![CWM-Map-Colour_thumb1_thumb1_thumb_t[1]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FWnjiOh0068/VHZPVDFocQI/AAAAAAAAJ8A/ZUVbJc_HbrE/s1600-h/CWM-Map-Colour_thumb1_thumb1_thumb_t%25255B1%25255D.jpg "CWM-Map-Colour_thumb1_thumb1_thumb_t[1]")
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Upcoming Events at a glance
2015
January 18 – Child Protection Training Meadow Ridge
Jan 30 - Feb 1 All Are Called: Ministry Workshop Vancouver
February 21 Samish Island Kitchen and Cabin Work Day
Feb 27 - Mar 1 Nurturing Spirit Weekend Samish Island
March 13-15 All Are Called: Ministry Workshop Regina
March 27-29 All Are Called: Ministry Workshop Calgary
April 19 – Child Protection Training Vancouver
April 23-26 Fine Arts Retreat Samish Island
April 25-26 All Are Called: Ministry Workshop Ribstone
Apr 27-May 2 Samish Island Work Week
*dates subject to change, always check online or here for the most up to date information
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This Week…in the Weekly Wire!
New ‘World Church Website’
Memorial Service for Bill Levitt
Ministry Workshop Vancouver
Samish Island News
Nurturing Spirit Weekend Samish Island
Christmas in Review Newsletter
Looming Financial Concern Part 2
What’s Up…In the CWM is here!
Women’s Christmas Breakfast in Vancouver
Community of Christ Career Networking Program
Quote of the week
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There will be a memorial service for Bill Levitt on
Sunday November 30th at 2pm
at the Calgary Community of Christ.
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New!
World Church Website
Click here to see the new Community of Christ
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Ministry Workshop Vancouver
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Pray Always, Pray All Ways
Guest Ministry
Vickie McArthur Lethbridge AB, and Shannon McAdam Vancouver BC
Please register early if you require an ‘E’ Cabin.
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It’s here! The fall edition of
click above to see it on line and in full color.
We’ll be publishing our annual ‘Christmas in Review’ newsletter in January.
Please take lots of photos of your Christmas events and services, and send Debra your articles, or blurbs by January 15th!
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Samish Island News!
From Board President Mark Chapman:
Be a caretaker at Samish! Live and serve in one of the most spectacular places on earth! We are now recruiting for the Manager of Food Service position. Interested? For details, contact: Mark Chapman markatsamish@gmail.com, 360-420-6369.
Samish Island Campground Association Board votes to relocate proposed sport court. We heard loud and clear from those who were concerned that the proposed site would impose on the open and natural feel of the campground. After a thorough Board review of options, consensus formed around a placement to the southwest of the Christian Fellowship Centre. A $20,000 challenge grant has already been made to jump start funding. We need to raise an addition $50,000 by January 31 in order to break ground this spring. Send contributions to Dave Skoor, Samish Island Campground Association Treasurer samishcgdave@gmail.com, 425-446-0019.
Thank you for sharing! View a summary of the Strategic Planning Survey results. Over 100 event directors, cooks, participants and neighbors shared their ideas and feedback. This will be a valued source of data to inform the Samish Island Campground Association Board as we work towards a refreshed strategic plan to assure a strong future for Camp Samish.
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Women’s Christmas Breakfast in Vancouver
RSVP today.
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Community of Christ Career Networking
For those of you who are on LinkedIn or want to be (easy to join) we have set up a Canadian Community of Christ private LinkedIn group to assist in employment opportunities through our collective networking for and with one another. The group is called "Community of Christ Net Connect." Search for it on LinkedIn and request membership.
Many Young Adults and others are unemployed, under-employed, going through career changes, health changes, re-locations, or other challenges. We can be part of the answer in their lives.
We have the capacity to make a difference through our mutual networking together. The full capability of this group is just beginning to unfold. Join us and we will create a new model of interaction that will bless us all.
Thanks.
Kerry Richards, Director of Mission
![[staff/KerryRichards.jpg]](http://www.communityofchrist.ca/uploads/images/staff/KerryRichards.jpg "Kerry Richards")
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Looming Financial Concern: Part 2
Many workers are facing serious challenges financially when preparing for retirement, as discussed in Part 1. The onus is more on the workers than ever before to provide a financially viable retirement scenario for themselves. How then, can workers effectively prepare for retirement knowing: 1) Government benefits are and can be changed at any time. 2) Company pension plans, if in existence, are becoming less generous than before. 3) Ongoing living costs makes saving for many workers very difficult.
First, government pensions, Social Security, Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security on their own, were never intended to provide a luxury retirement for anyone. Consider these pensions as your base level of income during retirement, with additional income required from other sources for more than a meager existence.
THE KEY to government benefits is to ASK for the benefits. YOU must also apply to the government for these benefits to start. But also ASK, what else is available and how do I apply to get the additional benefits? People can miss out on benefits they are entitled to because they do not ASK, what is available or understand how to apply. Keep ASKING until you are satisfied. Phone the government on different days and speak to different government workers. You might be pleasantly surprised with the different answers you receive. While the government employees do their best to stay current with ongoing benefits, inadvertently some information can be forgotten or missed. So ASK and ASK again keeping in mind, as my Grandma Walker use to say, “a closed mouth gets you nowhere!”
Government benefits are in place for a reason, so do not miss out by default. Should you need additional assistance, ask a trusted professional to assist with the ASK or to help with completing the paperwork. After all it is in your best interest financially and that of your family.
Secondly, utilize company pensions to the greatest extent possible. It is imperative for you to join whatever type of company pension arrangement available. Just by contributing the minimum dollars or percentages allowed, you will benefit in the long run. Your contributions to these plans can increase over time as your income increases.
It is reasonable for workers to ask their employer to implement a Group RSP or Group IRA. This can also benefit the business itself, as it may attract skilled workers or lower staff turnover, which can reduce training costs and increase company profits. These types of plans can be relatively inexpensive to operate and add to the overall corporate climate of the company.
Before we leave the company pension scenarios, I want to mention, I am aware of the “GOLD PLATED COMPANY PENSION” arrangements which exist. This article was never intended to discuss those particular pensions. The “Gold Plated Pensions” are a highly sensitive issue and can be considered and discussed elsewhere.
Thirdly, personalized registered retirement investment vehicles, depending on your country of residence, such as; Roth IRA’s, IRA’s, TFSA and RRSP’s, can provide tremendous financial resources for retirement. The key is to begin investing in these plans early in your working career. These are individualized registered plans which can be complimentary to any company arrangement. The key is to maximize your contributions to these plans based on maximum allowable contributions set out in the Income Tax Act or what your personal family budget will allow. By following sound investment principals for funds within these plans, the opportunity for growth and income from your investment selection is extremely, good over the long term.
The final component for building a sound financial retirement foundation, is you own personal, nonregistered investments. These nonregistered investments are OUTSIDE OF your IRA, RSP, Roth IRA and TFSA. The personal nonregistered investments can consist of a portfolio of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, property (land, houses, cottages, rentals) etc. I am NOT recommending any one of these in particular as it depends on your own risk tolerance, knowledge level and personal comfort. Any one or combination of these investment possibilities could make the difference between a comfortable or meager retirement.
A real concern with any of these investments, are how you manage them. Regular contributions, knowledgeable investing and length of time the investment has to grow, are all critical to your success. With planning and the proper mindset, many people can do extremely well in their personal investments.
Clearly, having a corporate pension arrangement is just one corner stone to the overall retirement plan. Without a corporate plan available, workers must be more diligent in funding their own retirement plans and managing their own finances. This puts more stress on the workers of today. With more awareness of the retirement situation overall, assistance from financial professionals and a plan in place, hopefully more people will be financially secure in the future.
Kenneth J. McGowan, B.A., STI, MTI. PFP, FMA, CFP®, CEA®, CEP®, MCEP® 
Mission Funding
1-800-884-7526 ext. 5
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Canada West Camping and Event Calendar
2015
Jan 30 - Feb 1 All Are Called: Ministry Workshop Vancouver
February 21 Samish Island Kitchen and Cabin Work Day
Feb 27 - Mar 1 Nurturing Spirit Weekend Samish Island
March 13-15 All Are Called: Ministry Workshop Regina
March 27-29 All Are Called: Ministry Workshop Calgary
April 23-26 Fine Arts Retreat Samish Island
April 25-26 All Are Called: Ministry Workshop Ribstone
Apr 27-May 2 Samish Island Work Week
May 1-3 All Are Called: Ministry Workshop Chilliwack
May 9-10 Hills of Peace Camp Opening
May 23-24 Ribstone Enrichment Weekend
June 5-7 Camp Genesis (8-9 yrs) Samish Island
June 5-7 Spiritual Retreat Hills of Peace
June 13 Samish Island Work Day
June 13-19 Adult Reunion Samish Island
June 19-21 Young Adult Retreat Hills of Peace
June 28-July 3 Canada West Youth Camp Hills of Peace
July 4-9 Family Reunion Hills of Peace
July 10-14 Junior Camp (8-11 yrs) Hills of Peace
July 11-18 Family Reunion Samish Island
July 18-25 Spectacular Graceland University tentative dates
July 19-25 Camp Kluane (girls 12-14 yrs) Samish Island
July 26-Aug 1 Camp Chimacum (boys 12-14 yrs) Samish Island
August 2-8 Camp Kimtah (15-18 yrs) Samish Island
August 7-9 Nurturing Spirit Weekend Hills of Peace
August 9-15 Camp Mungai (10-11 yrs) Samish Island
August 16-22 NW Singles Retreat Samish Island
September 4-6 Canada West Mission Conference – Saskatoon, SK
Sept 25-27 Men’s Retreat Hills of Peace
October 2-4 Women’s Retreat Chilliwack
October 2-4 Young Adult Retreat Samish Island
October 23-25 Peace Colloquy Independence, Missouri tentative dates
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![CWM-Map-Colour_thumb1_thumb1_thumb_t[1]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Brq-Hqyktzs/VG0yAmmbb-I/AAAAAAAAJ4Y/2-WuNP9YGnw/s1600-h/CWM-Map-Colour_thumb1_thumb1_thumb_t%25255B2%25255D.jpg "CWM-Map-Colour_thumb1_thumb1_thumb_t[1]")
![Net-Connect_thumb3_thumb_thumb_thumb[2]](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-h9KNBId4pXE/VG0yhT4ZhTI/AAAAAAAAJ7Y/2xGZXv6-cmo/s1600-h/Net-Connect_thumb3_thumb_thumb_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png "Net-Connect_thumb3_thumb_thumb_thumb[2]")
![CWM-Map-Colour_thumb1_thumb1_thumb_t[2]](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-x3rMgsTYhDE/VGOr5jSMd7I/AAAAAAAAJ04/T3O96QoF3Fc/s1600-h/CWM-Map-Colour_thumb1_thumb1_thumb_t%25255B1%25255D.jpg "CWM-Map-Colour_thumb1_thumb1_thumb_t[2]")
![CWM-Map-Colour_thumb1_thumb1_thumb_t[1]](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-L2rM-VEKq2U/VFq3ubXmqMI/AAAAAAAAJwI/UCvJk_KNwUs/s1600-h/CWM-Map-Colour_thumb1_thumb1_thumb_t%25255B1%25255D.jpg "CWM-Map-Colour_thumb1_thumb1_thumb_t[1]")
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