June 2013 Spotlight

TheBoardofGovernorsmetonMay31-June1,todiscussbusinessimportantto stateemployeesandretirees.

Officer Announcements

The2012-2013SEANCOfficersannouncedtheirintentiontorunforre-electionin 2013-2014atthe30th AnnualSEANCConventioninSeptember:

 SidneyM.SandyofDistrict11forPresident

 ArtAnthonyofDistrict39forFirstVicePresident

 StanleyGalesofDistrict26forSecondVicePresident

 Betty“BJ”JonesofDistrict42forTreasurer

Treasurer’s Report

TreasurerBettyJonesreportedthatSEANC’sfinancesaredoingwellwithtotal annualbudgetreceiptsat62percentand52percentdisbursements.

President’s Report

PresidentSidneyM.SandyencouragedtheboardtorecruitnewSEANCbloodwith anemphasisonyoungermembers. HeencouragedBOGmemberstogivegreater responsibilitiestoyoungermembersoftheirdistricts.

Sandythenencourageddistrictstoconsiderchangingrequirementsforregional representativestoallowfornon-BOGmemberstoserveinthatrole.Healso recommendedchangingtermsforofficerstotwoyearsratherthanone.

SandyrecognizedSEANC’sstaff,addingthatthey“doatremendousjob,butthey can’tdoitall.Weneedtopickuptheballandrunwithitourselves. ”Hestressedthe importanceofBOGmemberstospeakasonevoiceonissuesimportanttostate employees.

Executive Director’s Report

ExecutiveDirectorDanaCopebeganwithanupdateonthestatebudgetdebatenow “morethanhalfwaythrough”inRaleigh. HehighlightedGov.PatMcCrory’sfirst budgetproposal,whichwas“revenueneutral”andcontaineda1-percentpayraise forstateemployeesanda1-percentcost-of-livingadjustmentforretirees.

TheN.C.Senaterecentlypasseditsownbudgetbasedontheirtaxreformpackage thatgenerates$750millionlessinfunding,whichcreatesgreatproblemsforpublic servicesandthepeoplewhoprovidethem.Inordertocutthismoneyfrom operatingexpenses,theSenatechosetocut1,600jobsandproposednopay raises/retireecost-of-livingadjustments CopesaidheishopefulthattheN.C. House’sbudget,whichwillbereleasedsoon,tobe“somewhereinbetween”thefirst twobudgetproposals.

Non-SEANCmembershavebeencontactingtheofficerequestingSEANCfightto savetheirjobsduringbudgetnegotiations.DuetolimitedresourcesandBOG direction,SEANCiscommittedtosavingSEANCmembers’jobsfirstinthebudget. Thisisaprimereasonforstateemployeestojointheassociation.

Severaltaxreformproposalswerereleasedlastweek.BoththeSenateandthe Housetaxreformpackagesarebasedonaregressivemodel.Theyincludea corporatetaxcutandlowerpersonalincometaxes,butaddsalestaxestomany servicesthataren’tcurrentlytaxed.Thataffectspeopledifferently.Thelessmoney youmake,theharderitisonyoutopayfortaxesonthoseservices.Bothwill negativelyimpactstategovernmentandthedeliveryofpublicservices

Gov.PatMcCrorycontinueshisquesttorewritetheStatePersonnelActandSEANC stronglyopposesthebillinitscurrentform.Thegovernor’sproposalessentially makesallstateemployeespoliticalappointeessubjecttoterminationatwill,andhe hasmadeithispersonalfight.Inabreakfromtradition,McCrorypersonallylobbied theGeneralAssemblyforthebill.SEANCcontinuestofighttoremovetheharmful aspectsoftherewritebillthroughnegotiation,andplanstoworkwiththeSenateso thatstateemployeesdon’tbecomepoliticalpawns.FormoreontheSPA,seethe May31LegislativeUpdateortheJuneReporter.

StateTreasureJanetCowellcontinuestoattempttofurtherherownpolitical ambitionsattheexpenseofstateemployees’healthcareandretirement.Sheis rumoredtobeplanningarunforgovernorin2016,andisinourview,usingthe powerofherofficetodothat,alongwiththe$80billionshecontrolsthroughthe stateretirementsystem.

Herlatestefforttoappeasehercampaigncontributorscomesattheexpenseof autisticchildrenofstateemployees.ShehasclearlydirectedherStateHealthPlan stafftoderailcoverageforthesekids,whichwouldcosttheStateHealthPlanjust penniespermember.Why?Because,insuranceinsiderstellSEANC,itopensthe doorforcoveragetomanyotherdevelopmentalissues,whichwouldlikelyhurt

insurancecompanies’bottomline.Ifthat’strue,it’simmoral,it’snotrightandwe arehighlightingit,”saidCope.

AfewmembersonFacebookhaveaskedaboutalobbydayattheGeneralAssembly. CopesaidthatthisyearSEANCmembershaveinstitutedapracticeofvisiting legislatorspersonallyinsmallgroups.“We’reabletobethereeverydaynow,”Cope said.“Itiswaymoreeffective.”

Executive Committee Recruitment Event

SecondVicePresidentStanleyGalesreportedonarecruitingtripattheCIAAMen’s BasketballTournamentinCharlotte.Heandseveralofficers,districtsandstaff membersparticipatedintherecruitingeffort,whichyielded50newmembers.

Ethics Committee

ChairmanDuaneSmithproposedandtheBOGpassednewsectionstotheethics codethatbroadenedtheapplicationofthecode,addednewethicalstandardsand morecompletelydefinedtheprocessfordeterminingcodeviolations.Additionally anotherproposalwaspresentedthatdirectedthepresidingofficeratanySEANC businessmeetingtonotspeaktothemeritsofamotionwithoutfirststeppingoutof theroleofpresidingofficerandturningthatroleovertoanotherofficer.

SmithproposedthefollowingpolicyforSEANCDistrictsUseofWebsitesandSocial Media:

 EverySEANCdistrictdesiringtomaintainadistrictwebsiteshallusethe SEANCwebsite/bulletinboard.Allotherexistingdistrictwebsitesshallbe dismantled.Thetermsandconditionsofuseandprivacypolicyoftheofficial websiteshallalsoservethesamefunctionsfordistrictwebsites.

 DistrictsarediscouragedfromhavingTwitteraccounts.

 DistrictFacebookaccountsmustincorporatethefollowingdisclaimer:The viewsexpressedbythisaccountarenotnecessarilytheofficialpositionsof SEANC.

 Eachdistrictchairshallberesponsibleforthecontentsofthedistrict’s officialwebsiteandFacebookaccount.

 Atleastonceperyear,SEANCcommunicationsstaffshallarrangeforor provideadequategrouptrainingtodistrictchairsonhowtoproperly exercisethisresponsibilityandbeavailabletoanswerindividualquestions asneeded.

 Emails-AllSEANCdistricts’emailssentoutshallincludeanoptionto unsubscribetothedistrictemaillist.

TheBOGadoptedthecommittee’sproposal.

Convention Report

SEANCConventionandMeetingPlannerAliciaMillerprovidedabriefingonthe30th AnnualConvention,whichwillbeheldonSept.5-7attheSheratonFourSeasonsin Greensboro.Thethemeforthisyear’sconventionis“BuildingaBetterTomorrow.” RegistrationisopennowontheSEANCwebsite.ThursdayandSaturdaynight dinnersareoptionalandticketsareavailablenowthroughAug.9onthewebsite. ThecommunityserviceprojectwillbetheSECUFamilyHouseatUNCHospitals

2016-2018 Annual Convention RFPs

MillerpresentedtheproposalsfromCharlotte,GreensboroandRaleighforthe 2016-2018conventions.TheBOGvotedtoremaininGreensboroattheSheraton FourSeasonsthrough2018.

Awards Committee

Thecommunicationsstaffannouncedthattheformstosubmitnominationsfor awardsisonline.ThedeadlineforsubmissionsisJuly20.

Benevolence Committee

DorannaAndersonannouncedthattheBenevolenceCommitteehassentout131 cardsthisyeartothefamiliesoffallenmembersaswellasafew“get-well-soon” cards.ShealsotoldthegroupthattheRemembranceformisnowonline,andthe deadlineforsubmissionsisAug.16.

Bylaws Committee

ChairmanJimmyDavisremindeddistrictsthattheyhave15daysafterannual meetingtosubmitbylawschange.Therewillbenoexceptionstothedeadline.Ifa bylawsproposalhasaneffectonanotherbylaw,youmustsubmitchangestoitas well.

EMPAC

ChairmanWayneFishannouncedthatEMPACmetonMarch2anddiscussed fundraisingandchangesduetoredistricting.ThecommitteewillmeetagainonJuly 13tohearfromcommitteemembersonreorganizationproposals Healso announcedthatEMPACwillbeholdingitsannualsweepstakesagainthisyear.He encouragedmemberstospreadthewordaboutSEANC,evenifitjustmeansputting astickeronyourcar.

Insurance Board of Trustees

ChairwomanPamHaileybroughtaproposaltoreducethecostofSEANC’svision insurancewithUnitedHealthcare(Spectera)by5percentJuly1duetoanegotiation bystaffandtheboard.Itwasunanimouslyapproved.

HaileyupdatedtheBOGonseveralinsuranceproducts:

 Vision:Inadditiontotheratereduction,CostcoisnowacceptingSEANC’s visioninsuranceandthosewhohavevisioninsurancecangetareducedrate onhearingaids.

 Pet:SEANC’spetinsurancethroughVPIisnowavailable

 Term Life:BostonMutualhasaddedbereavementcounselingforpolicy holders

 Dental:IBTisstillnegotiatingratesfortheupcomingyearwithMetLife DentalandwillhaveanupdateattheJulymeeting.

Haileyalsoannouncedthatatconvention,LibertyMutualwillgive$5forevery SEANCmemberwhocallsforaquotetoSEANC’scommunityserviceproject.Details willbeforthcoming.

SheconcludedbyremindingmembersofthevacanciesonIBT,whichwillbefilled throughelectionsattheconvention.IBTtakesnonominationsfromtheconvention floor TonominateaSEANCmemberforIBT,districtchairpersonneedtosenda biographyoftheproposedcandidatetoPamHaileyandDirectorofInsurance BrendaHookerbyJuly22.

Member Discount

ChairwomanJanetBunchreportedthat79newbusinesseshavebeenrecruited sinceFeb.2013.DougLedfordofDistrict2recruited66Hardee’slocations.The committeewillonceagainrecognizethetopthreerecruitersatconvention.She remindedmemberstonotifySEANCstafferBethDewifdiscountsonthewebsite needupdatingandsheencouragedmemberstoexploregiftcertificateson PerksCardsite.District66ChairmanMikeKollockstoodtopraisethediscountshe recentlyreceivedtoanElmoshowandCarolinaPanthersgame.

Member Strength

ChairwomanKimMartinreportedthefindingsofasurveythecommitteehad conductedforthelasttwoweeksthroughtheScoop.Thesurveyfoundthatmost peoplejoinbecausewefightforthem,butdonotwishtobeactivebeyondpaying membershipdues.Thesurveyfound:

 92%wouldrecommendSEANCtoothers

 82%aresatisfiedwithmembership

 45%didnotwishtobecontacted

 42%haveneverbeentoaSEANCmeetingorevent.

Othersurveyinformationincluded:

 Awordcloudshowedwordslike“benefits,”“voice,”“fight”and“lobbying” wereusedmostofteninuserinputsection

 Whatwouldittaketogetyouinvolved?“Beinginformedofwhenmeetings were”wasthetopanswer.

 WhatrestrictsyoufromattendingSEANCmeetings?“Distancetomeeting, familyobligations,workconflicts”werethetopanswers.

ThenextcommitteemeetingisonFriday,July12.

Membership

ChairmanSpillmanGricereportedthatmembershiprecruitershavebeenbusy.He gaveashoutouttotheofficerswhoworkedtheCIAAtournamentandadded50new members.Hethenencouragedotherstoholdeventsandgetbusy.“It’snottoolate tohaveasuccessfulrecruitingyear,”hesaid.

ThecutoffdateforrecruitingthisyearisAug.23atcloseofbusiness.Thisisthelast daytocounttowardconventiondelegatetotal.

AttheFeb.BOGmeeting,Griceissuedachallenge–thedistrictwithmostpercent increaseineachregionwouldreceivea$200giftcard.Thewinnerswere:

 West–District6,witha1.41%increase

 SouthCentral–District40witha2.5%increase

 Piedmont–District18witha4.2%increase

 NorthCentral–District45witha6.79%increase

 East–District63witha8.43%increase

HeannouncedanewincentiveprogramlaunchingMondayandlastingthroughAug. 19:Repeatrecruitersget$20foreveryfivenewmembersandfirst-timerecruiters get$15forthreenewmembers.

Gricealsorecognizeddistrictsintheplusfortheyearinmembershiptotals.

 3rd Place–Piedmont

 2nd Place–NorthCentral

 1st Place–East

HeconcludedbysayingthecommitteewiththehelpofSEANCLobbyistsMitch LeonardandChuckStoneandtheRetireeCouncilhaveheld19retirement workshopssofarandhavetwomoreplannedforJune.

Policy Platform

ChairwomanDorisGreerannouncedthatthecommitteehasreceivedonenew objectivefortheupcomingJulymeeting.Sheencouragedmemberstotalkabout PolicyPlatformatannualmeetinggetsomenewinterest.Thecommitteewillmeet againinJuly.

Planning

ThePlanningCommitteemetlastweekandcraftedabudgetthatis$7,400lessthan lastyear.ItwillbemailedouttoBOGmembersinafewweeksandvotedonatthe JulyBOGmeeting

Retiree Council

ChairmanBobHopperthankedallinvolvedfortheretireeworkshopssetupacross thestate.HeaddedthatthecouncilisnowsendingoutanSEIUnewsletteron federalissuesincludingSocialSecurityandMedicare(includedinEpacket).

Scholarship Foundation

ChairmanGeorgeThiessenreportedthattheboardhasawarded41scholarships totaling$33,500thisyear.Therewere97applicationssubmitted.Headdedthatthe boardhadprinted42,000ticketsfortheraffleattheconvention,andat$1eachhe expectsthemalltobesold.

TheDonJonesMemorialGolfTournamentwillbeheldAug.9atKeithHillsGolfClub inBuiesCreek.Therewillbeahole-in-onechallengeandputtingchallengehosted byEventsAmericaaswell.Districtscansponsorholesfor$100each.

HeconcludedbysayingtheboardislookingtoreplaceitsEastRegion representative,whoresignedrecently,andmustappointsomeone.Anyonewith interestshouldcontactThiessen.

Youth Council

ChairwomanFeliciaChiambiroannouncedthatthecouncilcontinuestoparticipate inrecruitmenteventsacrossthestateincludingtheCIAAtourney.Itisnow publishingitsfirstbrochure.

OnApril24,thecouncilheldadayofserviceatSECUFamilyHouse,donating$726 andvolunteeringthere.Memberspressurewashedthegrounds,cookedfoodand didyardwork.

MembersofthecouncilalsoattendedtheMinorityPioneersmeetingandrecruited sevennewmembers.

Immigration Report

HiawathaJones,GloriaUppermanandFlintBensonreportedoneffortstopass nationalcomprehensiveimmigrationreform.

Votes

PASSED-AmotionthatrequiresSEANCdistrictstosubmitallnewlegalcontractsto SEANCGeneralCounselbeforebeingenteredintobythedistricteffective immediately.

PASSED-Amotionprohibitingdistrictsfromenteringintocontractsthatwaivesor createsliabilityforSEANC

PASSED-AnewSEANCpolicyfordistrictsuseofwebsitesandsocialmedia

PASSED- AmotionorderingalldistrictswhohavecurrentcontractswithAramark atWalnutCreektorevokethosecontractsunlesstheycanberenegotiatedto excludealcoholsales.MoneyfromSEANCreserveswillbeusedtopaypenaltiesthat mayarise.