Minutes of February 20, 2007 CORE meeting

From Glenna Barr, February 20, 2007
Minutes of the February 2007 CORE meeting

The February 16, 2007 CORE meeting was held in the cafeteria room behind the Sublett Room at the STRS Building. Officers present were: President, Dave Parshall; Vice president, Mary Ellen Angeletti; Secretarry, Glenna Barr. Trustees present: Betty Bell, Chuck Angeletti, substitutions for Chuck Chapman (Marie Fetters), Nancy Boomhower, (Liz Ebbing), Nancy Hamant (Herman Fisher).

Dave Parshall, president, called the meeting to order. The January, 2007 minutes were approved with a motion from Mary Ellen Angeletti and seconded by Regina Swisshelm. The treasurer, CJ Myers, had e mailed the report to Dave Parshall. A $100 contribution was made to the Moody Scholarship, valentine cards were sent to Dennis Leone and John Lazarus. Mary Ellen had sent a planter to John Lazarus. The report was accepted.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

(1) The Website report was given by Dave Parshall. It is up and going.

(2) The Contacts and Regional Reps committee was discussed by Dave Parshall. He commended Molly Janczyk on her good job on organizing the list. He suggested we have a rep list to get info and fliers passed out especially during the STRS board elections.

(3) The CORE Committee meeting with Dr. Asbury will meet February 22,2007, 1:00 PM. The CORE Committee will meet prior to the Asbury meeting in the STRS Cafeteria room behind the Sublett Room at 11:00 AM to discuss the questions to be presented to Dr. Asbury. Anyone is invited to attend.

NEW BUSINESS:

Dave commented on Dr. Asbury's comments telling CORE they need to be more active in the HCA. Educators need to work together for the Health Care and legislative issues. Dave made the comment that HCA had turned down CORE's offer of help three years ago (things are changing).

Mary Ellen Angeletti attended the 3 day STRS Board Retreat. We wish to thank Mary Ellen for taking the time to attend this event and making a wonderful report on the retreat. You have read her report on your e-mails. The important observations at the retreat is that there is an attitude change of the Board members toward each other as a result of the self evaluation results. Finally Dennis Leone's and John Lazarus' past and present opinions on STRS problems are being accepted by the other board members. She thought the conference was outstanding.

The STRS Board came to a realization that they are responsible for events and policies made by the STRS Board after the STRS board and staff attended a conference."Forum for Retirement" held at the Hilton Easton. Comments and observations by other CORE members were: there is more commonality with the board and that STRS must tell the legislators what they are doing to curtail their expenses.

Dave Parshall stated he would like a new study of the 88%/35 year legislation. The STRS board may study this in the coming year. A change in the STRS board compensation of the use of credit cards, computers, and cell phones as to they do not have to have permanently but check them out according to their need. Tai Hayden, new board member, brought up the subject of the 3 minute speech limit of participants at the board meeting. However, this policy will not be changed.

Buck Consultants gave their report. Mr. Mitchell of the investment department stated his department is working on a contingency plan (another one of Dr. Leone's prior suggestions) in case of another Wall Street downturn.

OLD BUSINESS:

(1) CORE Constitutional Article IX ( how CORE's monies will be dispersed in case of CORE dissolution) was voted on and the 12 CORE members present approved.

(2) Another CORE Constitution problem was discussed. When writing the Constitution, the office of the Vice President was not listed as one of the officers who was granted access to the CORE data/base and needs to be added to the Constitution. Betty Bell made a motion to have Article III amended to include the vice president's office and Kathie Bracy seconded the motion and all approved. At the March 15, 2007 meeting a discussion will be held on this motion.

(3) Dave Parshall discussed the trends of the Wall Street market shift from US Market to world markets due to the Iraqi War and growing US debt. STRS investment department will have to take this into account. Active teachers will have to vote more intelligently on financial issues other then social issues on the state and national levels.

(4) A reminder was given to members to write their legislators and the governor to appoint Dr. Tom Hall to the STRS board. HB 66 alert was discussed as it shifts more tax to the residents.

ORTA was represented by Louis DiOrio and Ann Hanning. Ann Hanning discussed the ORTA Spring Legislator Day at the Statehouse on April 24, 2007, and the registration fee is $20.00. There will be speakers on AARP, Health Care, Charter School bills and the state budget. Former teachers who are now legislators will be recognized. Jim Reed stated that speaking or writing to the legislators or congressmen could be a deterrent to our objectives and maybe we should disconnect for a while.. Chuck Angeletti said letter writing is the best method to communicate with legislators [especially HANDWRITTEN letters, not typed]. Mary Allen Angeletti stated that Ohio legislator Wachtmann said the bill on increasing the active teachers' contribution for HC would go nowhere. The meeting was adjourned so that everyone could attend the STRS Board PM meeting. The next CORE meeting will be at the STRS Building, March 15, 2007.

Submitted by Glenna Barr,

Secretary