Applying for an absentee ballot

From Mary Lou Guizzo, October 26, 2011

You may go here to apply: http://weareohio.com/earlyvote/evbm_request.php
I've been working on GOTV (Get Out the Vote) and it's a very good way for those who cannot make it to the polls to request an absentee ballot. It can be filled in electronically, then printed, signed and dated, and mailed in. Time is of the essence though as Election Day is rapidly approaching. As per the directions "An application by mail must be received by your county board of elections by noon on the third day before the election. An application by you in person must be received by the close of regular board office hours the day before the election. Applications for persons who are hospitalized or for persons whose minor child is hospitalized due to an accident or unforeseeable medical emergency will be accepted until 3 p.m. on Election Day 2. When you receive your ballot: If you return your ballot by mail, it must be postmarked no later than the day before Election Day and received by your county board of elections no later than 10 days after the election. If you return your ballot in person or if a near relative delivers it to the board for you, it must be delivered to your county board of elections no later than the close of polls on Election Day."

Committee meeting notice: STRS

From STRS, October 26, 2011

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

The State Teachers Retirement Board of Ohio's Executive Appraisal Form Committee will meet at the STRS Ohio Offices, 275 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011, at 9 a.m.

Minutes for the October 20, 2011 CORE Meeting

From CORE, October 25, 2011

At 11:55 President Dave Parshall opened the Concerned Ohio Retired Educators (CORE) October meeting. After the minutes from the last meeting (August) were accepted by the eight members in attendance, President Dave (acting treasurer, too) gave the treasurer’s report. After a review of our books, Dave concluded that all is well with our funds. As far as the IRS situation goes, both Dave and our attorney are still working on it. (Since we’re a 501C4 and have never had over $25, 000 in our treasury, this should be resolved soon.)

President Parshall then talked with the group about the September 27th meeting held with Mike Nehf, STRS Executive Director; Terri Bierdeman, Director of Governmental Relations; and Nick Treneff, the new Director of Communication Services. CORE executive committee members Dave Parshall, Mary Thomas, Donna Seaman, and Marie Fetters were also part of this meeting. Even though the news doesn’t appear to be very uplifting, all the CORE members who met with the STRS officials were most appreciative of their time, information, and effort to work with us as we move forward in these uncertain times.

Before Dave detailed news of the meeting, he expressed his gratitude for the help and availability in the past years of Laura Ecklar, the past communications director. He anticipates a good working relationship with Nick, as well.

President Dave informed members that more than likely it will be 2013 before we will know just what will happen with our pension fund, due to upcoming elections, etc. He then spent much time trying to explain the role of GASB (Government Accounting Standards Board), which was established in 1984 and officially sets some rules for state and local governments. Parshall suggested that anyone who’d like more specific information on GASB should go to their website.

In the first of the final items before we adjourned, President Dave, encouraged a “No” vote on Issue 2. Lastly, in a “shout-out” to Kathie Bracy, he stated that her blog has been getting 500 hits lately.

The meeting adjourned at 12:45 so that people could return to the afternoon portion of the STRS Board Meting.

Respectfully submitted,
Marie M. Fetters
CORE secretary

Shannon.....just a simple question......

From John Curry, October 23, 2011

Senator Shannon Jones,

I was just reading a little about you in an article in the Youngstown newspaper which confirmed what I believed to be true.....that your sponsored SB 5 still has had zero co-sponsors added to it since it was introduced in the Ohio Senate over eight months ago (Feb 1, 2011) and introduced into the Ohio House over seven months ago (March 3, 2011). Usually, when a bill is popular, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and in both the Ohio House and the Ohio Senate can't wait to add their name to a bill. Why is it, that in the case of your sole sponsored SB5, there are yet no sponsors or co-sponsors other than you? Please explain this phenomenon to me. I must be missing something here.

Sincerely,

John Curry
A retired Ohio public servant
Wapakoneta

P.S. Here's the confirmation from that Vindy.com newspaper article:

http://www.vindy.com/news/2011/oct/23/senate-bill-5issue-2-how-did-we-get-here/

“Taxpayers don’t want to provide government with more resources,” said Jones, the lone sponsor of Senate Bill 5.

STRS Asset Value

From Mario Iacone, October 23, 2011

CURRENT ASSET VALUE 9/30/2011

59.4 Billion

ASSET VALUE as of LAST MONTH 8/31/2011

62.6 Billion

HIGH ASSET VALUE....2007

approx 80 Billion

LOW ASSET VALUE...early 2009

approx 47 Billion

approx 21 Billion BELOW HIGH and

approx 12 Billion ABOVE LOW