MILITARY RETIREES BENEFIT FOUNDATION

 Fund availability is generally limited; therefore large requests for funds may have to be restricted.

 Funds are provided only to ‘organizations’ whose mission includes efforts to further or protect benefits provided to retired members of the United States Uniformed Services.

 Foods are normally provided for 'project' type efforts; which have definable time frames". Funds that are provided for continuing purposes must be rejustified on a not less than annual basis.

 Funds are provided to support or enhance military retiree 'benefits'. What constitutes a 'benefit' is not predesignated by the Foundation. The requester may designate any activity they desire for consideration by the Foundation as an eligible benefit The Foundation Board's decision as to the eligibility will be made on a case by case basis: with consideration given to the justification provided. Some activities arc clearly benefits, such as. retired pay or medical support. while others may be more problematical.

 A breakdown in the fund request by expense category is essential for Foundation review. Requests that do not indicate breakdown by fund function may be disregarded.

 Funds are generally not provided for administrative purposes, such as phone expenses. postage etc.. On the other hand, most projects include some administrative costs, and these may. on a proportional basis. be included.

 Justification for the fund request is nothing more than the argument for approval. The purpose, method etc. of the project should be presented, in brief form. If deemed necessary. justification as to the benefit designation should be included hue. The Foundation may consider the request solely on the basis of the justification presented. On some cases questions may be sent to the requester where further clarification is deemed necessary, It must be emphasized that the justification portion of the fund request is the most important element of the overall request. If the fund request is to be considered at a called Foundation meeting. then as tht requester, you are invited. if you desire, to make an in-person presentation; however, even in this event. a fully justified written fund request must still be submitted.

 Funds arc provided only to the organization that initiates the request. Trust regulations prohibit 3d pasty recipients. or 3d party fund control.

 Funds may not be utilized for any purpose other than those shown on the approved fund request. Diversion of funds to other purposes is prohibited.

 Funds provided must be separately accounted for within the requesting organizations records.>p> An accounting of all funds provided must be made to the Foundation at the time designated on the fund transmittal. The accounting should match the spending-caiegory breakdown as shown on the original fund request. Unexpended funds must be returned to the Foundation at the time of the accounting; unless this requirement has been pre-waived by the Foundation.
THIS IS ONLY A BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE SIGNIFICANT FOUNDATION FUNDING RULES. SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT ANY FOUNDATION DIRECTOR, OR THE FOUNDATION SECRETARY, CWO JOHN J TITUS, USA(RET), WHOSE ADDRESS APPEARS BELOW, BY PHONE, FAX OR E-MAIL.

 In 1958 - Congress severed the Active-Retiree Pay Tie
RATIONAL:

 For the next 5 years the retirees received no pay adjustment.

 In 1963 - Sen. Claire Booth Luce introduced legislation that led to the COLA system for military retirees; 1963 was the designated "base year". Inflation of the 70's was not matched by COLAs authorized

A 'Recomp Committee'was formed in 1964 or 65. This Recomp Committee was a standalone organization. It had no affiliation with any TROA organization; however all of the members were retired officers and TROA members who individually were affiliated A,ith various Southern California TROA Chapters. NOTE that the Recomp Committee had waited 7 years, anicipating a political solution to the recomp problem.

 The Recomp Committee was chaired by RADM Phil Neikum, USN-Ret.

 The Recomp Committee brought a lawsuit against the U.S., challenging the 1958 severance of retired pay from active duty pay, and the establishment of 1963 as the 'base year'for COLA increases. 'ne legal argument of the lawsuit was that retired pay ,vas compensation for past service, not a reduced pay for current service.

 The attorney, for the Recomp Committee was CDR. Francis X. Driscoll, USN-Ret, of Walnut Grove, CA., a TROA member. He charged no legal fees for his service. Costs and expenses needed to be paid; therefore the Recomp Conunittee beizan an effort to solicited money. The fuid raising efforts began in 1970, and were led by CDR. Francis Driscoll, LTC Don Blondis and Maj- Tim Hurley.

 Contributions to the Recomp Committee came from individuals, TROA Chapters and other organizations. 66% of the contributions came from S. California, 33% from N. California and 1% from other States.

 In 1976 - The lawsuit failed in the Federal Court, San Francisco. An appeal to the Supreme Court failed in 1978. NOTE: From beginning to end 18 years had lapsed: from the formation of the Recom Committee 11 years had lapsed.

 The Recomp Committee, after paying all bills, had approximately $63,000 of contributed money remaining.

 On September 10, 1979, the Recomp Committee went back to the contributors and asked: Shall we refund the money to contributors on a prorated basis, or 2. Shall we tuni the money over to the Chapters on a membership basis, or 3. Shall we retain the money for use as deemed necessary to further military retirees benefits, either by court action or legislation.

. The third choice was the near unanimous choice. As a result of the contributor's choice, the Recomp Committee asked for the establishment of a Military Retirees Benefit Committee (MRBC] within the Council of Chapters of Southern Califomia.The next 2 years were spent in organizing the MRBC. Meanwhile, the fund, still under the control of the Recomp Committee, was invested. Very few expenditures were made.

 On May 16, 1981, the recomp fund, which due to investments and few expenditures, had reached $68,863. 82, was turned over by the Recomp Committee to the MRBC, at which time the Recomp Committee went out of existence.The MRBC was then a committee within the Council of Chapers of Southern California. The members of the initial MRBC were generally the same persons who served as members of the Recomp Comittee.]

 On November 5, 1983 the Council of Chapters of Southern California became the Southern California Council of Chapters. The MRBC was still a committee therein.

 On January 1, 1985, concurrent with the formation of CALTROA, the MRBC became the Military Retirees Benefit Foundafion [MRBF], in association with the Califomia Council of Chapters, TROA. With this final redcsignadon the MRBF became a semi-autonomous not-for-profit public trust foundation, operating under the rules of the California Office of Charitable Trusts. It subsequently became a nonprofit California Corporation, with tax exempt status recognized by the IRS and California

 A provision of the document transferring the fund to the MRBF stated that the original amount of the fund turned over to the MRBC [$68,863.82] could not be disbursed by the MRBF without prior approval of "2/3 of the Chapters".

 The original AOP stated:ne MRBC is a semi-autonomous committee wherein the - - - "Control and obligation authority over the fund resides solely within the Committee

The original 1981 MRBC members were: Col. Billy B. Zellers, USAF-Ret Col Joseph C. Danley, USA-Ret Col Henry Russell, TJSA-Ret LTC William Booth, USAF-Ret LTC Edward. D. Hallett, USAF-Ret CDR Harold Campbell, USCG-Ret CWO George Miley, USN-Ret CWO Isadore Rosenburg, USAF-Ret

Presidents of the MRBF: Col Billy B. Zellers, USAF-Ret, 1985-86
Col Zellers had been Chair of the MRBC.) LTC Edward D. Hallet, USAF-Ret, 1986-88 Col Billy B Zellers, USAF-Ret, 1988-89 Col Richard Mattingly, USAF-Ret, 1989-90 LTC Duane Robinson, USAF-Ret, 1990-91 LTC Bemell Whitaker, USAF-Ret, 1991-94 Co] Jack Potter, USA-Ret, 1994-96 Maj Edward J. Townsend, USMC-Ret, 1996-98 LTC James Butler, USA Ret 1998-
�

October 19, 1998

 PRESIDENT

 JAMES F BUTLER LCOL, USA- RET 3677 HEMLOCK ST SANTA ROSA, CA 95403-1526 707-542-0346 [CLAIRE] James F Butler

 VICE PRESIDENT

 PETER BURROWS LCOL, USAF - RET 290940 PALOS VERDES DR-EAST RANCHO PAI,OS VERDES, CA 90275 310-547-2762

 TREASURER

 STEVE CARBONARO LCOL, USAF - RET 13 W]ILLOTTA DRIVE SUISUN CM, CA 94585 707-864-0196 [JUANITA]

 SECRETARY

 JOHN J TITUS CWO3, USA - RET 23951 STILLWATER LANE LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA 92677-1707 voice/fax 949-8513 John Titus

 DIRECTOR

 RAYMOND SCOTT MAJ, USA - RET 12845 WAGONWHEEL DRIVE VICTORVILLE, CA 92392 619-241-2886 [NAN]

 DIRECTOR

 ARTHUR ISENSEE COL, USMC - RET 16769 THOMAS WHITE DRIVE RIVERSIDE, CA 92518-2921 909-697-2609 [MAURINE)

 DIRECTOR

Peter Brabant
Capt.USN(Ret)

Push Button for Top
Push Button for Mojave Desert Home Page
Click Tortoise to return to My Personal Home Page