Tom Curtis chastises STRS executive director for ignoring stakeholders (THANK YOU, TOM; HE DESERVES IT!)

From Tom Curtis, December 11, 2009
Subject: 121009 Curtis To Nehf, Operational Reduction Of Costs

Mr. Nehf,

What kind of a man knowingly ignores the very people that pay his salary? Do you honestly feel that secure in your position that you can afford to thumb your nose to your stakeholders?

Others and I have written you several times over the past 3 months and requested your plan for drastic reductions in the operation of the STRS, similar in scope to what you have already approved to cut from all stakeholders' benefits.

In my opinion, you are simply another person that feels they are beyond accountability. Does that make you feel proud of yourself? I honestly do not know how it can.

Mr. Nehf, I ask you to step-up and show us that you are not just another greedy executive. Put your plan for reducing the operational costs of the STRS on the STRS Website. Please, show us what you are made of and show us your plan?

During this decade, management and the investment department are responsible for watching our pension fund lose in excess of $42 billion dollars. Yet, all during this decade, the STRS operated business as usual. You people must have few morals and ethics that you live by professionally. How can you get up in the morning and look at yourself in the mirror while you shave or put on your make-up and not see a person that is way out of line? And I must ask you, for what? None of you seem to have a vague idea of what ORC 3307.15 asks you to live up to. It is time for more reform from the management side of the isle. Try giving back to the very people that have provided each of you with fabulous working conditions and benefits.

So, in review, the STRS management and staff have stood by and watched our pension fund lose $42 billion dollars this decade, while they continued to receive above normal salary increases, bonuses, travel and so many other benefits that we the stakeholders never experienced in our careers. Yet, during this same decade, I have personally never heard management or staff offer to decline any benefit they were given. How is that morality possible in people that claim to be there for our benefit? Would not most people find your actions immoral? I do! (To me, that shows just how uncaring and entitled you all really are, $42 billion loss,WOW!)

STRS Stakeholder,
Thomas Curtis

[I wish to add one word: $$$GREED$$$. KBB]