Molly Janczyk to Mike Nehf re: November 13 meeting

From Molly Janczyk, November 5, 2008
Subject: Mr. Nehf, CORE Officers and Trustees: CORE Meeting: 11/13: Agenda Items: ***CORE ALERT - Nov. 5, 2008***
Mr. Nehf:

I received this as the CORE Meeting format. See bottom: I thought it would be a roundtable discussion as held with Damon Asbury. While there was an agenda, it was used for open discussion by all expressing thoughts, concerns and ideas. I personally am not interested in hearing a presentation as I have read your thoughts on topics at issue. If most of the meeting is as described, I would be disappointed and would like to hold another meeting for discussion only by any present.

Please advise your intent of presentation. If it is to be a brief opening and followed by open discussion of topics of concern, I am most interested. I am only interested in open ideas being welcomed by you with real consideration vs. automatic staid responses. Of course, some of that is no doubt, in order. But, has the day come YET when STRS will HEAR its shareholders and both consider and approach topics with creative thinking beyond ways already tried.

We offer many avenues for small considerations for retirees who have been destroyed in their retirements struggling to pay costs far too overwhelming to absorb.

I sent you some suggestions asking you to consider some small ways to meet retirees needs a bit more. Much would be gained in trust. Little would be lost to STRS.

1. Create a Needy Retiree Charity Fund: Staff can contribute personal dollars, bonus or merit raise dollars, etc. to this fund set up as a charity. Retirees are a proud lot and the majority will not ask. But, others in their family or acquaintance could name them and their status checked by STRS.

A statement could be put on the bottom of statements asking if a staff member would like to contribute $1 per check with a higher amount for administrators to check: $5 or $10.

Candidates for receipt must fill requirements, of course.

Office memos could name a needy retiree of the month. Money could be used to buy store gift cards or sent directly to their home.

2. Consider sliding scale out of pocket costs for retirees with career teachers paying less and those retiring early paying more unless disabled. Encourage longer careers with educators paying into longer and taking out till older. This would include premiums, out of pockets costs and RX coverage vs. just premiums.

3. Early retirement is more work forces is a minimum of 20 yrs. yet STRS rewards 15 yrs. WHY? If a person only has to work 15 yrs, they can afford more and have addit'l income on which to rely. Disability does not apply to any of this and is a separate category.

Many come to teaching or leave teaching accumulating less than early retirement and have other sources for health care and pensions. Any who have left teaching and do not plan to return SHOULD HAVE to take monies out of STRS. If one is gone for 5 yrs or 10 yrs or whatever is determined, working another career with pensions, should have to withdraw funds and have NO say in STRS workings and elections. Funds can be withdrawn and held by individuals should they return one day to earn early retirement at 20yrs or full at an increasing age beginning 5 yrs out.

4. Increase retirement age incrementally beginning 6 yrs out as further incentive to work longer and withdraw pensions later.

5. 35 year rule: change this rule to be more incremental as 88% is indecent for a mere 5 more years. Make it attractive but not opulent. This same result can be achieved by raising retirement ages without such a huge payout.

WE ARE IN CRISIS MODE! Unions will not like it. Your union minded and dictated Board will hate it. WE did not like saving health care for future retirees with overwhelming burdens creating unbearable personal crisis.

6. % of pension should guide ability to pay for health care. Those making whopping pensions should pay more so those who make so much less can pay a bit less. It is fair.

7. Bonuses: There is much room for discussion regarding this. Corporate minded entitlement is past in order to survive. Bonuses and fair market (public pension fair market) compensation is needed. There is room for discussion and compromise.

8. STRS Board meetings: Public Speak:
45 min. for members to ask questions and receive answers from Board members. Real give and take for resolutions. Consider real attempts to offer suggestions. Invite talented retirees to sit at meetings to offer perspective if qualified.

I have attended so many meetings since 2003. I only have energy left for those which work towards REAL change, REAL compromise, REAL direction by dynamic leaders who can ignite members and lead with direction towards achieveable goals inviting and listening to creative ways to bring about a better way. Open discussion mapping paths to resolve problems for retirees.

I welcome your response as to the tenor and intent for this meeting. Is it to roll up sleeves and attack issues with hope of input or the same old administrative rhetoric talking at us saying what we have heard a zillion times over.

Thank you for your response. I do not speak for anyone but myself as an independent retiree of STRS. I am CORE-minded but have not always shared all beliefs with some individuals. I am not worried about following rules and words written making going from A to Z more difficult at times. I am only concerned for retirees and what I feel and hear they say through me.

I am direct and only wonder how fast change can be affected without the endless red tape. I go from A straight to Z with planning.

Topic Discuss with all who wish thru letters, email, calls, meetings for those who can attend. Make a Plan that all can live with Implement Evaluate with staff, Board members, shareholders.

Sincerely, Molly J.

If this is too much for this meetings, I welcome a chance to hold another in this format.

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Please remember the extra meeting this month with Michael Nehf, Executive Director of STRS. CORE President, Dave Parshall, has invited Mr. Nehf to meet with CORE membership on Thursday, November 13th at 1:30 in our usual CORE meeting room, the small room off of the cafeteria on the second floor at the STRS building. Mr. Nehf has been attending many RTA groups around the state in order to meet STRS members, and he has accepted the CORE invitation to do the same for our group. There will be time to ask questions at the end of Mr. Nehf’s presentation.