Update from the Executive Director of ORTA, Dr. Robin Rayfield

From the March 2022 Newsletter of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association

March 24, 2022

STRS News

STRS approved an increase to the benefits of thousands of retirees at the March STRS meeting. Each retiree that is eligible (those that have been retired at least 5 years) will receive an increase of 3% of their original retirement benefit. This increase is permanent. Your new benefit going forward will be your benefit for the remainder of your life or until STRS changes this amount. STRS will look at increases a nually, however, there are no promises to increase benefits after the 2%. The increase will occur on your retirement date anniversary. STRS also removed the age 60 requirement for full benefits. People can now retire after 35 years of service at any age.

ORTA recognizes that the increase is small when compared to what we were promised, however, we are proud to have been a large part of the pressure that forced STRS into increasing our benefit. From the beginning, ORTA opposed the loss of COLA. ORTA has been a voice for retirees and active educators in Ohio since 1947 working to protect and improve our pension. Certainly, this increase is a victory, but ORTA is not done fighting for our pension. ORTA will continue to advocate through any mean possible including:

● Providing information

● Working with legislators like Senator Tressa Fedor (sponsor of Senate bill 280)

● Educating STRS Board members

● Helping elect STRS board members that will ask questions and not simply be a

rubber stamp for STRS management

● Forcing STRS to become transparent with information related to investments

ORTA Endorsements for STRS Trustee Elections

ORTA’s Endorsement Committee met with all 6 candidates for STRS board of trustee

seats. The committee endorses the following people:

● Active seat -- Steven Foreman

● Active seat -- Julie Sellers

● Retiree seat – Elizabeth Jones

Each candidate’s questionnaire is posted later in this newsletter. Thanks to the endorsement committee for their work in making these endorsements: Chris DeMarco (chair), Dean Dennis SW Ohio, Kara Mendenhall Central Ohio, Bee Lehner SE Ohio, Brenda Davis SE Ohio, Steve Seagrave NW Ohio, and Carol Kinsey NE Ohio. Each STRS member will receive a ballot in early April. ORTA askes that you vote for our endorsed candidates. The only pathway to fixing our pension system depends on a board that will lead the staff, not a board that is led by the staff.

ORTA Liaisons

ORTA welcomes Gail Gronwall to the leadership team. Gail responded to ORTA’s plea for leaders and volunteered to serve as a liaison for the Northeast part of Ohio. Welcome, Gail!

ORTA Celebrates 75 Years!

ORTA has been engaged in advocacy for STRS retirees since 1947. 2022 marks our 75th anniversary. Our leadership team is currently planning a celebration. We would like to know your thoughts on what our celebration might include. Please feel free to reach out and share your thoughts.

Robin Rayfield, ORTA Executive Director