An editorial from Molly Janczyk: Using Others' Money

From Molly Janczyk, October 25, 2006

Subject: Using Others' Money

In School Districts, principals have been fired for using school funds for parties for themselves. In Corporations , CEO's go to prison for skimming. In personal investments, brokers who skim earnings are reported and fined/jailed.

IN STRS WORLD, Board Members get angry when other Board Members or membership 'catch' them using our money for trips, dinners, bar bills, deluxe rooms and flights, etc.

"It wouldn't have paid for HC anyway" they said. Mike B. was one of the first to make that statement. So WE didn't understand. Jack Chapman said: "We were riding the wave and the market fell." Endry, Scott, Norris and Sidaway felt as Mike did.

It's so little and we have so much in the funds is how Meyers apparently feels from his attitude. Some go along because that is how it is done with no strength of stand to say "NO! It looks bad and we said it wasn't going to happen again."

So, hotels and meals were again, until we found out prompting Ramser to say it is a non issue as we turned them back in. So, if you stop stealing, it becomes a non issue.

Credit cards: WHY ON EARTH? Direct bills to STRS for needed inservices, submit receipts for moderate hotels and meals with no alcohol. We do not wish to pay for drinks. Buy your own. If you want over the medium meal and room, pay the difference. As with incentive trips I have been on, an allowance is given in advance for medium priced meals SANS alcohol. Go over, you pay! No one gave us credit cards with incur fees.

Another example of poor thinking on the part of the 4-5 'Secret Board Members' given credit cards, I guess, from Damon.

When I taught school, if I should have gotten into a legal issue, I was expected to use union attorneys. If I wanted my own, I would have to pay. Another small expenditure, yes. IS THAT THE POINT? OR IS TAKING MONEY NOT YOUR OWN THE POINT?

Contracts are binding and legal action necessary at large fees to break. What possible scenario is there for this board not to want to know what is in the contracts they approve? Or that Damon approves.

In a social setting, Damon is great! He is easy to talk with, ingratiating, entertaining and your new best friend looking you in the eye and talking as though only you have his ear and attention. Great Social Skills! But, unfortunately and for me this is unfortunately, because I really like him, Damon tells his own versions, in my opinion, according to whom he is speaking. It may be true but not the whole truth or with some line of truth but it is hard to get a direct and specific answer from him. FOR EX: WHEN IS THE CHILDCARE CENTER EVER GOING TO BE COST NEUTRAL HAVING BEEN TOLD SO MANY DATES and never occurring. AND: There are things which I feel are just outright not true or quite honest but better for Damon. My opinion which I came to wishing not to have to do so.

Hence, our title: Damonese.

Point: Always tell the truth backed by facts you can verify and never take a dime which doesn't belong to you cause it just looks bad-to US! We know you think it's no big deal but it is-to US! You can afford your own upgrades or don't get them and certainly don't use my money for them. Shall I bill you for a few dinners and shows? Some great rooms and a few drinks? Why not? You bill me.

Teams: We belong to a team fighting for membership and Dennis and John are on our team because as said, we asked them to give up bigger salaries, retirement, rehire positions which would have helped with those kids in college they both have. They told us they'd have to weigh their family responsibilities over this but we kept asking and telling them they had to do this. So, they did. Not much fun for them to battle every month with folks who don't see the point of spending some of our money because money to folks like Meyers, well, what's a few hundred or thousand to someone who earned almost 1/2 Million a year plus benefits. Geez! We are silly little creatures to him, I feel.

Without this team, these changes would not have occurred or at least as soon as they did and because this embarrassed some folks, we are forever the bad guys. How is that? You all knew as much as we did, but just didn't act cause the board members were your friends.

If I has a corporate job and took money from earnings, you'd fire me. Yet, again, some of you have enjoyed some perks slinkingly legal. Overstays and extra meals on us. Not right and needs changed NOW! You took from us AGAIN! Doesn't matter how much or how little. THAT IS THE POINT YOU NEVER GET! IT WAS NOT YOUR MONEY TO SPEND! NOT A CENT just as your money is not mine to spend.

That is why trust is not rebuilt because you just keep at it with the same old mentality and we are beyond frustrated and talk about wasting our time (AND MONEY). Treat us as you want us to treat you. Then we can come to some kind of agreement. We don't want you as our best friends and couldn't care less how much you like each other. Just do the right thing for us.

How long is this going to take with you people? BE TRANSPARENT! 100% SQUEAKY CLEAN AS LEONE SAYS! AND NO PROBLEMS! You know why you meet some statements with disdain? You do not expect that from others and so expect indiscretions. WE DO EXPECT SQUEAKY CLEAN AND WE ARE GOING TO GET IT OR SPEND THE REST OF OUR RETIREMENTS TRYING! We have been robbed of our retirements anyway having to return to work, use our resources and deny ourselves meds and treatments due to HC costs. WHY ar we still mad? That's why! Why do we keep at it-until it gets better when we don't like the answer, Geoffrey. We are not sheep who just take it because the answer is given. WE WANT BETTER! Who the h___ are you to determine when an answer suffices? Living in an ivory tower, as you no doubt must, how on earth would you even know how we feel and how betrayed and anxious and scared and overextended we are. You haven't a clue! It is insulting to us you are on our board.

We're mad cause it is the same old message with sneaking in same ol tactics with same old excuses for those who misspent. It never ends!

Molly J.