During the Association’s infancy it immediately became active in many areas that would be beneficial to retirees. Some of these efforts are identified as follows:
- Attended Cincinnati Retirement System (CRS) Board of Trustees meetings.
- Obtained CRS Board of Trustees minutes and audit reports. It is interesting to note
that the December 31, 1980 report showed that the current assets of the retirement
system amounted to $294,570,445.70. - Worked with CRS Board, in their ongoing efforts to obtain additional benefits after
previous efforts were turned down by the Finance Committee on February 25,
1980.
These benefits are listed below and are things that Norb Miller worked for
while he was an employee member of the CRS Board of Trustees.
- Dental and vision insurance.
- Increase in pension for retirees who retired before December 31, 1974.
- Increase in death benefit from $1,000 to $2,000.
- Compounding of the annual 3% increase.
- Improved survivors benefits.
The Constitution and By-Laws were on a schedule to be approved late in 1981. As part of that development it had already been determined that there would be four officers and five directors who would take office on January 1, 1982. Having set this date there was a rush on to hold the first general meeting and an election.
A newsletter was then prepared and sent out on September 16, 1981 setting the meeting date for September 26, 1981. Anticipating adoption of the Constitution and By-Laws, it was also announced that a ballot for the election of officers and directors would be sent out on November 1, and that all ballots would have to be returned by November 20.
The first general meeting went well and there were over a hundred in attendance. The association’s early activities and the contents of the soon to be adopted Constitution and By-Laws were outlined. It was also announced that future meetings would be held in different communities in an effort to maintain interest. This was tried several times but the process turned out to be a disaster because of transportation problems. Downtown was found to be the most successful location since a number of attendees used public transportation.
Subsequent to the first general meeting the Board, after much deliberation, adopted the Association’s first Constitution and By-Laws on November 1, 1981. Exhibit A starting on Page1a summarizes the salient components of this and subsequent documents.
The Teller Committee counted the ballots and the election results were announced on November 30, 1981. The officers and directors that were elected and took office on January 1, 1982 are shown in Exhibit B on Page 1b. This list also summarizes as much as possible, all of the other officers and directors that have served the association so admirably.