Cyber Pensioners' Historical Log
DATE | MEMORABLE EVENTS | #MEMBERS | #FB FRIENDS |
1991 | Jim O'Neill and Barry Gemmel established an e-mail exchange with Central Ontario pensioners. | 60 | |
2001 | Started an MSN sponsored interactive website. | 200 | |
2002 | Tom Mitchell joined Barry and Jim. They became known as the Three Amigos. | ||
2003 | Started the Cyber Pensioners (CP) Gmail account. | 400 | |
2004 | Current Cyber Pensioner's website created by Tom Mitchell. | 500 | |
2007 | Barry and Jim announced they wished to "retire". | 645 | |
Announcement made that as there were no volunteer replacements Cyber Pensioners would be closed. | |||
(Click here for - Closing Announcement Newsletter) | |||
Colin Evans joined the team and recruited replacement volunteers. | |||
Jim and Tom moved into very active advisory roles. | |||
Formalized relationships with existing Pensioner Associations and started to recruit volunteer Regional Representatives. | |||
2008 | Automated membership application developed by Tom Mitchell with assistance from Jim O'Neill. | 676 | |
2009 | Promotional initiatives - Arranged for CP luncheon handout to be given out at luncheons across Canada. | 775 | |
And also negotiated the inclusion of CP website on Bank's "@work" Newsletter. | |||
(Click here for - Copy of initial Luncheon Handout) | |||
Presentation made by Colin Evans to promote Cyber Pensioners at the Toronto pensioners' luncheon. | |||
2010 | When @work Newsletter cancelled arrangement made to add Retirements and Obituaries to CP website. | 893 | |
CP website address added to the Benefacts brochure. | |||
Major website redesign and development done by Tom Mitchell with assistance from Heinz Hiob and Jim O'Neill to be more intuitive and user friendly to navigate. | |||
2011 | 20th Anniversary of Cyber Pensioners. | 1300 | |
(Click here for - 20th Anniversary History Article) | |||
Team participated in the working committee to create BMO's Retiree Portal. | |||
New logo and Cyber Pensioners masthead developed by Tom Mitchell for use on website and all promotional material. (Logo is artist rendition of pillars seen in old BMO branches) | |||
CP website added to gifts handed out at all Ontario Pensioners' luncheons. | |||
2013 | Website information added to enrollment section of myBenefits website for new retirees. | 1943 | |
BMO Retiree Portal launched to include our recommendations: Best of BMO, Personal Use Deals and Retirements and Obituaries. | |||
2014 | Created the Cyber Pensioners' Facebook page. | 2270 | |
2015 | Initiated the need for "Reporting The Death of a Love One" guide that is posted on the Retiree Portal. | 2329 | 400 |
Website rebuilt with new navigation menu using a "website builder" tool to reduce technical skills needed to maintain and update the website developed by Tom Mitchell with assistance from Heinz Hiob. | |||
2016 | BMO commemorative letter to celebrate 25th Anniversary presented to Jim O'Neill and Barry Gemmel. | 2500 | 599 |
(Click here for - Picture of presentation and copy of the letter) | |||
2017 | Initiated special 200th BMO Anniversary pensioners' luncheon in Toronto. | 2800 | 800 |
Also briefed keynote speaker and suggested Scottish Piper introduction of keynote speaker. | |||
(Click here for - Picture of the event at the Toronto Convention Center) | |||
Cyber Pensioner Hall of Fame introduced and added to "About Us" page of CP website. | |||
Minor changes to appearance of website with major technical enhancements to simplify and streamline the daily maintenance designed and developed by Sandy Shim with assistance from Heinz Hiob and Roy Brown. | |||
2019 | Last full year of publication of pensioner group activities before disruption by COVID 19 pandemic | 3200 | 1063 |
2020 | Discussed with BMO the continued publication of Retirements and Obituaries as the Bank stopped publishing last year due to privacy and security concerns. (Still awaiting a final solution.) | 3356 | 1176 |
2021 | 30th Anniversary | 3482 | 1352 |
2022 | Added new feature for 90 and Over Birthday Celebrations | 3588 | |
2023 | Updated "Our Objectives" on the About BMO Cyber Pensioners page | 3751 | 1558 |
Updated Format and Content of Newsletter | |||
Updates to Privacy/Publishing Policy with respect to Obituaries and Bilingual format | |||
2024 | Updated Role Definitions on About Us page | 3832 | 1687 |
Leslie Chambers joined the News Team as Associate Registrar and Al Bateson moved to the Webmaster Team | |||
Updated Welcome Letter to include promotion of "Social Events" |