An important message from CORE president Dave Parshall re: the future of CORE

From Dave Parshall, March 29, 2008
CORE Alert

Dear Core Member and Supporters,

At the retreat on the 20th of March, the CORE board of trustees and CORE officers met to consider possible future directions of CORE. Please read the CORE Alert I will send out shortly with the list of suggestions that we came up with. These suggestions were presented and discussed at the CORE members meeting on March 27th. No final decision has been made yet. One overriding fact is that for CORE to continue in any form more people must come forward and take a leadership role. In general, more members need to be found and dues need to be reinstated to give members a feel of ownership and to replenish our treasury. Our membership list needs to be updated. We have six months to make a transition to any possible new direction and leadership. By September of 2008, these changes must be in place and a new election held. I and the other officers and board members will be available to help with any new direction the members select. We will not just leave you in the dark.

Our next meeting is April 17th at the STRS building. Please plan on coming to this meeting and bring any suggestions and questions you may have. This meeting will be one of the most important we have ever held! I look forward to seeing a packed room.

Yours truly,
Dave Parshall,
CORE president

Possible Directions for CORE

[Presented at 3/27/08 CORE meeting for future discussion and action]

Introduction: As the election [campaign] for the active educator seat on the STRS Board comes to a close, it is obvious that many of us are worn out after more than four years of service to CORE. Of the current board members and officers, only Chuck Chapman and Ryan Holderman are willing to continue after our September annual membership meeting. The CORE board and officers met and discussed some possible directions for the future of CORE and its mission.

1. CORE can continue as is. For CORE to continue as is, the following will have to happen. Members will have to step forward to serve as either a member of the board of trustees or as an officer. When Dave Parshall and Chuck Angeletti step down, they will remove their names from the incorporation documents. CORE, Inc. will come to an end unless new persons come forward to place their names on this legal document. Dave Parshall and C.J. Myers will remove their names from the CORE bank accounts and mail box rental form. For CORE to continue as is, someone will have to be willing to put their names on these accounts or open new ones. A person will also have to handle CORE's website. Our domain name is registered until October 2008.

2. CORE could continue as an informal Watch Dog Group. We can develop a list of volunteers to attend STRS Board meetings, and send out via e-mail a summary of the meeting they attended. At least 2 persons need to attend each meeting. Each person would need to attend no more than three meetings a year, but as many as possible would be welcomed. Alerts can be sent out as needed. This can happen even if CORE, Inc. ends.

3. As part of suggestion "2" or as a separate volunteer group, former CORE members can continue to lobby for our health care at the Statehouse.

4. CORE can just fold its tent and go into that good night. According to our constitution, CORE's financial funds would be donated to the Healthcare Stabilization Fund.

5. Possible suggestions from members present [at the 3/27/08 CORE meeting].