A big thank you from Rudy and some suggestions on how STRS members can help

From Rudy Fichtenbaum

December 17, 2021

As a Board Member, I would like to thank all of the members who took the time to sit though a long meeting [STRS Board meeting 12/16/21] in order to have the opportunity to speak for just 3 minutes. I listened carefully to all of the speakers, most of whom were there not just on their own behalf, but to advocate for all members. Many of the points made in the 3 minute speeches, clearly show that our pension is broken.

Many Board members seem to dismiss these speeches but I do not. In fact, I wish there were more members who came to speak and that the room was packed for every meeting. It takes a lot of courage and persistence for those who come and speak month after month, especially when it is clear that the senior staff are not listening and most Board members simply dismiss speakers as malcontents. We all owe a debt of gratitude to those who come to the meetings and speak for all of us.

When I was elected, a senior staff member told me that they survey members regularly and that most members were very satisfied. My response was you can send out all the surveys you want to a few hundred members and ask questions designed to elicit certain answers that will reinforce your own preconceived ideas. These surveys, in many ways, are like polls and we all know about the inaccuracy of polling. The real survey was the election, where I was the top vote getter because I advocated to restore the COLA and restore benefit cuts that impact active members.

If you are not happy with what is happening with our pension, you should come to the meetings, and speak, if you can. But I recognize that not everyone can attend the meetings. You should also consider writing letters to the editor and calling your state representatives and senators. But the most important thing that all of you can do is to vote in the upcoming Board election. Everyone can vote. If you want change you need to talk to all of the retired and active teachers you know and get them to talk to the teachers and retirees they know and make sure that members, both active and retired, vote for change. Someone once told me that everyone wants change but no one wants to change what they are doing. We all need to change what we are doing if we want a pension that puts members first. This is our pension and ultimately we are the only people who can fix it.