MAHONING RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2022 BOARDMAN LIBRARY
PRESENT: Phil Butto, Susan Harris, Ruth Frankenburg, Barbara Ade, Debra Mettee, Kim Pontuti,.June Logan, Sally Knapick Winsen, Martha Lopez, Maggie Skripac, Sonia Tsvekoff, Debbie Haverstock
President Phil Butto called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM.
Barbara Ade read the minutes from the August 11th board meeting. Two corrections were noted. (Under old business, in Sally Winsen's report, minutes should read, $50 contribution would be given to public library in memory of deceased, not retired, MRTA members. Under new business, Suzanne DePinto's name was corrected). Martha Lopez motions the minutes be accepted as amended. Kim Pontuti seconds the motion,. Motion approved.
In the Treasurer's Report, Debbie stated that the check mailed to Toys for Youngstown Kids, the June Community Service Project, was returned. The money was sent to Easter Seals instead. Luncheon prices were discussed. The membership will need to know that prices for next year's lunch meetings will have to be increased. Sally Winsen moved to accept the report for audit. Kim Pontuti seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Old Business. President Phil Butto announced the slate of officers for the 2023-24 biennium: Susan Harris, president; Phil Butto,; 1st vice =president; Ruth Frankenburg, 2nd vice-president; Secretary, Barb Ade; Treasurer, Debra Mettee. The slate of officers will be announced to the general membership in a newsletter that will be released in October.
Susan Harris and June Logan reported on the Northeast Regional ORTA meeting held in Alliance on September 26th. Dr. Rayfield and Chris DeMarco, ORTA President spoke on issues pertinent to retirement, STRS, and the COLA. Susan stated that Dr. Rayfield would attend MRTA's November meeting.
New Business ORTA's 75th anniversary celebration is taking place at the Doubletree Inn in Worthington on October 12, 2022 from 4-7 PM. June Logan and Phil Butto will attend representing MRTA.
The next MRTA board meeting has been set for January 12, 2023 at 10:00AM in the Boardman Library meeting room.
committee Reports: Program: Susan Harris reported that Bonnie Dodge would speak in November as well as Dr. Rayfield, and Tom Ruggieri and the Boadman Jazz Band will entertain in December. Legislative: Following the September 26th meeting, June reported several chapters dissolving in the Columbiana Count/Alliance area, Community Service: Kim Pontuti said that the Canfield Veterans Auxiliary will benefit from November's service collection, and the Salvation Army will benefit in December, In Memoriam: Sally Winsen has the contact information for the $50 donation being made to the library. In Remembrance: Martha provided a list of deceased members since June 2022. Hospitality: Maggie asked those on the board to urge other MRTA members to attend meetings. She also asked for help organizing and preparing for meetings. Newsletter: Barbara Ade will make a concerted effort to get all email newsletter recipients their information. She's been made aware some did not receive the September edition. Scholarship: Sonia reported that no one has applied for the MRTA/YSU scholarship to date. Web Page: Debbie Haverstock reported that the main MRTA web page is up to date with all current information.
There being no further business Debie Mettee moved the meeting be adjourned. Sonia Tsvetkoff seconded the motion. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 11:26 AM.
Respectfully submitted Barbara Ade, Secretary..
MAHONING RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING THURSDAY, APRIL, 13, 2023 BOARDMAN LIBRARY
PRESENT: Susan Harris, Phil Butto, Barbara Ade, Debra Mettee, Kim Pontuti, June Logan, Peggy Bennett, Sally Knapick Winsen, Martha Lope, Sonia Tsvetkoff, Debbie Haverstock
President Susan Harris called the meeting to order at 10:07 AM.
Barbara Ade read the minutes from the January 12, 2023 board meeting. The minutes were approved as read.
Treasurer Debra Mettee presented the income/expense report for 2022 and discussed the March 2023 meeting luncheon attendance. In addition, she discussed transferring $50 from the Knapick fund to the checking account to cover the memorial for deceased MRTA members at the Youngstown Public Library, This contribution will be given to Deb Liptak, library development director, at the May meeting. Debbie announced that member Kathleen Lucisano donated $100 in memory of deceased member, Jean Evans. Phil Butto suggested this money go to the Boardman Band in Jean's memory. A thank you will be sent to Kathleen in recognition of her donation.
Old Business: An ad hoc committee was created to update MRTA's by-laws and standing rules. Committee members include Peggy Bennett, Kim Pontuti, Susan Harris (ex Officio) and Debbie Haverstock, chairman. Results will be completed before the September meeting.
Karen Kimmel has resigned as MRTA historian. Susan will contact her to get the current binder back and announce the position as open at upcoming meetings.
New Business: No new business was presented.
Committee Reports: Program: Phil is working on the year's programs. Deb Liptak from the Youngstown Public Library is scheduled for May. Brian Nord, Senior Development Officer at the YSU Foundation will speak at our June meeting. Legislative: The ORTA Bylaws were changed to reflect the organization's name change. It is now Ohio Retirement for Teachers Association. ORTA membership is expanding to include both active and retired Ohio educators.
Under Article VII - Local Chapters Chapter officers shall be reported to the State office before the Spring Board Meeting. Chapter officers and chairs of the chapter standing committees must be ORTA members in good standing. Chapters must submit any bylaw modifications with the State office each year. Chapters must submit annual reports by January. 15. Dues for ORTA Membership will be August 1 through July 31. The Board shall determine dues. Active members $10.00/year, Retired Members $30.00/year.., Lifetime$500.00.
ORTA has developed a new logo.
ORTA website (orta.org) is being updated in order to increase membership among active teachers.
Chris DeMarco is the current ORTA President and Dean Dennis is President-Elect.
Facebook groups supporting STRS reform are STRS Ohio,Watchdogs and STRS Members ONlY Forum. Save Ohio STRS is a Twitter group supporting reform.
Membership: Phil will compile a list of recent retirees and send each a letter of introduction to MRTA/ORTA.
Information/Protection: Members may be having difficulty getting information and attending meetings. IN Memoriam: The names of the 2022-23 deceased MRTA members will be individually recognized on the crawl at the YPL main branch.
In Remembrance: 25 deceased MRTA members will be recogized at the May meeting. Members 80 years and older will also be ecognized in May during the luncheon.
Hospitality: The permanent nametags are working out, andbeing returned following luncheon meetings.
Scholarship: No applicants for this year's scholaarship.
Website: Deb Haverstock reports increased in fees for the website ($144.00) and domain (domain ($255.00) for five years.
Barbara Ade moves to accept the fee changes,Martha Lopez seconds. Motion passed.
There being no furthr business, Debra Mettee moved the meeting be adjourned. Peggy Bennett seconded the motion. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 11:47 AM.