Nancy Hamant to Damon Asbury: WCRTA request for information -- AGAIN

December 6, 2005
Dr. Damon Asbury, Executive Director
STRS Ohio

Dear Dr. Asbury:

The Warren County Retired Teachers Association (WCRTA) Executive Board met Monday, December 5, 2005. WCRTA reviewed and discussed STRS's response to *WCRTA's Public Information request of July and August 2005 regarding STRS staff travel.

The WCRTA Executive Board is indignant with STRS's response. STRS did not provide the requested "breakdown to include any expenditures for airline tickets, lodging, meals, alcohol/bar bills". In fact, only a listing has been provided with no breakdown whatsoever. STRS did not attempt to group data by each STRS employee's name. Nor were any totals provided for each STRS employee or for each of the FYs.

In addition, WCRTA is perplexed with the statement in STRS's cover letter "You also requested information about gifts from vendors to STRS Ohio Associates. STRS is in possession of no records responsive to your request". In light of the Ohio Ethics Commission charges that have been presented to Franklin County Court and those charges that are pending, WCRTA thinks that it astounding that STRS states that it "is in possession of no records".

The two copies of the data that STRS sent in response to WCRTA's public information request will be further examined by Ryan Holderman, WCRTA and John Curry, CORE.

Also, WCRTA has requested copies of the pending
(1) Buck study on the impact of SB 190 and (2) Aon study on STRS staff compensation. Please send those studies to Ryan Holderman, 29-B Shaker Run Road, Lebanon, OH 45036-2804.

WCRTA is asking that in any future correspondence to answer WCRTA's concerns, that STRS respectfully address STRS's response to the WCRTA Executive Board and Members. Nancy Hamant, Legislative Chair, submits WCRTA's concerns and issues to STRS for all of our members, over one hundred. So, please address All, not just one member.

Sincerely,

Nancy B. Hamant WCRTA
Legislative Chair

*"Therefore, WCRTA is requesting you to obtain a listing of travel expenses for each STRS employee (including the Executive Director) for the following years: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. WCRTA would like the breakdown to include any expenditure for airline tickets, lodging, meals, alcohol/bar bills, plus acceptance of dinners, tickets and/or any other gifts from vendors for each STRS employee".