Mahoning Retired Teachers Association General Meeting Wednesday, September 11, 2024 Drake's Landing
President Susan Harris called the meeting to order at 11:45 A.M.
Susan Harris, Debra Mettee, Tim Semens and Barbara Ade were seated at the head table.
Georgia Barkett was called to the podium where she provided the invocation and the blessing. Susan Harris then led members in the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of God Bless America. The meeting was then suspended for lunch.
following lunch, Tim Semens from the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County was introduced. Tim is the genealogy specialist at the library. He talked about family history and genealogy contextualizations through vital records. He talked about birth records, death records, marriages, census, and the specific tools that can be used to find information to help trace family history. We all came away from his presentation more informed about this topic.
The business meeting then followed. A collection was taken up to benefit ORTA's Pension Defense Fund. $280.00 was collected and $20.00 donated (by Beulah Ford). The $300.00 was matched by the MRTA treasury. $600.00 was sent to ORTA for the fund. In other business, President Harris thanked Margaret Skripac (Hosptitality Chairman) and Mary Grace Fowler(Public Relations Chairman) for their service to MRTA. She also welcomed the new chairs, Irene Scullen and Darlene Corfman, and thanked them for volunteering to serve. June Logan provided an ORTA update. $238.27 was collected in the Community Service drive for the YWCA Young Women with Bright futures Project and $235.oo was collected in the 50/50 drawing ($117.50) won by Beulah Ford). Jan Donofrio won the free lunch for the November 2024 meeting, and ten others won door prizes. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1::30PM.
Respectfully submitted Barbara Ade, Secretary
MAHONING RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION General Meeting Wednesday November 13, 2024 Drake's Landing
President Susan Harris called the meeting to order at 11:40 AM.
Susan Harris, Phil Butto, Debra Mettee, Ruth Frankenburg, Alice Crosetto and Barbara Ade were seated at the head table. Special guests Mike Kubitza, Steve McQuain, Mark Yoder, and Barbara Kubitza from the Canfield VFW sat at an adjoining able.
Georgia Barkett was called to the podium where she provided the invocation and the blessing. The Canfield American Legion presented the colors. Susan Harris then led members in the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of God Bless America. The playing of Taps then followed. The meeting was then suspended for lunch.
Following lunch, Vice-president Phil Butto announced our guest speaker, Alice Crosetto. Alice provided a history of The Cookie Table. She has written a book on the topic. In her research, she found that the origins go back to immigrants who came from Italy and middle Europe and settled in the Steel Valley. She talked about the earliest reference to the table, coming from Washington Irving in 1805. Many parts of the country do not have this tradition. But, those of us raised between Pittsburgh, PA and Canton, OH can vouch for the table's rich history.
The business meeting then followed. Debbie Haverstock presented the slate of officers for the 2025-27 biennium. Susan Harris, president; Phil Butto 1st vice-president; Diana Vrabel, 2nd vice-president; Barbara Ade, secretary; Debra Mettee, treasurer. There were no nominations from the floor. A voice vote was taken and the slate was approved unanimously.
June Logan in her STRS update reported that there would be a one-time supplemental payment made to retirees via direct deposit. The formula uses number of teaching years plus number of years retired times $40.00. 20% will be withheld for taxes. Written verification will be sent to members before mid-December.
Barbara Kubitza then gave a brief overview of how the Canfield VFW Auxiliary uses our community service donation. President Harris then stated that the December meeting would feature the Boardman Jazz Band. Dr. Robin Rayfield, Executive Director of ORTA will attend to install the new officers, and the community service collection will benefit the Salvation Army.
June Logan won the free lunch for December. Beulah Ford won the 50/50 drawing ($162.50) and 10 others won door prizes. The Community Service Collection brought in $391.00 which will be donated to the Canfield VFW Auxiliary.
The meeting adjourned at 1::23 PM with 91 members in attendance.
Respectfully submitted Barbara Ade, Secretary
MAHONING RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION General Meeting Wednesday, December 10, 2024 Drake's Landing
President Susan Harris called the meeting to order at 11:40 AM
Susan Harris, Phil Butto, Debra Mettee, Dr. Robin Rayfield and Barbara Ade were seated at the head table.
Georgia Barkett was called to the podium where she provided the invocation(A Christmas List) and the blessing. Susan Harris led the group in The Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of God Bless America. Members in attendance were entertained during lunch by the Boardman High School Jazz Band I, under the direction of Tom Ruggieri.
At the conclusion of the band performance, Susan Harris introduced Dr. Robin Rayfield, executive director of ORTA. Rayfield presented the slate of officers for the 2025-27 biennium. He than performed a brief installation of the new slate; Susan Harris, President; Phil Butto, 1st vice-president; Diana Vrable, 2nd vice-president; Barbara Ade, secretar; ;and Debra Mettee, treasurer.
Following installation, Dr. Rayfield provided an update from ORTA. He circulated nominating petitions supporting Rudy Fichtenbaum. Rudy is the current STRS Board President whose term ends in July. He is running again for an additional term on the STRS Board. Dr. Rayfield also said that ORTA endorsements for open board seats would be announced later in December or early January 2025.
Robin reported that ORTA has been paying legal bills for STRS board members who have been sued by Ohio (nearly $171,000). He also said that when all is said and done, ORTA stands to be reimbursed for the funds it has spent on defense.
In another matter, Dr. Rayfield announced that the December check would be mailed to retirees either on the thirteenth or the sixteenth of the month. The check amount is based on retirement years plus teaching years multiplied by 40. Tax would be taken from the amount.
The number of years for full retirement has also been adjusted for active teachers, going from 35 years to 33 years. (This is only good for three years, 2025 through 2028).
In other business, President Harris asked members for input regarding meeting speakers. She also announced the next MRTA Executive Board meeting would be on January 9, 2025 at 10:30 in the Boardman Library. She invited all members to attend. She also announced the next regular meeting would be March 12, 2025 at Drake's Landing. She urged all to attend. The Community Service Collection netted $357.00 for the Salvation Army. Member volunteer hours were also collected for the last half of the year. $280.00 was collected in the 50/50 raffle.. Geri Freeze won $140.00 and graciously donated $40.00 back to MRTA. Ten others won door prizes. Catherine Wetzl won the free lunch for the March 2025 meeting. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1;40PM with 82 members present.
Respectfully submitted, Barbara Ade, Secretary
Mahoning Retired Teachers Association General Meeting Wednesday, March 12, 2025 Drake's Landing
President Susan Harris called the meeting to order at 11:40AM. Susan Harris, Phil Butto, Debra Mettee, and Barbara Ade were seated at the head table.
President Harris provided the invocation and the blessing. She then led members in the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of God Bless America. The meeting was then suspended for lunch.
Following lunch, Vice-President Phil Butto introduced Bill Klein and the Austintown Fitch Concert Choir. This select group of singers, chosen by audition entertained the MRTA members with a variety of tunes, including God Bless the USA.
The business meeting then followed. It began with a discussion and question/answer period related to Social Security. Phil is trying to get a representative from Social Security to our June meeting to discuss the changes that are occurring in the program.
A collection was taken up for the Daff/Brown family of Springfield Township who were involved in a deadly car crash less than two weeks ago. $300.00 was collected and will be given to the fund benefiting the family at Huntington Bank.
Irene Scullen won the free lunch for May. Ann Beck wasthe winner of the 50/50 raffle, netting $77.50($155.00 collected). And ten others won door prizes.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1::18PM