Comments from some who were not able to attend the Feb. 1 Board retreat session (Curry, Janczyk & Speas) and one who did (Leone)

From John Curry, Feb. 2, 2006

Dave, I have the utmost respect for you. You have the patience of Job with the ability to bring people together and to mediate differences of opinions. You have a positive outlook on matters that cause great difficulties for others of less patience. Please take my feelings on what has and is happening at STRS as just that - my feelings. I mean no disrespect to you by differing somewhat from your perspective.

Conflict among human beings, and it has existed since recorded history, has-is-and probably will exist for the duration of recorded history. The majority of human conflict is driven by the desire for money, power, greed, the desire to impose one's religion upon others (Holy Wars), or a combination of these. If all people acted in good faith, we wouldn't have a need for as many laws as we now have on the books, law enforcement agencies, or a military.

STRS retirees have suffered injustices at the hands of misspending, mismanagement, and an entitlement philosophy that most surely has existed inside the walls of the STRS and was allowed to thrive thanks to many former and some current Board members as well as former and some current persons in a position of leadership at STRS. Today, I (and others) still rightfully interpret some of what we see going on at STRS to be more of the same (to a lesser degree). We still see the failure for some at STRS in leadership positions to come to grips with the reasons why our once excellent retirement system has fallen- it wasn't just the stock market "dip" in the early 2000's like some would like us to believe. We see the failure for those very same people to admit that wrongdoing (both illegal and unethical) was perpetrated upon the shoulders of over 100,000 retirees. Until those people can and will openly state these injustices - or - they are replaced, we will still have conflict. A major problem in this conflict resolution comes from organizations who face embarrassment or loss of membership should the majority of active teachers really understand what really had happened at STRS. These organizations face the loss of membership monies should the "troops" be informed of the truth.

I would much sooner be enjoying a life of carefree retirement rather than having to work a post-retirement job for affordable healthcare for my spouse and spending hours at this computer each day to educate both actives and retirees of the political spins that some in the leadership of STRS and the OEA place on the reasons why we are facing difficulties. I will continue to do so until I have faith in the majority of the STRS Board and the administration at STRS to execute their duties in the best interests of retirees and the complete compliance with ORC 3307.15 - that may take a while. Yes, Dave, I am a Christian - but I (and other CORE members) am tired of turning my cheek to some yet in power at STRS who refuse to accept responsibility of what has happened and who continue to place a "spin" on what has happened and is happening at Ohio STRS. I will not stop until my educator brothers and sisters really know the true picture of what really transpired at STRS and the STRS ship's rudder has caused a true 180 degree course correction. Looks like I (and others) still have lots to do.

Respectfully,

John A Proud CORE member

From: Molly Janczyk; Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006; Subject: Re: My Take of the First Day of the STRS Retreat

I think all agree that benefiting membership is the top priority and I am sorry if some don't like the tone, but this reflects what occurred due to some not even able to hold a discussion which varies from their views. We don't want board members who will simply vote to go along as that was the problem of the past. I think membership needs to understand free speech and discussing and respecting everyone's views are necessary for solutions. Some are only willing to discuss one way. That is just not going to happen. The Chair and Vice Chair try to shut down motions for things such as not voting until all info and contracts are in front of them and find later they approved costs they had no awareness exits. These are still the same old deliberate attempts to roll things through. I think your membership needs to applaud those willing to say, NO, finally. Someone has to do it and should have long ago. Questioning all points is why Leone and Lazares were elected so that membership is fully aware of the details of budgets and where their money goes. We can't help it that some on the board still think it is ok to work with companies who have been found guilty of violations or think it is fine to approve costs for items no one knew existed with corporate mentalities of 'what's the problem, it's only this much.....'

The past is not the past as long as this type of thinking still exists on THIS board. We are there monthly and HEAR what THIS board says: I heard Fisher, an investment appointee board member berating Lazares asking 'WHO does it hurt. It's a matter of degree' when she was talking of violations. ISN'T THAT precisely what was wrong with the past board. NO! To go along to get along is simply NOT ok with thousands of membership. I respectfully disagree.

Most think and this is what we are hearing from various membership attending the monthly board meetings, including OEA speakers, that this is THE FIRST TIME they have heard discussion and debate on issues and to keep it up. If you wish to direct comments to those intolerable of discussion, send this to Brown and Ramser for starters. Fisher doesn't seem to me to be tolerate of views outside her own and Meyers seems most private corporate in his thinking not public sector.

I think those 37 need visit STRS and see who is not progressing from past behaviors.

Most Respectfully Submitted based on facts viewed and taken from those of us attending actual board meetings seeing Brown and Ramser throwing fits and denying free speech and proper rules of procedure because it has not gone their way. That will not EVER be ok NOR will we EVER tolerate board members rolling over so as not to make waves. Molly J.

From: Dave Speas, Feb. 2, 2006

Good afternoon, In a meeting of retirees and actives the subject of the STRS board was brought up. After a long discussion with all taking part, I thought, after this long email, some out there would be interested in the view of the two groups together.

1. They want the board to learn from the past but not be hindered in their decision making by the past. This is essentially a new board and they want it to get on with helping staff solve the problems STRS faces. Learn from past mistakes but move on and work hard on the future.

2. Staff at STRS has to be top notch. It is their work and expertise that makes a 63 billion dollar entity run. Stop looking at past practices and do what is fair but not excessive. STRS staff members help the investment staff get their job done. Much of the work of the investment staff is done by other staff members so they can concentrate on beating the benchmark, which they have done consistently. The rest help US! We do not want second rate people helping us decide our golden years' decisions. Whatever it costs to have those good folks there for us is not going to bring back healthcare and will keep us from having even worse financial problems because we got bad advice from untrained and average public workers. (Ala the federal and state government advisors)

3. Do NOT roll back anything teachers have gotten over the years. Doing so will make the healthcare problem even greater. Even though some of the retirees did not have the opportunity for 35 years they feel we are all in this together and do not want to make active teachers pay as they may be in a worse situation when they retire in the healthcare area and possible added years of work.

4. Concentrate on doing POSITIVE building of trust and work atmosphere. Our futures are on the line and anything that gets in the way of progressing on getting back what we have lost is negative to all of us. Board members do not have to be on the same page all the time but they should understand one thing, we cannot change the past, what people did, what people said, what people ethically did wrong but must move from this point and get on the same page as far as letting the staff do their work and the board spend their time on asking the questions, setting policy and making progress toward a limited set of goals.

5. Set the priorities and personalities be damned! Every board member should be working toward the priorities in the order they set them. Stop sniping, stop griping, stop living in the past, get on with the priorities. Every person, 37, felt I should send this email as a former board member. All the retirees and actives agree 100% on these points. The board was elected to do the work for ALL of US! Forget yourselves and your personal agendas and get on with the priorities. They did not like the tone of this email as it looks like they are not at work on the top priorities Respectfully submitted, Dave Speas

From: Dennis Leone, Feb. 2. 2006:

Molly -- Mary Ellen's summary is excellent, and accurate.

Dennis Leone