Mission Statement
Our mission is to promote and assist members and supporters, to educate and alert senior citizens about their rights and freedoms as U.S. citizens, and to protect and defend the benefits senior citizens have earned and paid for.The following services provided by TSCL are considered primary and essential to the betterment of the quality of life of our nation's senior citizens:Distribution of public awareness and educational materials,Dissemination of information concerning legislation before Congress,Enlistment of senior citizens in grass-roots lobbying campaigns on issues affecting retirees (civilian and military), and Ensuring that governmental bodies live up to any commitment made to senior citizens.
Description
TSCL consists of vocally active senior citizens concerned about the protection of their Social Security, Medicare, and veteran or military retiree benefits.TSCL was first established in 1993 as a special project of The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) which was founded in 1963. On January 1, 1995, TSCL became an independent 501(c)(4) citizens' action organization.There are over 1,550,000 active members/supporters. Men comprise 55 percent of TSCL membership. Approximately three-quarters of the membership are between the ages of 69 and 78. Nearly all are over the age of 60. Most either served in the Armed Forces during World War II or played a part in the war effort. The heaviest concentrations of TSCL members/supporters are in California, Florida, New York, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. These senior citizens and retirees have participated in a number of grassroots lobbying and public education campaigns on behalf of TSCL. Issues currently being pursued include: The prevention of arbitrary changes in the way Cost-of-Living Adjustments to earned benefits are calculated, and a campaign to have the senior citizen "market basket" analyzed on its own before any changes are made in the way the Consumer Price Index is calculated; The passage of long-overdue Notch reform for those persons born in the Social Security Notch years of 1917-1926; The development of an understanding on Capitol Hill and in the White House that those who are already retired from the civilian or military work force have been promised benefits by the government, have earned those benefits with their taxes and their service, and that taking those benefits away amounts to breaking a contract and reneging on the government's solemn duty to fulfill its obligations. To pursue its goals, TSCL distributes a newsletter (The Social Security & Medicare Advisor) ten times a year to approximately 330,000 of the most active supporters and to all Members of Congress, and has sent out more than one and a half million books and pamphlets, such as The Notch Victim's Handbook, In Defense of Earned Benefits and The Senior Activist's Survival Manual. TSCL is registered to conduct grassroots fundraising, public education and lobbying activities in nearly every state, and offers its supporters an unconditional refund of their most recent contribution if they are dissatisfied with TSCL's positions or performance. Unlike many other organizations, no government moneys are accepted or used by TSCL.TSCL has also raised funds for its affiliated organization (TREA Memorial Foundation) which provides scholarships and other assistance to the widows and offspring of retired enlisted personnel of the United States Armed Forces, and made a $50,000 donation to the Governor of Oklahoma's fund to aid victims of the April 19, 1995 terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City and most recently to seniors devastated by hurricanes in Puerto Rico.TSCL's Executive Director, Michael J. Zabko, served 20 years with the U.S. Navy--10 of those as benefits' counselor. He currently is a registered lobbyist and a certified veterans' compensation and pension counselor. TSCL's Board of Trustees are all retirees serving as unpaid volunteers.
