Molly Janczyk, an open letter to STRS Board and others at STRS: You CAN change things

From Molly Janczyk, November 10, 2008
Subject: FW: Trans Union Credit

Please read this carefully and then the question I was asked below.

Please put into those entitled heads of yours, the elder retirees that WE PAY ATTENTION to such as this lady.

Do you really think they will EVER understand what has happened to them?

We simply want to help those in need beyond the assistance program as we have found many are too proud being raised in a different world to ask for help.

None of us understands the lack of compassion and 'so long as we get ours' during times of crisis.

Those of you who earn so much..............can't you contribute to a fund for your needy?

Can't you consider beyond the union pressure to up years needed for full retirement as Soc. Sec. did due to needed changes? You lock into union mentality just as legislators succumb to lobbyists and special interests.

THAT IS NOT working solely on behalf of membership (ORC) in order to better the system for active and retired membership. You work for BOTH! Upping a year to retirement is no big deal if one knows with advance notice.

I would have been happy to wait a year HAD I BEEN GIVEN ADVANCE NOTICE! YOU DID NOT GRACE RETIREES WITH ANY ADVANCE NOTICE AND ALL WAS DELIVERED TO US AFTER THE FACT AND AFTER THE STRS COUNSELORS TOLD US WE WOULD NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HC as STRS had HC second to none.

We retired and were slammed for doing nothing but asking questions and following STRS advice.

You CAN make some compassionate decisions.

Mary Ann Cervantes lives in neverland, nice lady that she is.

Jeff Chapman works for actives, in retirees' minds.

Meuser, Ramser, Myers are so steeped in OEA land and rhetoric they can never see into the hills of rural Ohio where folks struggle to buy food. YOUR SHAREHOLDERS! Folks denying themselves medical help and RX's because of the overwhelming losses in the early 2000s. THOSE are the faces that Lazares and Leone never forgot!

Those are the people they constantly fought for with: "What will retirees think if we pass this motion?"

This is OUR retirement system.

You are guardians for ALL retirees -- current and future.

What have YOU DONE FOR US LATELY?

All is geared to the actives making 35 yrs and 88%.

Retirees did benefit from that bill as well but not even close to a benefit given after we retired.

That happens; things change and salaries go up; benefits improve.

BUT, you CAN do something with such small steps that will go so far in making folks feel you hear them.

We know this board will never hear those voices.

We thought perhaps this new Exec Direc. might.

How do you think legislators feel when they see those high, extravagant bonuses in times of crisis?

Is it us hurting STRS' chances of HB 315 or once again is STRS hurting itself and its shareholders' chances?

This is not showing prudence. This, as Bob Jones stated, will give the school boards plenty of fodder for refusing.

We want the investment staff to receive merit for gains. But, even corporate America is taking a look at lavishness.

Things are changing. It will be a more citizen-minded America, I feel. OPERS may invest a lot outside of house, but they have also always traveled less with more modest housing , etc.

They have always planned more long term and those things do not relate to differences but to simple good business practices.

Nehf says such bonuses are good business practice but STRS hired a consultant firm (Buck?) who advised STRS NOT to give bonuses for no earnings (one would think if STRS hired them, they considered good practice among pension systems).

Please don't tell us nothing can change, because none of us rolls with the STRS rhetoric anymore. you CAN; you choose not to.

Molly J.

Please excuse me for not attending Thurs.

I feel no need to hear more of the same.

I have no patience for it and only want to hear what CAN happen for retirees.

I will read the minutes of the remarks.

You do not want me there, I assure you.

I could not maintain silence.

I have kept my app't and it is too late to change it now.
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From________________ To Molly Janczyk, November 10, 2008
Subject: RE: Trans Union Credit.

Does this apply to all CORE members?
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From Dave Parshall, November 10, 2008
Subject: Trans Union Credit.

Dear CORE members,

I just got off line with TransUnion Credit report. The persons I talked to at Medical Mutual gave me and perhaps others wrong information. According to TransUnion [we] have free credit monitoring and a one year $25,000 ID theft insurance policy. This will be explained in the information that we receive in the mail from TU after we have signed up. I was on hold for 45 min. This is somewhat of a relief, but does not completely safeguard us. I am looking forward to seeing you all this Thursday.

Yours,
Dave Parshall