In the latest issue of Sage magazine, members will find a letter from our national president, Jean-Guy Soulière.
Before going into my topic for this edition, a word just to say how humbled and honoured I am for the nice tribute that appeared in the last edition of Sage. Allow me to be proud.
Keeping my promise to look into the future as my tenure as president ends, I am titling this article “Imagine.” I am stealing the thought from the late John Lennon who, in the mid 1970s, wrote a song with that title. In it, he talks of a better world and what would be needed to achieve it.
In that spirit, I invite you all to imagine with me what the National Association of Federal Retirees could be in 2030.
Imagine that we were successful in protecting our defined benefits pension plan and played a significant role in increasing the number of organizations that are providing similar plans to their employees and that the number of Canadians eligible for pension plans has significantly increased.
Imagine that the Public Service Health Care Plan for pensioners remained affordable for all pensioners and that premiums were guaranteed not to increase more than the cost of living.
Imagine that Canada develops the best policies for an aging society with a five-star long-term care program that emphasizes safe and healthy aging at home and that Federal Retirees had a lead role in its development and implementation.
Imagine that Federal Retirees’ influence is such that it is consulted as the go-to organization at the local, provincial and national level for major seniors issues.
Imagine that Federal Retirees succeeds in developing an umbrella organization consisting of public service retirees organizations at all levels of government to advocate on behalf of all pensioners.
Imagine that Federal Retirees has dramatically increased its membership to include the great majority of retired federal public servants, veterans from the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP and retired federally appointed judges.
Imagine that more and more volunteers are interested in being involved and engaged with our Association and that these volunteers reflect inclusivity and the diversity of its members.
Imagine that our national office is recognized as a model of governance and management of non-profit organizations.
Imagine that we continue to make a difference.
There is a saying that if you can’t imagine it, you can’t achieve it. In all my years with the Association, I have seen it, imagined it and achieved it. The Association is starting to develop its next five-year strategic plan. The current plan was based on two documents, as I mentioned in the Winter edition, Moving Forward and NAFR 2030. It reflects directions and objectives leading to what the organization can achieve. The next plan will be developed in a post-COVID world with a changing environment and different needs and requirements of pensioners. Federal Retirees will imagine it and achieve it.