TheBoardofGovernorsmetonMarch13-14todiscussbusinessimportanttostate employeesandretirees.
New Executive Director
OnMarch14,theBoardofGovernorsofferedandMitchLeonardacceptedand signedathree-yearemploymentcontractastheSEANC’sExecutiveDirector. LeonardhasservedasInterimExecutiveDirectorsinceFeb.9.Hesignedthe contractintheconferenceroomthatbearshisnameonthe38th anniversaryofhis workwithstateemployees.Hethankedthememberswhoputtheirfaithandtrust inhimandpromisedtohelp“rightthisship.”
Treasurer’s Report
ChairwomanGloriaEvansreportedonSEANC’sfinances.Currentlyreceiptsareat 38%anddisbursementsareat35%.EvansurgedallBOGmemberstoparticipatein theSEANCScholarshipBowl-a-ThononSaturday,March14,toassistwiththe SEANCScholarshipFoundation’srevenues.
Board Training
JeanneAllenconductedaninteractivenonprofitboardgovernanceandroles trainingwiththeBOG.Allenexplainedthe10mostimportantrolesboardsplay.BOG membersbrokeoutintosmallgroupsanddiscussedeachroleanditsrelevanceto SEANC.Youcanfindtheresponsestothebelowquestionshere.
1. Determinethemission&purpose
2. SelecttheCEO
3. SupporttheCEOandreviewperformance
4. Ensureeffectiveorganizationalplanning
5. Monitor/strengthenprograms&services
6. Ensureadequatefinancialresources
7. Protestassets&providefinancialoversight
8. Buildacompetentboard
9. Ensurelegalðicalintegrity
10.Enhancetheorganization’spublicstanding
President’s Report
PresidentWayneFishrequestedthateachBOGmembernotifyAliciaMilleroftheir district’sannualmeetingbyApril6andurgedallBOGmemberstoattendtheSEANC ScholarshipBowl-a-ThononSaturday,March14.
Membership Report
ChairmanBillSpadereportedthatthecommitteeishostingthreedifferent statewiderecruitmentdays:April23,June16andAug.12.Anyonewhorecruitsand thepeoplerecruitedonthesedayswillbeenteredintoadrawingforafive-day, four-nightcruiseleavingfromCharleston,SC.Thecommitteealsoisincreasing memberrecruitmentincentivesinthemonthsofMay-July2015from$15to$25. Specialrecognitionwillbegivingatconventiontothedistrictthatrecruitsthemost newmembers.
Executive Director’s Report
SEANCExecutiveDirectorMitchLeonardthankedthemembershipforputtingtheir faithinhimasexecutivedirectorandmadeseveralupdates.
Membership Recruitment
SinceFeb.9,theassociationhashad280membershipcancellations,buthas recruitedevenmorenewmembersthanhavecancelledinthesameperiod–304.
SEANC Central Office
RenovationscontinueintheSEANCCentralOfficetoincludetheSEANCstore, conferenceroomsandservery.Theofficehassufferedtwofloodsinrecentweeks.It isestimatedthattheseitemswilltaketwomonthsormoretocomplete.
General Assembly
LeonardhasbeenmeetingwithleadershipintheGeneralAssemblyonacross-theboardpayraisesandcost-of-livingincreasesforallstateemployeesandretirees, andhas interviewedwithCapitalTonight,theAPandWFMY2onthistopic.
Thegovernor’sbudgetproposaldoesnotfundacross-the-boardraisesorCOLAs. Therealsoisapossibilitythatactiveemployeescouldendupwithapremiumonthe 70/30PPOifwellnessincentivesarenotcompleted.
LeonardmetwithSen.RalphHise(R-Mitchell)regardinghisduesdeductionbill, whichwouldeliminateallassociations’,includingSEANC’s,duesdeductions.SEANC isworkingwiththeStateEmployees’CreditUniontobeginusingbankdraftin additiontoduesdeduction.
ThegastaxbillhaspassedboththeHouseandSenateindifferentformsmeaning thatajointHouse-Senateconferencecommitteewillmeettodetermineif500DOT jobswillbeeliminated.TheSenateversionincludedthejobcutswhileSpeakerPro
TemporePaul“Skip”Stam(R-Wake)hadthejobsrestoredduringHousedebatein theFinanceCommittee.SEANCstaffisworkingtokeepthe500jobsfrombeingcut.
Proposedlegislation,SB6,wouldhaveretireeswhocometoworkfull-timeinthe activeStateHealthPlanratherthanretireecoverage.Thestatetreasurerwouldfoot thebillforthatcoverageusingretirementsystemhealthbenefits.Thisbillwouldbe ahugerelieftoretireeswhoseektocomebacktoworkwithouthavingtheirhealth benefitssuffer.
Personnel Changes
Member Action –KaceeGorehaslefttheMemberActionDepartmentasOperations ManagerandReshaFortsonwilltransitionfromherMemberActionCoordinator (MAC)positiontoOperationsManager.FlintBensonismovingfromMemberAction toGovernmentRelations,creatingtwovacantMACpositions.
Government Relations –SuzanneBeasleyisnowdesignatedasSEANC’sSenior Lobbyist,DavidCollinshasbeenhiredasanewlobbyistandFlintBensonisalso transitioningtothedepartmentasalobbyist.Thesenewpositionswereavailable upontheretirementoflobbyistsMitchLeonardandChuckStoneinDecember.
Finance Procedures
Leonardisreviewingoperationsandpersonnelmanualstoensurecomplianceand accountingforcreditcarduse.Therewillbeareviewofcreditcardstodetermine whorequirescreditcardsandwhodoesnot.Inthemeantime,directorswillreview creditcardsofemployeestoensurethatallreceiptsmatchchargesandallcharges thatcanreadilybepaidbycheckarebeingdonesoinsteadofusingcreditcards. SEANCwillalsobidoutthecontractforauditservicesnextyear.
Chief of Staff/General Counsel/Ethics Liaison Report
Personnel Policy Manual Changes –TomHarrisbroughtforwardfromtheExecutive CommitteefourPersonnelPolicyManualchangesthatrequiredadviceandconsent fromtheBoardofGovernors.Thechangesprovidethesameworkplaceprotections tothechiefofstaffanddirectorsaffordedtootherstaffmembersandmakeitclear thattherulessetforthinPersonnelPolicyManualwillbefollowed.Theassociation hadbeenallowedtoaltertheseproceduresascircumstanceswarrant.
Theproposedchangesincludedthefollowing. Please note that the italicized blue language was the language proposed for deletion:
1. Thismanualsetsforththepolicies,regulationsandproceduresapplicableto theemployeesoftheorganization.Thepoliciesareconsistentwiththose regulationsforStateemployeestotheextentlegalandpractical.Shoulda situationoccurinwhichapolicyisnotwritten,theexecutivedirectormay substituteaStatepolicyuntilanewSEANCpolicyisadoptedsolongassuch asubstitutionisconsistentwithapplicablelaw.
The policies and procedures set forth in this manual are not to be relied upon by the employees as contractual statements. Except for any employee, such as the executive director, who has a unique, written contract with the Association, employees of the Association have no contracts of employment, and their jobs can be ended by themselves or the Association at any time. Moreover, the Association reserves the right to alter the application of these policies and procedures as specific circumstances warrant.
2. (New) TheExecutiveCommittee,subjecttotheadviceandconsentofthe BoardofGovernors,isresponsibleformaintainingthismanual,reviewingit atleastonceayear,andmakingthenecessaryrevisionstoallexistingcopies. Theexecutivedirectorisresponsibleforenforcingthesepolicies,making copiesavailabletoeachemployee,communicatinganychangesto associationemployeesandusingthismanualinthedailyadministrationof SEANCbusiness.
Priortomakinganychanges,theexecutivedirectorwillgettheconsentof theExecutiveCommittee.Anyquestionsnotcoveredinthismanualshould bereferredtotheExecutiveCommitteeforresolution.
3. IX. DISCIPLINARYACTION,SUSPENSIONANDDISMISSAL
EmployeeswhohaveearnedpermanentstatuswiththeAssociation, with the exception of the chief of staff and directors,shallbedisciplinedinaccordance withtheproceduressetforthinthispolicy. However, the Association may alter the application of these procedures as specific circumstances warrant. Probationaryemployeesdonothaveaccesstotheseproceduresandmaybe terminatedwiththepropertwo-weeknotice.However,goodsupervisory practiceswouldencourageprogressivedisciplinaryactionsbefore terminationofanyemployeeunlesssuchactionsarenotjustifiedbythe circumstancesintheopinionoftheexecutivedirector.
4. X. GRIEVANCEPROCEDURE
Onceanemployeehasgainedpermanentstatus, with the exception of the chief of staff and directors,he/shehasaccesstothisprocedureregarding his/herconditionsofemployment.
Theboardvotedtoadopttheaboveproposedchanges.
Friend of the Court Brief Request
Harrisrequestedtofileafriend-of-the-courtbriefonbehalfofSEANCin Wetheringtonv.N.C.DepartmentofCrimeControlandPublicSafety,acaseinwhich theN.C.SupremeCourtrecentlyagreedtoreviewadecisionoftheN.C.Courtof
AppealsholdingthattheN.C.HighwayPatrollacked“justcause”todismissoneofits officersforviolatingthetruthfulnesscodeoftheNCHP.ItisimportantthatSEANC beheardontheissuesincetheoutcomeofthecasehasapotentialeffectonmanyof itsmembersandotherstateemployeesaswell.Therequestwasapprovedbythe ExecutiveCommitteeandtheBoardofGovernors.
SEANC Core Values
SEANCCoreValues:DuringthelastBOG,memberswereaskedwhatSEANC’score valuesshouldbeandHarrisreportedtheanswerscontainingthemostvoteswere: integrity(17),honesty(11),transparency(11),loyalty(11)andaccountability(8).
Theboardvotedtoincorporatetheabovetermsgatheringthemostvotesinto SEANC’sEthicspolicy.
Awards
ChairwomanPamHaileyreportedthatcommitteewillbemeetingonMarch17to reviewtheformsforjudgingthisyear’sawardnominees.
EMPAC
ChairmanTonySmithreportedthatEMPAChelditsfirstmeetingandhostedtwo politicaladvisors,onefromeachparty,whohadthesameadviceforSEANCand suggestedthepresentationbemadeattheannualconvention.Smith’sgoalisto improvegrassrootslobbying.HetoldtheBOG,“We’reinthefightofourlivesright now.”EveryEMPACmeetingisanopenmeetingandSmithwouldlikemore involvementfromallSEANCmembers.ThenextstatewideEMPACmeetingisMay2 from10a.m.to2p.m.Allareasshouldbeinvolved.SmithalsoaskedtheBOGto standbehindtheExecutiveCommitteeandsupportthem.
Expansion & Growth
ChairwomanGloriaUppermanreportedonthecommittee’sgoals:
• Educateourselvesontheissues
• Buildastrongcommitteeoflike-mindedmembers
• Buildanorganizational/recruitmentplanonuniversitycampuses
• Seekmeaningfuloutcomesandastrongpresenceinathleticandcounty/local governmentthroughmulti-dimensionalgrowthanddiversificationstrategies
• Inform/educatelegislatorsontheissues
• Promotebenefitsofmembershipthroughmarketing,socialmedia advertisingandotherawarenessactivities
• DraftaNCBillofRightsforscholarshipathletes
Duringdiscussion,District70ChairmanBennyBrigmansuggestedthatthe committeelookintoprioritizingtemporaryemployeesforSEANCmembership.
Insurance Board of Trustees
ChairwomanDorannaAndersonmadeamotiontorenewtheBostonMutualTermLifeInsurancecontractwiththeratestobethesameforoneyear.Theboard adoptedthemotion.
Member Strength
ChairwomanHiawathaJonesreportedonthecommittee’sgoals:
• EstablishaMemberStrengthChairinevery district– completed
• BringclaritybetweenMembershipandMemberStrength– ongoing
• WorkwithDistrictMemberStrengthChairtodisseminateinformation regardingMemberStrengthanditspurpose– ongoing
• Establishrelationshipwithretireeswithineverydistrict– ongoing
• Developalobbylistfromeachdistrictarea– making progress
• WorkwithMemberStrengthchairwithdevelopingarelationshipwith retirees
• DevelopmembersthroughMemberStrengthtolobby,workwith,andforthe legislator
Retiree Council
ChairmanSpillmanGricereportedthatthecommitteemetonFeb.5.SEANCis requestinga2-percentCOLAandoneclickintheformulafrom1.82%to1.83%in theGeneralAssembly.TheTeachers’andStateEmployees’RetirementSystem recommendeda1-percentCOLA.
• TheRetireeCoordinatortrainingheldonMarch11intheSEANCCentral Officewaswell-attendedwith39outof52districtsrepresented.
• GricealsoreportedthatSEIUagreedtofinanciallysupportthecouncil
o SEIUhasagreedtohelpfundfiveRetireeForumsperregionforatotal of25forums(ContactTiffanyWoodardifinterestedinhostinga forum.)
o SEIUhasagreedtosupportSEANCbyofferingonefull-timeRetiree Coordinatorstaffposition
▪ Thecouncilvotedtomakethatonefull-timepositionintotwoparttimepositionstoassistwithallarrangementsand presentationattheregionalforums.PleasecontactLynnCoteif interested.Thereisnodeadlinetoapplyatthistime.
▪ Thecouncilwillbeginfocusgroupsandtargetedmailingsto retirednon-members(500mailingsperregion)
GriceremindedBOGmembersofamotionfromlastyearregardingpaymentofSEIU retireedues.ThemotionwasthatifretireeswerenotsatisfiedwithSEIU’s retirementprogramsandfundingforSEANC,thatthecouncilwouldrecommend thattheassociationonlypayforoneretireeperdistrictasofJan.1,2015.Thisvote waspostponeduntilthenextscheduledBOG.
ChairmanMikeBellreportedthatthefoundationraised$19,267atthe2014annual conventioninmemoryofDr.YolyndraGreenforamemorialMember-Only Scholarshipthatwillbeawardedannuallytothetopvote-getterintheMember-Only category.Alsoin2014,morethan38,000raffleticketsweresoldbydistricts.The top-sellingdistrictswere70,68,61,59,40,11,8and7.
Scholarship Season announcements:
• Deadlineforapplicationsreceivedatdistrictlevelshouldbepostmarkedno laterthanApril15
• Deadlineforalljudgedscholarships(bothdistrictwinnersandnon-winners) receivedattheCentralOfficeshouldbepostmarkednolaterthanMay1
• Minorchangestoprocedure
o Twodifferentreportingformsarenowrequired:DistrictWinners’ ReportandtheStateCompetitionReport
Youth Council
MemberActionDirectorLynnCotepresentedthechairwoman’sreportfor ChairwomanEricaSimmonswhowasabsent.Thecommitteeisseekingmembers under40whoareinterestedinparticipatingonthecouncilandhaveseveral vacanciesthatneedtobefilled.
New Business
Convention –District5ChairwomanSherryMcCrackenbroughtforwardseveral suggestionsforPresidentWayneFish’sconsiderationasheplansthenext convention.IdeasincludedreturningtoreservedSaturdaynightbanquetseating, utilizingSEANCParliamentariansvs.aprofessionalparliamentarianandexcluding stafffromassistinginSEANCcandidateelections.Fishstatedthathewouldtakethe commentsunderadvisementandthathewouldbeusingaSEANCParliamentarian thisyear.Leonardannouncedthatnostaffwilltakeanypartincandidateelections.
Votes
PASSED –AmotionfromExecutiveCommitteeregardingfourPersonnelPolicy Manualchangesgrantingemploymentrightstodirectorsandthechiefofstafftobe thesameforallSEANCemployees.(Seeaboveforspecificlanguage.)
PASSED –AmotionfromtheExecutiveCommitteedirectingSEANCGeneralCounsel TomHarristofileafriend-of-the-courtbriefonbehalfofSEANCinWetheringtonv. N.C.DepartmentofCrimeControlandPublicSafety.
PASSED –SEANCCoreValues:AmotiontodefineSEANC’scorevaluesshouldbe integrity,honesty,transparency,loyaltyandaccountability.
PASSED –AmotionfromtheInsuranceBoardofTrusteestorenewtheBoston MutualTerm-LifeInsurancecontractforone-yearatcurrentrates.
PASSED –Amotiontopostponethedeadlinevotetopayretireeduesforoneretiree perdistrictuntilthenextscheduledBOG(May15-16).