Power of PERI Fundraiser

https://secure.operi.org/forms/donation-form

PERI is launching a fundraising campaign to cover rising costs in rent, postage, and printing. We maintain a $2 million reserve for potential major legal actions, such as defending the defined benefit plan. Attorney’s fees for such legal defense can reach $500,000 to $700,000 per issue. This reserved fund remains dedicated to those purposes only. Meanwhile, operational costs have risen, resulting in a shortfall of approximately $90,000, while current investment returns are just over 10% that we take and additional is reinvested.

Here are some examples of what it costs us each year to produce:

Newsletter print/postage - $68,000

Annual Renewals - $8,000

New Retiree mailing - $11,000

Office rent - $17,640

Legislative Representative - $30,000

Over 80% of Life Members paid $100, which no longer meets today's operational costs. We continue to work with legislators to advocate for our members, monitor pension changes in Ohio, and ensure PERI is prepared for any reforms.

PERI needs your help now more than ever. Your immediate contribution is vital to support our mission and keep our essential services running without interruption. Every dollar makes a difference in helping us meet today’s challenges.

Please donate today to ensure we continue the important work we promised to you and all members. Together, we can protect PERI’s future and the benefits you rely on.

If you would like to mail a donation, please make checks payable to PERI and mail to 659 Park Meadow Rd STE F, Westerville, OH 43081. If you prefer to donate via telephone, please call 1-800-247-7374. Thank you.

Mission

To protect and preserve OPERS pension and benefits programs and advocate for changes that are in the best interest of PERI members, while providing value through communications and education of the membership through our districts, local chapters and external partnerships.

Leadership

View the leaders advocating for your pension and retirement benefits. PERI leaders lobby for you to ensure your retirement benefits are protected.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does PERI protect pensions and benefits?

The Officers of PERI work with the administrators of OPERS as one of their sounding boards for the opinions of our members.
Many times our members ask us to help them with problems they are having with OPERS services and to provide contact information, and we are ready to help.
Our Legislative Counsel constantly monitors every bill introduced in the Ohio General Assembly that could have an impact on the retirement system and your pension. Through feedback from our quarterly Newsletter, comments from our local chapters, or individually by phone or email, our board of trustees is able to determine how our members feel about these changes. When we know what the membership wants, PERI will give testimony to legislative committees and will work with individual legislators or OPERS administrators, to achieve the results we desire.
Our Executive Director works with the OPERS senior staff and trustees on a variety of issues from federal legislation to customer service.
PERI’s skilled and experienced professionals keep your board of trustees informed on all legislation that pertains to the rules or regulations that would affect your pensions, pension fund investments, or health care benefits.
In addition, we have a highly developed Legislative Committee that keeps in constant communication with our Chapter legislative Networks so our Chapter members will have the proper information they need in order to write or call their local state Representatives and Senators.
With all of these resources in place, PERI is able to react quickly to insure that the view points of OPERS retirees are effectively communicated to the proper people at the proper time.

OPERS and PERI; What is the difference?

OPERS is the abbreviation for the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System. OPERS is the system responsible for issuing your pension check and health care benefits.

PERI is the abbreviation for the Public Employee Retirees, Incorporated. PERI is the only association that exclusively represents the needs of OPERS members. PERI fights for our best interests and protects our pension and health care benefits.

We are not affiliated with the group, POP-5/Protecting Ohio Pensions.

Who may belong to and who governs PERI?

Membership in PERI is available to those who meet the following criteria:

Regular – OPERS members of either active, retired or disability status. Your membership investment may be paid annually or in a one-time life payment.

Associate – Open to anyone. Memberships are annual in duration with no life membership option.

Do my PERI dues also cover membership in my local chapter?

For annual members, you are automatically a member of your county local chapter. Associate and Life Members will pay chapter dues directly to the county chapter since the state office does not collect for these memberships. Local chapters will contact Life and Associate members regarding chapter dues. We strongly encourage all PERI members to become involved in their local chapters.

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