State Employees Association of North Carolina
SEANC’s “issues over party” stance leads to
ELECTION WINS
Dale Folwell, Roy Cooper win re-election in top races for state employees and retirees
SEANC members turned out in huge numbers to vote issues over party in this year’s election, and it translated to wins in the two top races for state employees and retirees.
Though final turnout numbers are not available yet, we feel confident in projecting that more than 90% of registered SEANC members voted in this election – shattering our record for turnout of 83% set in 2018. More than 75% of SEANC registered voters participated in early voting alone.
“We are encouraged that so many SEANC members put issues over party to elect the best candidate for the job. We fought hard to re-elect both Dale Folwell and Roy Cooper, and our success shows that we are a force in state politics.”
SEANC President Jimmy Davis
continue these efforts in his second term.
SEANC sent out a total of 14 mailers to more than 37,000 members and made more than 47,000 calls and 35,000 texts to members supporting EMPAC-endorsed candidates, especially Folwell. We also posted more than 150 graphics and more than 30 videos from members to social media.
EMPAC’s long-held priority of supporting candidates based on issues, not party helped us support politicians who support us without abandoning our own principles. EMPAC endorsed both Gov. Roy Cooper and State Treasurer Dale Folwell for re-election, and they won handily. In all, 81 candidates endorsed by EMPAC won their races, including seven of nine Council of State candidates.
“We are encouraged that so many SEANC members put issues over party to elect the best candidate
for the job,” said SEANC President Jimmy Davis. “We fought hard to re-elect both Dale Folwell and Roy Cooper, and our success shows that we are a force in state politics.”
The parties focused most of their time and money in this state on the Presidential and U.S. Senate races this year, so EMPAC’s support was pivotal for our candidates. We were determined to stay true to our word and back candidates who back us.
In his first term, Folwell fought to lower our health care costs by ending the secret contracts that have allowed millionaire health care executives to charge state employees and retirees up to 900% the Medicare rate for service and he’s gone head to head with Wall Street to bring our money back to North Carolina and out of the hands of out-of-state money managers. We’re confident he will
Our importance in Council of State races is not lost on the political pundits. Three panelists on UNC-TV’s “N.C. Spin” commented on Nov. 6 that our members put several candidates over the top. The same sentiment was echoed by conservative Mitch Kokai on “Front Row with Marc Rotterman” on the North Carolina Channel just after the election.
Thank you to all the hardworking members who donated their time and energy to make this election a success.
State Treasurer
Dale F. Folwell, CPA
Governor Roy Cooper
District 22 Vice Chairwoman Rashia Norman (left) and District 22 Chairwoman Deborah Harney (right) supported EMPAC endorsed candidates like Jim Burgin in Harnett County.
REPORTER THE
ADVERTISING POLICY
SEANC accepts advertising material from companies and persons seeking to communicate with SEANC members. Acceptance of this advertising does not indicate SEANC approval or endorsement of any representation that the message, product or service is as represented by the advertiser. SEANC accepts no responsibility and shall not be liable for any use of or reliance on any such information, product or service. SEANC is a private entity and is under no obligation to carry advertisements of any nature, political or otherwise, that may be viewed as contrary to the interests of the association and its membership.
© Copyright 2020 SEANC. All rights reserved.
State Employees Association of NC, 1621 Midtown Place • Raleigh, NC 27609 919-833-6436 • 800-222-2758 • www.seanc.org
The Reporter, USPS 009-852 (ISSN 1069 2142), is published six times a year in the months of February, April, June, July, September and November for $2.50 per year, per member, by the State Employees Association of North Carolina, Inc., 1621 Midtown Place, Raleigh, NC 27609. Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh and additional offices. POSTMASTER, Send address changes to: THE REPORTER, 1621 Midtown Place, Raleigh, NC 27609.
Jonathan Owens, Editor-In-Chief • Beth Dew, Managing Editor
Competency & transparency
WIN the DAY
By State Treasurer Dale F. Folwell, CPA
At the Department of State Treasurer, we are proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish over the last four years, and we have no plans to take our foot off the gas for the next four years.
Competency and transparency always win the day. People wanted the best treasurer money couldn’t buy. I’m grateful for all the partners that have helped us achieve so much, starting with the State Employees Association of North Carolina. SEANC members understand the importance of protecting and preserving the security and solvency of the pension and health care plans.
Under our watch as keepers of the public purse:
• Pension plan has hit a record high of $110 billion. That is about $20 billion above its value when I came into office in 2017, and we’ve paid another $25 billion in gross benefits in that time.
• We have issued or approved new money for vital state and local projects, construction of highways used daily by those who teach, protect and serve.
• State Health Plan more affordable. find ways to make participation in the State Health Plan more affordable. A few examples include: premiums not rising in three years, preventive services remaining free, eliminating charges for insulin starting in 2021 for the pre-65 age group, and waiving costs for COVID-19 testing and treatment.
• Expanded our Clear Pricing Project who select a primary care physician from that network will enjoy a $0 copay.
The next four years are going to be even more focused on the forgotten woman and the forgotten man of this state. These invisible individuals don’t have enough money to have political influence, and have too little money to get help from time to time. So they spend their entire lives working, paying taxes and praying for a better life.
There’s no Democrat, Independent or Republican money in the Treasurer’s Office. It’s all green. People don’t care about politics. They just want their problems solved, and to keep more of their take-home pay. We will continue to fight and find ways to do just that over the next four years.
SEANC
MEMBERS ARE PROUD TO #VOTEFOLWELLFIRST
Find more election videos on our social media pages
RETIREE FOCUS
By Beth Dew
Leading by example: Laura Overstreet, 53-year member
“Laura Overstreet is devoted to SEANC, especially retirees. She is a hard worker and puts her heart and soul into everything she is involved with...” Retiree Council Chairman Benny Brigman
Earlier this year, the SEANC Retiree Council awarded District 62 Chairwoman Laura Overstreet with the Bob Hopper Retiree Achievement Award for distinguished service on retiree issues.
Laura Overstreet was raised on a farm outside Wallace, N.C. After graduating from Hardbarger Business College, she married and moved to Pennsylvania.
When her husband’s job required them to relocate in 1967 to Wilmington, Overstreet began searching for a new job. She accepted the position of Regional Commander’s Secretary with the Department of Correction, Division of Prisons (DPS).
Overstreet recalls, “I was one of two women in the prison system in Wilmington...There were no female officers, and I was accompanied when I was among the population. However, I never felt threatened because the inmates knew that I had their best interest(s) at heart.”
For the last 28 of her 42 years with DPS, Overstreet worked as Superintendent of the Wilmington Residential Facility for Women. And, upon her retirement in 2010, Overstreet was awarded Order of the Long Leaf Pine for her significant contributions to the state and her community through her exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.
She credits volunteer involvement as a significant part of her success, “because without volunteers I could never have accomplished what was done in my work
at the Wilmington Residential Facility for Women. My goal was to expose the women to a different way of life and hopefully plant a seed of desire to make better decisions which gave them rewards not consequences. The volunteers provided time and guidance which the staff and I were unable to provide due to time constraints.”
Although Overstreet became a SEANC member in 1967, it was not until she retired that she was able to play an active role. She began as District 62 Membership Chair and an EMPAC committee member in 2010.
Overstreet understands the importance of lobbying for the future of SEANC. She has organized trips for members to meet with their elected officials to discuss with them the issues SEANC members face.
Overstreet has been planning and coordinating SEANC retiree forums for many years. “Laura is an awesome cook and puts out an amazing spread. She schedules great speakers. Laura knows our members’ questions and gets those speakers that can answer their questions,” commented Retiree Council Chairman Benny Brigman.
In addition to preparing the delicious meals for forums, Overstreet annually cooks and bakes from scratch for the N.C. Aquarium staff and the New Hanover Correctional staff.
First encouraged to serve by District 62 member Lewis Sasser, Overstreet has been on the Retiree Council since 2014 and a SEANC Insurance Board
of Trustee since 2018. She has received several awards on the district level including the Distinguished Service Award and the Member of the Year Award. In addition, she has served as either the District 62 Chair or Vice Chair for several terms and was awarded state District Chairperson of the Year in 2018.
Overstreet is also very active in her church and community. She feels that the rewards of helping and serving others are indescribable, that people “must do things to feel they have worth. Volunteering provides worth to humanity.”
At her church, Overstreet serves as Assistant Sunday School teacher, Building Fund Committee member and Food Committee member.
She has served as treasurer and fundraiser for her neighborhood association and the Cape Fear Orchid Society.
As a Master Gardener, she volunteers at the Wilmington Arboretum providing information to the community and helping make the gardens beautiful.
Married for 35 years to retired building inspector Hugh Overstreet, her family members include Andrea Darrenkamp Peterson, Rob Peterson, and her four grandchildren.
The award is named for longtime SEANC member, staff member and Retiree Council Chairman Bob Hopper, who passed away in 2017. Hopper was instrumental in starting the Retiree Council, growing it into what it is today and advocating for its inclusion in the Executive Committee. He was a strong SEANC member who understood the value retirees are to SEANC. Bob Hopper Retiree Achievement Award
District Chairperson of the Year in 2018.
Hugh and Laura Overstreet
2016 Retiree Council
Emerging Leaders participate in Leadership North Carolina Program
The Emerging Leaders Council awarded Selina Rodriguez-Guzman of District 22 a scholarship to cover the cost of tuition, meals, travel and lodging* during her participation in the Leadership North Carolina (LNC) program. She will join a class of 55 current and emerging leaders across the state for six sessions, each lasting two-and-a-half days.
During the program, she will learn about the challenges and opportunities facing North Carolinians with a focus on building networks and turning knowledge into action to benefit her community, SEANC and the state.
Each year the Emerging Leaders Council accepts applications for SEANC members to participate in LNC. The scholarship recipient must apply and be accepted into the program. LNC chooses their class members to reflect the diversity of the state’s residents in areas including race and ethnicity, age, gender, sector of employment and geography. Last year’s scholarship recipient, District 13 board member Sherry Washington is grateful for being awarded the scholarship. She considers the program to be extremely valuable because she was able to take the time to focus on the challenges and opportunities throughout North Carolina, while discussing the impacts of racial biase during each session.
The program is beneficial for everyone, she stated, because participants are given the opportunity to reflect and soul search for ways they can personally make positive changes within their families and communities. Each participant can “choose to be a problem solver and lend a hand to a colleague in need,” she added. She encourages each of us to get involved in our communities, run for an office, and spread the message.
Washington is applying what she learned from the program in various aspects of her life, including her role as SEANC District 13 Board Member. She shared that District 13 members were planning to distribute goods to the homeless in their communities.
The Emerging Leaders Council was pleased to establish this scholarship program which allows SEANC members to gain knowledge and resources to help strengthen the association and make it the best it can be for its members.
For more information about the Emerging Leaders Scholarship or Leadership North Carolina, visit seanc.org/leadership-nc-scholarship.
*LNC sessions are typically held around the state, highlighting the social, geographic, and economic diversity of North Carolina. The first portion of the 2020-2021 year will be adapted to a virtual platform due to impacts of COVID-19.
Scholarship Foundation Raffle Winners
The Scholarship Foundation is dedicated to raising, receiving and disbursing funds to further the educational process of SEANC members, their spouses and/or dependent children.
Every year, the Foundation sponsors a cash raffle drawing fundraiser.
Due to the pandemic, the raffle drawing was held via Facebook Live on Sept. 18 in front of the SEANC Office.
GRAND PRIZE ($5,000)
Darnell Walker, District 21
SECOND PRIZE ($3,000)
Angelica Gatherings, District 62
THIRD PRIZE ($2,000)
District 7
The prize will go to District 7 Scholarship Fund.
3 WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FOUNDATION
Payroll Deduction Go to scholarship.seanc.org . State Employees
Combined Campaign
Look for number 1563 — SEANC Scholarship Foundation. Directly to the Foundation
Please make checks payable to the SEANC Scholarship Foundation.
Donations to the SEANC Scholarship Foundation are tax deductible.
Selina Rodriguez-Guzman District 22
Sherry Robinson District 13
2020-2021 SEANC BOARD
President
Jimmy Davis
District 4
Forest City Department of Public Safety (retired)
First Vice
President
Martha Fowler
District 19
Mebane
UNC-Chapel Hill (retired)
Second Vice
President
Kirk Montgomery
District 25
Burlington City of Mebane
Treasurer
Chevella L. Thomas
District 27
Durham
North Carolina Central University (retired)
Immediate
Past President
Stanley W. Drewery
District 67
Grifton Department of Public Safety (retired)
Piedmont Region
Chenell Rose
District 12
Charlotte
Department of Public Safety
North Central Region
Brenda Williams
District 44
Raleigh
State Treasurer’s Office
South Central Region
Jeremy Register
District 23
Whiteville Department of Transportation
Eastern Region
Rita Woods
District 68
Creswell Department of Public Safety (retired)
Western Region
Cliff Johnson
District 2
Waynesville Department of Public Safety (retired)
Retiree Council
Chairman Benny Brigman
District 58
Hookerton Department of Public Safety (retired)
Insurance Board of Trustees Chairwoman Janice Smith
District 3
Fleetwood
Appalachian State University
District 1
Mark Dehart Whittier
District 10
Tonia Warnic Huntersville Department of Public Safety
District 3
Anne Castro Bakersville Mayland Community College (retired)
District 4
Caroline Dedmon Shelby Department of Transportation (retired)
District 5
Tony Smith Morganton Department of Public Safety (retired)
District 6
Sonya Akbar Morganton Department of Health & Human Services (retired)
District 11
Jamie Bennett Morven Department of Transportation
District 13
Mary Clark Charlotte
Central Piedmont Community College
District 16
Willie Bailey Pfafftown
Winston-Salem State University (retired)
District 17
Kemrey LaMarr McLeansville Department of Transportation
Secretary Betty Gautier District 38
Benson
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (retired)
Parliamentarian
Joyce B. Shaw District 69
Elizabeth City Elizabeth City State University
Parliamentarian
Kim Martin
District 10
Concord Department of Public Safety
District 7
Henry Belada Morganton Department of Health & Human Services (retired)
District 8
Michael Jenkins Hiddenite Department of Public Safety
District 9
Jamie Robinson Taylorsville Department of Transportation (retired)
District 18
Lisa Martin-Brower
Rockingham Department of Public Safety
District 19
Anthony Weaver Rougemont Department of Public Safety (retired)
District 20
Jacque Chatman Red Springs Department of Public Safety
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
MEMBERS IN ACTION
SEANC Western Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 provided each SEANC member that is a North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) employee in the west with a gift card to show appreciation for their memberships and support during the furlough that they experienced in June. District 8 Chair Michael Jenkins coordinated with Food Lion and District 3 Secretary/Insurance Board of Trustees Chair Janice Smith coordinated with Ingles to provide a discount on the gift cards so that these districts could purchase them. We thank Food Lion and Ingles for their support of our DOT SEANC members and their partnership in this project.
District 16 members provided goodie bags to employees in September at the three prisons in the district. The packets included a SEANC District 16 mask, pens, candy, snacks, water and a thank you note from the district. They also gave them "Heroes Work Here" yard signs.
District 44 members delivered treat bags in August to hard working state employees at Mail Service Center. District 44 member James Langston is with Mail Service Center employees in the photo above.
District 21 members and Vocation Enterprise helpers prepared and distributed 1,600 goodie bags to workers at Murdoch Development Center in Butner on Oct. 9.
SEANC sponsored a Winston-Salem State University employee appreciation lunch event on Nov. 5.
District 28 members and SEANC staff delivered more than 1,850 goodie bags to Central Regional Hospital employees for Staff Appreciation Day on Oct. 10.
District 67 delivered goodie bags on Nov. 3 to Craven Correctional in appreciation of their dedication during the pandemic.
MEMBERS IN ACTION
James Holman receives Moral Courage Award
The UNC System Employee Forum presented the inaugural Rebecca Clark Staff Award for Moral Courage to District 25 Chairman James Holman earlier this year. Holman has worked at UNC-Chapel Hill for 15 years and is currently serving as a housekeeping crew leader.
He said he’s honored to be recognized for his hard work.
“It was pretty much a surprise,” he said. “I’m sort of happy that I’ve gotten it because I’ve stuck my neck out for the last 12 years working for the housekeeping department. It makes me feel pretty good that someone is recognizing the work that I have done.”
The award is named after Rebecca Clark (1915-2009), a former UNC-Chapel Hill staff member, African American political activist and civil rights organizer, who fought against unequal pay and workplace discrimination.
2019 - 2020 TOP RECRUITERS
Each year, a highlight of the Annual SEANC Convention is celebrating the superstars who help build our membership! We were unable to do that this year, sadly. The SEANC membership met in September via Zoom to recognize our top recruiters for 2019-2020!
FIRST PLACE
Jacque Chatman
District 20
($400)
Recruited 114 new members
SECOND PLACE Ron Fields
District 20 ($300)
Recruited 106 new members
THIRD PLACE
LaDonna Hamer
District 40
($200)
Recruited 73 new members
QUARANTINE REGIONAL WINNERS
New recruiters that recruited new members from March to Aug. 31. Each won $100.
EAST - Terry Mitchell, District 57
WEST - Carla Branch, District 5
SOUTH CENTRAL - Darryl Cox, District 22
PIEDMONT - Suzan Teague, District 16
NORTH CENTRAL - Erin Jones, District 41
TOP REGIONAL RECRUITERS
Recruited the most members from July to Sept. 31. Each won $50.
EAST - Patricia Moore, District 67
WEST - Jerri Pettiford, District 2
SOUTH CENTRAL - LaDonna Hamer, District 40
PIEDMONT - Jacque Chatman, District 20
NORTH CENTRAL - Charles Johnson, District 26
Pictured are: UNC-Chapel Hill Employee Forum Chair (and District 25 member) Shayna Hill, James Holman and Employee Forum Vice-Chair Katie Ann Musgrove.
State employees are good people. But even good people make mistakes mistakes that violate your rights as a career employee, discriminate against you, or cost you a promotion or job.
I’ve practiced law for over 20 years, including 10 years as a Wake County district court judge. I’ve got the experience you need to guide you through your personnel case.
If you have a grievance, disciplinary appeal, or any state employment matter, call (919) 624-5171 or email me at jennifer@jenniferknoxlaw.com
