John Curry: Green Beans - Part II

From John Curry, January 22, 2011

Almost two years ago this writer made a statement about the reasons why STRS continued down a path that we are now on and ORTA didn't take an active role in halting this journey. I revisited those words and found a paragraph that really puts the finger on the pulse of our current situation. With forenotice of repeating myself, here is that passage. It rings true today as well as it did two years ago.....doesn't it?

John

"Far too many of us have stood idly by and trusted our professional (?) retirement organizations to be a watchdog over the actions and day-to-day work at STRS. These organizations have, for the most part, served only as social gathering service clubs fostering a monthly opportunity to hash over old times with portions of meat and mashed potatoes with gravy and green beans.

"A tasty time-out in a retiree's monthly calendar, with a smidgen of current, and the most important part but not realized by retirees, legislative report which was and is usually met with the more often heard request, 'Please pass the green beans!' And then.....the legislative report is neither discussed nor thought about for another month because most retired educators, as well as actives don't pay attention to their retirement system's actions and planning (or lack thereof), do they? Guess what.....they are now!

"The best way, unfortunately, to get the attention of a retiree is to reduce benefits or increase deductions on that monthly paycheck, isn't it? By the way…when was the last time you saw a representative of ORTA or OEA-R stand up, at an STRS 'public speaks' portion of an STRS Board meeting and…speak as a representative for ORTA or OEA-R while calling the STRS administration or Board to task over an issue of misspending, mismanagement, or entitlement? It’s been a long time, hasn't it?"