We must Stand Up for Rudy -- NOW

Rudy Fichtenbaum, chairman of the STRS board who has given his all (and then some, to put it mildly) to get retirees' COLA reinstated and to reduce actives' contribution and required years of service, needs our help more than ever. 

Please go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/stand-up-for-rudy-and-his-100000-commitment-to-you  to read more about Rudy and contribute as much as you are able, to Rudy's $100,000 out-of-pocket expenses for legal costs for the unfair lawsuit levied against him by the Attorney General. And watch Rudy's video. 

He does NOT deserve this kind of treatment for advocating tirelessly for all of us. We ALL need to do our part! Please show him your part in his much deserved support by donating now.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/stand-up-for-rudy-and-his-100000-commitment-to-you 

Urgent message fromBob Buerkle

From Bob Burkle

March 1, 2026

Calling on all 40,000+ of us on the "Ohio STRS Member Only Forum."  Please, we need to raise enough money to reimburse RUDY for the money he has had to pay for his own defense for standing up for you and me, when he could have been enjoying much more time with his grandchildren!

Our STRS pension plan is a mess because of inadequate funding by the legislature. Until Wade and Rudy came up with a possible way to generate greater investment returns, NO STRS Executive, or their investment team, or their hired consultants had come forth with any new ideas since the 2008-09 Great Recession.

The plan Rudy tried to present to the Board was sabotaged by STRS Management, the head of STRS Investments and their hired Consultants. The presentation was ruined and never completed as planned and the OEA Board Majority turned it down. Nothing more was pursued by Rudy or Wade, yet 3 years later, when we won the final 7th elected Board seat, our own STRS Lawyers sent a 14 page letter to the Governor and a few days later the Ohio Attorney General filed the lawsuit against them. Yes, we do live in a state where our legislators and our legal system have many corrupt actors.

Rudy has provided a one-minute video in the link.  Please click on it below and donate today, then forward this to your retired friends and active teachers.

Fundraiser for Rudy Fichtenbaum by Cindy Murphy : Stand Up for Rudy and His $100,000 Commitment to You

https://www.gofundme.com/f/stand-up-for-rudy-and-his-100000-commitment-to-you 

Donate to Stand Up for Rudy and His $100,000 Commitment to You, organized by Cindy Murphy

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Go here to read more about Rudy and to download a flyer to give to others to encourage them to donate to GoFundMe to help with his legal expenses:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19tYMVW5BLJ1-idQNUQxHP3tvNW35exyMGKIR62V1ygE/edit?fbclid=IwY2xjawQTFyBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFCYUZONkx

UcnlaSDREWFhSc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg

5MgABHhlbMWOIRUpbA5cQYIulzPurkhjtH6nJRZmLa8B1y-Tiuh-u5-JH7B6FrgeH_aem_U1XXXayXN5l3lIQFVKxhPA&pli=1&tab=t.0