President’s Message Garry McDonald CSA President I was delighted to meet so many of you during our recent series of Fall Snowbird Lifestyle Presentations. This year’s tour began in Ontario, with stops in Sarnia and Orillia. We continued on to Parry Sound, before concluding our Ontario shows in Owen Sound. We then proceeded east to entertain our guests in Moncton, New Brunswick and Summerside, P.E.I., wrapping up the season with a show in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. I am pleased to share that we welcomed many new members to the association along the way, and I extend my sincere thanks to all of the volunteers and members whose support helped make these presentations such a success. In November, the U.S. Department of State issued a global directive to U.S. consulates and embassies instructing visa officers to treat certain chronic health conditions including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancers and some mental health conditions as factors in visa eligibility. The directive emphasizes that visa officers can assess whether an applicant’s health condition could lead to long-term medical costs and thereby pose a potential burden on U.S. public resources. At this time, there is no indication that Canadians entering the United States as tourists (who do not need to pre-apply for a visa) will be affected by this policy. The vast majority of Canadian snowbirds also travel to the United States with comprehensive private travel medical insurance, which further reduces any concern that they would be viewed as a potential burden on the U.S. health-care system. As of mid-November, the National Hurricane Center reported 13 named storms in the North Atlantic this year, of which five became hurricanes. Despite this activity, Florida has so far been relatively spared, with no major landfalling hurricane. Forecasters earlier had predicted an above-average season; for example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration outlook called for 13-18 named storms, six to 10 hurricanes and two to five major hurricanes. With the season winding down, the risk for Florida remains much lower, but it’s not yet zero as we go to press. Hopefully, a calm finish to hurricane season will contribute to steadier insurance markets for snowbirds. While Florida’s insurance landscape remains challenging overall, every season without significant landfall damage helps to slow upward pressure on premiums. A reminder that CSA members may book a member of your board of directors to make an information presentation directly to their winter community or club. These presentations provide updates regarding all of the latest initiatives on which the association has been working and we attempt to answer any questions which you may have about a wide variety of snowbird-related topics. To book a presentation, please contact the CSA office in Toronto. On October 14, the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador elected a Progressive Conservative majority government. We created and distributed a provincial election handbook to all of our members in Newfoundland and Labrador prior to the election. The handbook contains key information about our major issues in the province and details regarding how to vote, along with key dates to ensure that our members had all of the information which they needed in order to exercise their right to vote. Congratulations to Premier Tony Wakeham and to all members of the provincial legislature. We look forward to working with all of you on issues of importance to travelling Canadians. As you have likely already heard from our recent email advisory, the Canadian Snowbird Association is now on Facebook and Instagram. Whether you’re planning your next winter escape or already enjoying the sunshine down south, we’d love for you to connect with us online. Our new social media pages are your go-to spot for everything snowbird-related. You’ll find timely travel and border updates, helpful health-care tips, stories and photos from fellow members, and news about upcoming CSA events and advocacy work. Best of all, they’re another way for you to get the trusted information on which snowbirds rely, straight from the CSA team. By following us on social media, you can stay informed, share your own experiences and feel connected to the CSA community no matter where your travels take you. We look forward to connecting with you online: Facebook Facebook.com/CanadianSnowbirdAssociation Instagram Instagram.com/canadiansnowbirds Have a safe and enjoyable winter with your family and friends. 10 | www.snowbirds.org
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