News & Updates
December 3rd, 2025 Update
WOW!!!
Scholarship Cte. Co-chair Vicky Shaw reports that SCRTA's proceeds from the Double Good popcorn sale totaled $2,198.00. That's $5 short of double (no pun intended) last year's proceeds. Thanks to all who bought and/or sold popcorn this year. Vicky and co-chair Judi Hill will recommend how many scholarships SCRTA will award and complete the process of inviting applicants and selecting winners over the coming months. In the meantime, remember to keep collecting Acme Fresh Market receipts that include cash-back rewards. You can send receipts to Vicky at 1372 Hammel St., Akron, 44306, or Judi at 4450 Greensfield Circle, Copley, 44321. Thank you in advance!
STRS Hosts Stakeholder Forum
On November 20th, STRS hosted a "Stakeholder Forum" in Columbus. The event was new Executive Director Steve Toole's idea. Toole, who has been on the job for about four months, wishes to maintain open lines of communication between the retirement system and active and retired members, legislators and others. He plans to continue holding meetings every six months.
SCRTA is honored to have been the lone county-level retired teachers association in attendance at the Forum. Members John Robishaw, Administrative Assistant Becky Moore and I attended. We found the meeting to be very informative. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions on any subject and were assured by Toole that no subject would be treated as an "elephant in the room."
The Ohio Federation of Teachers, the Ohio Education Association, the Ohio Chapter, AAUP, the Ohio School Boards Association, POP 5 (Protect Ohio Pensions) and university retirees from around the state, including Akron University, were some of the groups/individuals in attendance.
Those interested in perusing the meeting's agenda can click on the attachment below.
SCRTA ELECTION RESULTS
Results of the SCRTA elections held at the November luncheon meeting are as follows (all positions are for two-year terms):
President, Bill Siegfert
Vice President, Elaine Jarvis
2nd Vice President, Rozanne Emich
Administrative Assistant, Becky Moore
Treasurer, Bill Siegferth
Assistant Treasure/Membership, Jackie Hovey
Nominating Committee, Carol Caughron, Micki Lavis
Nominating Committee, At-Large, Christine Bean
One Nominating Committee position and one At-Large Nominating Committee position remain open. Anyone interested in filling the vacant Nominating Committee position should notify Becky Moore by email (rwmoore1951@gmail.com) or telephone (330-497-9362). The At-Large opening must be filled by a member of the Management Board.
We will continue to follow developments in this case and report any movement to SCRTA members.
2026 MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON DATES SET
Tentative dates have been set for SCRTA's 2026 General Membership meetings/luncheons at Guy's Party Center. They are: April 7th, June 2nd, September 1st and November 10th.
Our guest speaker in April will be Chief Magistrate Steve Elliott of the Summit County Probate Court. Magistrate Elliott will present "Probate101" during which he will address the advantages of avoiding probate and share simple, free tools to help protect your family and heirs.
It has become tradition that STRS senior leadership joins us for our June luncheon, and that will continue this coming year.
Programming for the final two luncheons of 2026 has not yet been decided.
ZEFFY'S NO SCAM...IT'S THE REAL DEAL!
If you've visited the SCRTA website, you probably noticed a QR code on certain pages...membership, grants and scholarship. We are partnering with a company called "Zeffy" to offer members another option to pay dues or to make contributions to our scholarship and/or teacher grant programs. We are also planning to make it possible to pay for our general membership luncheons using Zeffy.
Zeffy is the only 100% free fundraising platform for nonprofits. It serves over 20,000 nonprofit organizations and charities in Canada and the U.S. There are no transaction fees or charges tied to using Zeffy... SCRTA receives 100% of any gift or payment. Zeffy is easy to use...simply scan the QR code with your cell phone app and follow the directions from there. Payments can be made either using a credit card or an electronic bank transfer.
If you're wondering how Zeffy makes money since they do not charge transaction fees, the answer is simple. When using Zeffy, you will be asked to make a donation that would be added to your charge. An amount is suggested for your transaction, but you may change the amount or not make a contribution at all. Zeffy is sustained through the voluntary contributions it receives from approximately two-thirds of the people who use it.
We are pleased to be able to offer members this third option--in addition to cash or personal check--to support SCRTA initiatives and events!
SCRTA SENDS A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO JOHNNETTE CURRY
Kudos to Johnnette Curry for serving three years as president of SCRTA. Johnnette will continue volunteering her time with the organization in her position as Immediate Past President.
Thank you, Johnnette!
A kindergarten class was on a field trip to a local police station. One boy was interested in the "Wanted!" posters. He asked, "Are those people really wanted?" The police officer replied, "Yes."
The boy asked, "Then why didn't you keep them when you took their pictures?"