Famous Quotes: A Trip Down Memory Lane

Remember these?

Watch this column, as quotes are added from time to time.

"I will consider responding to your records request when and if I have time, and that's not likely to be soon" (Former STRS executive director Herb Dyer, [convicted on ethics charges] responding to Dennis Leone's letter in Dec., 2002)

"The Board decides what's fair and it's the Board members' money to spend as they see fit." (Herb Dyer, letter to retiree Joe Gebhardt)

"It's a drop in the bucket." (Former Board member Jack Chapman [convicted on ethics charges] re: the total cost of his meeting expenses, in comparison to the total STRS assets)

"We don't get paid as Board members, so we deserve these things." (Jack Chapman)

"This is unfair because they don't get paid as board members" (Former Board member Hazel Sidaway's lawyer, H. Ritchie Hollenbaugh, on her day of conviction on ethics charges)

"I think it is clearly overkill.....the system is unfair to people that make an innocent mistake." ~ Attorney H. Ritchey Hollenbaugh, who represented several ex-STRS Board members convicted of ethics charges

"His (Leone's) report is destructive........it contains misrepresentations" (Gary Allen, President of OEA, June 2003)

"_________________________" (ORTA, after Dennis Leone's investigative report came out in May, 2003) (You're right -- they had nothing to say.)

"We could have discovered what Dennis Leone found, but we've been busy doing other things for retirees." (ORTA Executive Director Dave Travis)

"The initials S.T.R.S. are not supposed to stand for Spending, Travel, Retreats and Sculptures." (Dennis Leone, addressing the STRS Board in August of 2003)

"They're like kids in a candy store" (State Representative Michelle Schneider, regarding the spending habits of former STRS Board members and staff members).

"Beware of malcontent retirees." (Former ORTA president and former STRS Board chair, Joe Endry [convicted on ethics charges], departing words in ORTA Quarterly)

"I was doing board business when I attended that Broadway show" (Hazel Sidaway/Joe Endry)

"What would Rome look like today if they hadn't supported the arts?" (Former STRS Board member [forced out by SB 133] Jim Petro, regarding the $869,000 spent on sculptures at STRS)

"I am not against bonus checks at all." (Former Board member [forced out by SB 133] Betty Montgomery, upon learning that some 500 STRS employees received annual bonus checks)

"I really should have been more vigilant." (Montgomery, at Senate hearings)

"Shut up!" (Former Board member & Chair Bob Brown, directed at Leone in public Board meeting, 2005)

"It is questionable whether Leone actually will be on the ballot because it is unclear whether he is working in a school district." (OEA's Gary Hollow, in NEOEA-R newsletter, after Leone filed his Board candidacy petitions in February of 2005)

"You're being intrusive." (Former appointed Board member Judith Fisher [who resigned in August, 2006], about Leone operating budget questions)

"You're micro-managing" (Fisher, about Leone vendor contract questions)

"I agree with Judith on this." (Former appointed Board member Geoffrey Meyers [who resigned 10/26/06], about Leone vendor contract questions, four months after Fisher left the board)

"He's childish, he needs parenting, and if he were a student in my class he'd be suspended from school." (Board chair Conni Ramser, about Leone, in the Canton Repository)

"We just disagree on whether he's a savior or a crackpot." (OEA's Tim Myers, regarding Leone)

"This is a waste of time." (Ex-Board member Geoff Meyers, about Leone question regarding Ferguson contract)

"Any Board involvement in vendor contracts impairs the staff's ability to negotiate" (New Board member Mark Meuser, October 2006)

"See, you don't have to go to Florida to find a good meeting; you can attend one right here in Columbus!" (ORSC President Aristotle Hutras at February, 2007 STRS Board retreat)

"I've never been to Lindey's in my life!" (STRS Board chairman Conni Ramser at a November, 2006 Board meeting, re: a dinner voucher with her name on it) [Her union friends seemed to regard it as a mild memory slip and she was sweetly forgiven; most assuredly, it would have been a different story altogether, from their viewpoint, had a certain other Board member or two made the same denial, then were later found to have received such a dinner with an STRS-purchased credit card.]

"Well, we can't put everything in the booklet!" ~ An STRS rep to a sick retiree calling about a drug that was denied, even though it was on the list of approved medication with prior authorization and listed in the 2006 STRS HC booklet as "approved."

"I have consulted our executive board and they agreed with me that there is no reason to publish an article that will be about 3 or 4 weeks old by the time it is in the hands of our members." ~ Tom Seamon, editor of the ORTA Quarterly, to Dennis Leone, after refusing to publish his March 2007 STRS Report (Keep this quote in mind each time you read your Quarterly.)

"Because we don't have to" ~ Response to Dennis Leone after he asked why the Board wasn't voting publicly, after a secret ballot was taken to appoint Conni Ramser to the STRS Board (to replace Jack Chapman) and Tai Hayden (to replace Michael Billirakis).

"We are looking at it." ~ Marc Dann (4/8/07) after being asked to examine the practice of secret balloting, with regard to its legality, during open Board meetings at Ohio STRS.

“Oh my God,” said state Rep. Michelle Schneider, R-Cincinnati, and sponsor of legislation to reform the state’s five pension systems.

“They just don’t get it. The nightmare continues.” ~ Canton Repository article (by Paul Kostyu), May 12, 2004: STRS workers to get $3.85M in bonuses

State Attorney General Marc Dann, addressing March 2007 STRS Board meeting; from the official minutes of the meeting: "Mr. Dann said he agreed [with Board member Dennis Leone] that it was a conflict of interest for the Attorney General to sit on the Board. Mr. Dann also said he will strongly exercise his independence and that he is only accountable to the people of the State of Ohio. He said he will offer his independent judgment as at first, but if necessary, he will take action against his own clients in order to make sure the law is followed. He said he understands STRS Ohio exists to serve its members, not serve itself and he will certainly be mindful of that going forward."

“You will NOT insult MY people in MY house!” ~ Patricia Frost-Brooks, when Dennis Leone was criticizing the voting practices of certain board members during an OEA-R representative meeting at OEA, where Dr. Leone was the invited speaker; December 29, 2007

".....any motions before the Board that would or could undermine trust and confidence between the Board, Executive Director and Staff, are not in the best interest of the system, and, in fact, may be unnecessary and counterproductive." ~ Patricia Frost-Brooks, December 13, 2007, in a speech before the STRS Retirement Board*

[* Note: Ms. Brooks did not articulate any specific motions to which she was referring.]

"Dennis is an attack-dog." ~ An OEA-R member, January 9, 2008

Molly Janczyk: A response to Bill Leibensperger

From Molly Janczyk, December 19, 2007
Subject: Re: OEA: In the spirit of open communication

Bill,

As Kathie responded, I too, do not agree with anonymous letters feeling there is not an avenue for response just like John Lazares and Dennis Leone stated publicly at an STRS Meeting regarding an anonymous letter sent to Board members regarding a CORE member. I do understand that some feel they do not want to be public fearing retaliation of some sort though it is not true as pensions cannot be disturbed. Many still feel comfortable speaking through others, I have found, but we must be uniform in our consideration of anonymous writers in general.

POINT to Bill: My emails are blocked at OEA because as Gary Allen told me in front of you at OEA, it was thought that I could somehow get into your system which is totally outlandish with my simple email skills. But, since I had sources, he thought I perhaps had some way of infiltrating which is what he told me at the meeting we all attended. He told me it would be no time soon that I would be able to connect with OEA central directly.

POINT: The anger is deep. Profoundly. Many felt betrayed at the CORE of their being losing assets, homes, cutting meds, denying themselves treatments while OEA Board members lived high and never warning them of catastrophic changes on the horizon allowing them to retire being told all was fine and they never needed to worry about HC in their STRS Consults.

POINT: The money abused by the OEA former Board members could never have paid for HC , we know. But, it added insult to injury, literally! Addressing retirees with smirks and slams and non responsiveness provided another layer of separation. OEA created its own disenfranchise.

Bill, you were all there! Your Tim Myers wrote he was there long before Leone! Well, what did he do about the spending abuse? He never answers that question but will have a harder time avoiding it as an OEA STRS Board candidate. He could have been the 'Savior vs. the Crackpot' as he wrote questioning which Leone was.

Instead, Leone and Lazares came along and heard rumors and Leone's report is history. To promote disregarding history is impossible and irresponsible for any leader (Your written remark re: referring to the past). Leone thought OEA and ORTA would stand up-step up and take over and he'd go back to his job. Something he told me way back when before he ever considered taking a Board seat based on our pleas. POINT: OEA, ORTA , never spoke out or picked up the duty to membership to fight for oversight of membership money and every statement of praise for those who turned a blind eye to approaching devastation brought more insult to their injury.

OEA and ORTA turned a blind and deaf ear instead. Praise was heaped upon the abusive OEA Board members who misspent cavalierly relying totally on the market. Jack Chapman: "We were riding the wave!" Again, insult to deep injury of heaping the burden of saving STRS HC onto retirees' backs-retirees who worked their whole lives simply for a secure retirement. OEA said it was not necessary back in the early 90's to support talk of legislation to secure HC even when Endry told you all if something did not happen to provide HC back then , there would be no HC in ten years. So, you were not blindsided in all this. Dyer is reported to have said "I want out of the HC business." Dyer was OEA's top choice rushing to the airport, I am told, to secure him. I believe Dyer intended to spend HC money down and then blame a national problem which indeed there is and proceed to stop HC subsidy.

Suddenly- virtually overnight - there were untenable catastrophic HC increases and retirements were robbed from those who had worked only wishing security in retirement with implied promises of HC second to none. All able bodied had to go back to work to pay for HC while OEA 'ers laughed at us at meetings saying : "You have yours! We want ours!" We were called names: 'malcontents; a few disgruntled retirees,' etc. We'd go away-as OEA and ORTA and STRS thought. We didn't and we won't.

Why the anger? For reasons stated in points above and for very simply: OEA CENTRAL NEVER TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS OWN with Allen telling me: "Our legal team would have our heads if we interfered with the Board!" (no one believes that) OEA CENTRAL AND ORTA CENTRAL NEVER SPOKE TO THE BOARD BUT PRAISED IT INSTEAD! Each time, anger built. OEA sent lies and innuendo statewide about the man who blew the whistle and never made any move to welcome either Leone or Lazares to the Board. Deb Scott: "I am NOT happy to see you here!" Lazares' response: "Thanks for the warm welcome , Debbie!"

You OEA-R: NE corner wrote innuendo to cloud whether Leone was a candidate. Easy to find out if he was indeed confused up there. Call STRS! Find out as any responsible writer would do before publishing an article. But that was not the issue: The issue was to confuse and cloud and hope some of it would stick. Back room and meeting comments kept coming back to us.

Again and again: For there to be open communication, both sides have to have the opportunity to speak and respond. When you build trust, both parties don't go around badmouthing and name calling the 'others'. That is what you did.

So, yes ! Have you ever been deeply hurt feeling betrayed by horrible slurs and lies with no chance to respond to all that heard and read it? It is a life changing event when one's integrity is attacked for one who has integrity and built a life around truth and honesty. That does not leave when NO ONE EVER took responsibility or made it right. That act is immoral, unethical and low. These bumps which you doggedly continue catapult us back to those days as we will never forget that taste or feeling for ourselves and for the one who stood up for us!

That is the KEY! We DO take personally the attacks on the 2 men who stood up to all the giants and made the truth known: UNDENIABLE: 100% VERFIED WITH STRS DOCUMENTS AND INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS ARTICLES. Leone and Kostyu won awards for the research on STRS. Leone has won many awards for work for educators and his research. What other Board member has won or displayed such other than John Lazares who has won awards as well and is a published author. John Lazares felt the need to write an "Ethics Policy" for STRS which is now in its bylaws.

You have so little if any reason to pursue Leone and Lazares. It is YOUR difficulty in communicating with either of them. Leaders recognized for their efforts such as the late Tom Mooney and other organizations I know seem to have no difficulty. Only OEA and ORTA and its affiliates who must always wear their armor and will never do anything but defend past practices and will not speak up for current change have difficulty. It seems impossible for them to let down their guard to have a conversation about change. THAT is what brings ire to the table! You come with attitudes set and dislike in place and showing. This was recently brought up so I will mention it as Leone and Lazares have for 5 years: You will never get over that these 2 superintendents were against the strike years ago as most if not many superintendents were being told to keep schools open. I was one who went out on strike. Different sides of the fence. Didn't make me hate the principal or superintendent for the rest of my life.

Leone and Lazares came with that black mark and then embarrassed OEA and ORTA for not being on guard for membership. OEA and ORTA quickly closed ranks and did everything possible to slander and raise questions about those found problems and the one who broke the story while retirees sung their praises for helping us. THAT IS WHY WE STAND BEHIND THEM AND THAT IS WHY WE WILL CONTINUE! Not because we agree or disagree about a point here or there but because these 2 have the courage to keep fighting for membership and lay open the rules and watch our money.

I doubt you will ever understand and that you even want to with statements like: 'You try to understand but the anger goes so deep.' For you to even say that is unbelievable to membership bearing insult after insult and insult and watching its leaders attacked monthly for doing what you seem to miss: WE WANT THAT LEVEL OF OVERSIGHT! WE FEEL THAT LEGISLATORS DO TOO AND THAT IT LOOKS GOOD FOR STRS TO BE TRANSPARENT! ANY SHOW OF DISSENT COMES FROM YOU AND YOU CONTINUE TO PERPETUATE IT!

STRS has come a long way in restoring trust under Leone and Lazares motions for change. Steve Mitchell and his Staff have been overwhelmingly accurate and disciplined in bringing us back to a secure place. We issue kudos to them and to the wonderful staff at STRS who work with us and for us wanting nothing but STRS restored to its place of respect and trust. They have done so much to bring this about never hesitating to help membership answer questions and understand or assist whenever possible.

STRS DOES NOT DESERVE to be accused of having so much money they can pay for membership HC on their own. Any who issue such a statement have little understanding of finance and loss. My limited experience has taught me a dollar amount alone does not reflect severe loss, huge increases of liability and lowered funding ratio and making up for very low years. If one loses 1/3 of their money such as myself, I must use other resources to make that up taking my debt ratio and ability to pay up many more years than previous to my loss. So if I earn major money back from the market, I now have not only my previous debts but those accumulated to sustain me during the years I was down monetarily. Perhaps, I now how an amount more than I had on paper before the crash but I have more debt too taken on to survive.

STRS has earned its way back to unfunded liability around or under 30 yrs as ORSC dictates and increased its funding ration but not enough yet to be able to dedicate more to the HC fund. Also, HC costs have soared so high these past few years that even when or if they do meet the ORSC recommendations for being responsibly able to use more pension money for HC, it would no longer be enough to subsidize HC. This is why a secured revenue is needed and why STRS and HCA have now devised legislation to allow educators to prepay for their own HC.

HB 315 is a well thought out plan for securing HC for its educators with no overwhelming costs for employee or employer. This accompanied by proper funding for education would go a long way to serve Ohio in 1. attracting the best educators vs. driving them from this
2. economically failing state. TWO indicators of how to put Ohio ever into a crippling spiral of no return.

Will all always agree on all issues? No! Do all legislators agree on all issues? Are there never arguments or dissent on how to proceed? It is naive and ignorant to perceive differences and heated debate as breaks in membership over HB 315.

STRS and all HCA and CORE agree that HC is a priority and work collaboratively for its being introduced for debate.

Does that mean no one should ever disagree or stand apart on other issues? That is not exercising prudence and duty but only creating a false front which should raise concern. Debate, dissent is our American way and legislators should view it as healthy and proper: debate hard and listen to one another and vote individually and one's own conscience or you do an injustice to your constituency when you swore to uphold your duty and not be influenced by anyone other than those who depend on you for honesty and integrity. If you cannot do that at any level: you must step down for your presence is not honest.

Most of us can and will do whatever it takes for retirees and so we shake hands and smile but trust...........................................It becomes easier and easier for me because I long ago stopped caring about reactions if I felt I was honest. I understand when I am being ignored and when I am being solicited for help. I have no problem helping if I feel it is right for retirees and view it as an opportunity to show my pure intent.

ACTIONS prove change and intent - not words slung at someone in a hit and run mode with no opportunity for response in an attempt to control: you say micromanaging ; I say control. That is little different than an anonymous letter. One knows who is saying it but still no ability to respond.

I can say, it is creating trouble when someone needs you for a isolated purpose and wishes a united front to present a face publicly while continuing to attack behind the podium. Just doesn't work that way and hasn't been working for you for a long time. A person might wonder why one persists in behavior that antagonizes and creates the very thing they say they want to present. But you keep doing it while calling some of us the guilty ones. I have told you forever, we react. You don't get to throw your platitudes - pointedly and then walk away and think for a second we will not react.

Slow learners, it seems , but we aren't going anywhere and yes, Bill, it goes way deep. Deeper than you will ever understand and you are doing nothing to correct it. Nada. Only making matters worse.

Solution: Meet with the injured parties in a real sense of open communication; make amends; take responsibility for acts done as we all must do in life; you and yours stop making excuses and spending so much time defending the indefensible cause it will never work no matter how you change the words.

In this, OEA and ORTA are forever wrong in the minds of many remembering when life came to a sudden stop, when retirement was yanked from us and we were net with insults and bravado. Charter schools, much legislation and education projects: Thank you OEA and ORTA. But you will never answer this questions above and never have and the screen goes silent and back to the lair.

I think you can figure it out why the hurt goes so deep if you really want to and have, in fact, done so. You don't really want to take that step and that is that about that. You know why it goes so deep..................... I am an eternal optimist though that someday, someone with OEA, down the road will stop the mantra, get off the train and simply make it happen. A wise man. One equal to Leone in 'just wanting to do the right thing': his response in 2003 to a reporter on why he did the research. Is Leone human? Yes! Do ones among us disagree and debate points at times: Yes! Does Leone mind? NEVER! Does he raise his voice! NEVER! How do I know? I am one of them. He simply tells me there is nothing wrong with my ideas being my own. But, I know he trusts me. I know we value each other. We respect each other. So, we can talk, no problem. Mooney had no problem. Others have no problem. Just OEA Central and ORTA Central and those closely affiliated. Think about it and what you would feel and do if it had been you maligned wrongly, stunned, statewide and had your reputation impugned by those who continue to attack you-pointedly and with no doubt as to whom they are speaking.

Thanks boys and girls. Let's not keep pretending, ok?

Sincerely,
Molly J.