Give Today to Protect Your Future

What would you give for a strong reliable safety net?

Well, it likely depends on the risks, the odds, and what each of us potentially has to lose.

It’s natural that we become more risk averse as we grow older. The more we gain in our lives, the more we have to lose.

That same mentality is reflected in the way Wall Street works, too. It’s Wall Street’s prerogative to suggest lowering the portfolio risk of older investors: aka the retirees.

We worked a lifetime to earn our benefits package and our pensions. For some of us, it is our financial foundation, but that financial security is being threatened.

So, what is that peace of mind worth? Is it $35, $100, or more each year?

I start my note to you with this because, in 1998, while still an active employee and having served as a union organizer, I followed my conscious and I joined BellTel.

I saw the hard work its leadership put into action and saw the peace of mind and security this group offered for my golden years. BellTel has always fought to prevent our hard-earned benefits from being eroded.

For my wife and I, joining the Association was a minor, but critical, investment to protect us and, yes, our children and grandchildren in case the worst were to happen.

I spent decades working my tail off and there was no chance in hell that I was going to lay down and let some new corporate leader or a high-priced outside consultant make moves to erode my financial protections.

We have to stand up for what we are owed and, more importantly, what we earned over many decades.

How do you place a value on having that insurance in case something happens to you, your home, your car, your health?

I’m sure we are all familiar with a rainy-day fund. In fact, I hope most of you have one to protect yourselves. In the same light, BellTel is one key umbrella that keeps you protected before needing to crack into that fund. In fact, it’s our shelter in the storm.

This great group of retirees has earned the respect of the company with over 27 years of staunch advocacy and retiree representation.

Once again, we must all come together to protect ourselves from the erosion of our rights as retirees. I also implore you, don’t ignore your responsibility to pitch in and share the cost of keeping this amazing group going. Don’t be a free rider and expect the next person to do their part to pick up the tab for both you and them.

When the “you know what” hits the fan, we will all need BellTel to do the heavy lifting. BellTel has proven their impact with results time and time again.

When times get tough, we need to stick together for the fight. There is strength in numbers. One voice can be ignored, but thousands working together cannot.

Don’t be fooled into thinking the company likes having your Association around to be a watchdog or having the capability to blow the whistle when corporate leaders do something to hurt retirees, shareholders, and the future of our great companies.

This past year, we worked with the Wall Street Journal to shed light on the miles and miles of lead cables that lines this country. We need to make this a priority to all our elected representatives. I urge you to contact your elected officials and let them know that you are concerned with the lead cables that may have been left by our former employers in your city, county, or state.

Additionally, we are once again, petitioning Verizon for a Cost-of-Living Adjustment for those retirees still on a monthly pension plan. Maintaining this dialogue and open communication with Verizon is instrumental for our members.

There is only so much we can do without the help of our members.

Take action today. Don’t put it off. BellTel needs you now.