Nearly 100 Join SEANC’s Protest at Blue Cross Headquarters
By Erica Baldwin
What do we want? Public option! When do we want it? Now!
Chapel h ill – Nearly 100 SEANC members and like-minded health care advocates chanted in front of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s headquarters in Chapel Hill with one goal in mind: To protest Blue Cross’ opposition to national health care reform that includes a public option.
“They should not stand in the way of meaningful, affordable health care reform in the country,” SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope told WRAL. “North Carolina’s Blue Cross Blue Shield is leading the national effort against President Obama’s healthreform plan, and that’s a shame.”
Blue Cross claims to support health care reform, but not a public option which would affect their bottom line. Cope encouraged attendees to ask members of Congress to support the president’s public health care option and to write letters to Blue Cross CEO Bob Greczyn to ask him to stop opposition to the plan.
“Did anybody here get a $766,000 bonus [like Bob Greczyn] last year?” asked Adam Searing of the North Carolina Health Access Coalition. “No, we got a 20 percent increase in our health insurance premiums to pay for that bonus!”
The protest was SEANC’s part of the Service Employees International Union’s “Change that
BY TONY BOOE
Works” campaign and their national July 15 “We Can’t Wait for Affordable Health Care” day.
SEANC will continue to press Blue Cross to prioritize people over profits and market share domination. According to the state Department of Insurance, Blue Cross maintains a 72.5 percent market share in North Carolina. A public option that included state employees would create additional competition in the marketplace and could end the no-bid sweetheart
deal enjoyed by the company with the State Health Plan (SHP). SEANC will continue its efforts to open up the SHP’s no-bid contract with Blue Cross. Earlier this year, legislators chose to increase state employees’ health care costs by $600 rather than ask Blue Cross to concede one red cent during the state’s financial crisis.
ebaldwin@seanc.org
Budget Update
As of press time, the North Carolina General Assembly continues to debate differences between the House and Senate budgets and was one of only three states in the country who had yet to finish their budget. State lawmakers, who are charged with providing citizens with a balanced budget by July 1, extended the budget deadline with two continuing resolutions to keep government running
Previous SEANC articles have highlighted proposals for mandatory (Senate) versus voluntary
(House) furloughs for state employees to help balance the more than $4 billion budget deficit. In addition the two chambers are grappling with how to raise additional revenues that will be acceptable to Gov. Bev Perdue. SEANC continues to work the halls of the General Assembly in an effort to ensure that only voluntary furloughs are included in the upcoming budget. Upon the passage of a new budget, look for a complete report and its impact on state employees in The Legislative Update and on the SEANC Web site.
PHOTO
During SEANC’s protest at Blue Cross’ headquarters in Chapel Hill on July 15, SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope holds up a photo of Blue Cross CEO Bob Greczyn, who opposes a public health care option.
2 PUBLIC POLICY
SEANC Was Right: No Employer Match Equals No COLAs
Recently a freshman legislator was discussing the funding level of the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS), and he blamed the economy for the lack of cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirees. He said that millions of dollars in employer contributions would be required to keep TSERS funding level around 100 percent.
After the legislator finished, I asked him why, in the same economic turmoil, the Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System was able to fund retiree COLAs while maintaining its funding level when the state could not. He said he wasn’t sure.
As SEANC stressed all along, the economy is not the only source of blame. TSERS is funded by three sources: investment returns, employee contributions (6 percent of the employee’s salary) and employer contributions. However, the employer contribution ranged from only 0 percent in 2002 to 3.36 percent in 2008. As a result of years of minimal employer contributions, no funds are available for retiree COLAs this year and the funding level of TSERS has slipped from 108 percent to a projected 100 percent.
While the economic downturn has played a role, SEANC has insisted for years that the employer contribution — something the local government system has maintained at 4.8 percent for 13 years — is the weakest link of the funding
By Mitch lEonard, SEanc rEtirEE dirEctor
sources for the state pension fund in recent years. In fact, SEANC has been the only association to persistently seek a matching employer contribution of 6 percent in Retirement Systems Board of Trustees meetings and in the halls of the legislature.
“SEANC has been the lone voice for raising the employer contribution, and now its proven true that slow and steady wins the race,” said SEANC Retiree Council Chairman Bob Hopper of District 9.
During a June 23 visit with SEANC’s Retiree Council, State Treasurer Janet Cowell agreed that the local government system was more consistent with its employer contribution, resulting in steady funding for the system and COLAs for retirees. Now TSERS is trying to play catch-up by securing funding from the General Assembly in the form of employer contributions when the state budget is suffering.
SEANC members need to continue to remind
Down to the Wire –
Discusses Budget with Legislators
SEANC President Tony Smith, right, discusses budget concerns and solutions with Rep. Hugh Blackwell (R-Burke) outside the House chamber doors just before session on July 22. President Smith joined SEANC lobbyists at the General Assembly in the final days of budget negotiations to help ensure the best fiscal outcome for state employees and retirees.
legislators that the employer contribution must be consistent to generate funding for retiree COLAs and for the long-term sustainability of the pension fund. As of press time, the General Assembly had not finalized employer contribution rates for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.
mleonard@seanc.org
North Carolina Supreme Court Agrees with Court of Appeals: Hands off Retirement Funds
By Erica Baldwin
On June 17, the North Carolina Supreme Court upheld the North Carolina Court of Appeals rulings in the state employees’ lawsuit against Gov. Mike Easley, Stone et al. v. State of North Carolina, that the diversion of state retirement funds violated the state and federal constitutions. The lawsuit was filed in June 2002 after then-Gov. Easley diverted $130 million of employers’ contributions from the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System to fill budget holes in 2001. Next, the case will go back to Superior Court for consideration of remedies (like interest owed on the escrowed funds).
“Because of this ruling, state employees can rest easy in this budget deficit that their retirement funds won’t be used to plug budget holes,” said SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope.
To date, the principal on the funds has been repaid to the retirement system; however, SEANC members continue to seek the interest owed. ebaldwin@seanc.org
THE REPORTER USPS 009-852 (ISSN 1069 2142) is published in the months of March, May, August and November for $3 per year, per member, by the State Employees Association of North Carolina, Inc., P.O. Drawer 27727, Raleigh, NC 27611-7727. Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh, N.C. and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: THE REPORTER, P.O. Drawer 27727, Raleigh, NC 27611-7727.
P HOTO
BY Erica Baldwi
N
SEANC District 8 member Don McCracken, left, greets State Treasurer Janet Cowell during a June 23 Retiree Council meeting at the SEANC Central Office in Raleigh.
Blue vs. Blue SEANC Protests July 15, 2009
SEANC members and allies joined together July 15 in front of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s headquarters in Chapel Hill. Protesters were urging the insurance company to stop its opposition to a public health care option.
“The N&O’s Dan Kane and David Raynor say ‘perks’ (e.g. comp time) for state employees are piling up and costing the state money. The article left me wondering when it was that getting paid for work you do became a ‘perk.’” Laura Leslie, WUNC Radio reporter, on her June 14 blog.
“When you look at the side of the ledger for sick leave and vacation time, look at it in the context of health benefits and overall pay.” SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope in The News & Observer’s June 14 article “Piled-up perks carry hidden costs.”
“What you call perks is more aptly described as compensation…I think it would be regrettable if the scandals associated with the fat cats at the top of the food chain in state government are used to bash the more typical state worker bee, who works at a pay level far less than his or her counterpart in the private sector.” SEANC District 42 member Joan Troy of Raleigh in The News & Observer June 21 letter to the editor.
“And here we are.” State Treasurer Janet Cowell during a June 23 SEANC Retiree Council meeting, commenting how legislators have failed to fund the retirement system adequately through an employer contribution resulting in no monies available for retiree benefits.
“We’re pointing out to the public that they’re protecting insurers over working families and taxpayers.” SEANC Member Action and Political Director Kevin LeCount on SEANC’s Legislative Accountability Campaign created to educate the public on the General Assembly’s poor State Health Plan fix in the May 20 Insider, a state government news service.
4
COLU mns
by Dana Cope
SEANC’s Logic Executive Director
I hope you have enjoyed reading SEANC’s articles over the last several weeks on Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and SEANC’s fight to hold legislators accountable for their vote on the State Health Plan bailout bill that cost state employees an additional $600 for health insurance.
Selecting two legislators a week, the association ran radio ads and dropped literature all across the state in various legislators’ hometowns. And legislators haven’t been happy about it. One legislator, Rep. Pryor Gibson of Anson County, piqued my curiosity when he told The News & Observer he “couldn’t understand the logic of the attack” regarding his vote on the State Health Plan bill.
So for all the potentially confused legislators, let me help you out. The purpose of the SEANC ads are to gain support to move the State Health Plan’s oversight from the legislative branch to the executive branch.
Why is this a good idea? Because you, the members of the General Assembly, have become too cozy with the insurance giant Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. The result has been a no-bid, closed contract and a sweetheart deal for Blue Cross
with no accountability and no reason to contain costs.
In case further clarification on why the good people of North Carolina need to know why the executive branch, and not the legislature, should oversee the health plan, let’s take a little quiz.
Q: When legislators had a chance to decide who should foot the multimillion dollar bill for lack of oversight of the State Health Plan, who did you vote should pay – Blue Cross or state employees?
a: State employees
Q: When you had a chance to decide to ask for cost concessions from Blue Cross (a non-profit who pays their CEO $4 million annually) or taxpayers, who did you vote should pay – Blue Cross or taxpayers?
a: Taxpayers (P.S. State employees are taxpayers.)
Q: Who signs off on a multi-million dollar contract without reading it?
a: The North Carolina General Assembly
SEANC’s logic is to highlight the potential wasted savings to state employees and taxpayers that came from the General Assembly signing off on a multi-million dollar Blue Cross contract without reading it. And we want your friends and neighbors who depend on public services to know it.
dcope@seanc.org
by Tony SmiTh
A Year of Growth and Unity President’s Message
Convention time is once again upon us. I can hardly believe how quickly the year has passed. It is with great pride that I have watched this organization grow – today we are stronger politically and as an organization. I am delighted to say our EMPAC has grown to be the 11th largest political action committee (PAC) in the state. Through growth and unity, we will continue to show the legislature our political strength and will rise into the top 10 PACs.
We have many important decisions to make at this year’s convention, including the final dollar of the fouryear, $5 dues increase. While this dollar may seem difficult in current economic times, it is a sacrifice that we know needs to be made to keep this organization strong politically and united as we continue to grow.
This has been a busy year. I issued several challenges to the membership of this organization, and I am encour-
aged by how many of you have risen to meet these challenges. You came out not once, but twice, to lobby our legislators on behalf of state employees – one of these times in the pouring rain. Our membership is growing because you are telling your story to other state employees and recruiting new members. Don’t stop – continue to tell your story.
This has also been a landmark year. We reached our one-year anniversary of affiliation with SEIU. We cheered as a SEANC member took the oath of office as the state’s first female governor. We fought against legislation aimed at eroding the benefits of state employees and the services they provide to the citizens of this great state. And through it all, we grew in political strength. We united for and against legislation and in one voice remained determined to make ourselves heard.
I look forward to coming together with all of our delegates at convention in September. We have lots of work to do, and I know together we can accomplish our goals.
tsmith@seanc.org
Cope
Smith
26th Annual SEANC
Convention
Growth Through Unity
On Sept. 10-12, approximately 900 delegates from across North Carolina will convene at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro to make important decisions on behalf of SEANC’s 55,000 members. Highlights of this year’s convention include:
➤ Electing statewide SEANC officers and regional representatives to the Executive Committee
➤ Determining SEANC’s Top 10 Policy Platform Objectives
➤ Voting on the final dollar of the four-year $5 dues increase
➤ Debating SEANC Bylaws amendments
➤ Presenting awards for outstanding SEANC members
➤ Hearing remarks from (invited) guest speakers SEIU President Andy Stern, Gov. Bev Perdue, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, State Treasurer Janet Cowell and Greensboro Mayor Yvonne Johnson
Candidates for Statewide Office Announced
By aMBEr ErnSt
SEANC leadership for 2009-2010 will be determined by approximately 900 delegates at the 26th Annual SEANC Convention on Sept. 11. SEANC Bylaws require members to announce their candidacy in writing or in person to the Board of Governors no later than 45 days prior to the annual convention or nominations can be submitted from the convention floor. Officers’ terms are for one year and begin Oct. 1 and run through Sept. 30, 2010. Officers may hold the same office for two consecutive years.
Tommy Griffin
Candidate for President:
Tony Smith, a District 5 member, is a Morganton resident and incumbent SEANC president. A 17year state employee, he is a Maintenance Supervisor IV for the Department of Correction.
Candidates for First Vice President:
Art Anthony, a District 39 member and Raleigh resident, currently serves as statewide Policy Platform Committee chairman. A 21-year state employee, he is a Program Evaluator II for the Center for Urban Affairs and Community Services for North Carolina State University.
Pat Reighard, a District 3 member, is a Blowing Rock resident and incumbent first vice president. He is a retired 30-year state employee and a Professor Emeritus at Appalachian State University.
Candidates for Treasurer:
Tommy Griffin, a District 25 member and Moncure resident, currently serves as District 25 and statewide Collective Bargaining Committee chairman. A 36-year state employee, he is an HVAC Supervisor I at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
In addition to the election of statewide officers, district chairpersons will elect regional representatives to the Executive Committee by their respective regions (East, South Central, North Central, Piedmont and West). Only 2009-2010 chairpersons are eligible to run for these positions.
As of press time, the following members had announced their candidacies for statewide SEANC office:
Give Blood, Give Life
Candidates for Second Vice President:
J.C. Boykin, a District 39 member, is a Kenley resident and incumbent second vice president. A 17-year state employee, he is a Project Manager in Design and Construction Services at North Carolina State University.
Steve Hutton, a District 25 member and Pittsboro resident, currently serves as the Employee Relations chairman for his district. A 17-year state employee, he is an Applications Specialist in the Epidemiology Department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Charles Johnson, a District 45 member and Raleigh resident, currently serves as the chairman of his district and as the North Central Region representative to the Executive Committee. A 17-year state employee, he is a Correctional Captain at Central Prison in Raleigh.
Cheryl Moon, a District 43 member, is a Knightdale resident and incumbent treasurer. She is a retired 30-year state employee from the Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles.
This year at convention, roll up your sleeves and give something important to the citizens of North carolina – blood! Every two seconds someone in the United states needs blood. delegates and guests are invited to donate blood to the american red cross as part of this year’s community service project. all donations will go to help the american red cross in North carolina provide blood and blood products to more than 100 hospitals statewide.
we are seeking 100 percent delegate participation for this event. if you are not eligible to donate, you can still help your district reach its goal of 100 percent participation if you:
• Purchase a “What Color Do You Bleed” t-shirt ($15) in lieu of donation or
• Provide a convention guest to serve as a proxy donor for you.
For more information about donor eligibility and to pledge to donate, please visit www.seanc.org/convention
Thank you for helping continue sEaNc’s tradition of giving.
Art Anthony
Pat Reighard
J.C. Boykin
Steve Hutton
Charles Johnson
Cheryl Moon
Tony Smith
What’s Happening @ Convention
➤ Officers will be inducted during the banquet on Saturday evening to which we have invited the Council of State.
➤ Delegates will participate in a new community service project:
• A blood drive benefiting the American Red Cross in North Carolina.
➤ The SEANC Membership Committee will reveal the winner of the membership recruitment button contest. All members were invited to submit a button design by July 15.
➤ Prizes will be awarded for two insurance contests:
• The top five districts that turned in 100+ Spectera Vision insurance applications will be awarded a cash prize.
• The top three districts that enroll 100+ members in the Reliance Standard Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance plan will be awarded a cash prize. This contest is open until Aug. 15.
Convention Delegate Checklist
q Contact your district chairperson to get your copy of the Policy Platform/Bylaws packet
Visit the convention Web site at www.seanc. org/convention to complete the following forms by Sept. 1:
q Blood Donor Pledge Sign-up Form
q Delegate Contact Information Form
q Training Session Sign-up Form
Do you have questions about convention? Contact Amber Ernst at aernst@seanc. org, 919-833-6436 or 800-222-2758
2009 Training Sessions
Several new training opportunities will be available at this year’s convention. Please review the session descriptions below, then visit www.seanc.org/convention to pre-register for training.
Wednesday, s ept. 9
➧ Member Action Team Training
This interactive training is designed to educate and empower SEANC members on the basics of one-to-one conversations with legislators and co-workers, build power through EMPAC, grassroots lobbying and much more. Training is open to members that have not already been MAT trained.
t hursday, s ept. 10
➧ EMPAC
Learn how EMPAC is climbing toward its goal to be the number one political action committee in North Carolina. An overview of the EMPAC endorsement process and the importance of payroll deduction participation will be highlighted.
➧ Introduction to the Shop Steward System
Learn how other SEIU locals use the Shop Steward system to assist their members and explore how SEANC might adopt a similar system for its members.
➧ Membership Recruitment Tools
Learn how SEANC is refocusing efforts and dedicating resources to recruit new members and use more effective methods to grow the organization.
➧ Social Security
A Social Security representative will present information on the Social Security application process, benefits and answer questions for delegates who are thinking about applying for Social Security or those delegates who are already receiving benefits.
➧ Your Communications Toolbox
Communication is the key to district involvement! Learn how to effectively use your district bulletin board on the SEANC Web site, e-mail alerts, worksite tools and local media. Find out what’s been successful for other districts and take those ideas home with you!
Friday, s ept. 11
➧ District Treasurers’ Financial Duties & Responsibilities
2009-2010 incoming district treasurers learn the duties, responsibilities and reporting requirements associated with the position of SEANC District Treasurer. This session is required for district treasurers; district chairperson attendance is optional.
➧ How Federal Issues Affect North Carolina
Learn more about the Employee Free Choice Act, national health reform and why your state retirement and health insurance benefits may be worthless without Congressional action. Examine why federal legislation is critical to allowing state employees the right to organize and protect both pension and health insurance benefits of active and retired employees.
➧ Insurance Planning
Come and learn the importance of planning for life’s uncertainties. Most people plan for marriage, birth, retirement and the purchase of their first home, however, many fail to or delay planning for the “what ifs” that might arise. Gain peace of mind by finding a SEANC insurance program that fits your needs and your budget.
➧ Member Discount
Want to save money? Learn how to recruit businesses into the Member Discount program.
➧ Membership Recruitment Tools
Learn how SEANC is refocusing efforts and dedicating resources to recruit new members and use more effective methods to grow the organization.
➧ Scholarship Training
A must for all incoming scholarship chairpersons. Find out what you need to do early to have a successful scholarship program.
Counselor’s Comments
by Tom harriS SeanC Chief of STaff/General CounSel
A Limited Win For Temps
In a victory for a group of temporary state government workers, the North Carolina Court of Appeals recently held that state agencies breached the workers’ employment contracts by employing them for longer than 12 consecutive months. However, the decision was limited because the court was hard pressed to identify any remedy for the breach. Thus, the court victory may ultimately prove to be an empty one. Even so, the decision could supply the needed push to enact new laws and regulations to address the abusive employment practices that prompted the lawsuit.
The Lawsuit
The State Personnel Commission regulation authorizing temporary employee appointments has long prohibited state agencies from employing temporary employees for longer than 12 consecutive months. In the case of Sanders v. State Personnel Commission, four temporary state employees alleged that they had become permanent state employees and were entitled to all the benefits of permanent employees because their state agencies had employed them longer than permitted by the regulation. In fact, they alleged that one of them had been employed seven consecutive years without any benefits.
The Decision
The Court of Appeals agreed with the employees that the State Personnel Commission regulation was a part of their employment contracts and that their state agencies had breached their contracts by employing them for more than 12 consecutive months. However, the court was apparently unconvinced that the remedy sought by the plaintiffs, i.e. permanent employment status after one year’s employment as a temp, was supported by regulation, statute or the state constitution. Without directly deciding what the final outcome would be, the Court of Appeals sent the case back to the Superior Court to gather more evidence and determine what remedy, if any, would be appropriate. The appeals
court even stated that one possible outcome was for the trial court to issue a declaration that the plaintiffs’ contracts had been breached but that they were not entitled to any remedy whatsoever.
The Future
This lawsuit highlights a longstanding abusive practice by many state agencies: the long-term employment of many “temporary” employees without giving them the benefits and protections that are given to permanent employees, many of whom are doing the same jobs as the so-called “temporary” employees. While there is still a chance that the courts may fashion an appropriate remedy for such abuses, even if they don’t, the Court of Appeals’ ruling in the Sanders case should spur the state to address the abuses by regulation and statute.
In this vein, State Personnel Director Linda Coleman has informed SEANC of her plans to convene a working group to study all aspects of temporary state employment and recommend needed changes to policy and law. She also agreed to include SEANC in the working group as a stakeholder who will provide a voice for employees’ interests. SEANC is appreciative of this opportunity and looks forward to collaborating with other working group members to identify the best policies and practices for filling the state’s need for temporary employees in a way that is fair and equitable.
tharris@seanc.org
COLU mns
Harris
se A n C s CHOLAR s HIP s
SEANC Awards Annual Scholarships
coMpilEd By cindy haMkE, SEanc coMMunicationS intErn
This year, the sEaNc scholarship program awarded 30 statewide scholarships. districts also awarded more than $40,000 in district-level scholarships. The five categories of scholarships include:
• Four-year financial — a $1,000 scholarship to attend a two-year junior college or four-year college or university
• Two-year financial — a $500 scholarship to attend a community college, technical school or trade school
• Four-year merit — a $1,000 merit scholarship to attend a two-year college or four-year college or university
• Two-year merit — a $500 merit scholarship to attend a community college, technical school or trade school
• Member only — a $500 scholarship awarded to state employees who are sEaNc members
congratulations to all of this year’s recipients!
The Scholarship Foundation Board met at the SEANC Central Office in Raleigh on May 19-21 to judge 111 applications. Pictured front row, left to right, are SEANC Retiree Director Mitch Leonard, Sue Chosewood of District 64, Shirley Ballard of District 47, Carolyn Rajacich of District 16, Amanda VanGyzen of District 64, Chevella Thomas of District 27, Chairman Mike Bell of District 61 and Retiree Program Support Assistant Renee Vaughan. Pictured back row, left to right, are George Thiessen of District 45, Heath Slaughter of District 8 and Tommy Pike of District 40. Not pictured: B.J. Hodges of District 2, Albertina McGirt of District 17, Terry Westry of District 17, Carol Caldwell of District 40 and Percy Underdue of District 56.
What the Heck is EMPAC?
By Mark dEarMon, chairMan StatE EMpac coMMittEE
When you saw the headline on this article, I hope you thought to yourself, “What a dumb question. Everybody knows that EMPAC is SEANC’s Political Action Committee (PAC).” EMPAC represents the collective voices of SEANC and works to elect candidates who support the agenda of state employees and retirees. Simply put, EMPAC is all about you – all 50,000-plus of you.
But there’s a catch. For EMPAC to be most effective, we need you to be involved. The opportunities are almost endless, especially next year when we begin interviewing legislative candidates for endorsement and supporting their campaigns. One way you can be involved today is to sign up to make a monthly contribution to EMPAC through payroll or pension deduction.
EMPAC’s goal is to become the biggest and best PAC in North Carolina. Thanks to those of you who are giving to EMPAC, we are now the 11th largest PAC in the state. That’s a meteoric rise from 276th in 2002. How did we do it? Member involvement. Those of you who have been giving $2 or more a month have helped propel EMPAC’s rise. Yet only 16 percent of current SEANC members are contributing to EMPAC.
If you are among the givers, thank you! If not, please consider signing up. To do so, just go to the
SEANC Web site, www.seanc. org, and click on the EMPAC link on the bottom left. Click the EMPAC Payroll/Pension Deduction Form on the left. You can also increase your contribution using the same process.
But contributions alone will not make EMPAC the biggest and best PAC in the state. The other main ingredient is member involvement in EMPAC’s endorsement process and candidate support. To help achieve this goal, EMPAC will be offering training beginning this fall at convention. Additional training opportunities will be offered at the area level this fall and early next year. Please take the opportunity to sign up for the EMPAC training at convention and get involved next year when we begin interviewing candidates for endorsement and supporting their election efforts.
EMPAC will also focus on holding our endorsed candidates accountable once they are elected. This summer, EMPAC has been working with the SEANC lobbyists and political director to put
together information laying out specific votes made by legislators during the current session on major legislation affecting our members. This information will be distributed at the SEANC convention in September.
So what’s in it for you? The opportunity to help elect candidates from your local area who will best represent SEANC members and to hold them accountable after they are elected. The more contributors to EMPAC we have, the greater our war chest becomes. Equally important is your involvement during the interview and campaign season next year. Like I said in the beginning, EMPAC is all about you. The more you are involved, the stronger your voice becomes. Let’s get ready to make some noise.
mark_dearmon@ncsu.edu
New Group Savings on Auto and Home Insurance
By dEBBiE BowdEn
Beginning Aug. 1, SEANC is offering new group discounts on auto and home insurance though a program with Travelers, MetLife Auto & Home and Liberty Mutual. You can:
• STOp paying more than you have to for auto insurance.
• lOOK at the different options we’ve lined up for you.
• SaVe with special group discounts, convenient payment options and much more.
Need more information? Contact the SEANC Insurance Department at 919833-6436 or 800-222-2758.
dbowden@seanc.org
District 61 Serves Up Recruitment Efforts
District 60 Hosts SEANC Booth at Fundraiser
On April 15, District 60 held a membership drive during a Relay for Life fundraiser at the O’Berry Neuro-Medical Treatment Center. SEANC Member Organizer Treva Brigman, left, and District 60 Chairwoman Carolyn Davis were on hand to answer questions about SEANC and its benefits during the fundraiser.
District 16 Promotes Wellness, Membership
District 16 members Chris Williamson, left, and
Mike Tuttle discuss the benefits of SEANC membership at a Department of Transportation Division 9 Wellness Fair on May 13 in Winston-Salem.
From left to right, District 61 members Don Frazier, Donnie Dudley and Shannon Baylor serve lunch to Onslow County Clerk of Court Bettie Gurganus during a Feb. 27 membership blitz and state employee luncheon. The district recruited 12 new members at the event.
mem B e R AC t IO n
DOC Team/SEANC Members
Take Prize in Plane Pull to Raise Money for Special Olympics
By Scott pEElE, diStrict 45 MEMBEr
On April 25, 80 teams competed by pulling a 30,000-pound American Eagle Aircraft at Raleigh/Durham International Airport to help raise money for the North Carolina Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. A total of $125,000 was raised at this event. Each team consisted of five people pulling the aircraft 25 feet for the fastest time.
The Hyde County Country Boys were the overall winners with the fastest time of 8.55 seconds. Four of the five Country Boys that pulled the plane in the fastest time were SEANC District 68 members and employees from Hyde Correctional Institute.
District 45 member Scott Peele stated, “Even under these difficult economic times, DOC staff volunteered their time and energy to help make this an awesome event for Special Olympics.”
District 60 Sponsors American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life
District 60 member Anita king presents a sponsorship check for the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser Relay for Life. Pictured, left to right, are District 60 members Lloyd kline, Marcie Green, Jeff Whitner, Anita king and Carolyn Davis. Davis and Whitner are team leaders for the American Cancer Society of Wayne County.
District 65 Hosts Golf Tournament
District 65 held its 3rd annual Scholarship Golf Tournament on June 4 at the Ayden Golf and Country Club. Twelve teams participated in the tournament, raising nearly $2,000 for district scholarships.
3rd Annual Broughton Hospital Reunion
for Broughton retirees and former employees
October 7
Noon-3:00 p.m.
Broughton Shelter, Morganton
Covered Dish lunch
Door prizes
SEANC President Tony Smith and SEANC Retiree Director Mitch Leonard will be available to answer questions on retirement and State Health Plan issues.
For more information, please contact Vernie Chapman at 828-437-8441.
Pictured front row, left to right, are District 68 members Chris Harris and John Swain. Pictured back row, left to right, are Chad Swain and District 68 members Phillip Sawyer and Eric Sadler.
PHOTO BY
kenneth kimber Takes Home Top Prize in Scholarship Golf Tournament
By don JonES, diStrict 41 MEMBEr and SEanc ScholarShip Golf tournaMEnt coordinator
W hiSpeR i NG pi N eS – SEANC District 16 member Kenneth Kimber of Winston-Salem took home the top trophy during the SEANC Scholarship Golf Tournament held June 20-21 at the Country Club of Whispering Pines. Kimber, in his first championship in this tournament, won the title with rounds of 75 and 75 for a winning score of 150. In the Ladies’ Championship, District 3 member Teresa Johnson won with a score of 203. In the Senior Championship, David Steinbock of District 41 won his second consecutive trophy in the tournament with a score of 163.
The annual tournament benefits the SEANC scholarship program, which awarded approximately $70,000 in state and district scholarships to deserving SEANC members and their dependents this year. The golf tournament raised nearly $1,500 for SEANC scholarships. In a raffle, SEANC Finance Director Rex Foster won a set of golf clubs donated by Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Company.
SEANC thanks golf tournament sponsors Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Company, Boston Mutual Insurance Company, Doug Sutton Insurance Services, State Employees’ Credit Union, Acudata Forms, Inc., Carowinds, Kings Dominion, The North Carolina Theatre, Alabama Theatre, Medieval Times, Spectera, Purchasing Power, Carolina Hurricanes, Liberty Mutual, East Coast Digital Printing, Adventure Landing and Wet ’n Wild.
Congratulations to all of the 2009 golf tournament champions and those who support the SEANC scholarship program.
djones12@nc.rr.com
District 58 Holds Day of Caring
On May 16, District 58 held a Day of Caring where they cleaned and landscaped the grounds at Wayne Opportunity Center in Goldsboro. Wayne Opportunity provides employment-related activities to persons with disabilities, helping them become job-ready. District 58 served this community center by helping with landscaping jobs such as trimming bushes and spreading mulch. Pictured, District 58 Treasurer Larry Jones saws uneven branches off of a large hedge.
District 65 Raises Money for Cancer Research
District 65 entered two teams in the Pitt County American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life on April 24–25. The teams raised $8,500 through yard sales, car washes, bake sales and donations. During the event, the team took turns walking laps to show their support in the fight against cancer. District 65 has participated in Relay for Life for more than 15 years and challenges all other districts to become involved.
Ladies’ champion Teresa Johnson of District 3 accepts her trophy from Brigman.
David Steinbock of District 41, left, receives his trophy for the senior division from Brigman.
kenneth kimber of District 16, right, accepts the top trophy in the SEANC Scholarship Golf Tournament from Member Action Coordinator Benny Brigman.
State employees association of North Carolina
P.O. Drawer 27727 Raleigh, NC 27611
SEIU Grant – Get Ready, Get Set, Get Energized!
Thanks to a $93,000 grant from SEIU, SEANC began a Health Care Accountability Campaign on July 6. The grant funding allowed SEANC to hire 11 Member Organizers who will work on energizing members around the issue of health care.
The Member Organizers will be active in all areas of North Carolina as they organize a town hall event in each region, work to raise EMPAC participation to 25 percent and educate SEANC members and elected officials about the national health care crisis.
Additionally, the organizers will work to pass a universal health care policy at the federal level and ensure accountability for votes on health care and state budget legislation at the legislature.
The grant allows SEANC’s Member Action Coordinators (MACs), who are normally charged with both recruitment and member action activities, to focus solely on signing up new members. The Member Organizers will encourage current members to become more active. Through phone calls, door-to-door visits and other grass-roots efforts, the Member Organizers will educate state employees and retirees on the issues affecting them.
“We want thousands of SEANC members to be fired up to increase our grassroots lobbying presence with the General Assembly. Recently,
By Mary adElaidE BEll
thousands of Hawaii’s public employees rallied together at their state capitol to protest the governor’s budget proposal,” said Will Cubbison, the campaign’s director. “Our goal is to have participation like that in North Carolina.”
Be sure to look for these 11 new faces over the next month and a half!
mbell@seanc.org
Member Organizers pictured, left to right, are Laresha Fortson, Heather Welborn, Cheryl Moon, Anne Castro, Flint Benson, Joe Brown, Treva Brigman, Gene Mills, Fred Foster, Matt Phillippi and Daniel Stroud.