February 2016 • Vol. 34, Issue 2
THE
REPORTER
State Employees Association of North Carolina
SEANC now offers bank draft options By popular demand, SEANC is now offering members two new ways to pay monthly dues, insurance premiums and more. The new options are a result of partnerships with both the State Employees’ Credit Union and First Citizens’ Bank. Members of the State Employees’ Credit Union have the easiest option for paying dues – simply use the credit union’s bill pay tool to set up an option for funds to be directed from your bank account to SEANC each month. For those members without a SECU account, the process is simple as well. Just provide SEANC with your bank routing number and the account number from which funds will be taken each month by filling out the form on page 7 and returning it by mail or fax. These options can be used to pay membership dues, insurance and Hyatt Legal premiums, donations to EMPAC and even Purchasing Power payments.
With these options, members will feel little, if any, difference in their bank accounts from the current payroll deduction system. But the move is critical to the future of the organization. With members moved away from payroll deduction, SEANC will no longer be at the mercy of the whims of politicians who currently use the threat of payroll deduction stoppage to hold the association hostage. Senate Bill 3, filed by Sen. Ralph Hise at the beginning of the 2015 General Assembly session, would take away the right of state employees and teachers to have dues or any other payments deducted automatically from paychecks. The bill is likely to move to a vote in the coming short session. Although legislators often try to argue it would save money, there is very little, if any, cost associated with payroll deduction. By moving to a bank drafting system, SEANC will be free to speak out against harmful legislation,
the lack of meaningful pay raises and cost-of-living adjustments or changes to retirement and health care benefits that are detrimental to members’ families. It will also allow us to recruit temporary and local government employees for whom payroll deductions are not currently available. “We have no choice. We have to do this if we are going to survive and serve our members,” SEANC Executive Director Mitch Leonard said. “As it currently stands, we are at the mercy of politicians who don’t understand or don’t care about state employee issues. We must be able to stand up for ourselves.”
NEW!
WAYS TO SIGN UP FOR BANK DRAFT Fill out the form found on page 7 and mail or fax to SEANC Central Office ● Visit www.seanc.org ● Call the SEANC office at 1-800-222-2758 ●
Former director pleads guilty to embezzling from SEANC The former executive director of SEANC pleaded guilty on Nov. 17 to embezzling more than $500,000 from the organization.
In This Issue 2 3 4-5 7 8
President's Message Public Policy Member Action Bank Draft Form Scholarship
After pleading guilty to two felonies, Dana Cope was sentenced to a minimum of 58 months and up to 82 months in state prison. Cope paid $165,000 in restitution to SEANC, but still owes $345,000 according to media reports. SEANC plans to use any and every measure available to pursue the rest of the funds until every dime is paid back. Current SEANC Executive Director Mitch Leonard released the following statement upon the announcement of the plea:
“Undoubtedly, the announcement of a guilty plea from Mr. Cope is a newsworthy event in his legal case. SEANC’s focus, however, is on the important work of fulfilling our mission to advance and protect the interests of past, present and future state employees. All the while, we continue to take all of the necessary steps – resulting from two independent investigations of our operations – to secure our organization from ever experiencing a breach of leadership trust again.”