This is addressed to all of the pensioners that volunteered for a shift (s) for the CN 100 celebration, being held at The Forks Thursday Sept 19 – Sunday Sept 22. First, thank you again for volunteering to assist in the celebration. In May, I advised everyone that the organizers, just prior to the first celebration held in Quebec City, made a change to the shift schedules and the numbers of volunteers required for each shift. The changes they made to the schedule were significant enough that we couldn’t assume that people would just accept the change in their shift times and length, so we decided to discard everything we had done up until then and start again, with the new shift schedule. We provided advice of this on our website, and Facebook page to make sure it got to the widest audience and we contacted all of the initial applicants (email or phone) to give them specifics.
 
The new shift schedule was created as a fillable form on our website (www.cnpensioners.ca) and to date we have 47 applicants, some of which are members of this group that reapplied.....thank you.
 
Under the new schedule, we now have 112 shifts to fill and some of the additional shifts are to provide “spare” pensioners in each time slot to ensure our volunteers will get sufficient breaks throughout their shifts. This is still not an absolutely fixed schedule as the organizers are contemplating an additional day, to be a 2nd CN Family Day, because of the large employee and pensioner population we have locally. This will provide more opportunity for those to attend, but it will also create an additional 46 shifts to be filled.
 
Because there is still a possibility of the schedule changing, and in order to minimize any changes that would be required to the shift assignments once we make them, we won’t be assigning any shifts until after our General Meeting September 4, and we will be taking applications to volunteer at that meeting as well. We will try and accommodate everyone’s individual shift preferences.
 
Once again, if you have already reapplied for your shifts, thank you. If you have not, any applications will be appreciated and if they can be received prior to September 5th, it would certainly help in the establishment of a working schedule, without making numerous changes later.
 
Please feel free to pass this information along to any other pensioners that may want to volunteer some time in September.
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​Bruce Anderson & Linda Schram

Thank you for your application to volunteer for the CN 100 celebration, being held at The CN Stage and Field at The Forks in Winnipeg Thursday Sept 19 through Sunday Sept 22.  We have your information and we will be starting to assign shifts based on your preferences after the CNPA General Meeting Wednesday Sept 4.
 
The reason we are holding off is that we want to be sure that we have the final schedule settled and that we have as many applications submitted prior to starting the process, in order to minimize the number of changes we have to make once we make the initial assignments. We understand that’s not a very long advance period prior to the event, but it should make the process simpler and reduce any confusion.
 
More details will continue to be provided on our website, www.cnpensioners.ca and on our Facebook Page and at the General Meeting, Wednesday, September 4th, and eventually directly to you. Some important points for now:
 

• Our volunteer responsibilities will be, for the most part, non-physical tasks, greeting visitors to each site and monitoring their flow through each exhibit.
• There will be Brand Ambassadors, part of the national working crew, assigned to each exhibit as well, and they will provide the bulk of the assistance and information for each one.
• We had initially announced that lockers would be provided for the volunteers, but apparently that is not so, so please do not bring personal belongings with you to the grounds
• Each volunteer will be provided with a polo shirt, a fleece and a cap
• The cap and one of the shirts are expected to be worn at all times while on your volunteer shift as identification.
• There is a suggested dress code which I will circulate when we start assigning shifts
• If we get all shifts filled, there will be a sufficient number of pensioner volunteers on each shift to allow for breaks for everyone
• There will be light refreshments provided for the volunteers and if you have a refillable water bottle, there is a filling station on the grounds
• There will be on-site security provided and CN Police will be present
• The issue of parking is still be discussed/negotiated between the organizers and the local folks and parking will either be provided free of charge, or you will be reimbursed for your parking charges on presentation of a receipt. We will try and make this process as uncomplicated and as quick as possible.

 
Thank you again for signing up as a volunteer and we will get as much additional information as soon as we can, including your shifts, sometime after September 4th.

Bruce Anderson & Linda Schram
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Preparations are well under way for the CN 100th celebrations.  The Moving Celebration Tour will be in Winnipeg Sept 19th to 22nd.  For more information about the festivities and how you can participate, visit our CN 100th page.   As we become aware of more details, these will be announced at our April, May and June General Meetings as well as posted on our website (cnpensioners.ca) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/cnpensionersmanitoba) and in our upcoming National and Manitoba newsletters.
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Web Portal - To register and log in, click on this link  cnbenefits.hroffice.com.  To sign up, click on the Register link which is highlighted in yellow and circled in blue below.

Enter your last name, then your date of birth.  Be sure to enter it in the correct format.  For example, if your birthdate is January 1, 1950 you would enter 19500101.  Next enter your postal code or zip code in the format shown. For example, if your postal code is A9A 9A9 you would enter A9A9A9.

Before clicking continue, you must check off the box (to the right) that says “I’m not a robot”.  Then click continue and follow the instructions on the next screen.  Be sure to create a brand new password.  You will also be asked to create 3 security questions and answers.  Please ensure you write them down and keep them in a safe place for future verification should you forget your password.
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Once you have completed the registration process, in order to log in, you would use your CN PIN as your user id, then the password that you just created.  Don't forget to logout when you are finished.​

Choice Hotels Canada will soon migrate to a new website, which will affect how you book. Here’s what you need to know!
Starting today, ensure a seamless booking process on ChoiceHotels.com:
Go to www.choicehotels.com/?clientid=00064447
Preferred Customer Savings Rate will display in the ‘Special Rate’ menu box

• To verify, click the ‘Special Rate’ menu box and scroll to the bottom to see currently logged in as your organization
  
• Select your reservation details (destination using the drop down, dates and the number of guests)
• Click ‘Find Hotels’
• All Choice Hotels for your selected destination will display
• Click ‘Check Availability’ at the hotel you want to book
• Discounted rates will display as well as other tabs and rates will also be visible
• Click ‘Book Now’ to make your reservation for the selected room type and rate
•  

The original .ca URL will still be valid for some time but let’s make the transition now.  Included is an updated booking information page with the new content. The Choice Privileges bonus point registration offer has been extended until the end of 2019.
 

The CN Pensioners' Association has recently signed a partner agreement with Collette which provides travel services to all seven continents. Collette features comprehensive land tours, river cruises, rail journeys, small group tours and more. They also offer various discounts including loyalty benefits for frequent travelers. When you purchase Air as well as Land, Collette will provide CNPA members and traveling companion’s with door to door round trip home to airport sedan service as long as they are within a 100 km of a major Canadian airport.
Here are the benefits:
• CNPA members save $100 per person on any tour!
• The CNPA member benefit is combinable with all other Collette offers. These could be up to $500 off p/p in some cases.
• The CNPA member benefit is also in addition to taking advantage of Collette’s Loyalty Program (additional $150 off any tour booked within 12 months of their 1st booking; or $100 off if within 24 months of 1st booking per person).
• An exclusive landing page on Collette’s website, toll free number and offer code “CNPASAVE” exclusively for CNPA members.
For more information consult the National Website at www.cnpensioners.org and click on MEMBERS THEN SELECT Travel and discounts, then select Collette or visit the Collette Website at http://www.collette.com/cnpa. Be sure to mention your CNPA member benefit and offer code CNPASAVE when calling.

Next Event Is the Christmas Luncheon, Wednesday, December 5th, 2018.  The luncheon will be held at the Masonic Memorial Centre, 420 Corydon Ave.  Doors open at ​11:30.  Tickets are available by contacting Ernie Yakiwchuk.  Deadline for tickets is November 21st.   Please note that there is no General Meeting that day so please DO NOT go to the Norwood Legion.
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For those CNPA of MB members who pay their dues by cheque, please mail your 2019 dues asap to Joanne Gaborieau (Membership Chair) so as to avoid getting caught up in the postal disruption.  Better yet, contact Joanne to see if you are eligible to have your membership fee automatically deducted each month.

Please click here for the new application form and instructions.  Please click here to review the Policy Manual.

Join us at the September General Meeting on Wednesday, September 5th at 1:30 p.m. at the Norwood Legion.  Guest speaker will be Constable Misan Odidison from the Winnipeg Police Services speaking on awareness and prevention of fraud.

From September 23rd to 29th, CN will again this year join forces with Operation Lifesaver to promote public rail safety to communities throughout Canada.    We encourage everyone to think safety not just during the official "Rail Safety Week", but every week.

Here are 10 Rail Safety tips that could save your life:
 

1. Speed Misperception – Because of their size, trains appear to be much further away and travelling much slower than their actual speed.  Don’t be fooled!
2. Trains Can’t Stop Quickly –  The average train needs at least 2 km to stop.  Trains can stop, but they can’t stop quickly.
3. Trespassing – Taking a shortcut across the tracks or being on railway property is illegal and trespassers can be seriously injured or killed.
4. Weight Ratio – An average freight train weighs over 5, 500 tonnes (12 million lbs).  Compare that to a car, which weighs about 1.5 tonne (over 3,000 lbs).  A train hitting a car is like a car hitting a pop can.
5. Railway Cars – Stopped railway cars can move at any time.  If you’re on one or near one when it moves, you could lose a limb or worse, your life.
6. Tunnels and Bridges –  Tunnels, bridges, and trestles are only designed for trains.  Trespassers can be seriously injured or killed.
7. Overhang – Trains can carry loads that are wider than the railroad cars themselves.  They can have chains, straps, or other equipment that may extend outside the car.  If you are standing too close, you could get hit.
8. Anytime is Train Time – Trains do not always run on a schedule.  They can run at any time, on any track and come from either direction.
9. CN Police Number – Together we can help to save lives!  If you witness any unsafe situation near the railroad, please call 1-800-465-9239.
10. Pledge For Safety – Act today.  Take the pledge at mysafetypledge.com.

 
Keep these rail safety tips handy and share them with someone today – help us to save lives!