A bulletin distributed after each Board of Governors meeting for use in district newsletters, websites and meetings. For more information, contact the SEANC Communications/PR Department at 800-222-2758 or 919833-6436. The Spotlight can be found on the SEANC website, www.seanc.org, under “News/Publications.”
TheBoardofGovernors(BOG)metonFeb.18-19,2011,todiscussbusinessimportantto stateemployeesandretirees.
Treasurer’s Report:
SEANC’sfinancesareexceedingtargetrateswithreceiptsat35percentanddisbursements at29percent.
NAACP Special Presentation:
MaryPerryfromtheN.C.NAACPpresentedalifetimemembershiphonortoSEANC ExecutiveDirectorDanaCope.
Executive Director’s Report:
Perdue Budget Released: Perduekickedofftheannualbudgetprocessbychoosing wealthycorporationsoverworkingfamiliesinherbudgetproposal,whichwasreleasedon Feb.17.Thegovernor’sbudgetproposed: 10,000jobcuts,ofwhich3,000arecurrently filled,changestotheStateHealthPlanwitha$21.50premiumfortheStandard80/20plan, anearlyretirementbuyoutforupto1,000employeesandonlyhalfthecontribution necessarytofundtheretirementsystem.AtthesametimePerdueslashedstateemployee jobsandbenefits,shealsoproposedtolowerthecorporatetaxstructuretothelowestrate intheSouthandthethirdlowestinthecountry.Afterreceivingthegovernor’sbudget recommendations,boththeHouseandSenatewillpassdifferentversionsofthebudget beforetogetheragreeingonacompromisedbudgetthatwillthenbesenttothegovernor forhersignature.
Take Pride in Carolina Campaign: SEANCisofferinglegislatorsanotherchoiceinthe budget–insteadofcuttingqualitypublicservicesandthepeoplewhoprovidethem–with itsTakePrideinCarolinacampaign.Thecampaignurgeslawmakerstotakeprideinour statebyproducingabudgetthatwillkeepqualitypublicservices.Tokickoffthecampaign, SEANCheldapressconferenceandreleasedtheTakePrideinCarolinareport,which outlined$10billioninbudgetsavingsfrommembers.SEANCmembersalsomadeseveral hundredcallstoGov.Perdue’soffice,askingwhatteamshewason–wealthycorporations orworkingfamilies?
TheTakePrideinCarolinacampaignwillhaveitsownlogoandwilluseseveralmodesof communicationtohighlightpublicservicesandthepeoplewhoprovidethem.This outreachwillincludeadistinctwebsite,ablog,TVandradioadvertisements,directmail, socialmedia,textmessagingandhometownrallies.
Communications: TheSEANCCentralOfficeisincreasingitscommunicationstoinclude moreLegislativeUpdates,SEANCWarriorsgrassrootslobbyingopportunities,additional Facebookpostsand,comingsoon,aTwitterfeed.Pleasetakeamomenttoverifythat SEANChasyourcorrecte-mailaddressonfile.IfyouuseTwitter,youcansignupnowto followSEANCon@SEIU2008.
SEANC Ethics Policy update: SeveraldistrictsraisedconcernstotheExecutiveCommittee aboutloopholesandinherentconflictsofinterestthat(1)allowedleadersofthe associationtorunforofficewhilesimultaneouslyholdinganelectedorappointedSEANC officerofSEANCand(2)allowedcurrentelectedorappointedstategovernmentofficialsto serveaselectedorappointedofficialswithinSEANC.TheExecutiveCommittee unanimouslyvotedtorevisetheethicspolicyandpresentedaproposedethicsrevisionto theBOGforaction.Afterconsiderabledebate,theBOGvotedtoupdatetheethicspolicy. ThepracticaleffectofthispolicywouldhaveSEANCofficersandcertainSEANCstaff positionsresigntheirpositionsiftheyfiledtorunforapoliticalofficeorholdapolitical appointeepositioninstategovernment.Theethicspolicyupdatetakeseffectimmediately. Thefulltextoftheresolutionbelow:
The SEANC Board of Governors resolves that it hereby amends the SEANC Ethics Policy to state that it is unethical for any person who has filed to run for or who holds an elected or appointed public office to serve as an elected or appointed state-level officer of SEANC, including its subsidiary bodies, or to be employed as SEANC’s executive director, political director, legislative affairs director or chief of staff/general counsel.
SEANC Ethics Compliance: SEANCGeneralCounselTomHarrisdistributedcertification formsrelatingtotheSEANCethicspolicyandtaxreportsforcompletionbythedistrict chairpersonsanddistricttreasurerswhomisseddoingthisattheconvention.Alldistrict chairpersonsanddistricttreasurersmustcompletethispaperworkandreturnittoTom HarrisbytheendofMarch.
Meet and Confer Update: SEANCIntergovernmentalLiaisonLindaRouseSutton presentedanoverviewoftheMeetandConferExecutiveOrder45,outliningwhatis permittedundertheorderandhowSEANCplanstoexecutethisnewopportunitytowork morecloselywithemployeesacrossstategovernment.SuttonexplainedhowthenewMeet andConferprocesswillempowermemberstobemoreproactiveintheirworkplaceissues andaskedforBOGmemberstoforwardnamestoidentifyafewpeoplewithineachstate grouporagencywhowouldhelpleadthiseffortwithintheiragencies.Memberscan contactSuttonat252-559-0291orlsutton@seanc.orgwithnamesorquestions.
Bylaws Update – ChairmanCliffBrownpresentedanupdateaboutbylawsupdates.Two bylawsamendmentsthatthecommitteeisworkingtowardinvolvetwo-yearofficerterms andabiennialconventionbeginningin2016.Therationaleistoalignofficertermsandthe SEANCconventionmorecloselywiththestateelectioncycle SEANCmustalsochangeits bylawstoelectmemberstotheSEIUconventiontoconcurwithfederallaw.Thebylaws amendmentwouldspecifyhowtheelectionswouldoccur.
Insurance Board of Trustees willbeofferingidentitytheftinsurancesoon.
Membership Committee – ChairmanSpillmanGriceandthemembershipcommitteeis requestingdistrictstoincreasetheirrecruitingactivities.Elevendistrictsparticipatedin theretireeintheworkplacerecruitmentcampaign.Membersmustcontinuetorecruit.To assist,therewillbeanemergencyMembershipRecruitmentTrainingEventonMarch15. ThecommitteeishostingaSEANCconventiondelegatechallengebetweenFeb.18andJuly 25.Memberswhosuccessfullyrecruitfivenewpeoplewillgetat-shirtand$10.
Minority Council – ChairmanNileshSurtihasfinalizedananonymoussurveytogather dataregardingminorityissuesintheworkplacefromSEANCmembers.
Youth Council – ChairwomanEmilyJonesreportedofferingascholarshipforthefisttime. TheYouthCouncilwillrafflethreevacationsatconventioninordertofundthescholarship. Ticketsare$1eachandthewinnersoftherafflewillbeannouncedatconvention.
Member Discount – Thecommitteeannounced40newbusinessessinceNovember.All districtsareexpectedtorecruitaminimumoffivebusinesses.
EMPAC – ChairwomanAmakaFlynnreportedthat2012electionfundsareexpectedtobe approximately$952,000.Districts6,22,23,24,27,26,40,47,61and63havereachedthe 25percentmembershipgoal.
IMPORTANT DATES
March 2 – RetireeCouncillobbiesattheGeneralAssembly
March 15 – MembershipRecruitmentTrainingEvent
March 16 – EasternLobbyDayinRaleigh,8:30a.m.–3p.m.
March 23 – CentralLobbyDayinRaleigh,8:30a.m.–3p.m.
March 24 – PolicyPlatformAdvisoryCommittee
March 30 – WesternLobbyDayinRaleigh,8:30a.m.–3p.m.
April 9 – WesternHometownRallyinMorganton,Judge’sRiversideRestaurant,12–12:45 p.m.
April 16 – EasternHometownRallyinGreenville,H.BoydLeePark,12–12:45p.m.
April 30 – Minority/YouthCouncilmeeting
April 30 – CentralHometownRallyinRaleigh,BicentennialPark,12–12:45p.m.
VOTES
PASSED – AmotiontofundtheTakePrideinCarolinacampaignbyutilizingSEIU International,EMPACandreservefunds.
PASSED – AmotionfromExecutiveCommitteetotransfer$5,000fromtheSEANCreserve accounttotheautomobilemaintenanceandfuellineitemduetoprojectedincreasesinfuel costs.
PASSED – AresolutionfromtheExecutiveCommitteeamendingtheSEANCethicspolicy. TheSEANCBoardofGovernorsresolvesthatitherebyamendstheSEANCEthicsPolicyto statethatitisunethicalforanypersonwhohasfiledtorunfororwhoholdsanelectedor appointedpublicofficetoserveasanelectedorappointedstate-levelofficerofSEANC, includingitssubsidiarybodies,ortobeemployedasSEANC’sexecutivedirector,political director,legislativeaffairsdirectororchiefofstaff/generalcounsel.
PASSED – AmotiontoaccepttheMinorityCouncilsurvey.
PASSED – AmotionapprovingtheSEANCVeteransCouncilpartnershipwithNorth CarolinaUnitedPower.
PASSED – Amotiontorequireeachchairmantoappointaveteransrepresentativeatthe districtlevel.