The Bell Effect

Welcome to the reboot of The Bell Effect, a podcast dedicated to the generations of workers who helped build this country’s great communications infrastructure. In this episode, we will hear from leaders of the Association of BellTel Retirees about the fallout from Verizon’s massive 2024 pension risk transfer deal, a $5.9 billion transaction that offloaded the pensions of 56,000 retirees to Prudential Insurance Co. of America and Reinsurance Group of America Inc. Don Kaufmann, Board Secretary of the Association of BellTel Retirees, provides a brief refresher course on the issue, followed by legal analysis from Edward Stone, General Counsel of the Association of BellTel Retirees. We will learn about who was affected by this pension-stripping deal, the questionable motives of the corporate players involved, and where things currently stand with litigation against Verizon and its partner in the deal, State Street Global Advisors.The Association of BellTel Retirees is dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System.--You can find more information on our website: https://belltelretirees.org/You can donate to the cause here: https://fnblipayments.com/#/person/create/target/0J9YR7PQTKMMU61W/Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.orgFind us on Social Media:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretireesTwitter: https://twitter.com/belltelretireeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees

On this episode of the Bell Effect podcast, we interview Association of BellTel Retirees Chief Financial Officer, Frank Bruzek, who will speak on the non-profit Association's 2024 shareholder proxy campaign at Verizon. The second item he will address is the Senior Executive Compensation Clawback Proxy, which is Item #6 on the ballot. Please note that the Verizon annual meeting will be held virtually on May 9th at 10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System.You can Donate to the cause here: https://fnblipayments.com/#/person/create/target/0J9YR7PQTKMMU61W/You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.orgSend any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.orgFind us on Social Media:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretireesTwitter: https://twitter.com/belltelretireeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees

On this episode of the Bell Effect podcast we interview Association of BellTel Retirees Chief Financial Officer, Frank Bruzek; who will speak about the non-profit association's 2024 shareholder proxy campaign at Verizon. The first item he will address is the Lead-Sheathed Cable Proxy, which is Item #9 on the ballot. Please note that the Verizon annual meeting will be held virtually on May 9th at 10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can Donate to the cause here: https://fnblipayments.com/#/person/create/target/0J9YR7PQTKMMU61W/ You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.org Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Social Media:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees Twitter: https://twitter.com/belltelretiree LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees

The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can Donate to the cause here: https://fnblipayments.com/#/person/create/target/0J9YR7PQTKMMU61W/ You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.org Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Social Media:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees Twitter: https://twitter.com/belltelretiree LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees

The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can Donate to the cause here: https://belltelretirees.org/Donate-Now/ You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.org Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Social Media:  Facebook LinkedIn

The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System.

The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can Donate to the cause here: https://fnblipayments.com/#/person/create/target/0J9YR7PQTKMMU61W/ You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.org Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Social Media:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees Twitter: https://twitter.com/belltelretirees LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees

The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can Donate to the cause here: https://fnblipayments.com/#/person/create/target/0J9YR7PQTKMMU61W/ You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.org Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Social Media:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees Twitter: https://twitter.com/belltelretirees LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees

Association Chairman Thomas Steed gives his winter report. The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can Donate to the cause here: https://fnblipayments.com/#/person/create/target/0J9YR7PQTKMMU61W/ You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.org Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees Twitter: https://twitter.com/belltelretirees LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees https://twitter.com/belltelretirees https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFeLZzLfiDuuxJAsndLYhaQ/

Don't forget to check out our Newsletter on the BellTel website! The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can Donate to the cause here: https://fnblipayments.com/#/person/create/target/0J9YR7PQTKMMU61W/ You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.org Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees Twitter: https://twitter.com/belltelretirees LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees

Association Chairman Thomas Steed makes his Summer Chairman's Report. The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can Donate to the cause here: https://fnblipayments.com/#/person/create/target/0J9YR7PQTKMMU61W/ You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.org Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees Twitter: https://twitter.com/belltelretirees LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees

The Association of BellTel Retirees partnered with Barasch & McGarry, lawyers for the 9/11 Community, to bring you a Webinar on the Toxic Connections between the 1975 NY Telephone Company Fire and 9/11.  Webinar Speakers:  Dr. James Dahlgren, Environmental Scientist and Assistant Clinical Professor at UCLA School of Medicine Tom Steed, Association of BellTel Retirees, Chairman Dan Noonan, Ret. FDNY Firefighter, among first on the scene of the 1975 N.Y. Telephone Company Fire Michael Barasch, 9/11 community legal and health advocate who represents some 1,000 members of the TelCo family due to their toxic 9/11 exposure. ~~ The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can Donate to the cause here: https://fnblipayments.com/#/person/create/target/0J9YR7PQTKMMU61W/ You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.org Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees Twitter: https://twitter.com/belltelretirees LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees

Association Chairman Thomas Steed announces the quarterly Newsletter, which should be hitting your mailboxes right now! Make sure to give the Spring Newsletter a read online here: https://belltelretirees.org/spring-2022-newsletter-now-available/ The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can Donate to the cause here: https://fnblipayments.com/#/person/create/target/0J9YR7PQTKMMU61W/ You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.org Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees Twitter: https://twitter.com/belltelretirees LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-of-belltel-retirees

New Chairman Thomas Steed speaks to the membership and looks ahead to 2022. The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can Donate to the cause here. You can find more information on our website. Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Facebook.

Welcome back to the Bell Effect! Our final episode in this miniseries covering the 2021 Association of BellTel Member Meeting will highlight Edward Stone, retiree advocate and BellTel Special Counsel. Stone has been working with the Association for over a decade and is also leading the non-profit, Retirees for Justice. Retirees for Justice is focused on legislative and government issues and causes important to retirees. It is free for BellTel Retirees to sign up for Retirees for Justice. The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.org Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees

This episode we are spotlighting Assistant Treasurer Thomas Steed and his presentation from the 2021 Association of BellTel Retirees Annual Member Meeting. Thomas Steed outlines two different Sickness Death Benefits you might not have known were available to you. In retirement these benefits will be essential for your would be widowers or children and grandchildren. The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.org Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees

Retired FDNY Chief Richie Alles and 9/11 Legal Advocate Michael Barasch address retirees about benefits they may be entitled to if they were in New York City on or after 9/11 at the Association of BellTel Retirees at their annual member meeting 2021. The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.org Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees

We continue our miniseries highlighting speakers from the Association of BellTel Retirees 2021 Annual Member Meeting. This next speaker is Laura Whitlock, Interim Executive Director of the Pioneers, a Retiree non-profit volunteer organization, pledges partnership with The Association of BellTel Retirees to boost each other's membership and support each other's interests. The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.org Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees

Thousands of members have participated so far in the Association of BellTel Retirees 2021 virtual annual membership meeting. The full presentation is available for viewing on the BellTel YouTube Channel. In the next few episodes, we will be highlighting key speakers from this year's meeting. The first of the key speakers from the event is Jack Cohen who is introduced by Acting Association Chairman Lionel Brandon, who respectfully addresses the sudden and tragic loss of our wonderful and dedicated Board Chair Jack Cohen. In his final State of the Association Address, Mr. Cohen details the Association’s ongoing mission and unmatched 25-year record of accomplishment. He implored all of us retirees to keep up the fight in 2022 to preserve and protect our earned pensions and health benefits, along with other commitments made in our working years. The Association of BellTel Retirees are dedicated to promoting the protection and enhancement of the pensions and benefits for all retirees and the current and future beneficiaries of the companies derived and evolving from the original Bell System. You can find more information on our website: BellTelRetirees.org Send any questions to Association@BellTelRetirees.org Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associationofbelltelretirees

Join BellTel Chairman Jack Cohen as he previews the upcoming Fall Months, including the 2021 Members Meeting, which will be held "virtually" on October 13th!  ____________________________________________________________________  This year, we are planning to hold a virtual Q&A session where you, the members, can ask questions to the Board about the key issues and concerns that you want answered the most.   To participate in the Q&A portion, please submit questions before September 20, via email. We will then contact as many as possible with follow-up questions. Please send questions and your details to association@belltelretirees.org