Before Incorporation

The History of the Cincinnati Municipal Employees Retirees’ Association

Subsequently Renamed the Cincinnati Municipal Employees Retirement Association

“The CMERA Story” is one that demonstrates how retired employees of the City of Cincinnati remain dedicated to the way city government operates, and especially how that might affect retirees. To do this there needs to be a core group of retirees that on almost a daily basis continue to track what goes on at City Hall. The following pages cover these activities from 1980 to January 1, 2006.

The history of CMERA is broken down into five basic sections. These consist of a brief period before incorporation, and then the four time periods that were governed by each of its four Constitutions and By-Laws. Even as we reflect over the past twenty-six years, the association is in the process of rewriting its Constitution and By-Laws to adjust to the changing times and the desires of the current Governing Board.

In reflecting over this period it must be remembered that it has been done from limited records and the memory of a few that were so very helpful. There may be some disagreement on the thoughts contained herein, however that is probably true in some small way with any historical document. Having said that, lets look back on what this association has accomplished.

Before Incorporation

Undoubtedly there have always been groups of older employees that would meet on occasions to reflect on work and most importantly their future as retirees. It was one such group from the Macadam Section of the Highway Maintenance Division of the Department of Public Works, that met in June every year at Izzy and Abe Levine’s house for lunch and a few drinks.

During these meetings it was often discussed that there was a real need for an association to help retirees. Ray Klenk was one who kind of pushed this idea and asked Jack Sutthoff to kind of get things rolling. Ray, Jack and Hazel Grimmer made a number of phone calls, no e-mail in those days, and brought a group together for an organizational meeting.

As usual such a meeting had to be held at a location that would be free, and that turned out to be at the old Dunham Hospital off Guerley Road in Price Hill. That meeting was chaired by Jack Sutthoff and took place in July of 1979 with almost everyone being from Highway Maintenance. The following attended this important event:

July was very hot that year and since the hospital was not air-conditioned the meeting moved outside. After much discussion everyone agreed that there was a need to organize and so temporary officers were selected. Bill Chenal became President, Bill Egner Treasurer and Hazel Grimmer Secretary, and thus a fledgling CMERA was born.

Having made this decision there was a need to formerly organize the association. Bill Chenal, Thelma Merritt, Ed Lohaus, Norb Miller and others moved forward on incorporation and the preparation of a Constitution and By-Laws. Incorporation was achieved on June 5, 1980 while work continued on the formal documents.