Greetings fellow McMaster Retirees,
We are pleased to inform you that the Board of Governors has approved the following increases to pensions effective January 2020:

For retirees of the Salaried Pension Plan, there will be a regular pension increase as outlined below:

• 2.06% for employees who were hired on or after May 1, 2010 and who retired from the University as a Unifor Local 5555 Unit 1 Member
• 2.12% for all other retirees
  

Members must have been receiving a pension on June 30, 2018 to receive the full pension increase. Those who retired between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019 will receive a pro-rated increase. There will be no supplementary increase this year. Details can be found at: https://hr.mcmaster.ca/pensioner-increase-calculation-salaried-pension-plans/.

For retirees of the Hourly Pension Plan, there will be a regular pension increase of 0.33% for retirees who were receiving a pension on June 30, 2018. Those who retired between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019 will receive a pro-rated increase. Details can be found at: https://hr.mcmaster.ca/pensioner-increase-hourly-pension-plan/.

-- your MURA Council

Dear McMaster Retiree,

Did you know that retiree contributions made up 12% of McMaster’s United Way Workplace Campaign last year? Your donations make a huge difference to the success of the campaign and to the agencies and programs serving people in the Hamilton community.
 
In 2018, 76 retirees pledged more than $34,000 in total. This year the need is greater and we are aiming even higher –  We’re looking for 100 retiree donors to raise $40,000 of this year’s $290,000 campaign goal.

The United Way of Halton & Hamilton focusses on giving children the support they need to get a great start in life, do well in school and reach their full potential; helping meet the basic needs of our community’s most vulnerable people, giving everyone the opportunity to realize a better future; and creating vibrant neighbourhoods, where everyone experiences a sense of belonging and connection to one another.

Emily and her sister have had to grow up fast. In their neighbourhood, many kids do.

Five-year-old Emily and her 8-year-old sister are often responsible for waking up and getting ready for school by themselves, as their mother works the night shift at the hospital. She knows that her mother is working hard to provide a happy home for her and her sister but wishes that they could spend more time together.

When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, Emily answers “I want to be a teacher at my school.” Emily is a very independent 5-year-old and because of the vast network of United Way programs and services helping with meal programs, clothing and childcare, she gets to enjoy being a kid. For her, she is just happy to visit her friends and have a place to go where she is not alone. Read more of Emily’s story.

I hope that you will be able to join me in making your first donation or increasing your existing pledge. Many of our fellow Hamiltonians, like Emily, are counting on our support.

Best wishes,
Sarrah Lal, Sara Campbell and Nicole Moning
McMaster United Way Workplace Campaign Committee Chairs
 
P.S. If you are considering donating at the leadership level of $1200 per year or more, this is the time to do it. Now, you can double your impact with a matching gift from The Sprott Foundation for new and increased leadership-level donations.

McMaster Parking Services has moved to building T32 Room 106 (building adjacent to the McMaster Children's Centre). The E.T. Clarke office location closed on Friday, October 11 and  reopened on Tuesday, October 22 at its new location in T32. 

Drivers are also encouraged to update account information, purchase term permits or pay tickets online.

All parking related services are also available at the Campus Store parking office in the basement of Gilmour Hall (GH B101).

Additional information on the move is available at https://parking.mcmaster.ca/documents/move_2019.pdf

McMaster signed the Okanagan Charter in 2017.

This Charter is an International Charter for Health Promoting Universities & Colleges. The purpose of the Okanagan Charter is to provide guidance and inspiration by providing a framework to promote the importance of health and well-being on higher education institutions.

The new McMaster Okanagan website https://okanagan.mcmaster.ca launched yesterday.

It is a resource for all members of McMaster community to help locate existing resources, programs, research and educational opportunities in health and well-being.

Please direct question or comments to okanagan@mcmaster.ca

More info: https://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/articles/mcmaster-answers-global-call-to-promote-health-of-people-places-planet

CURAC's Post-Conference Newsletter (Summer Edition) has been published. A printer-friendly PDF version is available here, and an easy-to-read web version, where you can open and print individual articles, is available here. Previous editions of the Newsletter are archived here.

The highlights of the Summer Edition include:

The expert presentations at the annual conference were both entertaining and enlightening, and the Newsletter includes brief reports on several of the talks:

Speaking of newsletters, CURAC's new affinity partner, TripMerchant, recently published its first newsletter designed for CURAC members. You can read great articles on travel, such as the current one about Colombia, by Ryan Micucki and Tom MacLean, and learn about many upcoming tours and discounts. Those who have subscribed will have received an email informing them about the newsletter. CURAC members can subscribe by visiting the TripMerchant website, which can be accessed from the CURAC site.

Do you want to meet new people of all ages? Are you interested in sharing your story? Do you want to participate in casual social gatherings? 

Starting this September, the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA), together with Residence Life Services at McMaster University, will begin offering intergenerational social programming on campus. This programming will give older adults and undergraduate students in residence the opportunity to socialize, build new relationships, and learn more about each other. 

For more information, please contact Allison Ward at warda2@mcmaster.ca or 905-525-9140 ext. 21428.

Please note that MIRA will reimburse participants for parking expenses for the length of the program (e.g. 2 hour passes).