February 2017 Scoop

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Friday, February 3, 2017

Retiree health care in the spotlight in week two of long session The General Assembly has done little more than assign committees and introduce a flurry of new legislation in week two of the 2017 long session; a period that is considered the calm before the storm.

A bill we touched on last week gained more interest on Thursday. Senate Bill 22 (and companion bill, House Bill 24) would set up a joint committee to study the unfunded liability associated with retiree coverage of the State Health Plan.

SEANC does not oppose studying the issue; however, there is reason for concern

with some of the proposed “solutions” that would place undue burden on the backs of hardworking families who rely on the plan. Several of the proposals in the bill would shift costs directly to state employees and retirees by increasing premiums or requiring state employees to contribute to the retiree health care fund.

Read more about the issue in this week’s Legislative Update.

SEANC Scholarship Applications Now Available Online One of the outstanding benefits of SEANC membership is its scholarship program. Active and associate members, their spouses and their dependent children are eligible to apply for scholarships to attend technical schools, community colleges, trade schools, junior colleges and four-year universities or colleges. Go to our scholarship page to access applications for the 2017-18 school year: 2017-2018 Category I Application (Financial Need) 2017-2018 Category II Application (Merit) 2017-2018 Category III Application (Member Only)

SEANC needs all members to help save ECU jobs The proposed merger between ECU Physicians Group and Vidant Medical Group stands to put 1,200

state employee positions and benefits at risk. Since news of the merger broke, SEANC has been vocal with ECU that employee rights must be protected at all costs above promised profits and special interests. The fight before us is nowhere near over and we are calling on ALL state employees and retirees to stand together and let all of North Carolina know that ECU is not for sale.

Want to help? Here are three easy steps to get involved: 1. Read the SEANC Scoop each Friday. Regular updates and important information regarding the merger will be included in the Scoop. These updates will give you information and notification of any events where you can stand up and join the fight to save ECU jobs.

2. Call your legislator. This is imperative. This fight can be won, but only if legislators hear from you.

If you’re not sure who your representatives are, visit www.ncleg.net and click on the tab “who represents me?” You can also click here to search by county. Legislators are elected to serve you and hear your concerns. Ask your legislators to speak out against attempts to privatize our jobs and let them know ECU Physicians Group is not for sale.

3. Turn out to show your support. SEANC will be hosting events in Greenville over the coming weeks.

Depending on what actions SEANC takes or ECU takes, these meetings might involve short notice.

Stay tuned for any call to actions on social media, email or directly from your district chairperson.

Together, we can stand up, fight back and do what’s right for state employees, retirees and the people of Greenville.

SEANC welcomes 207 new members in January!

SEANC would like to welcome the 207 new members who chose to stand with their coworkers in support of public services in the first month of 2017! New members came to the association from the departments of Administration, Agriculture, Commerce, Cultural and Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, Health and Human Services, Public Instruction, Public Safety and Transportation, the Administrative Offices of the Courts, the Office of the State Treasurer, the Division of Employment Security, the State Employees Credit Union, East Carolina University, Elizabeth City State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, Central Piedmont Community College, Guilford Community College, Johnston Community College, Richmond Community College, Robeson Community College, Stanly Community College, schools in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Columbus, Gaston, Henderson, McDowell, Moore, Pitt and Wilson counties and local government entities.

SEANC has also enlisted the help of Alternative Payment Options enrollers who will be visiting agencies all over the state in coming months to switch members over to bank draft! The members have been on how to answer any question you may have as you make the switch.

Signing up for bank draft online is easy as well. Visit apo.seanc.org and click “Enroll in Bank Draft” to safely and easily enter your information. We’ll take care of the rest!

If you would like for an APO enroller to visit your workplace, contact the Member Relations Department at lcote@seanc.org or call 1-800-222-1758.

How has SEANC Insurance helped you?

Have you had a great experience using one of our many insurance products? Were we able to save you money, or come to your aid in a time of need? SEANC would like to hear from you!

We are starting a marketing campaign for our insurance offerings, and would love to feature real SEANC members who are willing to tell their stories! We may call on you to see if you would like to be in a television commercial or video for our website or social media outlets telling your story, or to ask permission to use it in a print ad.

The marketing of our insurance products will allow us to, hopefully, increase our enrollment and get better rates and benefits for you!

Click here to share your story!

Orlando Employee Discounts Planning a family trip to Orlando or just want to get away from the cold weather? Check out Orlando Employee Discounts, and save on attraction tickets to Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios and more! Members can also save on vacation rentals and hotels.

Click here to plan your trip or call 1-866-463-0412.

Hyatt Legal Plans Need to prepare a will or selling your home? The Hyatt Legal Plan fully covers attorney fees for services such as preparation of wills, powers of attorney, living wills, real estate transactions, traffic ticket defense and much more.

The plan provides easy access to a national network of experienced attorneys and coverage for the most frequently needed personal legal services.

The cost is $12.95 per month and click here for more information or to enroll today.

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Friday, February 10, 2017

Budget surplus should be used for pay raises, COLAs This week wasn’t particularly eventful at the General Assembly, though we did see the first signs of coming debate over the state budget.

Budget officials announced Thursday that the state has surplus revenue of $552 million heading into the state budget debate – a larger surplus than it had in the last two years.

It’s time to invest in the state’s workforce through significant pay raises, and alleviate the strains put on our state retirees who are suffering from the lack of cost-of-living adjustments. SEANC’s lobbyists will work hard this session to remind legislators of that

fact. We hope you, the members, will join in by contacting your legislators and telling them your story.

Better yet, come down to the legislature and tell them yourself. Members from District 2 in and around Asheville left home at 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday to make the trek to Raleigh for two days of lobbying legislators for your pay, health care and retirement benefits.

Watch the video below for more on their visit!

SEANC Scholarship Applications Now Available Online

One of the outstanding benefits of SEANC membership is its scholarship program. Active and associate members, their spouses and their dependent children are eligible to apply for scholarships to attend technical schools, community colleges, trade schools, junior colleges and four-year universities or colleges. Go to our scholarship page to access applications for the 2017-18 school year: 2017-2018 Category I Application (Financial Need) 2017-2018 Category II Application (Merit) 2017-2018 Category III Application (Member Only)

Folwell speaks to SEANC Retiree Council State Treasurer Dale Folwell spoke to the SEANC Retiree Council on Thursday, updating them on changes he has made to the office in the first month of his term. Folwell was endorsed by EMPAC, SEANC’s political arm, because of his pledge to cut unnecessary fees paid to Wall Street with retirement funds and his plans to make the State Health Plan more affordable.

In his first month, Folwell has already called many of the firms that manage parts of the retirement fund to start the ball rolling on renegotiating contracts to lower fees. But, he admits, it’s an uphill climb.

He is running into similar problems with the State Health Plan, which he said was “on fire” right now, and not in a good way. The unfunded liability associated with retiree health care is a problem that must be addressed. He’s also working to alleviate the strain of the high premiums on dependent care coverage.

He said he would keep the council and SEANC updated on both the retirement fund and the State Health Plan throughout his term.

SEANC needs all members to help save ECU jobs The proposed merger between ECU Physicians Group and Vidant Medical Group stands to put 1,200 state employee positions and benefits at risk. Since news of the merger broke, SEANC has been vocal with ECU that employee rights must be protected at all costs above promised profits and special interests. The fight before us is nowhere near over and we are calling on ALL state employees and retirees to stand together and let all of North Carolina know that ECU is not for sale.

Want to help? Here are three easy steps to get involved: 1. Read the SEANC Scoop each Friday. Regular updates and important information regarding the merger will be included in the Scoop. These updates will give you information and notification of any events where you can stand up and join the fight to save ECU jobs.

2. Call your legislator. This is imperative. This fight can be won, but only if legislators hear from you.

If you’re not sure who your representatives are, visit www.ncleg.net and click on the tab “who represents me?” You can also click here to search by county. Legislators are elected to serve you and hear your concerns. Ask your legislators to speak out against attempts to privatize our jobs and let them know ECU Physicians Group is not for sale.

3. Turn out to show your support. SEANC will be hosting events in Greenville over the coming weeks.

Depending on what actions SEANC takes or ECU takes, these meetings might involve short notice.

Stay tuned for any call to actions on social media, email or directly from your district chairperson.

Together, we can stand up, fight back and do what’s right for state employees, retirees and the people of Greenville.

How has SEANC Insurance helped you?

Have you had a great experience using one of our many insurance products? Were we able to save you money, or come to your aid in a time of need? SEANC would like to hear from you!

We are starting a marketing campaign for our insurance offerings, and would love to feature real SEANC members who are willing to tell their stories! We may call on you to see if you would like to be in a television commercial or video for our website or social media outlets telling your story, or to ask permission to use it in a print ad.

The marketing of our insurance products will allow us to, hopefully, increase our enrollment and get better rates and benefits for you!

Click here to share your story!

A Sweet Deal for Valentine's Day

Need to order Flowers and/or Chocolate Covered Strawberries? Let SEANC help make your Valentine’s Heart Melt!

As a SEANC member, you can save 25% on flowers, chocolates or the whole bundle for your special someone on Valentine's Day by using your PerksCard at Fromyouflowers.com.

Click here to access this deal before it's too late! If ordering by phone, call 1-800-838-8853 and use promo code PRKC.

Dental Benefit Changes you should know!

Members that have elected dental coverage through SEANC have noticed a change. Effective January 1, 2017, SEANC choose a new dental carrier, UnitedHealthcare, to bring our members the best possible dental coverage.

You should have received your new dental card in the mail. If not, contact UnitedHealthcare at 1-877816-3596.

To maximize your benefit, make sure that your dental provider is an in-network provider. This will save you money! Go online to www.myuhc.com to see a list of current in-network providers.

Remember that taking care of your teeth is as important to your health and a yearly physical exam.!

Wellness is essential to the quality of Life.

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Friday, February 17, 2017

State budget talks yet to heat up State budget negotiations haven’t started in earnest yet at the General Assembly, but the behind-the-scenes chatter has begun.

The SEANC Government Relations team met with several legislators with key roles in the budget process this week to press upon them the dire need for real pay increases for state employees and cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for retirees in this budget.

The fact remains both state employees and retirees have 10-percent less buying power now compared to 2010 because of the lack of true pay raises and COLAs. While the rest of the state has recovered from the Great Recession, we’ve been left behind and forgotten. Small business owners in North Carolina prosper as well when state employees and retirees have more buying power.

Also this week, SEANC members asked legislators to visit their worksite at Craggy Correctional Center near Asheville, and a bipartisan group took them up on the offer!

And a bill was filed to exempt pension payments to public employees from state income taxes.

Click here to read this week’s Legislative Update.

Folwell discussed state employee issues on N.C. Spin State Treasurer Dale Folwell sat down with the panelists on N.C. Spin last week to discuss, among other topics, the huge fees that the state is currently paying to Wall Street money managers with state employee pension funds. He also talked about the high risks taken with that money, and the funding and safety of the plan in general.

EMPAC endorsed Folwell because he pledged to clean up the retiree system. He said his goal for the next four years is to “reduce the complexity of these pension investments and bring value to the participants and the taxpayers.”

He also discussed the unfunded liability discussion around retiree health coverage through the State Health Plan.

You can watch the entire episode below.

SEANC Scholarship Applications Now Available Online One of the outstanding benefits of SEANC membership is its scholarship program. Active and associate members, their spouses and their dependent children are eligible to apply for scholarships to attend technical schools, community colleges, trade schools, junior colleges and four-year universities or colleges. Go to our scholarship page to access applications for the 2017-18 school year: 2017-2018 Category I Application (Financial Need) 2017-2018 Category II Application (Merit) 2017-2018 Category III Application (Member Only)

Home and Rental Insurance Whether you own or rent, protection of your property and valuables will give you a piece of mind if you suffer a loss from plumbing problems to storm damage. Make sure to always check your policy to learn what your policy covers.

In order to provide you with better rates, SEANC offers home and rental insurance through three companies. Take advantage of the special discounted group insurance rates you can receive as a SEANC member! Convenient payment plans such as payroll deduction, bank draft and direct billing are also available. Use the links and telephone numbers below for more information and to receive a quote: Liberty Mutual, 800-230-0827 MetLife, 800-438-6388 Travelers, 888-695-4640

Celebrate Dance with Group Tickets for Twyla Tharp Feb 25 , 2017 · BELK THEATER at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte, North Carolina Prices begin at $10.00. Click here to purchase tickets.

Presented by: Blumenthal Performing Arts Join us for a fun-filled evening celebrating dance and the joy (and health benefits) of movement, all capped off by a performance of the internationally acclaimed Twyla Tharp Dance.

Blumenthal Celebrates Dance activities include (for ticket holders only): Dance, fitness and healthy living exhibits: 6 PM – Belk Theater Lobby 6:30pm – 7:15pm: Lecture Demonstration - Booth Playhouse Twyla Tharp Dance former dancer and current company manager, Alexander Brady, will speak about Twyla’s choreography, style, and legacy. Local dancer and educator, Bianca Harris, will be moderating this event.

7:15pm – 7:45pm: Nutrition Talk - Founders Room Certified Nutritional Therapist Helen Gardiner-Parks will speak about healthy eating for dancers. Learn how to properly fuel and energize your body. Her talk will focus on the importance of hydration and dealing with eating healthfully amidst a very busy schedule.

Performance by the world-renowned Twyla Tharp Dance: 8 PM – Belk Theater

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Friday, February 24, 2017

Cooper talks pay raises for teachers and state employees

We saw our first official movement on the budget this week on a couple of fronts.

Appropriations subcommittees began meeting to discuss rules and procedures, and SEANC’s lobbyists continued meeting with legislators individually to voice our concerns.

The biggest sign of the coming budget debate came from Gov. Roy Cooper, who announced on Monday he planned to raise teacher pay by an average of 10 percent over the next two years. Receiving less attention, though was his comments on state employee pay raises, which he said would be a part of his budget as well. “We understand that all of our state employees have been left behind,” he said.

Also this week, WBTV in Charlotte proved our point on the dangers of privatization with a story detailing how private contractors – mostly engineering firms – are taking advantage of the state by grossly overbilling taxpayers for hundreds of millions of dollars.

SEANC is adamant that state employees can do a better job at a lower cost than profitdriven corporations and has lobbied for several years to halt all privatization efforts until questions can be answered.

We also take a look at the foundation pouring millions of dollars into undermining state

pension plans like the one state employees and retirees rely on for retirement security.

Their influence on legislators is one reason why retirees are denied cost-of-living adjustments even when the money is there.

Read all about it in this week’s Legislative Update.

Were you affected by Hurricane Matthew? We can help!

SEANC is still looking for members who are in need of financial help to deal with the impact of Hurricane Matthew. Thanks to donations from individual members, the SEANC districts and SEIU, we still have funds available. Those interested should contact Beth Dew on the SEANC staff at bdew@seanc.org for application procedures.

SEANC Scholarship Applications Now Available Online One of the outstanding benefits of SEANC membership is its scholarship program. Active and associate members, their spouses and their dependent children are eligible to apply for scholarships to attend technical schools, community colleges, trade schools, junior colleges and four-year universities or colleges. Go to our scholarship page to access applications for the 2017-18 school year: 2017-2018 Category I Application (Financial Need) 2017-2018 Category II Application (Merit) 2017-2018 Category III Application (Member Only)

WHAT IS LONG-TERM CARE? Long-Term Care services are those services designed to assist someone who has lost some or all of the ability to care for himself or herself due to an illness, an accident or simply the frailty of aging.

Long-term care includes a wide range of services which help people maintain the normal activities of daily living; activities like bathing, continence, dressing, eating, toileting and transferring (like moving from a bed to a chair or from a chair to standing, etc.). Long-term care services can be provided in your home, in and through community resources or in a formal setting such as a nursing home or assisted living facility.

For more information, please contact our office at 919-833-6436.

We are very excited to welcome the Tony Award Winning Best Play “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime” this week to DPAC! THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, is the winner of five 2015 Tony Awards® including BEST PLAY. Hailed as “One of the most fully immersive works ever to wallop Broadway” by The New York Times, this "dazzling" (Associated Press) adaptation is the Tony Award®-winning new play by Simon Stephens, adapted from Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel and directed by Tony winner Marianne Elliott.

Fifteen-year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain; he is exceptionally intelligent but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbor’s dog, he sets out to identify the true culprit, which leads to an earth-shattering discovery and a journey that will change his life forever.

As a Super Group Partner, you can purchased discounted tickets for select performances by following the link below. www.dpacnc.com/supergroup Password: SUPERGROUP Please remember you can use the same link above to purchase discounted tickets for select performances of The Bodyguard (March 14-19), Something Rotten (April 4-9), Mamma Mia (May 57), Chicago (May 12-14), Finding Neverland (May 23-28), The King and I (June 6-11) and Motown the Musical (August 1-6)!

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