SSAI's convention is over with for another year. My time as president has come to an end and Sheila Righi, the past first vice-president has taken over the reins and all letters and communications should now be addressed to her. I wish her all the best over the next two years, which is the term stipulated by our constitution and bylaws for the president position. My best wishes also go to the new first vice-president, Fern Haight. Best wishes also to Lorna Weldon who retained her position as second vice-president.
I have agreed to help the new president by continuing to write the newsletters, so for now it will be business as usual in respect to that. There will be a steady change over of some of the work that was initiated while I was president but it should not take too long before Sheila has the job well in hand. I know that she will do a great job because in my term as president we worked closely together and she well knows the type of problems that concern all seniors, not just the ones here in Saskatchewan.
I really enjoyed my four years as president and although there were many ups and downs in addressing the concerns of seniors, there was always the pleasure obtained from getting to know a large number of the members of SSAI. It was a privilege to be able to talkand listen to you. I learned so much from you all and I hope that I gave a little back.
Resolutions that were approved at convention to be forwarded to the federal government dealing with pensions, health and housing have been sent off, in care of our national body of seniors. They will be presenting them in person sometime later in the year. The other resolutions dealing with the drug plan, matters of health concerns, property taxes, school taxes, closure of some rural bus routes and of course funding for seniors' centers have been forwarded to SSM for their support when presented to the provincial government.
We now have to exercise all the patience we are gifted with to await the premier's response to them. I would remind all seniors to not hold their breath while waiting for any news from the government. It would appear to me that the last few years have not been the best of times to be a senior, While that does not hold true for other segments of our society, it does seem that there is some reluctance to recognize and correct problems that concern seniors from our elected officials. Seniors over their life span have learned to be patient and not expect quick fixes. Although tomorrow or next week or even next month is probably too much to hope for it, would be nice if at least we could get the changes we need this decade.
The health system is in deep whatever and with no change in attitudes or responses to the problem of the ever increasing number of people requiring more health care as they get older it would appear the problem will only be worse rather than better in the future. Pensions, both CPP and OAS, as they relate to the ever increasing rise in the real cost of living are a joke. Minimal increases of less than one per cent two or three times a year do not even start to cover the rise in the price of bread, milk and vegetables to name just a few items. We are reminded constantly to eat healthy and it's a fine idea, but someone, somewhere has to come up with a plan to make it affordable for those people making do on low incomes, including seniors.
The next meeting for the executive board of SSAI is slated to be held in early September where the business of the association will continue as directed by the recent convention. As a board and as members of this association we all will have to work together to make some of the changes that are required a reality.
So enjoy all the fall suppers and all the good food there that has been grown in gardens that were sown with hope and tenderness along with large helpings of other stuff. It may be organic or it may not be organic, but whatever it is it all seems to taste so good at this time of the year. Be sure that along with all this eating you take the time to enjoy the beauty that surrounds us, stay active and keep healthy and pass along a smile to your neighbour. If you do it often enough it may catch on so that everyone will benefit.
