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 919-833-6436. The Spotlight can be found on the SEANC website, www.seanc.org, under “News/Publications.”
TheBoardofGovernorsmetonJuly20-21todiscussbusinessimportanttostateemployeesand retirees.
2012-2013 SEANC Candidate Announcements
-SandraJohnsonofDistrict44withdrewhernominationforSecondVicePresident -GloriaHighsmithofDistrict65forEasternRegionalRepresentativetotheExecutiveCommittee
Treasurer’s Report
TreasurerMarilynJeanMartinreportedthattheSEANCCentralOfficereceiptsaredoing extremelywell,with77percentinreceiptsand69percentindisbursements.PurchasingPower isextremelypopularwiththemembership,earningtheassociationmorethan$17,000per month.TheassociationisontargettocompleteourmortgageobligationinMarch2013.
2012-2013 SEANC Office Budget
PlanningCommitteeChairmanTonySmithpresenteda$4.3millionbudgetproposaltotheBOG tofundallSEANCoperationsandservicesforthe2012-2013year.Thebudgetprovidesfor membershipservicesandoperationsforthefiscalyearOct.1,2012-Sept.30,2013.TheBOG votedtoamendtheplanningcommittee’srecommendedbudgetandearmark$140,000of reservefundsforthe2016SEIUConvention. Thebudgetwasapprovedwithnoopposition.
President’s Report
PresidentCharlesJohnsonrequestedthatalldistrictsreviewtheirfinancialpositionstoensure thattheyhaveabalancedbudgetfortheremainderofthefiscalyearandhaveallocatedadequate resourcesfortheupcomingconvention. Movingforward,thepresidentrequestedthatdistricts spendasignificantportionoftheirdistrictbudgetonfurtheringSEANC’smission.
Executive Director’s Report
SEANCExecutiveDirectorDanaCopereportedthatforthesecondyearinarowthegovernor vetoedthebudget.SEANCusedthemomentumtooverridethatvetoasanopportunitytolobby
Democratsongainingfiveextradaysofvacationforstateemployees.Sen.RichardStevens(RWake)wasagainstthefivevacationdays.SEANChelpedtosecurethreeoverridevotesinthe House–Reps.DarrenJackson(D-Wake),MarianMcLawhorn(D-Pitt)andMarcusBrandon(DGuilford).Thefinalbudgetcontaineda1.2-percentpayincrease,a1percentcost-of-living adjustmentforretireesandfivevacationdays-representingthefirstraisesince2008.
SpecifictoEMPAC’sendorsementsinthefallelection–CopereiteratedSEANC’snonpartisan philosophyaboutstandingupforelectedleadersandcandidatesthatprotectourissues.This philosophyforEMPAChasservedstateemployeesverywell.
CopewentontohighlightDistricts5,6and7’sexcellentcommunicationstacticsthatgainedthe attentionoftheirlocallegislators,Reps.MitchGillespieandHughBlackwell,bothRepublicans representingMcDowellandBurkecounty.DuringtheweekofJune11,thesedistrictsplacedpaid displayadvertisementsandletterstotheeditorintheirareanewspapersaboutrecentvotes fromtheselegislators.Theadvertisingandlettersreachedover24,000readers(notincluding Internetaudiences)intheAveryTimes-Journal,theMcDowellNewsandtheMorgantonNewsHerald.Thetotalcostwasapproximately$200fortheadvertising.Therewasnocostforthe letterstotheeditor.
CopediscussedSEANC’scurrentparticipationinacampaignfromBlueCrossandBlueShieldof N.C.toputpressureondoctorsandhospitalstostopdouble-chargingforcertainaspectsof radiologyservices–acommonpracticethatdrivesupthecostsofhealthcare.Commissionerof InsuranceWayneGoodwin’sdepartmenthasgivenafavorablerulingpermittingthisdoublechargingpracticetocontinueunlesshealthcareprovidersagreetoendit
SEANCandBlueCrossstronglydisagreewiththisruling. Membersareencouragedtosend letterstoCommissionerGoodwintoreconsiderthisrulingbecauseitiscostingtheStateHealth Plananditsmembersapproximately$6millioneachyear.
Therewassomediscussionoftherecentbylawscommitteewhereaproposedbylaws amendmentforArticleVcameupforconsideration.CopeaskedtheBOGtoclarifywhetherthe operationsmanualprocesswasinapplicablebecauseitconflictedwiththebylaws.TheBOG votedthereisnoconflictbetweenthebylawsandtheoperationsmanual.Thus,thisproposed bylawsamendmentwillnotbeconsideredatconvention,becausethedistrictdidnotcomply withtheoperationsmanualbylawsamendmentprocess.
RevisionstotheoperationsmanualweredistributedandwillbevoteduponduringthenextBOG meetingattheconventioninGreensboro. TheBOGdidapproveonerevisionpermittingthe ExecutiveCommitteetodeterminethevotingmethodatconvention. TheExecutiveCommittee reportedthatithaschosenamethodthatusesnamebadgeswithbarcodestocredentialvoting delegatesandelectronickeypadsforvotingandtallying.
DirectorofLegislativeAffairsArdisWatkinsprovidedabrieflegislativeupdate–pointingoutthe specificfiguresofthisbudget’spayraise,cost-of-livingadjustmentandadditionalpaidleave time,andalsopointedoutthat22,000employeeswerekeptunderprotectionoftheSPA,aState
HealthPlanwhistleblowerprotectionbillpassedandmanyadditionaljobswereprotectedby preventingprivatizationofprisonhealthcareservicesandtheN.C.Zoo.
All in To Win Training
PresidentCharlesJohnsonledatrainingthatfocusedonworkerearningsversusproductivity andhowtheaverageCEOearned1,018timesmorethantheaverageworker.Thisishappening duetoanerosionofunions,detaxation(ofthewealthy),deregulationandincreasedblendingof moneyandpolitics.Thetop1percenthasacleargoaltoweakenopposition,rigthesystemand ownpoliticians.Thiswouldresultinmorewealthfortherich,greaterpowerforcorporations andCEOsandlessworthfortheremaining99percentofAmericans. Thegoalofthetrainingis that550SEANCmembersarepreparedtoengage10othermemberstotrulybeinvolvedin SEANCin2013. AllconventiondelegateswillbetrainedbyMemberLeaderActivistsduring convention.
Bylaws Committee
ChairwomanKimMartinannouncedtheBylawsCommitteewilloverseeelectionsatconvention. Thecommitteewillobservedistribution,votingandcollectionofkeypads. Districtchairpersons willberesponsiblefortheseelectronickeypads,facinga$100fineforanylostordamaged keypads.
EMPAC
ChairmanWayneFishannouncedthatEMPACishostingopenforumsforseveralCouncilofState candidatesincluding: StateAuditor,SuperintendentofPublicInstruction,Insurance CommissionerandsecretariesofState,AgricultureandLaboronJuly27,28andAug.4.There willbeaseparateforumforOfficeofGovernorandTreasureronAug.4 Alleventsareopento SEANCmembers.OnJuly28andAug.25,EMPACwillmeettodecidestatewideandlegislative endorsements. FormoreinformationcontactDirectorofMemberStrengthKevinLeCountat klecount@seanc.org
Insurance Board of Trustees
ChairwomanPamHaileybroughtarecommendationforaone-yearMetLifeDentalrenewal.The standardoptionwillhavenoincrease,butthehighoptionwillincreaseby6.8percent.The increasecanbeattributedtolowparticipationrates.TheBOGvotedtoacceptanewoptionthat provides“highoption”typebenefitsatamuchlowerpremiumiftheyuseanin-networkdentist (knownasaMetLifePreferredDentalProvider).Memberscanstillreceiveservicesfromanonnetworkdentistinthebenefitcoverage,butthesedentistshavenotagreedtothenegotiated fees,soyoumayhaveahigherout-of-pocketcost.Interestedmembersshouldcall(800)2222758andaskfor“MetLifePDP”orvisitwww.metlife.com/dentalformoreinformation.Thenext IBOTmeetingswillbeSept.4at3p.m.andSept.5at8:30a.m.attheKouryConventionCenter. MembersinterestedinrunningfortheIBOTthedeadlinetosubmityourbiographyistonight, July24,toBrendaHookeratbhooker@seanc.org
Member Discount
ChairwomanJanetBunchreportedthat29newbusinesseshavebeenrecruitedsinceMay.There isaJuly31deadlinetorecruitnewbusinessesinordertobeeligibleforaconventionprize.
Membership
ChairmanSpillmanGriceurgedBOGmemberstousethe2012legislativevictoriestorecruitnew members.SouthCentral,EasternandNorthCentralRegionsareinthepositiveheadedto convention. KudostoDistrict24,whohasheld12membershipdrivesthisyear. Thanksto District21forrotatingmeetingsaroundtheirareatogaintomemberinvolvement.
Policy Platform
ChairwomanDebbyButlerdiscussedherconcernthatonlyonedistrictsubmittedthreepolicy platformobjectivesforconsiderationbythecommittee.Butlerurgedalldistrictstobecome involvedinthepolicyplatformprocessnextyear.
Retiree Council
ChairmanBobHopperwaspleasedtoreportthatthestatecontributionfornextyeartothe retirementsystemwas8.33percentinthestatebudget.Thisamountwillhelpensurefull fundingoftheretirementsystemfornextyear.Thecouncilhasfivevacanciesandwillelectfive memberstoserveonthecouncil.
Scholarship Foundation
ChairmanGeorgeTheissenremindeddelegatesthattheDonJonesMemorialGolfTournament willbeheldonAug.10atKeithHillsGolfClubinBuiesCreek.Holesponsorshipsare$100.The statewidecommitteereviewed94scholarshipsthisyearandprovided42scholarshipstotaling $35,000. Anymemberwhowishestorunforaboardseatcontactshouldcontactthechairmanat gthiessen@nc.rr.comwithabiographybyAug.1oryoucanrunfromtheconventionfloor. ScholarshiptrainingwillbeheldattheannualconventioninGreensboroonSept6from9-11 a.m.
Youth Council
ChairwomanInethaCouncilannouncedtheYouthCouncilishostinganeventatLindaColeman’s lieutenantgovernorcampaignheadquartersstartingat9a.m.onAug.11locatedinCameron VillageonOberlinRd.Thecouncilisrecordingayouthrecruitmentpromotionalvideoduringthe firstweekofAugust.TheYouthCouncilisalsoorganizingafamilydayinmid-September. More detailsthiseventtofollow.
FMAEP Update
MemberStrengthDirectorKevinLeCountupdatedtheBOGontheFacilitatedManagementand EmployeeProcess(formerly“MeetandConfer”).Therehasbeenasuccessfulmeetingwiththe DENRSecretaryandameetingwiththeDMVheadquartersisontapnext.
Convention Report
Meeting&ConventionPlannerAliciaMillerbriefedtheBOGonchangestothe29th Annual SEANCconventionthatwillbeheldSept.6-8. Newthisyearallvoting,withtheexceptionof policyplatformobjectives,willbeconductedthroughtheuseofelectronichandheldkeypads. Theconventionwillalsofeaturenewbarcodeentrybadgesthatwillreplacethepaperticketsto eveningevents.EveningeventsincludeaThursdaynightSEANCBlueFitBanquet($20),the EMPACDessertReceptionwillbeat7:30p.m.onthatFridayoftheconventionandtheSEANC’s GotTalentShowwillbeheldat8:30p.m.(EMPACeventsarefreetothosedelegateswhopayroll
deductaminimumof$24peryearorpay$25atthedoor).TheSEANCStarsbanquet($45per person)willbeSaturdayeveningat7p.m. Formoreinformationonconventionhappeningsand deadlines,seebelow
Convention Community Service Project – Toys for Tots
Thisyear,conventiondelegateswillbeaskedtobringunwrappedtoysforchildrenuptoage12 tobedistributedstatewide.ToysforTotsprefersnottoacceptrealisticlookingweaponsand giftswithfood TheMarinesalsoprefernostuffedanimalsorbooksastheyhaveanabundance oftheseleftoverfromlastyear. Pleasehavedelegatesbringthetoys.
Convention Dates and Deadlines
July27 DistrictDelegateRegistration/RoomingandGuestList
July31 Awardssubmissiondeadline(extended)
July31 MemberDiscountawarddeadline
Aug.11 ThursdayandSaturdaybanquetsales
Aug.11 Memorialsubmissionsdeadline
Aug.22 Finalmembershipnumbersavailable DelegateAdd/Changeformgoesonline
Aug.27 DelegateAdd/Changeformdue
Sept.5 One-day/lastchanceticketsalesforThursdayandSaturdaybanquet
Sept.5 ExecutiveCommitteeandBoardofGovernorsmeetings
Sept.6-8 29th AnnualSEANCConvention,Greensboro
Sept.8 2012-2013BoardofGovernorsmeeting
Questions? ContactAliciaMiller(amiller@seanc.org)
Upcoming Dates
July27,28,Aug.4 EMPACCouncilofStateCandidateForums
Aug.4 GovernorandstateTreasurerCandidateForums
Aug.8,9 Incomingdistrictchairpersons(only)training
Questions? ContactKevinLeCount(klecount@seanc.org)
Votes
PASSED- AmotiontorenewMetLifeDentalInsuranceforoneyearatnoincreaseinpremiumfor thestandardoption,anda6.8percentincreaseforthehighoptionandanewoptionoffering highpremium-likebenefitsatamuchlowerpremiumusinganin-networkdentist.
PASSED- Amotiontotransferupto$150perdistrict(52districtsx$150=$7,800maximum) fromtheSEANCbudgetreserveaccountfordistrictofficertraining.
PASSED- The$4.3millionSEANCbudgetfor2012-2013
PASSED- Amotioninterpretingkeypadstoserveasballotsforconventionvoting.
PASSED-Amotionclarifyingthatthebylawsandoperationsmanualrequirementsthatdistricts mustturnintheiramendmentsnolaterthanJuly20andrespectively,withinfivedaysafterthe districtannualmeeting,arenotinconflict.