RTO/EROAnnual Report 2017

Vibrant Voices

We improve the lives of our members and seniors.

RTO/ERO is a bilingual trusted voice on healthy, active living in the retirement

journey for the broader education community. Our insurance programs

are designed by members for members. We promote a wide range of

world-class programs, social networks and assistance

throughout retirement.

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3,300NEW MEMBERS JOINED

RTO/ERO IN 2017

30STAFF

7BILINGUAL STAFF

$2.65MTO GERIATRIC RESEARCH

AND TRAINING

$150,000TO SOCIAL ISOLATION

PROJECTS

$2.8MIN GRANTS

BY FOUNDATION SINCE 2011 INCEPTION

$1.4MDONATED TO

COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS SINCE PROJECT SERVICE TO

OTHERS INCEPTION

80%HEALTH PLAN

PARTICIPANTS

Since 1968, the Retired Teachers of Ontario/ Les enseignantes et enseignants retraités de l’Ontario (RTO/ERO) has provided excellent programs and services in retirement for the education community. RTO/ERO provides service to members who range in age from 46 to over 109.

I’m glad to be part of this organization, as I feel more confident in

my retirement.Kathy Besco,

Brighton

Who We Are

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76,000MEMBERS

$350,000POST-SECONDARY

SCHOLARSHIPS SINCE PSTO INCEPTION

81%MEMBERS AGREE THAT

VOLUNTEERING CONTRIBUTES TO THEIR ENJOYMENT

OF RETIREMENT

72%RTO/ERO MEMBERS

ARE ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS

Enjoying my retirement and being a

RTO/ERO member with benefits, district area

social fun and activities.

Mary Cecol, Oakville

87%MEMBERS

RECEIVING OTPP (ONTARIO TEACHERS

PENSION PLAN)

13%NON-OTPP

68 %FEMALE (52,000)

32%MALE

(24,000)

8DEPARTMENTS

(BENEFITS, MEMBERSHIP, FINANCE, MARKETING AND

COMMUNICATIONS, IT, FRENCH LANGUAGE SERVICES,

EXECUTIVE OFFICE, FOUNDATION)

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YUKON

NORTHWESTTERRITORIES

NUMBER OF MEMBERS IN CANADA

NUMBER OF MEMBERS IN THE US

BRITISHCOLUMBIA

ALBERTA SASKATCHEWAN

RTO/ERO has 46 districts in Ontario and two in British Columbia. But our members live in every part of Canada – and beyond.

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1

1,211

218

35

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Where Are Our Members

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MANITOBA

ONTARIO

QUEBEC

NEWFOUNDLANDAND LABRADOR

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

NOVA SCOTIA

NEW BRUNSWICK

NUNAVUT

59

2409973,269

111

43

578

FOUNDATION PROJECTS CURRENTLY IN:

GUELPH HAMILTON LONDONOTTAWAPRINCE EDWARD COUNTYTHUNDER BAYTORONTO VANCOUVER

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Broaden the Membership Base

STRATEGIC GOAL: BROADEN THE MEMBERSHIP BASE

We have a new approach to communication, with new ways to reach out, connect and dialogue with members, prospective members and partners. Our beloved brand has been clarified, our messaging is clear, and we have a new integrated marketing plan. Our investment has paid off with new members who are engaged and excited to be part of our organization.

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IN 2017

800,000VISITORS TO WWW.RTO-ERO.ORG

2.5MPAGE VIEWS

140,000NEW USERS

10,000VISITED WEBSITE THROUGH FACEBOOK POST

2017 WAS A BUSY YEAR FOR MEMBER RECRUITMENT

23CONFERENCES RTO/ERO EITHER SPONSORED OR HAD BOOTHS

40RETIREMENT PLANNING WORKSHOPS IN 2017

10AFFILIATE PUBLICATIONS RTO/ERO ADVERTISED IN

22,000COPIES OF ESPRIT DISTRIBUTED TO PROSPECTS

3,300NEW MEMBERS JOINED

IN 2017

MOST POPULAR WEBSITE PAGES

- GROUP INSURANCE- MEMBERS’ CENTRE- NEWS- JOIN US

TOP 5 REASONS YOU NEED TO CONNECT WITH RTO/ERO ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

RTO/ERO’s online community is fun, active and engaged.

Connect with RTO/ERO on social media for:1. Exclusive offers and promotions2. Staying up-to-date with provincial news and reminders3. (Re)Discovering new friends4. Retirement inspiration, tips and resources 5. Sharing opinions on topics that matter to you

@rto_ero

@rto.ero

linkedin.com/in/jimgrieve

flickr.com/photos/rto-ero

REACHED 2 MILLION PEOPLE ON FACEBOOK

120,000 FACEBOOK ENGAGEMENTS

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Improve the Lives of Members and Seniors

SUPPORTING SENIORS WHERE THEY LIVE

For Debbie MacDonald Moynes, executive

director of the Prince Edward County Community

Care for Seniors Association, Age-Friendly

Community (AFC) consultations in her region

were the spark for a novel idea: Why not engage

with non-traditional partners in a new way,

and encourage them to engage with socially

isolated County seniors?

“Through AFC, we learned that seniors preferred

social activities close to home. We decided to

hold events in community halls,” says

MacDonald Moynes.

To entice seniors to come to these rural halls,

both as informative events and also as an

opportunity to meet with others, each of the five

partners agreed to give four presentations during

the year. In the course of their jobs and through

these presentations, frontline staff also identify

and proactively refer seniors to Community Care,

who follow up to more deeply engage individuals in

programs, activities and services in their community.

“The success of the project has been far-reaching

and the relationships will be enduring,” says

MacDonald Moynes. “Thank you so much to the

members of the RTO/ERO and its Foundation for

your vision to support seniors where they live.”

DID YOU KNOW? Prince Edward County

has the second highest

concentration of those aged

65 and up in Ontario and

sixth highest in Canada.

The five partners of the Prince Edward County Community Care for Seniors Association

1. EMS: Emergency Medical Services Paramedic Services Chief Doug Socha

2. Library: PEC Libraries PEC Libraries CEO, Barbara Sweet (right). Julie Lane-Yntema, Technology Resource Centre Coordinator (left).

3. Fire: PEC Fire Rescue Mike Branscombe, Fire Prevention Officer

4. Mail: Canada Post Rural Route Mail Courier

5. Police: Prince Edward OPP (left) Constable Pat Menard & (right) Staff Sergeant Detachment Commander John Hatch

We are focused on what matters most. We are game-changing advocates for our increasing membership, offering them more value than ever. The retirement journey is different for each of them, and we have products and services to offer every step of the way—from pre-retirement onward. We’re defined by our “wow” service that exceeds all competitors.

2 3 4

5

1

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I just signed up as a member

and I am so excited. My friends

who have signed up with RTO/

ERO couldn’t say enough nice

things about this organization,

so I am looking forward to my

retirement with RTO/ERO.

– Lina Gillingham, Woodbridge

I feel reassured knowing I have

an organization looking out

for my health needs as a senior.

– Lynda Lockton, Toronto

It is a great pleasure of mine

to peruse and enjoy all the

editions of Renaissance for 15

years and counting!

– Wilfred Smyth, Stratford

BLOOMING FRIENDSHIPS

Taking advantage of the free transportation

offered through the RTO/ERO Foundation

funding, Suzanne Mossman (in pink jacket)

and Isolde Lister become better acquainted

on their way to Fire and EMS presentations

followed by a Seniors Luncheon Social

in Ameliasburgh.

It’s a nice way to meet other ladies in the community. We all know what it’s like to be alone, and it’s nice to get out.

– Suzanne

The transportation is a blessing since I can’t drive anymore.

– Isolde

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Be the Trusted Voice for the Broader Education Community

By 2020, we are the recognized voice and leading benefits provider for the educational retiree community in Canada. We have influential relationships with the media and government policy makers. Our voice is clear and impactful. We have built strong relationships and networks of influence across Canada.

ADVOCATING FOR MEMBERS AND SENIORS THROUGH VIBRANT VOICES

Imagine a room in the Toronto Queen’s Park Legislative building,

filled with large colourful banners. More than 30 members of

provincial parliament joined an RTO/ERO team, including

members of the board of directors, Political Advocacy Committee

and staff. There was a steady hum of conversation as RTO/ERO

representatives connected with party leaders to discuss one

common issue of interest—advocating for seniors.

In September 2017, we hosted our first Vibrant Voices – Awesome

Years Advocacy luncheon and networking event in recognition

of National Seniors Day and International Day of Older Persons

at Queen’s Park.

At this event, we had all eyes and ears on our top seven issues

affecting seniors across the province as the banners were

on display and representatives from the Liberals, Progressive

Conservatives and NDP spoke about the importance of

seniors’ voice.

The top challenges focused on:

• Age-Friendly Communities

• Bill 33: An act to amend the Long-Term Care Homes Act

• Bill C-27: An act to amend the Pension Benefits Standards Act

• Elder Abuse

• Geriatric Training

• Pharmacare

• Water

Information packages were also mailed out to all MPPs who were

not able to attend.

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I’m happy to be a member of

RTO and I feel that they are

doing a great job looking after

my interests and those of other

seniors in Ontario.

– BettyAnn Minthorn,

Thunder Bay

vibrantvoices.ca

Visit RTO/ERO’s political

advocacy website to:

• Learn more about the issues

our members care about

• Share your views with

political leaders

MOVING FROM CONVERSATION TO ACTION

RTO/ERO’s Political Advocacy Committee (PAC) worked hard

to develop the top seven issues and continue to help get the

word out through the districts.

Following the Vibrant Voices event, districts keep members

informed about the advocacy issues and next steps through

their newsletters.

Other actions by districts include:

• Hosting or co-hosting all-candidate meetings with members

and local candidates, focused on seniors issues

• Meeting individually with candidates, to inform them about

RTO/ERO and our advocacy issues

• Collaborating with like-minded organizations to expand

audience reach of issues

• Writing letters to political parties

• Writing letters to the editors of local newspapers about RTO/

ERO advocacy issues

As a result, districts have made stronger connections in the

community and raised awareness about issues important to our

members and other seniors.

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Financial Highlights

0 40 8020 60 100

2017 96,000

2016 94,000

2015 91,500

2014 89,000

ANNUAL DISTRICT GRANTS

YEAR 2017 2016 2015

DISTRICT GRANTS $1.16 MILLION $1.13 MILLION $1.1 MILLION

% INCREASE 3% 2% 2%

MEMBERSHIP GROWTH

HEALTH PLAN PARTICIPATION (all lives insured, with one or more benefit plans)

3,300NEW MEMBERS JOINED RTO/ERO IN 2017

4.5%2017 MEMBERSHIP GROWTH

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VALUE OF HEALTH PLAN IMPROVEMENTS Over past 10 years:

$200(AVERAGE PLAN ENHANCEMENTS, BASED ON INDIVIDUAL COVERAGE)

2.5%/YEAR (AVERAGE PREMIUM INCREASE)

$2,000+PLAN ENHANCEMENTS

$44/YEAR (AVERAGE PREMIUM INCREASE, BASED ON INDIVIDUAL COVERAGE)

10%PLAN ENHANCEMENTS, AS PORTION OF PREMIUM

HEALTH PLAN ENHANCEMENTS

HEALTH PLAN ENHANCEMENTS

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

2017 CUMULATIVE

Project Service to Others Grants to community-based projects 23

projects439 projects

$ Donated to Communities $78,000 $1.4 millionScholarships 25 scholarships

$37,500 289 scholarships

$300,000 Annual donations(Each year, RTO/ERO donates $10,000 – $20,000 to one or more charitable organizations)

$10,000StopGap Foundation (stopgap.ca)

$150,000