Mahoning Retired Teachers Association General Meeting Wednesday, March 11, 2026 Drake's Landing
President Susan Harris called the meeting to order at 11f:48AM
President Harris called Georgia Barkett to the podium where she recited A St. Patrick's Day Inspiration followed by the blessing. President Harris then led the membership in the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of God BlessAmerica. The meeting was then suspended for lunch. The Austintown High School Concer Choir was to perform, but they cancelled because a tornado watch had been issued.
Legislative liaison, June Logan was called to the podium where she updated the members on the Wade Steen/Ruby Fichtenbaum case. The lower court ruling was reversed, and Fichtenbaum and Steen are appealing. June also reported that the stay on the order to replace STRS elected board members with political appointees remains in place. Meanwhile, the legislature has taken no action to require school districts to contribute more toward STRS pensions and reduce the load current Ohio teachers have to fund pensions. June lobbied members to contact their elected representatives requesting these changes.
President Harris announced that the MRTA Executive Board would meet on Friday, April 10, 2026, in the Boardman library at 10:30AM. She also announced that the next regularly scheduled meeting would be Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Drake's Landing.
In other business, he community service collection netted $303.00 for Soles of Luv. $236.00 was collected in the 50/50 raffle. ($118.00 won by Suzanne DePinto) and Sonia Tsvetkoff won the free lunch for the May meeting. Also, more than 10 door prizes were awarded to attendees. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:15PM with 63 members present.
Respectfully submitted Barbara Ade, Secretary
Mahoning Retired Teachers Association General Meeting Wednesday, December 10, 2025 Drake's Landing
President Harris called Georgia Barkett to the podium where she recited A Christas Prayer followed by the blessing. President Harris then led the membership in the reciing of the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of God Bless America. The meeting was then suspended for lunch. The Boardman Jazz Band, under the direction of Tim Tuite, entertained members with Christmas selections and traditional jazz pieces.
Dr. Robin Rayfield, ORTA Executive Director followed by providing the year in review. 1. His first highlight was that Wade Steen won his court case against the State of Ohio, and was reinstated to his elected seat on the STRS Board. 2. He then updated us on the week-long trial (Fichtenbaum/Steen vs Ohio). The sitting judge ordered briefs (due by December 12, 2025). the judge will respond following consideration of the briefs. 3. Next, elected STRS Board remains in place because of a court injunction intimating that this amendment could not be part of the state budget bill as it has nothing to do with the budget. The judge directed a separate Bill be created and passed through the House and Senate to get this made law. 4. Billions of tax payer dollars were given to private schools, thus reducing money appropriated for Ohio's public schools. 5. STRS is severely underfunded. Teachers contribute 14%, school districts contribute 12% (the lowest in the nation). Lawmakers need to address this disparity which would make the pension fund more robust
In other business, $424,000 was collected and donated to the Salvation Army. $230.00 was collected in the 50/50 raffle. ($115.00 given to the winner) and Barbara Ade won the free lunch for the next meeting. Also, more than 10 door prizes were awarded to attendees. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:54. With 77 members present..
Respectfully submitted Barbara Ade, Secretary
MAHONING RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION GENERAL MEETING WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2026
President Susan Harris called the meeting to order at 11:45AM. Susan Harris, Diana Brabel, Barbara Ade, Martha Lopez, Debra Mettee and Brian Nord were at the head table.
President Harris called Georgia Barkett to the podium where she recited a prayer entitled "What you Sow, You Will Reap" followed by the blessing. President Harris then led the membership in the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of God Bless America. The meeting was then suspended for lunch.
Following lunch, Matha Lopez took the podium. She stated that Sally Winsen was stepping down from chairing the MRTA Marmoreal. She said that she would take over those responsibilities as well as continuing to serve as Remembrance chair. Marha honored Sally and her husband for their years of service to the organization through the John M. Knapick fund Martha then read the list of deceased MRTA members, 2025-26. The list included Richard LaLumia, Jeanette Williams, Arthur Crann, Robert Wilkeson, Suzanne Brown, Milton Lochert, Leilani Drake, Agnes Krut and Nancy Silay. The school bell was rung remembering those who passed. The deceased will be memorialized in the electronic crawl at the main branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County. following this ceremony, Peggy Bennett recognized members in attendance, 75 years and older, with a birthday wish and carnation.
President Harris then introduced Brian Nord from the YSU Foundation. Brian discussed the Goundation's history and purpose. He also talked about the MRTA Scholarship which the YSU Foundation oversees. Brian told us why our scholarship has gone without applicants the past two or three years and provided suggestions to rectify the problem. Brian also took the time to answer questions and urged us to continue supporting YSU and its future teachers.
In other business, the community service collection netted $243.00 for Inspiring Minds. $235.00 was collected in the 50/50 raffle. ($117.50 won y Jeannes Vild) and Donna Carden won the free lunch for the June meeting. Also, more than 10 door prizes were awarded to attendees. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:39PM. With 63 members present.
Respectfully submitted Barbara Ade, Secretary.
MAHONING RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION GENERAL MEETING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2026
President Susan Harris called the meeting to order at 11:51 AM. Susan Harris, Phil Butto, Diana Vrabel, Barbara Ade, Debra Mettee and Mallory McCorkhill were at the head table.
President Harris called Georgia Barkett to the podium where she recited a devotion entitled "Value of a Smile" followed by the blessing. President Harris then led the membership in the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, and the singing of God bless America. The meeting was then suspended for lunch.
Vice-President Butto introduced Mallory McCorkhill, librarian from the Canfield Branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County. Mallory talked about Artificial Intelligence (AI). She discussed AI's many applications, and its ethical uses. She also spoke about how to spot AI in ads and on tv. Mallory provided attendees with an AI tool kit to use. It is full of information about AI, its development and its future.
June Logan, legislative representative was then called to speak. June talked about HB 719 which is bipartisan legislation that will protect the STRS Pension Board from takeover by political appointees. The bill would reverse the amendment placed in the 2025 Budget Bill that was added the night before it was passed in June 2025. Many legislators were unaware that it had been added. June asked members to contact their legislators (Tex Fischer, District 59 and Lauren McNally, District 58). She also told us about ORTA supporting the voucher program which diverts $1.1 billion dollars of taxpayer money from public schools to private and religious schools. Contact State Senator Al Cutrona to voice your displeasure.
Volunteer hours for the first half of the year were turned in to the Community Service Committee for tally.
In other business, the community service collection was donated to Beacon of the Valley Community Foundation which provides meals for children. $220.00 was collected in the 50/50 raffle. ($110 won by Theresa Kopp) and Patricia Chizmar won the free lunch for the September meeting. Also, more than 10 door prizes were awarded to attendees. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:23PM. With 51 members present.