Tom Curtis reports on June 5, 2006 CORE Retreat

June 7, 2006

Hello CORE Members,

Please allow me to personally thank each of you for attending the CORE retreat on Monday, June 5th. Your willingness to give up another day to our cause is exemplary of your dedication to CORE.

A special thanks goes to Janet Hanson for hosting our retreat for the 3rd year at her beautiful home in Worthington. She is very gracious to do this for our group.

I realize all of us are tired of the monthly trek to the STRS to attend the board meeting and CORE meeting each month. You have been there lending your support to our efforts to help bring about the much needed reform of management processes and procedures at the STRS.

Have we made a difference? In connection with the outstanding leadership of Dennis Leone and John Lazares, yes, we have made a huge difference! CORE's efforts have been recognized and had to be considered by the leadership of nearly every other organization that represents the members of the STRS, active and/or retired.

In my opinion, from what was discussed at the retreat, it is time to consider whether CORE will continue to play an active role in the reform process. If so, it is imperative that CORE become more structured. This means that CORE will need to elect officers and provide the president with the authority of speaking for the group when necessary, but more importantly, become the person other groups will identify as our leader. Other organizations have voiced their concern with the fact that they do not know whom to address in CORE, because we claim to have no leader. This issue needs serious consideration, if CORE is to continue and hold credibility as an organization.

Therefore, at the June CORE meeting on June 15th, I will make a motion that this issue be considered and carried forward, if the membership in attendance is in agreement and passes a motion to do such.

I do not have the desire to become the president of CORE and will not accept a nomination for such at this time.

Right now I need to step back and place more time with my own personal needs and family. I have devoted most of my time to CORE over the past 3-years and find I must now address many issues I have neglected during that time.

I ask each CORE member to please address your own thoughts about CORE's future and attend the June CORE meeting on the 15th to join in and be part of this discussion and/or decision about the future direction of CORE.

Take care,
Tom Curtis

P.S. The following is the agenda followed during the retreat. No formal minutes were scribed.

CORE Retreat & Planning Meeting

June 5^th, 2006

9:15am – 2:30pm

Hosted by Janet Hanson in Worthington

Agenda

9:15 – 10:00am Welcome, coffee and donuts

!0:00am Introductions and announcements

Topics for discussion

1. CORE focus, next year

1. Preserving our STRS Pensions by continuing to support and monitor STRS - 2006
2. Monitoring STRS Health Care and insuring that grandfathering occurs - 2006

B. Health care
1. Does anyone remember hearing Damon,
Knoesel or board members indicate that the
difference of increase above 3% this year
would be added to next year’s increase?
2. What are those needing to insure a spouse
going to do in 2007?
3. HCAC legislation proposed
4. Actives paying the entire 5%
5. Working with the OEA/OFT toward
legislation

C. Gary Monto – president of retired Ohio
Police & Fire Retired Association
1. What the OP&F are doing
2. What CORE should be doing
3. Willingness of CORE & OP&F to work
together for the good of all retirees

12:30pm Lunch/break

D. Performance audit – Independent Fiduciary
Services
1. Auditor of state involvement – time line
2. What purpose will it, or should it serve

E. Elections

F. Non-response from board members

G. Board not following ethical rules
1. File complaint with OEC
2. Executive director contract – expires
2.18.07

H. Additional