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)metonMay13-14,2011,todiscussbusinessimportantto stateemployeesandretirees.
Officer candidate announcements:
ThefollowingmembersannouncedtheirintentiontorunforSEANCofficeforthe20112012year:
CharlesJohnsonforPresident*
SidneySandyforFirstVicePresident*
CherylMoonforSecondVicePresident*
MarilynJeanMartinforTreasurer*
*Incumbents
Treasurer’s Report:
MarilynJeanMartinreportedSEANC’sfinancesaredoingextremelywellwithreceiptsat 61percentanddisbursementsat48percent.Themeparkticketsaleshaveincreasedmore than80percentoverthissametimelastyear.
Executive Director’s Report:
Budget Update:
ExecutiveDirectorDanaCopewaspleasantlysurprisedbythestateHouse ofRepresentatives’$19.3billionbudget,whichwasbetterforstateemployeesandgeneral governmentthanthegovernor’sbudget.Thegovernor’sbudgetproposedthefollowing: 10,000jobcuts(3,000ofwhicharefocusedonstateemployeeswhilefundingallteachers andteacherassistantsat100percent),changestotheStateHealthPlanwitha$21.50 premiumfortheStandard80/20planandonlyfundinghalfthecontributionnecessaryto fullyfundtheretirementsystem.
TheHousebudgetproposedmoreofasharedsacrificebetweeneducationandgeneral government,whichmakesmathematicalsensegiventhat60percentofthestatebudgetis ineducation.AccordingtotheFiscalResearchDivisionoftheGeneralAssembly,thebill cuts2,569stategovernmentjobs,1,365ofwhicharevacantpositions.Hardesthitinthe billwastheeducationbudget.K-12educationwouldlose11,750positions,andtheUNC/ CommunityCollegesystemswouldbegiven“managementflexibility”toreducetheir budgets,resultinginadditionaljobcuts.Giventhe10percentturnoverrate,it’shighly
likelythatthevastmajorityofthosedisplacedwillbeabletotakeanotherjobinstate government.
TheothermajordifferenceforstateemployeesbetweentheHouseandthegovernor’s budgetswasincontributionstotheretirementsystem.Thegovernor’sbudgetcalledfor only$115million–lessthanhalfoftheAnnualRequiredContribution,whiletheHouse budgetfullyfundedtheretirementsystemat$297million.Ifpassed,theretirementsystem wouldbefullyfundedbythelegislatureforthefirsttimein10years.
ThebudgetisnowunderconsiderationintheSenate.Thebigdebateexpectedbetweenthe HouseandSenateisineducationfunding.TheSenatehasindicatedanintentiontomake furthercutstoK-12educationwhilerestoringsomeofthecutsmadetotheUNCSystemin theHousebudget.TheHouseandSenatewillworkonacompromisebudgetthatwillthen besenttothegovernorforhersignature.TheconventionalwisdominRaleighisthatthe governorislikelytovetothelegislature’sbudget,nomatterwhatitis,duetoeducation cuts(teacher’sassistants).
State Health Plan (SB 323): LastweektheHousepassedtheStateHealthPlan(SHP) reformbillagainandrightnowthegovernoristakinghertimedecidingwhetherornotshe willsignit.ThisyeartheSHPfacesa$515milliongap,whichisgrowingbytheday.SEANC wasabletomeetwiththeRepublicanleadershiptoworktogetheronaseriesofreform measurestomaketheplansustainableforthefuture.Thebillwouldcreatethefollowing reformsfortheSHP:
AchievesSEANC’sNo.1policyplatformobjective(andoneofthebigreasonsEMPAC didnotendorselegislatorsinthelastsession)–tomoveoversightoftheSHPaway fromtheGeneralAssemblyandintoagovernmentagency EstablishesaSHPBoardofTrustees(fourseatsforactiveandretiredstate employeesandfourseatsforhealthcareexperts)
AbolishesthepunitiveBMI/tobaccopenalties
IfthegovernorvetoestheSHPreformbill,itislikelytocomeattheexpenseofadditional stateemployeejobcuts,areductiontotheretirementsystemand/orendingtheSHPby offeringalumpsumpaymentforemployeestopurchasetheirownhealthcarecoverage.
“Take Pride in Carolina” Campaign: Thefirsttwophasesofthecampaign,member educationandoutreach,arecomplete.Thecampaign’soutreachandeducationphases include:directmail,adistinctwebsite,aFacebookpage,aTwitterfeed,textmessaging, threelobbydayeventsandthreehometownrallies.Thefinalphaseofthecampaignisfor TVandradiocommercials,whichwillbelaunchedattheappropriatetimeinthebudget process.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina: ArepigsflyingintheTriangle?SEANC ExecutiveDirectorDanaCopeandBlueCrossCEOBradWilsonhavemettodeterminehow andwhenourorganizationscouldworktogetherinthefuture.Wilsonhasbeeninvitedto addresstheBOGatalaterdate.
Convention Theme Named: PresidentCharlesJohnsonannouncedthe28th Annual Conventiontheme–“TakePrideinCarolina.”TheconventionwillbeheldSept.8-12atthe KouryConventionCenterinGreensboro.Thisyear’scommunityserviceprojectis OperationAll‘BoutChildren(OperationABC),whichcollectsbabyitemsandhostsevents todistributethegiftsforNorthCarolina’sjunior-enlistedmilitaryfamilies(E1-E6).SEANC willbecollectingnewbabyshoweritemsonThursday,Sept.8,attheconvention.
Awards Committee:
ChairwomanMaryO’Neillannouncedchangestothisyear’sawardsubmissionsfor convention.Thisyearthecommitteewillacceptsubmissionselectronically.Formsare onlineandthedeadlineforsubmissionisJuly22.Allawardswillbepresentedatthe Saturdaynightbanquetduringconvention.PleasesubmitallcompletedformstoAmber Ernstataernst@seanc.org.
Bylaws Advisory Committee:
ChairmanCliffBrownpresentedanupdateonpotentialbylawschangesthatdistrictsare considering.Twobylawsamendmentsthatthecommitteeisworkingtowardinvolvetwoyearofficertermsandabiennialconventionstructurebeginningin2016 Abiennial structuremeansthattheconventionwouldbeheldeveryotheryearinsteadofannually.
TherationaleistoalignofficertermsandtheSEANCconventionmorecloselywiththe stateelectioncycle SEANCmustalsochangeitsbylawstoelectmemberstotheSEIU conventiontoconcurwithfederallaw.Thebylawsamendmentwouldspecifyhowthe electionswouldoccur.Forquestionsortosubmitdistrictbylawschanges,pleaseemail Brownatseanc2@nc.rr.com.
EMPAC:
ChairwomanAmakaFlynnreportedonEMPAC’sgoaltoincreasedistrictparticipationand requesteddistrictleaderstosolicitmemberstojoinand/orincreasetheirPAC participationduringupcomingannualmeetings.FlynnalsoannouncedthatEMPACison targettohave$787,000foruseinthe2012elections.
Insurance Board of Trustees:
ChairwomanShanticiaHawkinsandDirectorofInsuranceBrendaHookerbroughtforward arecommendationfromSEANC’sInsuranceBoardofTrusteesforanewpetinsurance productcalledtheHealthyPawsPetHealthPlan.Ratesvarybyanimal–$25permonthfor adogand$15permonthforacat.Theplancoverstreatmentofallinjuries,accidentsand illnesseswithlifetimebenefitsof$25,000perpet.Pre-existingconditionsarenotcovered. TheBOGvotedtoaccepttheproposal,andenrollmentdetailswillbeforthcoming.
Membership Committee:
ThecommitteeencouragedconventiondelegatestoparticipateintheirFantasticFive challengeandrecruitfivemembersbeforeJuly25.Memberswhosuccessfullyrecruitfive newpeoplewillgetat-shirtand$10
Minority
Council:
ChairmanNileshSurtihasfinalizedananonymoussurveytogatherdataregarding minorityissuesintheworkplacefromSEANCmembers Itwillbedistributedsoontoall members.
Member Discount:
ChairwomanJanetBunchreportedthat14newbusinesseshavebeensignedupsince February2011foratotalof161newdiscountsthisyear.
Planning Committee:
ChairmanTonySmithannouncedthecommitteewillmeetonJune8toplannextyear’s budget
Policy Platform Committee:
ChairwomanDebbyButlerreportedthatthecommitteewillmeetonJuly21.
Retiree Council:
ChairmanBobHopperremindedmembersthatSHPenrollmentisongoingandthatall memberswillbemovedtotheBasic70/30planeffectiveJuly1,unlesstheyfilloutan enrollmentformfortheStandard80/20plan.
SEANChealthcarelobbyistChuckStoneclarifiedretireeenrollmentprocedures.Theonly peoplewhodonothavetotakeactionarethoseretireesforwhomMedicareistheir primaryinsurance.
PlanmembersforwhomMedicareistheirprimaryinsurancemustsignupiftheywishto addordropdependents.Ifthisisthecase,youmusttakeactionandfillouttheforms.
Allnon-MedicareretireeswillbemovedtotheBasic70/30planunlesstheycompletean applicationandattestationformfortheStandard80/20planthatstipulatesplanmembers meetthetobaccoandBMIrequirements.
PlanmemberswhodonotmeetthetobaccoorBMIrequirementscanstillenrollinthe Standard80/20planiftheyenrollinnutritionalcounselingand/oratobaccocessation program.
Scholarship Foundation Board:
ChairmanGeorgeThiessenreportedthescholarshipboardwillmeetfromMay24-26to judgescholarshipentries.Scholarshipraffleticketsarenowonsalefor$1tobenefitthe foundation.Thisyearthefoundationwillaward$10,000inprizesatconvention–grand prizeis$6,000,firstprizeis$3,000andsecondprizeis$1,000.
Youth Council: Thecommitteeissellingraffleticketsfor$1tobenefitascholarship.Prizes willbeawardedatconventionandincludethreetripstoMyrtleBeach,Carowindsand KingsDominion.
Votes:
PASSED - AproposalbytheInsuranceBoardofTrusteestoofferpetinsurance.
The next BOG meeting will be July 22-23 in Raleigh.