IPERS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES
OCTOBER 19, 2022 SAINTS AVENUE CAFÉ
BOONE, IOWA
The meeting was called to order by President Bill Mass at 1:00 p.m.
Introduction of Officers and Directors
Guests present were asked to introduce themselves. They were Gary Thielen, Paul Thomsen,
Peggy Rice and Garrett Nyman. Board member Phil Johnson joined the board for the annual meeting.
President Bill Maas welcomed our guests. He also gave a little background of the board membership and wanted to recognize to the members Mathelle Carlson’s contributions to our association. She has been valuable to our association and had served as the secretary for many years along with being a BAC representative.
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION DISCUSSION
President Maas decided not to have a guest speaker this year so that we could have an honest conversation with the members on how to communicate with each other. Discussion items were as follows:
1. How can we increase our membership numbers?
2. How can we improve?
3. What type of communication would be beneficial to the membership?
4. Do we need to emphasize membership cost is only $1.00/month?
5. Do we need to emphasize we have representation on the IPERS benefit advisory committee?
6. Do we need to let membership know we are in contact with legislation affecting IPERS?
7. We are making sure to keep IPERS solvent
8. How do we entice younger members to join?
Peggy Rice suggested we need to share our brochure information to all of the County Auditors in the state. Andrew Hennesy thought we should expand on this and include the cities within the state. We do have a Facebook page along with a website for information. IPERS has a website too with a lot of valuable information.
Ideas suggested for better communication were as follows:
1. Contact all 99 county auditors to share the benefit of IPERS benefits with their employees
2. Reach out to the school board association, hospitals, cities and the AEA.
3. Have a booth within the Varied Industries building at the Iowa State Fair. Skip Moore is going to contact Jamie Romar, with the state fair, concerning this.
SUMMARY OF ANNUAL MEETING
We haven’t had a meeting the last few years due to the Covid pandemic. Some positives from legislation that passed this past year was the addition of retirees being able to earn up to
$50,000 for the year. Also the Governor stated she prefers a defined benefit pension plan rather than a defined contribution plan.
SUMMARY OF TREASURERS YEARLY REPORT
Secretary/Treasurer Jean Keller told the group that our memberships are down to 686 members and could really use more members. She stated that the association is solvent with $10,737.20 in a money market account and $6,740.12 in the checking account.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT FOR ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND ALTERNATES – DISTRICTS
There wasn’t a report to give concerning the nomination committee. We are still trying to find a board member for District 1. The even numbered district representatives are up for re-election.
District 2 – Steve Williams & Gary Jedlicka
District 4 – John Deegan
District 6 – Linda Linn, Julie Conolly & Gary Davis
Motion to approve appointments:
Moved by: Andrew Hennesy Seconded by: Phil Johnson
All ayes; motion carried.
BAC MEETING SUMMARY
Andrew Hennesy shared handouts from the meeting. The fund is operating very fiscally responsible. It is operating at our goal. Melissa Peterson, who is the IPERS government relations officer, tried to get additional improvements included this year but it was voted down through legislation. Oregon and Illinois pension systems are broke and have very bad pension plans.
There aren’t any recommendations to increase anything for this year.
OPEN DISCUSSION
Open discussion was done throughout the whole meeting.
Motion to adjourn the Annual meeting:
Moved by: John Deegan Seconded by: Bruce Hovden
All ayes; motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 2:30
Submitted by
Jean A. Keller, Secretary/Treasurer