Origin of ORTA and why we ALL need to get tough

While "surfing" through some websites this morning I came across this ORTA flashback. It summarizes an incident which led to the formation of a pro-retiree organization of educators - ORTA.

Here it is:

ORTA Historical Fact-0f-the-Day 7-27-06
The Ohio Retired Teachers Association came into being as result of rebuffing dealt by the Ohio General Assembly to a delegation led by D. J. Schurr, the last president of the Retired Teachers League of Ohio. Accompanied by members of the Retired Schoolmasters Club, the group appeared before the Assembly to plead the cause for retired teachers. They were dismissed after being told that they were not truly representative of Ohio's retired teachers: they lacked representation of the northern part of the state and also women.

The politicians "snubbed" educators because they (the politicians) knew that these educators were meek,humble, and had no political clout. ...and so, today, without endorsing (due to fear of a potential tax exempt status loss) the largest Ohio retired teacher organization still will not endorse a candidate. For that matter - CORE members - we at CORE have yet to endorse a candidate or candidates. Will CORE and ORTA BOTH sit on the sidelines while the FOP,OFT,OEA, and other organizations hop on the endorsement boat and apply pressure - political pressure by way of endorsements - something politicians really do listen to. John