RH Jones' report on Summit County RTA meeting: ORTA needs to back Strickland and Dann

June 6, 2006

To all:

The following is a report of the [June 5] SummitCRTA General Meeting as related to me by K. Fluke, PhD., VP, & Legislative Chair: In attendance were 150 retired teachers at the meeting that was held at the Guy's Party Center on Waterloo Rd. in Akron. The food & service, by the way, was excellent at the sit-down dinner. Pres. Bob Dengler allowed CORE to pass out two of Leone's "Update #2" at each table. Dengler also allowed Fluke unlimited time for an explanation of the Leone update and to update progress, or lack of it, at the STRS. The STRS reports that HC & the 30-yr. funding period is being affected by less numbers of teachers now working in OH and paying into the retirment fund. Also, current legislation was reported on and that pretaining to Ohio public employee retirees who happen to be military vets.

Fluke endorsed Strickland for OH Governor and Dann for Attorney General. The membership strongly agreed. Not one person stood to endorse Blackwell or Montgomery who both have poor records on public education and teacher retirement issues.

Also, Fluke was sad to report that SumiitCRTA Treasurer for the past 12-yrs., Edna Robinson, is stepping down. Walt Bender, an active CORE member is being recommended and asked to take her place.

My thoughts: Overall, the meeting was very good, productive, entertaining & informative, this time around. I'm sorry to have missed it.

As a member of Fluke's SummitCRTA Legislative CMTE, I would like to request that my ORTA endorse Strickland and Dann as well. The election is less than 5 months away and we need to aggressively get behind these two if positive change is to take place in Columbus. We already know that Blackwell & Montgomery will continue to short change education in OH. The OEA rightly endorsed Strickland and Dann, ORTA needs to follow their lead.

RHJones, CORE & SummitCRTA, Life Member of ORTA