RH Jones: My Suggested Additions to the CORE Constitution

From RH Jones, August 29, 2006

To all:

Re: My suggested additions to the CORE Constitution to be considered for approval at the CORE 09-14-06 meeting.

As a CORE member I wish to respectfully make the following suggestions for consideration:

Whereby to add to the Article II - Mission Statement, I suggest adding:

1. After ... "preservation of retirement benefits, health care: prescription insurance, a compounded COLA, the immediate return of the 13^th ck. and the continuation of all STRS military veteran member benefits awarded in the past. Improvements to be sought out in all of the above.

Whereby to not leave out important goals in our new constitution, I would like to add:

1. As with the original intent in establishing CORE, the #1 goal should be raising money to: Hire a powerful law firm to pursue those who have violated the law with respect to OUR STRS and the return of all absconded funds.

2. Any past or future improvements in the retirement formula for actives to be adjusted to include retired members – the argument that funding is not available is unacceptable. If it is there for actives; it is there for retirees.

And, whereby, CORE has been extremely successful statewide as communicating by computer, and to best serve those not able or willing to take the time and risk to travel, and so as not to encourage those CORE members who may wish to exploit CORE funds for travel, meals and other perks – free mini-vacations – for officers and directors, and so as to have leaders in office from every corner of the state, rather than those who may live close to Columbus, I, therefore, suggest: Only one meeting per year. All others are to be done electronically.

And, whereby, so that CORE can endorse political candidates favorable to public education and the STRS board candidates favorable to CORE goals, and it’s mission, regarding the STRS: A PAC fund be established.

And, whereby, active/retired educators have not been adequately served by all previous educator unions, be it therefore, resolved, that all the above suggestions be included in the CORE Constitution, so as to insure its long life as a positive representative organization for all active/retired members of public schools and universities.

To conclude, as time goes by until the September CORE General meeting, I may be able to possibly help with more.

Robert Hudson Jones, Life Member of CORE