This information was received from the Memorial University Pensioners’ Association and is being forwarded for information purposes
“For those of you thinking about retirement… (and for those of you who are not quite there yet!)
Retirement is a word that can elicit a variety of responses, from denial to jubilation and everything in between! However, just about everyone retires at one point or another. No one can tell you when the “right time” is exactly – it’s different for everyone. The one thing that is certain is that when you do retire from the university, you automatically become a member of the Memorial University of Newfoundland Pensioners’ Association (MUNPA), so it’s probably a good idea for you to learn a little more about us!
What does MUNPA do?
MUNPA is similar to the unions/associations that represent employees at Memorial. Our mandate includes:
- Representing retirees’ interests to University senior administrators and has representatives on the University Benefits and Pensions Committees.
- Answering members’ questions about pension or benefits, or connecting them with the right people at the university.
- Organizing social events like the Christmas socials and the AGM, running special interest groups in areas such as music, photography, games and crafts, and puts together a series of presentations, short courses and visits, many of which are accessible via Zoom.
- Providing a means of connecting with colleagues through our Facebook group, as well as our website (www.mun.ca/munpa [1]), email listserv, and newsletter.
- Contributing to students through our annual MUNPA scholarship, contributing to campus food banks, and the Giving Tuesday Campaign. Visit our website to learn more.
- Recognizing pensioners’ contributions to the community and to scholarship post-retirement through our annual MUNPA Tribute Awards. Nominations for the Tribute Awards close on June 30th and forms can be found at www.mun.ca/munpa/about-us/tribute-awards [2].
Becoming a contributing MUNPA member
When you make the decision to retire, you will receive a package from the university. Among the forms you are asked to complete is a registration form and information sheet for MUNPA. That form is critical to us for a couple of reasons:
- It provides us with your contact information, which allows us to communicate with you about MUNPA events and other issues of interest. (For privacy reasons, the university currently does not provide this information to us directly – you must provide it to us.)
- It is where you designate your willingness to contribute a monthly $2 membership fee that the university then deducts from your monthly pension payment. This contribution allows us to continue to provide services to our members.
You already know the importance of having an organization that is willing to speak on your behalf and others like you when the need arises. When your retirement day comes, please help us do our job by providing your contact information and becoming a contributing MUNPA member. Until that day comes, we wish you the very best in your career at Memorial!
If you have any questions, you can reach us at munpa@mun.ca [3]. “