Steve Bilikam: An active teacher, enlightened by retiree and CORE member George Justice, urges his fellow teachers to elect TOM HALL and MARK FREDRICK

April 5, 2006

Fellow Old Timers: (Or, if you don't like the sound of that...call yourself a "mature" teacher.) I have a longtime friend named George Justice who is a retired teacher from the Westerville Schools. He has been very active in retirement attending STRS meetings and trying to keep the STRS leadership in check after many financial problems were discovered in our retirement system. He called me and discussed a couple of the candidates for the STRS board who he and his committee supports, candidates who will watch STRS investments and expenditures closely. As we begin nearing retirement, (in the next nine months for me), I think that we should all pay close attention to what's happening downtown in our retirement system. I trust George's judgment, and I'm including his message to me with the candidates names below.

Steve Bilikam

Physical Education

Olentangy Local Schools

Scioto Ridge Elementary School

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George's message to Steve

Steve --

As usual I enjoyed talking and laughing with you last night while reminiscing about our careers. After meeting and interviewing five of the candidates for the two "active" seats on the STRS board, our committee agreed that the two best candidates were definitely Mark Fredrick and Tom Hall. The other candidates were all good people but we felt these two had a better understanding of the financial predicament and health care concerns which the STRS is facing. We feel they can provide the leadership to help restore the solidarity of our retirement system. Please encourage any of your colleagues to vote for MARK FREDRICK and TOM HALL for the STRS board. If you or your colleagues know teachers in other districts, please notify them also. We're trying to network throughout the state. Thanks for your help.

George Justice