UPDATING QUALIFICATIONS FORMS
Teachers are reminded that the deadline for submitting qualifications forms to the VBE is Friday, February 5th.  Please call the office if you need assistance in filling out the form.

Package materials distributed to teachers:
Letter to Member
Hope Awards
Qualifications Form (example)

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“88 and Out”—
Save up to $800 Per Year
BCTF Salary Indemnity Plan regulations provide for a member who has reached age 64, or a total of age plus contributory service of 88, to withdraw from the long term portion of the plan. You may wish to continue the plan, however, if your accumulated sick leave and BCTF Short Term SIP (120 days) will not protect your salary until you reach the age of 65 or factor 90. Members who withdraw from the Long Term portion of the plan will still receive the 2% SIP allowance. Call the Income Security Division at the BCTF at 604-871-2283 or VSTA for more information.

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VSTA Ad-Hoc Technology Committee
With the onslaught of BCeSIS and computers in every classroom, technology is becoming more a part of our daily practice. It is crucial that VSTA have a way to communicate tech related issues to its members and for members to provide feedback to VSTA for discussion at the district level.
An Ad-Hoc Technology Committee has been struck to develop a network among all secondary schools/sites.  We require each school/site Staff Committee to appoint 2 members to be reps on this committee and to provide non-VBE email addresses.  For more information, please contact the VSTA office.
The first meeting will take place at the VSTA office on Tuesday, February 2nd at 4pm.

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   Collective Agreement 
    Updates

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VSTA GENERAL MEETING
Wednesday, February 3
4pm at Tupper Auditorium

All teachers are encouraged to attend our VSTA general meeting. Agenda items include:

• election of delegates to the BCTF AGM
• projected budget shortfall & layoffs for
   Sept 2010
• College of Teachers issues
• Alternate Calendar Proposal for 2010-2011
   (click here for proposal)

Call for Delegates to the BCTF AGM
The BCTF Annual General Meeting is scheduled from Saturday, March 6, to Tuesday, March 9, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Vancouver. If you are interested in participating in this professionally enriching event, please attend the VSTA General Meeting at Tupper on Wednesday, February 3, 2010, where the membership will elect or acclaim the 20 delegates who will represent the VSTA. Join the approximately 700 colleagues from around the province to enjoy social events, debate policy, and influence the direction of the BCTF. The AGM has been described as an event that every teacher "must do" at least once in a career! See your staff rep or click here for the delegate nomination form, and return it to the VSTA. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor of our general meeting on February 3rd.

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Executive Vacancy
A position of Member-at Large on the VSTA Executive has become vacant.  An election for the position will be held at the VSTA Council meeting on February 25, 2010. Nominations for this position can be made by phoning the VSTA office at 604-873-5570 and shall also be accepted at the February Council meeting.

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As of December 4, 2009,
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