July 2011 Spotlight

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.”

The Board of Governors (BOG) met on July 22-23, 2011, to discuss business matters important to state employees and retirees.

New Officer Announcement: President Charles Johnson appointed North Central Representative to the Executive Committee Doranna Anderson to fill the position of SEANC Second Vice President due to the resignation of Cheryl Moon.

Candidate Announcements: The following members announced their intention to run for SEANC office for the 20112012 year: Doranna Anderson of District 47 for Second Vice President Gloria Highsmith of District 65 for Eastern Regional Representative Betty Jones of District 42 for North Central Regional Representative Angela Lyght of District 19 for Piedmont Regional Representative* Michele Shaw of District 22 for South Central Regional Representative *Incumbent SEANC Budget Adopted: Planning Committee Chairman Tony Smith presented a $4.2 million budget proposal to the BOG to fund all SEANC operations and services for the 2011-2012 year (Oct. 1, 2011-Sept.

30, 2012). The BOG voted unanimously to accept the budget.

Treasurer’s Report: Marilyn Jean Martin reported SEANC’s finances are doing extremely well with receipts at 84 percent and disbursements at 62 percent.

BOG Member Named to SHP Board: District 22 Chairwoman Michele Shaw was appointed by Senate leader Phil Berger to the newly-formed State Health Plan (SHP) Board of Trustees. Shaw’s term runs through June 30, 2013.

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Executive Director’s Report: Budget Update: Executive Director Dana Cope was pleased to report numerous victories for SEANC members as a result of the 2011 General Assembly session and the budget that became law on June 15.

SEANC stayed true to its political philosophy that the association has no permanent friends and no permanent enemies, only permanent issues. It is a philosophy that served us well.

SEANC was able to work with the Republican leadership in the General Assembly to achieve the following victories for state employees and retirees, including: saving jobs of SEANC members who alerted the staff about programs on the chopping block (DHHS Oral Health section, DOC prison maintenance), blocking privatization efforts (DOC prison maintenance, ITS), securing merit pay raises for 2012-2013, avoiding pay cuts/furloughs, achieving a SHP governance change, protecting a premium-free health care option, fully funding the retirement system and maintaining SPA protections for 22,000 university employees and state workers’ personnel files, including performance evaluations, from being released to the public. In all SEANC achieved five of the associations’ Top 10 Policy Platform Objectives, a tremendous success in a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall.

The final budget was better for state employees and general government than the governor’s budget. Her budget proposed the following: 10,000 job cuts (3,000 of which were filled with state employees while funding all teachers and teacher assistants at 100 percent), changes to the SHP with a premium for the Standard 80/20 plan and only providing half the contribution necessary to fully fund the retirement system.

In July, SEANC hosted exclusive budget briefings in Morganton and Greenville with approximately 50 people attending each event to get the word out about the real facts concerning the state budget. The final briefing will in Raleigh on Aug. 9 at the SEANC Central Office.

SEANC lobbyists worked hard to help override SB 781, a bill that allows a judge, not a state agency, to have the final determination when a state worker and state agency have a dispute. The governor vetoed SB 781 and the Senate unanimously overrode the veto before sending it to the House, which passed it on July 25.

“Take Pride in Carolina” Campaign: Lawmakers included a number of SEANC members’ money-saving ideas from our “Take Pride in Carolina” report in the budget or other legislation this session, including: incenting SHP members to audit medical charges, returning Golden Leaf monies to the general fund and maximizing access to federal Medicaid dollars. The campaign has significant resources available for next year to run TV and radio commercials.

BOG Members Thank SEANC Staff for Saving Jobs: BOG members provided personal testimonials on how the SEANC staff helped save their jobs in the Departments of Health and Human Services and Correction. Second Vice 2

President Doranna Anderson made a special presentation honoring the Legislative Affairs Staff for their dedication and hard work that included saving 50 jobs this session in the DHHS Oral Health Section.

Convention Updates: President Charles Johnson provided updates on the 28th Annual Convention – “Take Pride in Carolina.” The convention will be held Sept. 8-10 at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro. This year’s community service project is Operation All ‘Bout Children (Operation ABC), which collects baby items and hosts events to distribute the gifts for North Carolina’s junior-enlisted military families (E1-E6). SEANC will be collecting new baby shower items on Thursday, Sept. 8, at the convention.

Convention Bylaws Amendments: Chairman Cliff Brown presented several bylaws proposals that received favorable votes on July 20 and will be voted on by this year’s convention delegates. Two bylaws amendments involve two-year officer terms and a biennial convention structure that would begin in 2014. A biennial structure means that the convention would be held every other year instead of annually. The rationale is to align officer terms and the SEANC convention more closely with the state election cycle. Delegates will also vote to elect members to the SEIU convention to concur with federal law. The bylaws amendments are posted on the SEANC website, seanc.org, and can be accessed by clicking 28th Annual Convention/Policy Platform & Bylaws.

Policy Platform Objectives: Chairwoman Debby Butler reported that the Policy Platform Committee met on July 21 and approved new policy platform objectives for convention delegates’ consideration and ranking for the 2012 Top 10 Policy Platform Objectives. This list of objectives provides SEANC staff with lobbying guidance in the General Assembly. Policy platform objectives are posted on the SEANC website, seanc.org, and can be accessed by clicking 28th Annual Convention/Policy Platform & Bylaws.

EMPAC/Convention: Congratulations to new EMPAC Chairman Wayne Fish who was elevated from vicechairman with the resignation of Amaka Flynn. Chairman Fish announced that Gloria Upperman was elected vice-chairwoman by the committee. Fish urged all members to contribute to EMPAC by payroll deduction to help achieve its $1 million mission for the 2012 elections. The EMPAC operations manual was amended to conform with SEANC’s ethics policy and nine EMPAC bylaws amendments are going to convention for delegates’ consideration.

EMPAC is once again hosting their “SEANC’s Got Talent” event on Thursday, Sept. 8, at convention. Members who sign up for EMPAC payroll deduction or increase their deduction will be enrolled in a drawing for $250, $100 and $50 prizes. Winners will be announced at convention.

EMPAC is also conducting a sweepstakes for all members as of July 1. Tickets will be mailed to members and several cash prizes $5,000 to $500 will be awarded. You must return the tickets by Aug. 27 to be eligible to win. Winners will be announced at convention.

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Meet and Confer Success: District 22 Chairwoman Michele Shaw described a recent successful meet and confer process at Harnett Correctional Institutional that resulted in improved morale, communications and management/staff relations. Please contact SEANC Intergovernmental Liaison Linda Rouse Sutton at lsutton@seanc.org for more information on meet and confer, or read Executive Order 45.

Scholarship Foundation Board: Chairman George Thiessen reported that the scholarship board met on May 24-26 to judge scholarship entries and awarded 45 scholarships in excess of $36,000. Scholarship raffle tickets are now on sale for $1 to benefit the foundation. This year the foundation will award $10,000 in prizes at convention – grand prize is $6,000, first prize is $3,000 and second prize is $1,000. The foundation is also selling mugs in the SEANC store for $3 to benefit the scholarship fund. Hole sponsorships are available for $100 for the Don Jones Memorial Golf Tournament, which will be held Sept. 24-26 at the Hyland Hills Gold Club.

Insurance Board of Trustees: Pet: The Healthy Paws Pet Health Plan, which was approved by the BOG in May, will be rolled out at convention.

Boston Mutual: Good news for new SEANC members! Boston Mutual amended their insurance policy to allow active members to obtain $100,000 guaranteed issue of term-life insurance during the first 180 days of SEANC membership. The BOG approved a Boston Mutual pilot project which would provide new members with an automatic $10,000 in term-life insurance free of charge during the first three months of SEANC membership.

State employee members who rejoin after more than two years of inactivity would also be eligible. The pilot project starts on Oct. 1.

AD&D: Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company proposed an increase in SEANC’s rates based on our experience. As a result, SEANC reviewed other carriers for cost comparison.

CIGNA Insurance proposed lower rates to SEANC members and the BOG adopted a proposal to switch AD&D carriers. All current Reliance policyholders will rollover to CIGNA and pay a lower rate. Cigna allows members buying new coverage to purchase insurance up to five times their salary with a maximum of $500,000, effective Oct. 1.

Membership Committee: Chairman Spillman Grice reported that 457 new members joined the association in June.

Grice encouraged convention delegates to participate in their Fantastic Five challenge.

Members who successfully recruit five new people will get a T-shirt and $10. Currently 29 of the 53 districts and 55 individuals have participated in the challenge.

Member Strength: Chairman Preston Moore reported that the committee is creating a team of SEANC member-leaders committed to Transforming, Educating, Agitating and Mobilizing (TEAM!) state employees and retirees. The committee will transition from MAT, NOC and Advance trainings to TEAM! The goal is to have 10 percent of all SEANC members participate.

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The committee has been actively involved in district officer training which will be held on Aug. 3-5 at the Embassy Suites in Greensboro. The theme of this year’s district officer training is SEANC: Where Do You Fit In? Contact Kevin LeCount at klecount@seanc.org for more details.

Minority Council: Chairman Nilesh Surti finalized an anonymous survey to gather data regarding minority issues in the workplace from SEANC members. It will be distributed soon to all members.

The committee is also exploring diversity training initiatives.

Member Discount: Chairwoman Janet Bunch reported 21 new businesses have been recruited since the last BOG meeting for a total of 182 businesses this year. The deadline for recruiting businesses this year is July 31. The committee met on July 9 to increase incentives for the 2011-2012 year. The three top recruiters will be awarded a total of $1,000 for businesses recruited between Aug. 1, 2011 and Jan. 31, 2012 and will increase the recruitment incentive from $3 to $5. Members must recruit a minimum of five businesses in order to receive this incentive.

Retiree Council: Chairman Bob Hopper thanked the SEANC staff for their hard work during the General Assembly session.

Youth Council: Chairwoman Emily Jones reported that the committee awarded the first Youth Council Scholarship to Latina Shelley of District 64 and that the committee finalized its mission statement. The committee continues to sell raffle tickets for $1 to benefit the scholarship.

Prizes will be awarded at convention and include trips to Myrtle Beach, Carowinds and Kings Dominion.

Important Dates: July 29 Last day for SHP annual enrollment Aug. 3-5 District officer training, Greensboro Aug. 18 Retiree Council meeting, Raleigh Aug. 20 Youth Council meeting, Raleigh Sept. 6 Executive Committee meeting, Greensboro Sept. 7 BOG meeting, Greensboro Sept. 8-10 28th Annual SEANC Convention Sept. 24-26 Don Jones Memorial Golf Tournament, Hyland Hills Golf Club, Pinehurst Votes: PASSED-The SEANC budget for Fiscal Year 2011-2012.

PASSED-A motion to set dates for the 2011-12 Board of Governors’ meetings: Nov. 4-5, 2011, Feb. 17-18, May 18-19, and July 20-21, 2012.

PASSED-A motion to update the SEANC Personnel Policy Manual’s unlawful harassment policy to include sexual orientation or a disabling condition.

PASSED-A motion for $5,000 in financial assistance to aid the lawsuit of a SEANC member.

The member is being sued by the N.C. Baptist Hospital for blowing the whistle on Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s overpayments to the SHP. 5

PASSED-An IBT pilot project to pay stipends of $10 to Colonial Insurance representatives who sell Boston Mutual policies (Oct. 1, 2011-May 31, 2012).

PASSED-An IBT pilot project offered by Boston Mutual to provide $10,000 in term-life insurance for active employees with certain conditions.

PASSED-An IBT motion to switch AD&D carriers from Reliance to Cigna.

The next BOG meeting will be Sept. 7 in Greensboro.

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