Tom Curtis and Board member Cervantes re: Webcasting

From Tom Curtis, July 13, 2007
Subject: RE: 062807 Curtis To Board Members, Webcasting Of All STRS Bd Mtgs

Hello Mary Ann,

Thank you for responding. You were the only board member to do so. The message never changes, ignore them and they will eventually stop writing and/or go away. That is just plain wrong!

Unfortunately, there lies one of the problems with the STRS board. Few have the inclination or will take the time to respond to those they are sent there to represent, especially if we have a difference of opinion. All of you board members know this to be true, but lack the will to change. Obviously, there are no consequences for your inaction.

Retirees that have voiced their strong opinions are simply written off as malcontents, as Joe Endry termed us. Dennis and John started out as malcontents and have been treated as such ever since 2003.

Mary Ann, I will ask you again, do you feel these two bring up issues for reasons other then for the accountability of everyone on the board and for the membership?

In the end, each board members' concern about the issue of web-casting board meetings will be about how transparent they feel they would have to be, if this were to occur. It seldom seems to be about what the members want or need. If I am wrong about this statement, please correct me.

Millions can be spent by the staff for whatever they want or feel they need. Those expenditures have often been termed as simply a drop in the bucket compared to the total worth of the STRS. However, when retirees ask for their money to be spent on something they desire, those that do so are just a few malcontents.

The apathy among the membership of the STRS is absolutely shameful, in my opinion. Glaring misspending has been identified, yet no one is held accountable for doing such. Not many retirees want to get involved. Apparently, most are so comfortable that they do not bother to concern themselves with the situation at hand.

Members will ultimately get what they deserve for not paying attention to what transpires at the STRS. Board members can go to all of the seminars and conferences he/she can get permission and expenses paid to go to, but the real need for most is often simple common sense knowledge and that does not fair well with many on the board. If you or any other board member takes issue by that statement, then explain to me why so many of you hit the easy button and simply vote as Damon wishes you to do. Don't any of you that vote in this manner get it?

I did appreciate talking with you recently by phone. However, we did not discuss anything that was in my email that precipitated that conversation. My main concern is why so few of you give Dennis Leone and John Lazarus so little respect. As I have stated to you and other board members before, those two are the most qualified on the board to assess the practicality of much of the business at hand. They have been made out to be the bad boys and are treated as such by most all of you. I am at a loss to understand how so many of you can vote as Damon desires and not with the people on the board calling for accountability.

And so the rubber stamping goes on...............

Disgusted in North Canton, Tom Curtis

From Mary Ann Flannagan/Cervantes, July 1, 2007
Subject: RE: 062807 Curtis To Board Members, Webcasting Of All STRS Bd Mtgs

Hi Tom,
I received your message on the webcasting. As of this date I have not received any recent updates on the issue of whether to video or not.

I see definite benefits but want to understand all implications before I vote.

I definitely appreciate your email of this issue. Have a good summer.

Mary Ann

Tom Curtis to STRS Board members, June 27, 2007
Subject: 062807 Curtis To Board Members, Webcasting Of All STRS Bd Mtgs

Hello Board Members,

As an STRS disability retiree with 27 years of service, I am writing you to offer in my support of webcasting all board meetings in the future.

I would greatly appreciate and utilize that option. I am positive many other retirees would like that option as well, once they know it is available.

The STRS has stated that the majority of the membership receive most, if not all of their knowledge about the operation of the STRS from the STRS Newsletter. That is barely a snippet of what goes on at the STRS. Newsletter articles often only present the positive side of an important issue or change in procedure, without offering the side affects.

Without attending the meetings in Columbus, or sending for a CD of the meetings, no STRS member can gain a true understanding of the business the board enters into each month. (I have been told that the quality of the CD is excellent.)

I live in Northeastern Ohio. I have driven to Columbus to attend in excess of 30 board meetings since 2003. I find it both cost and time prohibitive to do so today. Invariably, topics and issues I would like to listen too were not on the agenda the day I attended, which was usually Thursdays.

John D. Stanford, J.D., Ph.D., Executive Assistant for Education Policy, Office of Governor Ted Strickland wrote this to another retiree, "This directive to state agencies under the Governor's control does not apply to STRS. But, as an independent quasi-state agency, it is understandable that they would want to be within the spirit of the order by considering this policy option for the governance and management of the organization."

May I please ask for your vote in favor of web-casting the board meetings?

Thank you for your time and attention to this issue.

Thomas Curtis