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( For retirees of the new Air Canada family)
Number 484 May 17th, 2000, We first Published in October 1995
Chief Pilot - Vesta Stevenson - Co-pilot - Terry Baker
email address is
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AIR CANADA PIONAIRS 23RD ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
MINI-MINUTES
I can only describe the theme of AGM 2000 as smaller turnout, bigger enthusiasm.
It almost appeared that a sense of relief was present because everyone realized that finally, Air Canada was #1 in the nation and rightly so.
The opening night reception featured the outrageously dressed and somewhat talented
PIONAIR PLAYERS from the Montreal District with a couple of imports from the Toronto District. They sang 5 familiar tunes that had the words changed to suit their
Pionair audience. Three cheers for Pam Rosholt for her efforts to put the show together!
The Business Meeting, the morning of the 29th went as scheduled (we finished on time). Reports from Norm Stoddart on finances and Bill Fisher on membership were both upbeat.
We should see a small surplus in our bank account at the end of August and our membership is approaching 6,500.
Leo Goulet gave his last report as Pension & Benefits Representative after serving
the Pionairs for 8 years, longer than anyone else on the Pionair Executive Board.
Leo advised that an actuarial assessment of the Air Canada Pension Fund as of
January 1999 found it was underfunded by $210 million . If this picture remains
unchanged, Air Canada would have to contribute $40 million a year for the next
5 years to make up the shortfall. The January 1999 snapshot of the Fund does not
take into account that the fund earned over $700 million over the balance of 1999.
Our thanks to Leo for his efforts over the years and we wish he and Marylin all the
best in their new retirement. We are very pleased to announce that Bill Rowe will be
the new Pionairs Pensions and Benefits Representative effect May 1, 2000.
Of major interest was the report of Kay Napolitano on the results of the 1st ever National Survey of the Pionairs. Pionairs were asked for their thoughts on the format
of our AGMs and the effectiveness of the District Newsletters. The majority opinion
voiced support for the present AGM format, but found the cost of attending was becoming a problem. District Newsletters were well received but a greater frequency was requested with more information from the Executive Board in them.
The last item on the morning agenda was the announcement of the site for the 2001 AGM.
To the obvious delight of the audience Calgary will be the host city for the 24th AGM.
The USA District meeting in the afternoon was characterized with the usual expert commentary by Pete Pemberton on the US Pension Plan and the almost complete turn around from last years criticism of Great West Life, to praise this year for handling Pionair claims.
The Dinner/Dance on Saturday evening was a grand affair with Pionairs dancing to the music of the great Dal Richards Big Band Orchestra.
The Business Meeting Sunday morning featured a panel made up of Vicki Benoit, Manager Industry Travel, Doug Lovat, Director of Pensions and Employee Benefits,
and Sue Welscheid, Vice President People. Ms. Benoit focused on items such as: the 30 year Anniversary pass not being retroactively offered to employees retiring before 1987, the acceptance of Air Canada passes on Air Georgian and Central Mountain Air, the delivery of delayed baggage directly to the home of retirees and refund of USA transborder charges for Air Canada personnel and retirees transiting the US.
Doug Lovat spoke on the new premium schedule for the Plan 2 Health Care Program and the prohibitive level of these premiums if eye care were to be added. Much broad statistical data was also offered on a province by province basis detailing costs of the Plan. After the formal part of the session Vicki, Doug and Sue handled questions from Pionairs on a personal, one on one basis.
The closing Banquet Sunday evening featured Sue Welscheid who spoke on the tremendous challenge and daunting task facing the Company integrating the workforces of Air Canada and Canadian Airlines. It is admirable, to say the least, that the people who are charged with this task are meeting the challenge with great resolve. Sue also showed a video featuring Robert Milton speaking on the commitment of the Air Canada team to see a totally successful conclusion to the task at hand. The text of Sue speech is available to all Pionairs through your District Director and a copy of the video of
Robert Milton's address will also be made available to interested Pionairs through your District Director as well.
Of note in conclusion, the District Directors at a meeting the day prior to the AGM voted for action on increasing Pionair membership which the Executive Board will
act on.
On the matter of integrating the Canadian Airlines Retirees into the Pionairs, this will
require more lead time than first anticipated and I would ask all Pionairs to bear with us as we make our way through a very complicated process.
The enthusiasm is already building for AGM 2001. It will be bigger, more exciting, and even cheaper than we've had for a long time.
See you all in Calgary May 18th to 20th, 2001.
Saville Hambleton,
President, Air Canada Pionairs
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