Minutes of April CORE meeting

Minutes of the Friday, April 24, 2009 C.O.R.E. Meeting

After attending the extended morning portion of the STRS Board meeting on the seventh floor of the STRS Building in Columbus, 24 members relocated to the second floor for the monthly meeting of Concerned Ohio Retired Educators (CORE). At 2 p.m. President Dave Parshall opened the meeting by asking for acceptance of the March CORE minutes, which were available on-line and in hard copy in the Sublet Room. Ryan Holderman moved that they be accepted and Mary Ellen Angeletti seconded it; the minutes were then approved by members present.

Treasurer Herman Fisher read a thank you note to CORE from a retiree in Medina. He then noted that the treasury has had an increase of over $2000.

Following the treasury report, President Dave talked about a recent health care program he attended. This program stressed the value of a single payer system; there will be a follow-up program soon, which he’d like to attend. To that end Mary Ellen Angeletti moved that CORE pay the $30 registration fee for Dave to be able to attend the “You Can” conference. Nancy Hamant seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed.

The upcoming health care conference was the impetus for a lively and lengthy discussion on health care and retirees’ urgency to contact legislators about what retirees’ wants and needs are.

The group also discussed problems with some of the recently sent out ballots. One retiree received an active ballot. Another got the glossy OEA promotion card in with her official STRS ballot.

President Dave reminded the members to ask for a copy of the CD of the STRS Board meetings. It’s vital that all retirees keep apprised of what is going on (especially those who are unable to regularly come to Columbus to the monthly meetings). Remember that there’s no cost to retirees for the CD! (It’s a good way to help yourself keep informed.)

Board members and trustees will be e-mailing President Dave dates in May when they’ll be available to meet with Mike Nehf, executive director. (One item we might want to bring up is the possibility of simulcasting board meetings. Another is the likelihood of offering the Public Participation at the board meetings on both Thursday and Friday. A third topic might be having the health care portion on Thursday and investments on Friday. ) Please let Dave know if you have other issues, which might need to be addressed at that meeting.

For those who were unable to attend Thursday’s meeting, active nominees, Jim Stoll, spoke. His comments are available via Kathie Bracy as well as CORE president Dave Parshall’s address to the board.

Before President Dave closed the meeting, he reminded all that our next CORE meeting will be Friday, May 15th. We adjourned at 3:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Marie M. Fetters

CORE secretary