Molly Janczyk to STRS Board: Stop blaming and start reaching out to all

From Molly Janczyk, February 4, 2008
Subject: Comments: Report to OEA-R On Recent STRS Board Activities

Regarding the report below:

I spoke with some attendees and Board members at the Retreat.

John Lazares, for one, said he spoke up to the presenter pointing out this was over-reaction. He said, "We will still need our checks and balances which some call micromanaging." He felt the presenters were getting their info from some Board members.

John tries to be fair to all and unbiased. He was a big help in moving along the vote on Legal Fees stating: "We are very close; what do we need to do to get this done?" He asked for wording all could agree upon.

Craig Brooks also was a motivating source to pass the Severance Option stating clearly #1 states such and #2 states such.

I think both these men are good examples of where the Board should be: Questions, discussion, then what will it take to get this done?

It is not for a union to decide what is big and what is small in members' minds. I agree time should not be wasted and facilitation to move items along with questions and statements above should be used to clarify and vote on issues.

ALL must come with open minds having researched properly according to the Stanford Principles knowledgeable enough to understand needed areas of concern vs. simply ready to follow majority. I do not believe in unity for the sake of unity if something is clearly wrong. That is how we got into this trouble.

I believe that any highly experienced and qualified Exec. Direc. has had experience with working Boards vs. simply agreeable ones. I do think ALL should make efforts to engage, respect, hear and work with each other while debating and following their well researched high standards of learning on each topic in order to make determinations.

Inquire, monitor, discuss, listen, and leave personal feelings out of it because they have NO place when deciding what is in the best interest of membership IF Board members are there for the ORC: ALL are there solely for membership benefit and must always ask only that of themselves. None of us is right all the time and all of us must find ways to resolve issues. Put out solutions, policies, rework and redefine until all can agree. Stop blaming and start reaching out to all. It is a must as this is what you see across from you is what you have to work with and what you must use to make inroads for STRS membership.

This is the DUTY of every Board member regardless of personal slant or affiliation. Union has NO place on the Board. Making decisions based on union experience has NO place on the Board. Only clear, open minds ready to learn all they can about an issue and how it impacts membership-nothing else according to 3307:15.

I hope to see more of the facilitation I saw from Lazares and Brooks at the retreat. It got to the point following discussion and moved to resolve in a timely manner. Bring what you need to the table to move productively. You ALL have so little time really in the big picture to effect change. This is it! It is not a dress rehearsal.

"WHAT CAN WE DO TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE SO WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ISSUE BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH TO DO!"
(Mooney)