| Summary of May 15th Coordinating Committee Meeting |
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| The Coordinating Committee met May 15. Joe O'Neill updated the group and indicated that we will likely see no action on our issue until after the current session ends. Then, it will be up to the chair of the pension commission, Rep. Steve Smith, to decide what form the "interim study" of our legislation will take. We will watch for any notices of pension commission meetings, and Sen. Cal Larson will also update Joe of any activity regarding our legislation. Joe & John Gindele continue to do a wonderful job of spreading the word for us and locating potential new members and/or supporters. They shared copies of letters they have recently mailed to many, many addresses. Thanks to them, even some IMP teachers are supporting our cause. Tom Selwold and Rick Winters have been outstanding lobbyists for us. They shared with us some of their efforts. They have made personal visits with several commission members and have established positive relationships with them as well as with TRA. They have agreed to continue lobbying, especially after the current session ends. Their feeling is that they can get more quality time with legislators without the distractions of the day-to-day turmoil of the regular session. Our position regarding the Rule of 90 for younger teachers is that we support them getting equity, AFTER we get our inequity issue resolved. Regarding writing legislators, the coordinating committee, with Joe O'Neill's advice, recommends the following: Do not write legislators until the current session ends, then: If you are a constituent of a pension commission member, you may write her/him a thank you for considering our legislation and agreeing to study it over the interim. Also, urge him/her to work with Senator Larson to finally get this inequity resolved. All other members should try to contact personally their own legislators when they can arrange to see them. (Many legislators are available at summer events and meetings, or are easier to see in their home districts during the interim.) Tell them that the pension commission laid over our bills for interim study. Ask them to support us by encouraging commission members they know to resolve this TRA inequity. If you cannot see your legislators in person; call, write, or email them. The next meeting was set for Thursday, July 17, in St. Paul. After the meeting, several members discussed getting together to develop strategies regarding the topic of TRA funding. Many members report that their legislators support us, but question how it would be possible to fund a solution. We may have a meeting just on this topic early in June. As soon as time & place are firmed up, we will let you know, and possibly invite ANY Pre-1969 members who want more information on this topic. |