July Spotlight 2018

The Board of Governors met on July 20-21, 2018, at SEANC Headquarters in Raleigh to discuss business important to state employees and retirees. These are the highlights from the meeting.

Highlights Operating budget for 2018-19 passed At the recommendation of the Planning Committee and Executive Committee, the Board of Governors passed an operating budget for SEANC for the 2018-19 fiscal year. The board also passed an updated Five-year Plan for the organization.

The 4th Branch SEANC Past President Chuck Stone visited the board to discuss the functions and goals of The 4th Branch, a group of associations of which SEANC is a founding member. The 4th Branch aims to extend the Bailey decision to all state retirees.

Stone asked that SEANC share information with the group in order to better promote its activities. The board voted to grant his request.

Heart Walk fundraiser Member Services Director Brenda Hooker announced that the SEANC staff will participate in the Triangle Heart Walk on Sept. 23. As part of fundraising efforts, the staff will hold a photo shoot at convention this year. All proceeds raised will go to the American Heart Association. The goal is to raise $5,000.

Convention Update Meetings and Convention Planner Tiffany Woodard announced that President Stanley Drewery has selected “Integrity” for this year’s SEANC Convention theme.

The community service project will benefit the SEANC Fallen Member/Disaster Relief Fund.

The deadline for district registration rooming lists is Friday, July 27. Changes can be made until Aug. 30 by contacting Woodard. Saturday banquet tickets are on sale through Aug. 15.

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Reports Executive Director’s Report Executive Director Robert Broome opened by commending State Treasurer Dale Folwell for keeping his promise to not raise State Health Plan premiums in 2019.

Folwell committed last year to holding premiums at their current rate for four years.

Broome said SEANC will soon install a new keypad system for entry into the building, as well as a new digital phone system.

More than 2,100 members participated in a recent survey on payment options offered by SEANC. Among the findings, younger members seem more inclined to pay their dues with credit cards. SEANC will be exploring ways to accept credit card payments efficiently in the near future.

Broome closed by congratulating the Government Relations team on an incredible short session, where they accomplished many goals inside and outside of the state budget negotiations. He also commended the Member Relations staff and members for having the largest recruiting month in five years in June, pointing out those victories at the legislature led directly to that growth.

President’s Report President Stanley Drewery talk about security at convention in his report.

Several incidences last year have led him to create a security team for this year’s event. He is currently considering several other measures, including wristbands to be worn by delegates at all times so we can identify outsiders at hospitality rooms.

Treasurer’s Report General Treasurer Kirk Montgomery reported that SEANC’s finances are on target. Finance Director Gwendolyn Kea reviewed a new format for financial statements. The board voted to accept the new format.

Audit Chair Keith Renner reported that the committee met on June 7 with Jay Sharpe from the auditing firm Rives and Associates to go over the recent audit of SEANC finances. The committee also met with new Finance Director Gwendolyn Kea, and approved an audit of District 65. The committee continues to accept résumés through Aug. 1.

Awards Chair Janice Bass asked members/districts to submit all awards nominations electronically by July 21. Nominations will be scored when the committee meets again on Aug. 2.

Bylaws Committee Chair Jim Pressley reported that the committee met on Wednesday, July 18, to consider bylaws amendments submitted by districts. The committee determines whether the amendment is fit to pass on to convention. Pressley asked the chairs to

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remind their Bylaws Committee members that they will meet at convention. Details will follow.

The committee also recommended that SEANC continue to use an outside vendor to set up voting for the convention. The board approved the motion.

Benevolence Committee Chair Deborah Fleming announced that the names of deceased members have been sent out to each district chair. Please submit pictures for the Remembrance Presentation to https://seanc2008.wufoo.com/forms/qvjroux1onfmti/

Connections Committee Chair Linda Rouse Sutton reported that the committee had received a $5,000 donation from District 61 in memory of Tom Bradshaw. The committee motioned that SEANC set up a 501(c)3 organization to administer the Connections Committee fund, which passed.

Emerging Leaders Chair Sonya Akbar reported that the council is working on new delegate training for convention, as well as lunch and a scavenger hunt.

EMPAC Chair Tony Smith reminded district chairs that they sit on area committees and should get involved in the endorsements process. EMPAC added 38 new members this month, but continue to look for ways to increase enrollment. To that end, from now until convention, anyone who increases their donation will be into a drawing for a prize. Smith also asked for nominations for the Gloria Upperman award, which will be given at convention.

Insurance Board of Trustees Chair Martha Fowler reported that at least one member of the board visited as many district annual meetings as possible this year to explain insurance products.

The current enrollment period for our new Boston Mutual products – Whole Life Insurance, Group Accident Coverage, and Specified Disease with Cancer – ends July 31. Enrollment periods will be held again Sept. 3-14, Dec. 3-14, and March 4-15, 2019.

The board met on July 11, and discussed marketing with Executive Director Rob Broome and retiree concerns with Retiree Council Chairman Benny Brigman.

Member Discount Chair Dennis Hartley announced that Tim Southard of District 4 won a $200 Visa gift card in the latest Member Discount contest. Hartley also encouraged members to download the PerksConnect app on their phones to use as a recruiting tool.

Membership Committee Chair Cliff Johnson reported that SEANC recruited 494 new members in June, which is the most for one month in five years! District 20 Chair Jackie Chatman won

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$100 in the “5 Days, 5 New Members” drawing. Additionally, all new members who join before Sept. 30 will be entered into a drawing for a DeWalt Circular Saw. Policy Platform Chair Betsy Lee Hodges reported that the committee met Tuesday, July 17, to review objectives that will be voted on at convention.

Retiree Council Chair Benny Brigman reported that there are still vacancies for one position in each region for the council. As of Friday, SEANC had 19,157 retirees. That number continues to dwindle, he said, and the council is looking at ways to better recruit newly retired members. Brigman discussed new insurance options with the IBT recently, and discussed retiree scholarships with the Scholarship Foundation. The Communications staff has offered the Retiree Council a page in each Reporter issue dedicated to retiree issues as well. The council will meet again on Sept. 7 at convention

Scholarship Foundation Chair Mike Bell announced that the Bowl-a-Thon, held later on Saturday, had 11 lane sponsors and 35 silent auction items! The Foundation awarded 49 scholarships this year, totaling $40,500 statewide. Districts 5 and 10 each had three statewide winners.

Select Committee on Prison Reform Chair Deborah Harney reported that she and Executive Director Rob Broome traveled to Washington, D.C., recently to meet with the Congressional Black Caucus and other representatives on needed prison reforms nationwide. A planned meeting at the White House was cancelled. The committee met earlier in July to continue its work and to review a survey from the University of Colorado that will be sent to members who work in corrections.

Training Chair Steve Lawson reported that District Chairperson/Treasurer Training is scheduled for Aug. 9-10 at Camp Caraway. Only 40 percent of the districts have signed up. The deadline has been extended to July 24. The committee is also working on creating a webinar on financial statements and breakouts for convention.

Motions Passed: A motion to approve the BOG Minutes of May 18 – 19, 2018.

Passed: A motion to allow Chairs to carry back the Financial Report to their Districts in order to share information on current SEANC revenues and expenditures.

Passed: A motion to accept the new Financial Statement Format as presented by Director of Finance Gwen Kea.

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Passed: A motion to allow the 4th Branch to have access to active membership list of SEANC. Passed: The Amended Plan for 2018-2019 of the Five-Year Plan was approved.

Passed: The 2018-2019 amended budget was approved.

Passed: A motion to move the Unlawful Workplace Harassment Policy into the Operations Manual.

Passed: A motion to keep using the same firm of Audience Response Specialists for keypad voting at convention this year.

Passed: A motion to form a new CyberSecurity Investigation Committee.

Passed: A motion to put Connection funds into a separate account and designate as a 501 (c). • •

Announcements Chenell Rose announced her candidacy for Piedmont Regional Representative.

Jeremy Register announced his candidacy for South Central Regional Representative.

Next meeting: Sept. 5 at convention

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