Message From Your Local Branch President

For many weeks we wondered if spring and summer would ever arrive, but here we are, dealing with the other extreme. The heat, while late, has perked up our gardens and flowers and kept us indoors. My wee aging dachshund waits for the AC so she can wiggle over in front of a vent. My other little dog prefers to barbecue himself out in a blazing sunbeam.

While wandering through the yard every morning, I’m soaking up images and sounds and fragrances for those winter days when the wind rips, the temperature plummets, and the door opens to a new pile of snow. This is the time to recharge our mental health. Luther Burbank reminds us that flowers are “sunshine, food, and medicine for the soul.”

On a recent highway trip, there was a gentle breeze rippling through one of the wheat fields and I actually stopped for a few minutes to watch those endless waves of grain. It was a perfect summer day, made even better on another day when I passed a field of brilliant yellow canola adjacent to a field full of lovely blue flax. Who needs mountains and forests when we are surrounded by the summer beauty of the prairie?

Continue to enjoy the summer and, for those who garden, all your burgeoning produce. Those cucumber sandwiches are very tasty!

🚌 Chapter Excursion to Drumheller

In early July, STS members from Regina, Moose Jaw, and Swift Current, plus guests, enjoyed a joint venture to Drumheller. The participants attended the Drumheller Passion Play, Rosebud Theatre for Anne of Green Gables, and tours of the Hoodoos, Horseshoe Canyon, and the tiny historic church. The weather cooperated and the weekend was sunny and warm. This was a rare opportunity for interaction and social activities between the three chapters. The comments were very positive. Participants mingled on the bus, on the hikes, during the theatre performances, during meals, and while shopping and browsing in Rosebud. The tour guide was excellent and provision was made for anyone having mobility issues. Due to the success of the trip, more joint adventures may be planned.

😈 SOON: Hell with the Bell Breakfast 2026

New and current Moose Jaw STS members are invited to celebrate the start of the 2026 school year with our annual HELL with the BELL Breakfast!

📅 When: Wednesday, September 2, 2026 – 9:00 AM
📍 Where: Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation
1396 Third Ave NE, Moose Jaw, SK • S6H 1G3

Program:
Welcome and introduction of new members
Delicious breakfast
Visiting and reconnecting with friends

Cost:
💲 $5.00 per person
✨ Complimentary for our newly superannuated teachers and their partner—no charge!

Please register by Sunday, August 30, 2026.
If you are a newly superannuated teacher please indicate that on the Registration form.
Email: stsmoosejaw@gmail.com
📞 Call R. Marcil: 306-691-0696
🌐 Visit: www.stsmoosejaw.com (Events section)
Or, just click the button below to fill out an online form:

📅 Mark Your Calendars: 2026-2027 Noon Luncheons

Luncheon Meetings
(All at Masonic Hall, Main Street N, starting at 10:30 AM)

Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Wednesday, January 20, 2027
Wednesday, March 17, 2027
Wednesday, May 19, 2027

🍽️ Save the Date: Our 1st Luncheon is September 16

10:30: Welcome back
11:00: Speaker/Entertainment TBA
12:00: Luncheon - Roast Beef

More Information and Registration to follow

⚕️ 2025-26 Health Spending Account (HSA)

This is a note reminding eligible members that the current Health Spending Account (HSA) expires on December 31, 2026. Please see the attached flyer for more information:

Access to your Health Spending Account (HSA) Expires Soon

Health Benefits & Spending Accounts Claim Form

🕰️ A Call to Action: If Not Now, When?

This is a retake on a previous article because the message is important enough to remind ourselves of again and again.

One piece of wisdom shared by my dear friend Arlene W. is something I often reflect on: “If not now, when?”

Those four words are a powerful reminder that life is happening now. Whether it’s chasing a dream, rekindling a friendship, trying something new, or simply making time for the people and activities that bring us joy—there is no better time than now.

So, I ask you: What’s on your bucket list? What have you been putting off?

Maybe it’s time to take that leap, reconnect with an old friend, invite someone for lunch, take a walk in the park, learn something new, or simply pause and reflect on the experiences and lessons that have brought you to where you are today.

We don’t always need to make a huge change. Sometimes, it’s the small things that make the biggest difference—a phone call, a coffee with a friend, a new adventure, or saying “yes” to something you’ve been thinking about for a while.

Let’s Celebrate Our Journeys Together

We all have countless reasons to be grateful. Along the way, there have been people who guided us, experiences that shaped us, challenges that strengthened us, and moments that brought us joy. Our stories are worth sharing, and they may inspire someone else.

Just as I have been inspired by so many people throughout my own journey, I encourage you to think about the people and moments that have shaped yours.

Who made a difference in your life? What experience changed your perspective? What lesson have you carried with you?

Perhaps it’s time to tell them.

Send your story to me at stsmoosejaw@gmail.com, or better yet, reach out directly to someone who made a difference in your life and let them know.

After all, if not now, when?