THE
Publication
of the
State Employees Association
of
North Carolina • SEIU Local 2008 • May 2011 • Vol. 29 No. 3 • Circulation 55,000
“Take Pride in Carolina” Lobby Days & SEANC Warriors SEANC members make their voices heard in the General Assembly
PHOTO BY toni davis
By Toni Davis
SEANC members ask lawmakers to “Take Pride in Carolina.”
RALEIGH – Concerned SEANC members from all over North Carolina made their voices heard at the General Assembly during the association’s “Take Pride in Carolina” lobby day events. This year, SEANC sponsored three regional lobby days for the Eastern, Central and Western regions of the state on March 16, 23 and 30 in Raleigh. The focus of meeting with lawmakers was simple – to pass a common sense budget that supports working families instead of campaign donors with sweetheart privatization deals. “Our legislators need to put a face to the services we provide, and lobby day events are a great way to make that connection,” said Eastern Regional Representative to the Executive Committee Gene Mills. SEANC members did a tremendous job making the concerns of their fellow state employees and retirees known to legislators. Each day started with a briefing on the issues from SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope. Afterward, members split up into smaller groups and went to meetings with their representatives. Between scheduled meetings,
these hardworking members also caught different legislative leaders in the hallways and had discussions with them about the State Health Plan, the retirement system, proposed job cuts and state employees’ constitutional right to privacy. These regional lobby day events are a part of SEANC’s “Take Pride in Carolina” campaign. In mid-February, SEANC presented the governor and members of the General Assembly with your “Take Pride in Carolina” report. This report outlines more than $10 billion in savings that would fill the more than $2 billion budget deficit several times while still supporting quality public services and the men and women who provide them. Now, we need you to help push these budgetsaving ideas by becoming a SEANC Warrior.
SEANC Warriors The “Take Pride in Carolina” lobby day events continue the work of SEANC’s grassroots lobbyists known as SEANC Warriors. Each Monday night, SEANC members come to the General Assembly
after work as lawmakers come into town to begin the week’s legislative session. Employees meet as a group with the SEANC Legislative Affairs Department and are then divided into groups to discuss their concerns directly with lawmakers on the floor of the N.C. House and Senate. “It makes a very strong impression on lawmakers to see state employees in their SEANC blue week after week in the legislature,” said SEANC Legislative Affairs Director Ardis Watkins. “Going to General Assembly has given me a better understanding of the legislative process. Each time, I become more informed about the budget and feel even more confident speaking to legislators,” said District 38 Chairman C.J. Stephens. SEANC Warriors have been meeting since the beginning of the legislative session and will continue to do so until the budget has passed. If you would like to join the SEANC Warriors on Monday nights, look for the meeting time which changes weekly in the SEANC Scoop email on Fridays. tdavis@seanc.org THE REPORTER MAY 2011
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