RTAI Head Office has now reopened after the Christmas and New Year break. Telephone queries may be made on 01-245 4130 preferably in the mornings. Email queries to info@rtaireland.ie
Are you subbing?
There have been welcome changes to the abatement rules. Because of a shortage of substitutes teachers in 2021 retired teachers returning to the classrooms did not have their pensions reduced or abated. Arrangements for 2022 have not been address yet.
You should probably consider substitute memberships of INTO
I looked for some wise words to get the new year going positively (plenty of negative media out there) and found a few Maeve Binchey quotes among my WhatsApp posts that I’ll share:
“I don’t have ugly ducklings turning into swans in my stories. I have ugly ducklings turning into confident ducks.”
“The great thing about getting older is that you become more mellow. Things aren’t as black and white, and you become much more tolerant.”
“Nobody is ordinary if you know where to look.”
“We are all the heroes and heroines of our own lives. Our love stories are amazingly romantic; our losses and betrayals and disappointments are gigantic in our own minds.”
“If you don’t go to a dance you can never be rejected, but you’ll never get to dance either.”
“The whole art of life is knowing the right time to say things.”
“We’re nothing if we’re not loved. When you meet somebody who is more important to you than yourself, that has to be the most important thing in life, really. And I think we are all striving for it in different ways.”
“I think you’ve got to play the hand that you’re dealt and stop wishing for another hand.”
“We get courage from other people’s stories. We get consolation from the way they tell about failures, disappointments and crises. It means that we are not alone.”
“Learn to type. Learn to drive. Have fun. Write postcards. (Letters take too long and you won’t do it; a postcard takes two minutes.) Be punctual. Don’t worry about what other people are thinking. They are not thinking about you. Write quickly. (Taking longer doesn’t usually make it better.) Get up early. See the world. Call everybody by their first name, from doctors to presidents. Have parties. Don’t agonise. Don’t regret. Don’t fuss. Never brood. Move on. Don’t wait for permission to be happy. Don’t wait for permission to do anything. Make your own life.”
Cárta Nollag 2021 Le gach dea-ghuí ó Cumann Múinteoirí Scortha na hÉirinn
Everyone was disappointed that we had to cancel our annual Christmas get-together. Many thanks to the many of you who replied making the committee decision on action so much easier. Hopefully, we will all meet in 2022.
I’ve done some googling to find a blog entry for Christmas 2021. My favourite Dán Nollag is Máire Mhac an tSaoi’s Le Coinnle na nAngeal … but think that may have featured in a previous blog
So here are a few different writings I found. I’ve also included some photos I took in Russborough yesterday:
I HAVE NEWS FOR YOU
(9th century Irish Poem)
I have news for you:
The stag bells, winter snows, summer has gone
Wind high and cold, the sun low, short its course
The sea running high.
Deep red the bracken; its shape is lost;
The wild goose has raised its accustomed cry,
cold has seized the birds’ wings;
season of ice, this is my news
**************
WINTER
By Tommy Makem
WINTER, a sharp bitter day
the robin turns plump against the cold
the sun is week silver faded from gold
he is late in his coming and short in his stay
Man, beast, bird and air all purging, all cleansing,
earth already purified awaits the rite of spring
Her bridal gown a virgin snow and frosts in her hair
A snowdrop by the road today bowed gracefully
and high upon the wing up in the sparkling nothingness,
a lone bird began to sing
Can gentle spring be far away?
***********
To Know the Dark
by Wendell Berry
To go in the dark with a light is to know the light,
To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight,
and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings,
and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.
******************
PRAYER FOR ADVENT
by Janet Morley (adapted)
For the darkness of waiting, of not knowing what is to come,
of staying ready and quiet and attentive, we give thanks,
for the darkness and the light are both gifts of the Spirit
For the darkness of staying silent,
for the emptiness of having nothing to say,
for the quiet recognition of needing to say nothing, we give thanks,
for the darkness and the light are both gifts of the Spirit
For the darkness of choosing to speak, to act, and to change,
even when we cannot know what we have set in motion,
but know we have to take the risk, we give thanks,
for the darkness and the light are both gifts of the Spirit.
For the darkness of hoping, wrestling, and laboring
for wholeness and justice and freedom, we give thanks,
for the darkness and the light are both gifts of the Spirit.
For the darkness of loving, in which it is safe to surrender,
to let go of our self-protection, to stop holding back our desire,
we give thanks,
for the darkness and the light are both gifts of the Spirit
The rising number of Covid 19 cases is causing great concern. So in line with Government requests that we limit our interactions before Christmas, I regret to inform you that our AGM scheduled for early December is now cancelled.
Stay safe and well and hopefully we might be able to reschedule for the New Year
Killashee House Hotel booked for RTA meeting followed by lunch for TUESDAY 7th DECEMBER.
Your individual invites will go out by text/email.
The suspension on ‘face to face’ activities has been lifted in parallel with dates and conditions set out by Government and with an emphasis on personal responsibility.
Currently there is no restriction on outdoor activities; nor is there restriction on indoor activities for the fully vaccinated. However we will require attendees to produce Covid certs and photo ID and masks will be required for indoor circulating.
We are liasing closely with Killashee that our venue will be bigger and we will ask them to be responsible for ventilation, sanitiser, etc
With regard to duration of meeting and meal -about an hour for meeting, about hour and a half for meal so we will start promptly
There will be no handouts or attendance page
You will soon receive the agenda which will also spell out safety measures, requirement for covid cert and photo ID, cooperation
IF BILLY ATTENDING HE WILL GIVE ALL THE FINANCIAL NEWS but here’s a synopsis:
all pensions are now aligned; 1% pay increase 1 Oct 2021 will be paid to retirees 11 Nov 2021.
There is a fund for benchmarking for Principals pay due in Feb 2022 – unlikely it will extend to the retired. Some abatement for retired who are subbing.
As you know, all face to face RTAI activities have been suspended since the start of the pandemic.
However, we are now in a position to announce the resumption of RTAI OUTDOOR activities with immediate effect, restricted to 15 participants until 20 September, but no limit on participants numbers after that.
Although indoor meetings are permitted by Gov from 20 Sep, the National Executive Committee is delaying resumption of INDOOR meetings and activities until 22 Oct when (fingers crossed) all restrictions will be lifted.
Local branch officers/committees will meet over next few weeks to make plans for the resumption of branch activities.
Comhnasc (issue 32) arrived this morning, as usual packed with interesting articles. My particular favourites are Nóirín Breathnach’s article on Lackan, Dermot Toomey’s look at the transformation of Blackpitts NS over the years, Máire McCabe’s story of her family’s move to Meath as part of the Land Commission reallocation and most particularly a selection of Anne Cousins’ poems. As you can see o cover there’s also a bit about the fair deal, bone health, some advise on scam calls, texts and emails…..and lots more.
Having extended my breakfast …. its now almost noon…. I have my Comhnasc almost completely read.
Once again we are deferring our Summer Lunch and Monster Raffle.
With the widespread vaccination programme progressing, let’s keep our fingers crossed that we’ll all meet up later in the year.
My new hobby – visiting Gardens. My first excursion was Sunday last to Patthana Gardens in Kiltegan. I took the scenic route with Google Maps prompting, through Talbotstown.
RTAI publishes its newsletter, “Comhnasc” three times a year. It contains the most up-to-date information on issues of immediate interest to retired teachers, including, pensions, salary, social welfare, health and changes in taxation and budgetary matters. Articles written by our members are also included.
An archive of previously published magazines (back as far as 2015) is available on artireland.ie
Want to start the New Year creatively? Poemathon with Older People hopes to brings a spotlight to our voices, imagination and creativity. You only have to compose ONE LINE.
The contributions will be combined to form a longer poem that captures the thoughts and imaginings of older people right now in society. John Sheahan, one of Ireland’s best known musicians and member of The Dubliners, has penned the opening line of the poem: “Intrepid intruder, stalker of unwashed hands”.
