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Ohio Retirement for Teachers Association
Fighting for Ohio's teachers since 1947!
ORTA advocates for the pensions and benefits of Ohio's active and retired educators; demands accountability from the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio; and lobbies Ohio's legislators to provide a strong and sustainable retirement system for all Ohio educators, Pre-K through higher education. We rely on membership dues to continue our work.
In spring 2025, STRS Ohio will hold an election for two contributing member seats and one retired member seat on the STRS Ohio Retirement Board.
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ORTA is endorsing Rudy Fichtenbaum for re-election to the retired seat. Fichtenbaum is currently serving as the Chair of the STRS Ohio Board.
ORTA is endorsing Michael Harkness and Chad Smith for the two contributing seats. Harkness, who is currently seated on the Board, replaced Steve Foreman, who resigned from the Board in June.
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Nomination Petitions
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Fictenbaum, Harkness, and Smith are currently collecting signatures for their nomination petitions. Click on a candidate's name to open their nomination petition:
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Instructions for Nomination Petitions
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Print the nomination petition(s).
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Electronic petitions will not be accepted by STRS Ohio.
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Collect signatures.
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For the retired seat, those eligible to sign the nomination petitions are all retired members, including STRS Ohio retirees who are reemployed in an STRS Ohio-covered position. Persons receiving disability benefits and survivor benefits are not eligible to sign this petition.
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For the contributing (active) seats, those eligible to sign the nomination petitions are members presently contributing or those who have contributions on deposit with STRS Ohio. Not eligible to sign this petition are retired teachers or STRS Ohio retirees who are reemployed in an STRS Ohio-covered position, and those who do not have an account with the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio.
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Mail the petitions to the candidate or to ORTA.
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Send petitions to ORTA at ā250 E. Wilson Bridge Road, Suite 150, Worthington, Ohio 43085.
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Please allow enough time for petitions to be received by STRS Ohio by Friday, February 28, 2025, at 4:30 PM.
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Petitions sent to ORTA will be delivered by hand to STRS Ohio.āā
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Executive Director Robin Rayfield reflects on ORTA’s many successes in 2024
We’re incredibly thankful for the strong support of our thousands of members. Your dedication helps make our voice the loudest and strongest advocate for a better pension system for Ohio’s teachers—both active and retired.
Watch as Executive Director Robin Rayfield reflects on ORTA’s many successes this year. From reforms with the STRS Board to our push for transparency, legal victories against the Governor, and strong advocacy for COLAs, Robin covers it all—and much more.
Educators Professional Liability Insurance
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Visit AMBA Benefits and apply online today.
āAMBA Webinars: 2025
ORTA has partnered with AMBA to offer a series of short webinars about important topics like long term care, Medicare, medical transportation, and more. The talks are educational and informative. Retirees often tell us that they are thankful for the overview and knowledge they gain. Join us for the next one, and invite a friend! āThere is no cost to attend these events, but registration is required. Each webinar begins with an ORTA update by Robin Rayfield, Executive Director.āāā
Pension Defense Fund Update!
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ORTA launched the Pension Defense Fund in May of 2023. This fund was established to collect and hold for disbursement financial resources for activities that would advance ORTA mission to protect pensions of STRS members. The impetus for the establishment of this fund was Governor DeWine’s illegal removal of Wade Steen from the STRS Pension Board.
ORTA collected over $87,000 that paid the legal fees of Wade Steen in his successful challenge to be reinstated to the STRS Board. As soon as Mr. Steen returned to his seat by the appellate court, the governor and Attorney General Yost launched a new attack on STRS board members Steen and Fichtenbaum. On the basis of an anonymous letter from STRS staff, Mr. Yost has attacked reform board members Steen and Fichtenbaum. Despite the fact that Mr. Steen’s term expired in September, Mr. Yost’s persecution of both Steen and Fichtenbaum continues. ORTA’s pension defense fund has, again, stepped forward to protect these two outstanding men. Thus far ORTA’s expenses in defense of reform at STRS are as follows:
Mr. Steen’s case to reclaim his legal seat on the STRS board - $87,368.28
Mr. Fichtenbaum’s defense of the attack by the A.G. - $35,869.00
The pension defense fund continues to collect donations towards this worthy cause. Without Steen and Fichtenbaum none of the reforms that have occurred would have been possible.
The 3% COLA granted in 2022, and the 1% COLA granted the following year would never have occurred without Rudy and Wade’s leadership. The promised supplemental benefit for December of this year would never have been put forward without their leadership. The exit of the executive director and the acting executive director would not have happened without reform minded men such as these. ORTA needs your help to continue to fight the legal challenges from state officials that are opposed to reform at our pension. ORTA urges you to consider donating to the Pension Defense Fund.
You can donate online or send a check to ORTA Pension Defense Fund at
250 E. Wilson Bridge Road
Suite 150
Worthington, Ohio 43085.
Also, it is important to note that Wade Steen has taken legal action to get reimbursed for his expenses in his Quo Warrento (getting reinstated to his rightful seat on the STRS board) case. I am unsure how long such an action takes but the process has begun.
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Robin Rayfield, Executive Director
November 2024
ORTA Video Library
