The Alberta Retired Teachers' Association (ARTA) is a group organized to advocate for retired teachers on the issues that affect their well-being. ARTA regularly takes concerns about pensions and declining health care benefits to the provincial government and the Alberta Teachers' Retirement Fund. ARTA has a representative on the Alberta Council on Aging and is a member of the Canadian Association of Retired Teachers. ARTA currently has over 9,000 members who are organized into 14 branches throughout Alberta.

A Group Benefits program, administered by Johnson Incorporated, has been available to ARTA members since 1995. The program now includes home and auto insurance as well as extended health care, travel, hospital, dental and life insurance. Information, including a no-obligation quotation, can be obtained by calling (780) 413-6536 in Edmonton or 1-877-989-2600 (toll-free). Members can also visit Johnson's new office at 301 West Chambers Building, 12220 Stony Plain Road, Edmonton, Alberta T5N 3Y4.

The ARTA-JOHNSON Award is made possible by Johnson Inc. (ARTA's consultant for its benefit package), who chose to reinvest through ARTA an award that could be earned by some deserving individual(s) each year at the discretion of ARTA. The intended purpose of the ARTA-Johnson Award is to recognize Community Involvement and Volunteer Work, and although not the focus of this award, academic achievement will also have a vital influence on the overall determination of the award recipient(s).

News and Views Newsletter - Spring 2005: News and Views is published 3 times a year. Send Contributions to: ARTA News and Views Editor #408 11010-142 Street N.W., Edmonton. AB T5N 2R1