also never been in Cognito, either. I hear no one recognizes you there. I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there. I have made several trips, thanks to my friends and family. I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump and I'm not much on physical activity anymore.
:) A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.
:) A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at him and says,
"I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger."
:) A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.
:) Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says 'Dam!'
:) A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab centre said: 'Keep off the Grass.'
:) If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed. If you do read the newspaper you are misinformed. ~ Mark Twain
:) Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself. ~ Mark Twain
:) No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session. ~ Mark Twain
:) If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?
:) If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is it naked or homeless?
:) Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?
:) How is it possible to have a civil war?
:) Those of you who think you know everything are annoying to those of us who do.
:) I think MPs should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could identify their corporate sponsors.
:) I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts. ~ Will Rogers

Every row must contain the numbers from 1 thru' 9.
Every column must contain the numbers from 1 thru' 9.
Every 3x3 square must contain the numbers from 1 thru' 9.

On April 28, 2011, Anne-Marie Ellie-Taylor held her annual luncheon at Sisters Restaurant. This year's topic, China, was delivered by guest speaker Irene Manahan.

The members of the Bridge Group that meetat Ellesmere Community Centre, 20 Canadian Road, on Tuesdays, from 12:30-3:15pm have enjoyed our fall sessions. We were glad to catch up on the summer news with our bridge buddies and are still playing cards, learning something every week, even if it is to blame our lack of success on "the cards". Here are our top scorers so far: (Sorry, we are so friendly in this group, we haven't gotten to last names for some of our newer members!):

By the time you receive this edition of Beyond the Blackboard, we will have had our Christmas pot luck luncheon... yum, yum, yum. It gets better every time. Punch, hot stuff, cold stuff, home made sweets, it goes on and on. And we still play cards after!! We miss Dave Tumber this year, and it was great to see him one day when he dropped in. Hope you are playing bridge in Peterborough, Dave maybe you're starting another group?

If you have a working knowledge of the game and wish to join us... come on out!! You can come when you can, and there's no need to bring a partner. We will resume the 1st Tuesday in January - when school's back in. If you wished you could play, contact one of the people below, and we can refer you to some friendly lessons: Dale & Terry Smith / 416.438.0430 OR Brian Dorward: 416.347.7564

Mildred Wideman celebrated her 100th birthday on August 17, 2011. Her sons Larry, Mark and Ron joined their extended families at Canterbury Gardens in Peterborough for the festivities. RTO members joined the family for the celebration. Mildred received congratulations from Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Queen Elizabeth, the Governor-General and her local Member of Parliament on this wonderful occasion.

Chalk, Challenge and Change was a 2006 publication of RWTO (Retired Women Teachers of Ontario). It is no longer in publication or available. The following is an excerpt written by Mildred (Foote) Wideman about the early days of her teaching career. Her children share this story with RTO/ERO members.

When I graduated from Normal School, I didn't have any great preference where I wanted to teach. The challenge was to secure a school and make some money on my own. My first school was a one-room schoolhouse with no indoor facilities at all. I had a pointer, a desk, blackboards, a yardstick and a globe that you handled carefully or the world might roll along the floor. Soon I became more comfortable about asking for things and I requested a sand table and big worktable. They were homemade with new lumber and they were beautiful.

The pump was at the front of the school near a flowerbed of pretty roses. I usually assigned one boy a week to see that there was fresh drinking water at the back of the room. There was also a little stand where there was a wash dish and cake of soap. There, dirty hands were expected to be washed. Classroom seats were mostly graduated with the big seats at the back for the entrance class and smaller ones at the front for the little people. There were no electric lights. A pot-bellied stove stood at the back of the room.

At one school, the entrance class often would make tomato soup by crushing tomatoes from a can and adding milk. There was something nice and homey about being at school in a teaching-learning milieu and smelling the soup cooking for lunch. There were large cups or mugs and each person got a good half-cup to go with their cold sandwiches. Then two or three boys or girls would do the dishes afterward and put them away, ready for the next day.

There were no school buses. Some of these little people had to walk 2½ miles or more to get to school in the morning and then trudge home at night. Some were lucky to have a bicycle, but not everybody. I wish I could have been able to use some of modern technology, such as the telephone. One morning at recess, both big and little boys were playing football. A group of them came running with a little boy to show me his little thumb that was bent backward facing his body. I didn't have a telephone or any way to access immediate help. I was about a mile and a half from the doctor's office in Aurora. I herded all of the students into their seats to let them see what happened to Harvey’s little thumb. I said, "I must take Harvey to the doctor and have that thumb put back. Now, can I trust you? Will you carry on?" They said they would and that proved to be true. Fortunately, I always had a certain amount of work on the blackboard for them and they always had yesterday's notes to copy into their notebooks. That day I happened to have my father's car at school. Harvey and I drove to Aurora. He was such a little brick. I held him on my knee while the doctor just pulled his thumb and snapped it back and told us what to do for it. We drove back and I never told the parents. I am not sure why. Maybe I got busy.

During one school year, there was a dog named Jip that attended my class. He belonged to a little boy named Claude who lived right next door to the school, less than a quarter of a mile away. When Claude started that first year, Jip came too and lay in the aisle beside him. They both went home at noon hour for lunch and came back afterwards for the rest of the afternoon. Jip had complete freedom. He could lie beside Claude’s desk, he could come up to the front and listen to a lesson with all the class, or he would go to the back of the room. Sometimes, Jip would walk up and down the aisles and the children would laugh and say, "Today he's the inspector."

What Is Project — Service to Others?
* a provincial programme that provides grants to districts to support district initiatives.
* the initiatives support the concept of SERVICE TO OTHERS by retired teachers in the community.

How?
* Individuals or groups apply to the District for funding by fulfilling the outlined criteria found on the RTO/ERO website.
* The District reviews the applications and chooses one that supports children and/or adults who need support in the Scarborough/East York area.
* The District submits its final selection to the Province where a committee chooses projects to receive a maximum of $4000.00 each.

Timeline
* Submit the provincial paperwork to the District by the end of November
* District submits the completed paperwork to the Provincial Committee
* The District will be notified of any grant from the province in April.
* The chosen group will receive its funds at the end of May.

If you have a project you think fits the criteria, involves RTO/ERO members -- then contact me and we can explore it together: carol.nelson@sympatico.ca

2010-2011 Project — Service to Others
District 24 supported the HEALTHY LIVING ART PROJECT this year. This project operates under the umbrella of East Scarborough Storefront in the Kingston Road/Galloway Road/Orton Park area in Scarborough.

All projects under their umbrella allow residents in the area to plan and choose projects to meet their individual needs. Training, mentoring and money are provided to allow participants to become effective leaders, active community members and also learn how to work within budget guidelines.

The Healthy Living Art Project combines health and art to teach mothers and children about healthy eating and healthy living. The Public Health Nurse 'teaches' a lesson and then the children use their art skills to tell each other what they learned. A professional artist helps the children learn how to use paint, paint brushes and other craft materials. These paintings and drawings were used on note cards, aprons and canvas bags. The mothers sewed the aprons and bags.

The project chosen to receive our District's 'Service to Others' donation of $1675.00 is The Memory Project, one of The Historica-Dominion Institute's most successful educational programs. The Memory Project connects veterans and Canadian Forces personnel with students online and in classrooms around the country. Since the Memory Project started in 2001, over one million students have been reached.

I wrote this poem following a trip to Cuba last February with my wife - a poem that grew out of this photo:

We paint mirrors on your floors
by roped-off squares
so many to a section
to not intrude
as you do dine.

We paint mirrors on your floors
with brushes – large
their bristles hard and soft
and furry pads
of coarse and fine.

We paint mirrors on your floors
with wheel-round brush
we do it – days on end
so great beauty
will enshrine.
We paint mirrors on your floors
for your rejoicing we polish them – a’ glow
so you may
fresh recline.

We paint mirrors on your floors
for to reflect the palms
in swaying shadow shapes
where light and
dark combine
to grandly shine
on mirrors we define.

Toronto police have created an online system that allows you to submit a police report immediately. Reports must be filed for yourself or you must be authorized to file on behalf of another person. If the incident involves a business, then the report must be filed by the business owner or authorized representative. The Toronto Police Service does accept reports that occurred inside and outside the city of Toronto. However, if this has happened outside our jurisdiction, we may forward your report to the local Police. Please note there will be a time delay.

Online Reporting Criteria:
* There are NO KNOWN suspects.
* The value of the theft, loss or damage is less than $5,000.00 (Canadian).
* The theft or loss DOES NOT involve a firearm, licence plates, passport or prescription drugs.
* This IS NOT a motor vehicle accident.
* This IS NOT related to a break-in to your home or business.
* This IS NOT related to any form of personal violence including Domestic Violence and/or personal relationship.
* You possess a valid e-mail address.

Types of Reports:
* Lost Property
* Theft Under $5,000
* Theft from Vehicle under $5,000
* Damage to Property under $5,000
* Damage to Vehicle under $5,000
* Traffic Complaints

How to File an Online Report:
Go to the main Toronto Police website at: www.torontopolice.on.ca

On the very top of the website page and on the right hand side, you will see a gold bar with a drop down arrow "I am looking for…"

ALSO while on the main website, have a look at other new features added and under the Newsroom area on the right hand side, you can also check out Crime Statistics for all areas in the City of Toronto.

Remember:
* 911 is for Emergency calls; 416.808.2222 is for Non-emergency calls
* www.TPSlinks.ca to sign up for Online Notification System
* Crime Stoppers: www.222tips.com to report crime anonymously:
( 1.800.222.8477 (TIPS)
1.416.222.8477 (TIPS)
Text TOR and message to CRIMES (274637)

To all our new members for 2011, we offer you a warm welcome! Whether you are a new retiree or have moved from another district, we hope that you find District 24 ~ Scarborough and East York a comfortable and happy fit.

Our District motto is: "Where Old and New Friends Meet". We count you among our friends.

As new members, we would encourage you to participate in our 'monthly' E-Mail Updates: RTO 24 E-NEWS. See above for details on how you can subscribe to our service.

In understanding that each life is a miracle that changes the world, we remember and honour the lives of our departed colleagues and friends.

Budget Winter Travel to Southerly Climes... Trading Labour for Lodging, and Reciprocity Websites

Dear fellow retirees,
Hal has asked Debbie and me to describe how we managed our two month budget visit to Australia last winter. The winter before, we had towed a sailboat to Florida and lived on it for three months, but Australia is too far to sail to, and you can't drive, so we flew for $1500 apiece from Toronto, round trip. This winter we'll go to New Zealand and Fiji for a couple of months for a third less money, flying out of Los Angeles with a Fijian airline, Air Pacific.

Australia was great. We have a Kiwi friend here who is a travel agent, and her warning to travellers is that they shouldn't expect to go for less than $10,000 (for a few weeks), but we managed the whole adventure for two months, airfare included, for just over $8,000. I couldn't see going so far and coming back to the cold in just a few weeks. In the 58 nights we spent on the continent, we spent one in a reasonably priced "Eco-hotel" and one in a Kiwanis campground. The way we managed our trip wouldn't be for everyone, but we enjoyed the adventure. It might have helped that I'm a life-long, veteran traveller and former backpacker.

We landed in Sydney where we spent a week at a private B'n'B that we learned about online, through a company called AirBnB. For the price of one night in a hotel, we had a whole week for two in a private room, with breakfast fixings thrown in. Weekly passes for buses, trains and ferries in Sydney are within reason for the locals – don't get sucked into buying the ones sold to tourists for four times the price and dubious additional value. We were shocked to learn that "hostels" in Australia were as expensive as cheap hotels in Canada for young single travellers in shared dorms, and for the simple private room that a married couple would hope to stay in, they were more expensive than many motels even in Australia. They seem to cash in on the "adventure tourism" concept that draws many young travellers to the continent.

We spent the second week in Manly as Helper Exchange guests, and that didn't cost much: Help-X guests work a few hours a day in return for free lodging, and often food. I did gardening and yard work for our host for two hours a day, Deb helped in the house; our host took us snorkelling, shopping for such things as a GPS and a cell phone for Australia, and provided "barista" style coffee for free - I learned to use a fancy espresso machine. We bought our own groceries and cooked our own meals using his kitchenware and appliances, and had great conversation and a very friendly stay.

Our third week found us in Byron Bay at the rainforest home of an Australian television personality. I enjoyed the gardening there – very exotic plants to compare with my garden in Canada. We lived in a detached suite sometimes rented out as a high end B'n'B, with a kitchenette, high ceilings and all the amenities. We had a rental car, and shopped for our own groceries while on sightseeing excursions in the region. We supervised two young girls while their parents were unavoidably away, gave a couple of music lessons, shared three dinners with the family, ate fresh eggs from the free-range "chooks" in the garden, and enjoyed our stay. We followed it up with three days at a remote hill-top resort owned by the same family, sleeping in a restored railway car while we spent a few hours each morning painting the living room of the manager's small house.

We drove inland across to Adelaide, but our Help-X adventures were finished. Helper Exchange gives you exercise, activity, structure to your day, a reason to get up and go… but week-long commitments were no longer in our itinerary. Fifteen years earlier we'd been members of a group called Servas International, which still exists. The purpose of this organization is to promote world peace by structuring two night visits of its members to each others' homes in foreign countries. We'd stayed with Servas hosts in Bulawayo and Durban in 1996. We stayed with one Servas couple in Armidale on our Australian journey, a retired principal and teacher. They were used to being hosts and had time to spend with us. We spent the day between our two nights with them on our own private tour of Armidale and the Australian countryside in that region.

Most of the rest of our Australian adventure was with an organization we'd joined a year earlier, www.CouchSurfing.org. As we travelled, we were able to locate hosts online who'd registered themselves on this site to receive visitors in cities we were approaching, and we sent out requests for hospitality. This is a "reciprocity" concept similar to Servas – the idea is that member guests may not return the favour directly, but receive references from their hosts which other hosts will consider when they receive a request from the traveller; and the hosts will also have references from the guests which will help when they wish to attract new guests or to go travelling themselves. We were astonished at how many hosts had never travelled, and might never travel. Many of them just loved having foreign visitors, loved conversation and the vicarious experience of far-away places.

Admittedly, we also spent a week with a new friend in Adelaide whose daughter we'd gotten to know in Cuba, but apart from that delightful experience, everywhere else we stayed on our journey was the home of a CouchSurfing host. One couple we stayed with were Pam and John Cowan, who had done four teacher-exchanges to Canada over the course of their careers. Many hosts expressed the wish that we would have asked to stay longer, but of course, we'd already pre-arranged our onward leg so that we'd never be stuck without a place to stay on our route, and we had quite a journey to complete – Australia is a very big place. After Adelaide we drove the coast road to Melbourne, then up the Great Ocean Road back to Sydney.

There are many winning budget travel solutions - for us so far it has been Couch-Surfing, hands down. It was originally for younger travellers, as the name suggests, but more and more older people host, and even travel, using it; there is an over-50 and even an over-70 crowd. We never slept on an actual "couch"; we always had a bed, or at the very least, a queen-sized airbed, in a room to ourselves. We stayed in three holiday trailers along the way. No matter whom we stayed with - and hardly any requests were declined - we felt that our hosts genuinely wanted to make friends with foreign visitors and act as ambassadors for their cities and country. I was reluctant to be a couchsurfer at first, because I wanted to exchange something of value for my stay, which is why our first three weeks were spent with AirBnB and Help-X. But the first few hosts helped put me straight. I discovered that there are CouchSurfing hosts who want to "pay it back" or "pay it forward" for themselves or for children or siblings who travel, so there is a reciprocity of "value". The internet networking allows something beyond a simple direct exchange by allowing a person who has hosted a traveller from Canada to stay with a host in Germany or France, so "what goes around, comes around" in a big international circle.

Some hosts don't travel. What do they get out of being a host? There are hosts with the kind of 1960's communal attitude about sharing their space; there are those who travel vicariously by having international visitors who bring them descriptions and stories of other corners of the world, and with those I always offer to share my website and travel blog. There are hosts who thrill to the simple pleasure of making new friends and having long, interesting conversations with fresh acquaintances who don't already know you. No matter what their motivations, all our CouchSurfing hosts in Australia were nothing short of marvelous.

That's a Mongolian proverb we learned that describes how we adapt to each new home we visit - it's an attitude that keeps you really open to learning about other cultures. We tried to contribute and "pay it back" directly by taking hosts out for a meal, helping out in the kitchen as much as we could, doing little repair jobs in the home, helping with yardwork (and roadwork once, after one of those famous Australian floods!) and that sort of thing, and if we'd stayed longer at each place we would have done more, approaching a Help-X sort of contribution; but no-one ever expressly asked us to do anything for them. I'd recommend CouchSurfing, as hosts and as guests, to everyone. It was absolutely the best thing we did in Australia.

This winter, we will spend our first two weeks in New Zealand house-sitting and pet-sitting at a dairy about an hour from Auckland, near beautiful beaches and fine scenery, in their February summer months. We connected with these dairy farmers through Help-X; they want to get away for a summer vacation themselves. However, last year Pam Cowan also told us about another website, aussiehousesitters.com.au. From another host, we learned about www.warmshowers.org, for travelling cyclists. Others that might be worth checking out are: www.hospitalityclub.org, and www.globalfreeloaders.com; and for ladies only, there's www.womenwelcomewomen.org.uk. There's a site called www.bewelcome.org, and even more interesting for us, a www.teacherstravelweb.com, and www.educatorstravel.com

Ed. Note: Steve and Deborah took hundreds of photos on their trip. They can be accessed at: http://stevegilchrist.org/australiatrip2011.html
(Photos are captioned – leave your mouse on the photo.)

Costa Rica is an ecological and hikers' paradise with magnificent scenery and great biodiversity.

I had the very good fortune of joining fifteen other travellers, mainly teachers, under the highly experienced and competent leadership of Douglas and Merel for a two week adventure in north-west Costa Rica. Travelling by minibus with our own driver, we were able to visit sites and areas of the country not usually available to the average tourist. At each destination we had ample opportunity to hike trails and enjoy the colourful birds, plants and trees as well as view handicrafts and make acquaintance with the local inhabitants. Their standard of living is relatively high and Costa Rica is definitely not a third world country.

We hiked in the cloud and rainforest, in Monteverde, and the Arenal Volcano region. We travelled by boat on Arenal Lake and in the mangrove swamps and saw an incredible wealth of shore birds, amphibians and monkeys. The hot springs and the Pacific surf were great for frolicking and swimming as well as for relaxing and sunning.

A very exciting part of the trip was staying at a lodge located at the base of the active Arenal volcano. During our stay, the volcano was well-behaved and only showed a plume of smoke with no eruptions or fireworks!

Another highlight was a visit to a coffee plantation and seeing the process that the lowly coffee bean goes through so that we can have our morning cup.

Some adventuresome people found the zipline through the rainforest a fantastic experience!

Throughout the trip, knowledgeable local guides provided us with historical background and interesting information. We experienced the cuisine, the incredible fruit, coffee, culture and livelihood of the Costa Rican people and even picked up some Spanish words. The rice and beans were fine for breakfast.

We all returned home feeling fit, and in spite of all the food, we did not gain weight! An active vacation doesn't get much better than this one, so pack your hiking boots and join me for their next trip to Newfoundland or Morocco.

For further information about the kind of "travel experience" Ruth had with Douglas and Merel, contact her at: grmori@rogers.com

My brother arranged the 5 day cruise in the Galapagos and I was just enchanted by all that I saw there. The 5 islands I visited were of course all volcanic, first eruption over 10,000 years ago and the most recent in 2008.... It is unlike any other place I've ever visited. Such a variety of shapes in the lava, some was undulating like a cake being poured into a mould, other parts more like the folds of a skirt, other yet stratified as the rocky areas in Canada. Here and there, there was a ragged gash in the terrain where the lava had pushed up a new piece of terrain. In one place, within 20 feet, were 2 natural bridges, with surf breaking on them. There were bright orange and turquoise crabs, the size of a child's hand, everywhere — they didn't care how strong the surf was either. All vegetation and animal life has come from the sea over time. There is now some soil, in places. Vegetation started from lichen, we saw 3-4 kinds on the same small tree trunks and of course various seabirds brought seeds from their original home which over time brought about new plants, now indigenous to each island.

Major surprise — the grasshoppers are multi-coloured with bright turquoise, yellow/orange and creamy and a couple of black lines, just amazing to watch and quite big, at least the size of an adult's little finger. On Ano Island the colours were very similar but arranged differently. The penguins are about two feet high and are the usual black and white and just delightful to watch. They live in the water of course alongside blue-footed boobies on land. The boobies (birds) are mostly white with bright turquoise feet. I had seen pictures but was still taken aback by the brightness. It was courting season for both the penguins and the boobies so we saw them from about ten feet away in a dinghy… the only time we went to view wildlife from a dinghy. Otherwise we walked on the islands, along well-marked paths with instructions to leave a minimum of six feet between us and any wildlife. The only exception was when the wildlife came to us and then we were to stand still and wait for it/them to go wherever they were heading. We could take pictures (I took about 600) but we were never allowed to touch any animals or vegetation; nor could we leave anything behind or take anything back with us. We were always with a nature guide in groups of 12 or less and with same group and guide for all 5 days.

The waters are populated with giant sea turtles: there are 4 varieties, which weigh up to 600 lbs. when fully grown — so none is a fast walker. To give you an idea: 3 ordinary adults could fit inside an empty shell. We watched one pair try to mate… the male was trying to get on top of the female, who was about 100 lbs. lighter than him. The only problem was that this one was facing the wrong way and could not figure out how to turn around. And there was a 2nd male waiting his turn right beside the pair. Apparently the female has 2 eggs and each one has to be fertilized individually. At the Darwin Research Station, we saw the tortoises/turtles in pens, where their eggs have been hatched to help preserve their shrinking numbers. They will be returned to the exact location where they were taken from 2-3 years earlier, so they can in turn lay eggs. By then, the young turtles can survive on their own. Later the same day we went to a turtle farm where we saw the pair mating. It was a rather wet area, so we were issued boots and were able to walk about carefully for a couple of hours. We were told the giant turtles are ready to mate around age 50 and go on mating to age 450-500. The 4 acre area is fenced in so the turtles wander freely within that area and be fed, partially, 3 times a week. They have to be "farmed" because a few decades ago, some scientists took 300+ "samples" and the turtles nearly went extinct. Travelling sailors would also collect them for "fresh meat" as the turtles can stay several months without food or water! Turtles protect their nests on the beach as well, and we did not get near enough to see those, just the wide tracks indicating a "visit" to a nest.

The iguanas were quite distinctive from one island to the other — some were land and some were sea iguanas, all varying colours and size — all equally ugly and stinky! They inspired monsters in a Walt Disney movie. They can move quite fast - when they have a reason to do so… They nest on the beach, and the walking paths are at least 4 feet away from any of their nests! February is nesting season for the land iguanas.