Marshall For Senate EMPAC
The SEANC Employees Political Action Committee (EMPAC) overwhelmingly and enthusiastically endorsed the candidacy of Secretary of State Elaine Marshall for the U.S. Senate on Aug. 21. Marshall, the Democratic nominee, is a long-time SEANC member and supporter who demonstrated a clear understanding of state worker issues and has what it takes to win for state employees and all working families.
As our next senator, Marshall pledged to support middle class tax cuts, the Employee Free Choice Act, collective bargaining rights for public employees, full implementation of the national health insurance reform legislation, protection of Social Security and a pro-worker agenda. On Nov. 2, SEANC urges all members to go to the polls and support Elaine Marshall for U.S. Senate.
be done, get out of the way of those of us doing it!” Marshall told the crowd.
Interviews:
In August, the committee conducted a thorough endorsement process and considered all three candidates for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Sen. Richard Burr. Marshall and the Libertarian candidate Dr. Michael Beitler interviewed with the committee, answering a variety of questions about their position on employee rights and related legislation. Despite multiple attempts to interview Sen. Burr, he declined to interview or provide written responses to questions.
SEANC Convention: Charting the Course Delegates Elect New Officers and Vote on Bylaws Change
GREENSBORO – For the third year in a row, nearly 850 delegates elected a Department of Corrections’ official to the top office in the association during the 27th Annual SEANC Convention held Sept. 9-11 at the Koury Convention Center. The officers began their one-year terms on Oct. 1.
• President – Charles Johnson of Raleigh, a correctional captain with the Department of Correction’s Central Prison, with 18 years of state service
• First Vice President – Sidney Sandy of Indian Trail, retired Department of Transportation maintenance engineer, with 33 years of state service
• Second Vice President – Cheryl Moon of Knightdale, a retired Department of Motor Vehicles hearings officer, with 30 years of state service
• Treasurer – Marilyn Jean Martin of Salisbury, a correctional captain with the Department of Correction’s Piedmont Correctional Institution, with 29 years of state service
President Johnson highlighted the importance of respect for state employees in his acceptance speech on Sept. 11 telling delegates, “Don’t let your
By Toni Davis
employer tell you you’re lucky to have a job, tell them, ‘You’re lucky to have me.’”
Bylaws Change
SEANC delegates voted 63 percent to 37 percent in favor of a bylaws change to pay SEIU dues from the monthly district rebate. During the May 2008 convention, SEANC’s delegates voted to pay SEIU 50 cents per member per month. Each month SEANC’s 53 districts receive a 20 percent rebate of the total dues paid to the SEANC Central Office for daily district operations including membership drives, communications and member strength activities.
Convention Highlights
• Ranking SEANC’s 2010 Policy Platform Objectives
• Hearing from SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry and elected SEANC members: Gov. Bev Perdue, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, U.S. Senate Candidate Elaine Marshall and special guest, Office of State Personnel Director Linda Coleman
• Giving back to our communities with $23,000 and more than 2,000 pounds of food to benefit North Carolina’s six largest food banks and $6,000 in donations to the Triangle Down Syndrome Network’s Buddy Walk
• Hosting legislative, judicial and other candidates and a record number of SEANC members during the annual legislative dessert reception
• Honoring new officers and members during “A Night with the SEANC Stars” banquet tdavis@seanc.org
EMPAC-endorsed U.S. Senate Candidate Elaine Marshall speaks to convention delegates on Sept. 10. “For those who say it can’t
The 2010-2011 SEANC officers celebrate their induction on Sept. 11. Pictured, left to right, are President Charles Johnson, First Vice President Sidney Sandy, Second Vice President Cheryl Moon, Treasurer Marilyn Jean Martin and Past President Tony Smith.
PHOTO BY Sara
State Health Plan Blue Ribbon Task Force Needs A Little Less Talk and A Lot More Action…
There are things that are known about the State Health Plan (SHP) and things that are still a mystery.
We know that the SHP operates under a “costplus” contract with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina where Blue Cross can charge almost anything they desire to the state as a “cost of business,” including multi-million dollar executive bonuses.
We also know that politicians claim state employees and retirees are unusually expensive to insure. However, the SHP’s own information shows that state employees and retirees cost about 10 percent less than other insured individuals in the South.
Finally, we know that for the last four years, the N.C. General Assembly has claimed an “unexpected fiscal crisis” with the SHP to the tune of $400 million - $800 million and has looked to employees to cover a large share of these costs.
In short, we know the SHP is being mismanaged by the General Assembly.
For what, we don’t know.
Why does the legislature continue to talk about the SHP without doing anything to fix it?
Rep. Hugh Holliman (D-Davidson) assured legislators on the House floor in 2009 that a Blue Ribbon Task Force would determine where to move
By Ardis WAtkins, director of LegisLAtive AffAirs
the SHP, acknowledging that the legislature had not done a good job overseeing it. And he said the task force would get the job done quickly.
Now, more than a year after the legislature adjourned in 2009, the task force still has done nothing. SEANC supported a bill to move the SHP from the legislature’s control and into the Department of Insurance (HB 2037). Rep. Holliman did not want a vote taken on this bill and argued that the task force should have time to complete its work.
The task force met on Sept. 21 to discuss governance. After more than two hours of talking with no real direction, they adjourned. Task force member and SEANC Lobbyist Chuck Stone even pointed out, “We have not done anything to resolve the governance issue, and I’m concerned because the legislative session is only a few months away.”
So why did the task force meet for eight months before even mentioning where the SHP should go for proper oversight? We don’t know. And why are members of the task force asking for information that should have been given to them last year about possible options for moving it? We don’t understand that either.
Or do we? Blue Cross is a big supporter of the House and Senate leadership. Stalling any decision on moving the SHP until after the November election is probably a good move – for politicians.
For state employees and retirees – and for the taxpayers – it will have very real negative economic consequences. SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope stated, “This task force has clearly demonstrated to the public that it is either unwilling or unable to make decisions.”
It’s time for a little less talk and a lot more action on moving the SHP. It’s time for legislators to do their jobs.
SEANC health care lobbyist Chuck Stone, left, talks with Jack Walker, executive administrator of the State Health Plan, about moving oversight to a state agency. awatkins@seanc.org Photo
EMPAC – No General Assembly Endorsements
Fellow SEANC Members,
Traditionally the November Reporter contains EMPAC endorsements of candidates for the North Carolina General Assembly, but this year is different. On July 24, the statewide EMPAC met and made an important decision to not endorse any General Assembly candidates for this year’s election. I want to share with you why that decision was made in a nearly unanimous vote.
In a budget deficit year where there was no money for raises, cost of living adjustments or benefit enhancements, legislators kept telling SEANC members they were supportive of state employees and working families –specifically supportive of moving oversight of the State Health Plan away from control of the General Assembly to an executive agency. But no one had the courage to schedule a vote!
Lack of oversight by the General Assembly has allowed Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina to effectively raise our out-of-pocket health care costs and reduce our benefits. It started with a no-bid, secret contract that allows Blue Cross to charge basically whatever they want to the state and to have us, the taxpayers, pay for it.
It would have cost legislators nothing to make the change – except for campaign cash from Blue Cross. Legislators took a walk on state employees and retirees when they chose Blue Cross over working families. Now it’s EMPAC’s turn to take a walk.
Legislators never seem willing to ask Blue Cross to give up even a dime in tough economic times; they only look to state employees and retirees. When it came time to vote on transferring health plan oversight, the Democratic House and Senate leadership said it wasn’t the right time.
For the legislative leaders, it’s never the right time to fund the pay plan, provide affordable family health insurance and certainly not the right time for collective bargaining. I’ve been hearing this for 15 years – even in times of economic prosperity.
Isn’t it odd that it never seems to be the right time for legislators to do the right thing, except when it’s time to interview for an EMPAC endorsement?
We are aware that this decision may be controversial to our contributors who have built EMPAC into a force to be reckoned with in North Carolina. As a result of this decision, EMPAC should have more than $1 million to support our true friends in 2012. Individual legislators will have two years to decide who is more important – working families, big insurance or the legislative leadership.
Although the state committee is making no legislative endorsements this year, we have encouraged the area EMPACs to provide opportunities for our members to get to know the legislative candidates in their areas through interviews or forums.
The committee also felt it was important that legislators know we are not out of the endorsement game, just not endorsing them. So we conducted an endorsement process for the U.S. Senate and ultimately endorsed outstanding SEANC member Elaine Marshall. I hope all state employees and retirees will support her in November!
Thank you for helping to make EMPAC one of the largest political action committees in North Carolina.
Thank you,
The Reporter, USPS 009-852 (ISSN 1069 2142), is published in the months of March, May, September and November for $3 per year, per member, by the State Employees Association of North Carolina, Inc., P.O. Drawer 27727, Raleigh, NC 27611-7727.
Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh, N.C. and additional offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: THE REPORTER, P.O. Drawer 27727, Raleigh, NC 27611-7727.
SEANC Protests “Pay-to-Play” Fundraiser with
Blue Cross Contractor Capstrat
By MAry AdeLAide riddick
Executive Director Dana Cope and more than 30 SEANC members protested Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina contractor Capstrat CEO Ken Eudy’s “pay-to-play” fundraiser for Senate Democrats on Aug. 24.
SEANC members are concerned about political influence over state contracts in light of Blue Cross’ no-bid, cost-plus, sweetheart contract with the State Health Plan (SHP). The Blue Cross contract allows the SHP to be billed for everything from the CEO to public relations efforts. Capstrat also holds government contracts with the N.C. State Ports Authority, University of North Carolina at Pembroke and a multi-million dollar contract for a teen tobacco use prevention and cessation program.
“It’s hypocritical for politicians to take campaign contributions from government contractors while at the same time pounding their chests talking about the ethics bill and how they’ve cleaned up government,” Cope said.
An Aug. 11 Wilmington Star-News article reported that Eudy, a government contractor, was asked by a member of the North Carolina State Senate to host the fundraiser.
“This fundraiser gives state employees and the public the impression that this is a ‘you scratch my back, I’ll scratch your back’ event,” Cope said.
mariddick@seanc.org
Mark Dearmon State EMPAC Chairman
Dearmon
Stuart Glover, left, of District 71 and Walton Jones of District 17 protest in front of Blue Cross contractor Capstrat CEO Ken Eudy’s house during a fundraiser for state Democrats.
Photo by Mary a
Photo by t oni
SEANC members came out in droves to oppose “payto-play” politics in North Carolina state government.
Toni Davis, Editor-In-Chief
Cary EDgar, Managing Editor
Mary aDElaiDE riDDiCk
Associate Editor, Advertising Manager
aMbEr ErnsT, Associate Editor
State Employees Association of North Carolina, SEIU Local 2008
P.O. Drawer 27727 • Raleigh, NC 27611 1621 Midtown Place • Raleigh, NC 27609
Telephone 919-833-6436, 800-222-2758
www.seanc.org
Advertising Policy
SEANC, SEIU Local 2008 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.
District 65 Continues Convention Giving
District 65 followed up their $500 food bank donation from the annual convention with an additional $500 contribution and 153 pounds of food on Sept. 23 to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina in Greenville. The $500 contribution will provide approximately 2,125 meals, and the food, which was collected at various locations on the ECU campus, will supply 129 meals. Lynn Tuthill, District 65 volunteer chairwoman, presents the check to Neil Zingler, member of the food bank’s Greenville Regional Council. Also pictured (from left) are: Mary Esther Baker, Greenville Food Bank branch development officer, and District 65 members Gloria Highsmith, Debbie Austin and Bill Dawson.
My name is Judge Bob Hunter, and I am running for the North Carolina Supreme Court. I would be honored to receive your vote in the non-partisan November election.
I have been a member of SEANC ever since I joined the NC Court of Appeals 12 years ago. My wife, Nancy, is also a long time member. During my time on the Court, I have heard over 3600 cases, and personally authored over 1200 opinions.
I have been an attorney in private practice, prosecutor, NC Representative, victims’ rights advocate, and current appellate judge. With your support, I hope to put my extensive and varied legal experience to work for you on the NC Supreme Court.
My Best,
District 65 had approximately 10 members volunteer for Habitat for Humanity on Saturday, Aug. 21. More than 20 volunteers, including the new homeowner of the house, worked that day installing all of the windows and shingles on the roof.
President’s Message
by CharlEs Johnson
Working for Basic Rights and Family
After I took my oath, I got a feeling, a chill. I get that same chill when the national anthem is played, when I hear the Marine Corps hymn and when I pledge allegiance to the flag. I really appreciate this responsibility. I have no problem with leading, I feel good about it. I feel good about our future. I think together we can do great things. We can move working families forward; we can be the model of the South. We can show the rest of the world that it’s ok to be together and to say, “I’m a worker, I have rights and I stand with my brothers and my sisters, that’s ok.”
I know somebody in every county in North Carolina and I know them because of SEANC. There are 100 counties in North Carolina. You go from the coast to the mountains and I know somebody there. That’s a powerful statement and that comes from this organization. I know a state worker somewhere who knows me and that if I have a problem that I can get in contact with someone. I appreciate what this organization does for me. I think it’s the best thing since sliced bread.
I want to tell a story. The Member Action Coordinators teach us to tell your story, and usually you tell it to someone who is not an active SEANC member so that they can relate to what you’re saying. Once you get them to relate to it, you realize that they have the same issues that you have regardless of race, age, location or who they are. We’re all the same people, we all have the same basic needs and when you tell that story, they believe and understand that. The next thing you do is you slide that application toward them and sign them up!
But I’m not going to tell you my story, I’m going to tell you my mother’s story, Theresa Johnson. My mother started working for the county hospital when she was 16 years old, a junior in high school. She would catch the school bus to the county hospital. Her first job then was washing dishes. She worked hard, she progressed and she did what she had to do. When she finally got ready to retire, she was the kitchen manager. She learned how to talk with people, deal with people and how to use a computer. Last year she got to retire after 45 years at the same job.
That’s my inspiration. My family is what I live for. I work so hard for SEANC because I know the importance of being able to take care of your family. I need to educate two young ladies, my daughters. I need them to be able to get a good job and to work one job. Their father has had two jobs for 18 years – the whole time I’ve been working – not so that we could have extra, but I wanted them to have the basics. I want my kids to have new clothes, shoes and insurance. I’m not saying that my daughter who’s in college needs to drive a new car, because she’s not going to get one. When she gets one it’s going to be a beater – it’s probably not going to have any a/c. She’ll just have to get by, but that’s ok because that teaches character. I want the basics for my children and that’s what drives me, that’s what tells me SEANC is important.
Legislators tell us we don’t need and we don’t deserve and we should be happy to have a job. No! You be happy to have me, because I’m a good worker. cjohnson@seanc.org
Executive Director’s Desk
by Dana CopE
Growing membership, one worker at a time
I am so proud of the work that we do at the State Employees Association of North Carolina – whether it’s blocking pay cuts and furloughs at the General Assembly during times of budget deficits, holding politicians accountable or working with our SEIU International partners in Washington.
I embrace the differences in our membership and respect your opinions because we can all agree that SEANC is nothing without our members – all 55,000 of us. As a member-run organization, SEANC needs to constantly increase our membership because whether at the General Assembly or at the ballot box, there is strength in numbers that translates into the things that matter to you such as affordable health insurance and retirement security.
SEANC’s greatest strength is our membership. And it’s my commitment to you as executive director to help our membership grow and increase our strength.
One of the benefits of being SEANC, SEIU Local 2008 are the resources available from being part of a union that is 2.2 million members strong. This year we received a wonderful membership benefit from the International – contact information for state employees who are non-members.
Now that we had our non-member list, what were we going to do with it? SEANC members planned a strategy to recruit non-members, and we wanted to be bold and do things that we had always dreamed about doing – like spend money on non-members to increase our collective voice. What a list we came up with – a non-member mailing, a top-notch survey of non-members to see what it would take for our organization to get them to join and even home visits. After the meeting, we added up the money it would take for us to achieve our goals. In total it was $300,000.
One of the great things about SEIU is how they invest in membership. SEANC tried our luck and applied for a membership grant to our partners at the International to help reel those non-employees in. SEIU loved our members’ innovative ideas and funded the plan – all $300,000 of it.
Halfway through the year, we encountered an unexpected membership challenge – a challenge that can be SEANC’s greatest opportunity to represent state employees. This year Gov. Bev Perdue established “Meet and Confer” in executive branch state agencies – where we can meet quarterly with the agency bosses’ and annually with the governor about issues of concern – pay, health care, retirement and overall just how to make government work better for all of North Carolina. But like everything else – there was a catch.
When the Executive Order was issued, it had a 20 percent membership requirement to represent state employees at the agency level. And we knew without a doubt that SEANC met this 20 percent threshold in at least the three largest agencies – DHHS, DOT and DOC.
In some agencies that the Executive Order applied to, we knew we didn’t have 20 percent – places like Crime Control and Public Safety, DENR, cultural resources and commerce. I knew if we didn’t get these numbers, someone else would.
Today I’m proud to tell you we have our 20 percent in DENR, Cultural Resources, Commerce and Crime Control and Public Safety.
I want to say thank you to all of you that helped grow SEANC’s membership this year. Now is the time to join together, to keep the association strong and activate our members to represent state employees in North Carolina!
dcope@seanc.org
This article is an excerpt of SEANC President Charles Johnson’s acceptance speech on Sept. 11.
The following is an excerpt from Cope’s remarks at the SEANC Annual Convention on Sept. 9.
Johnson Cope
Counselor’s Comments
by ToM harris sEanC ChiEf of sTaff/gEnEral CounsEl
Retiree COLA Options Weighed
Cost of living adjustments (COLAs) are essential to keep state government retirement benefits on pace with the ever rising costs. Without COLAs, your purchasing power for retirement benefits can quickly erode.
Fortunately, for many years the General Assembly liberally granted COLAs. Since 2001, however, COLAs for retirement benefits have fallen behind price increases for consumer goods and services by more than 4 percent. It is time to examine why this has happened and what can be done to reverse this trend.
In fact, this is exactly what the government retirement boards of trustees have asked the Future of Retirement Study Commission to do. Created in October 2009 by the Boards of Trustees of the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System and the Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System to look at all aspects of the state’s two largest retirement systems, the study commission was recently asked to recommend if and how the current statutes setting COLAs should be amended. As of the study commission’s Sept. 20 meeting, various options had been studied, but no recommendation had been made.
The Statutes:
Currently, the local and state employee retirement systems have identical statutes providing that the COLA in any given year shall be equivalent to the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), with a cap of a 4 percent COLA, so long as there are sufficient investment gains to pay for the COLA. Under this formula, COLAs granted are less than the change in CPI whenever the investment gains are insufficient to support a COLA of the same amount or when the CPI is greater than the 4 percent cap for COLAs.
The Options:
1. Leave the COLA statute as it is
2. Repeal the restriction that COLAs are limited to the CPI increase and by the 4% cap
3. Repeal the requirement that COLAs are to be funded only by investment gains
4. Repeal both the limits on COLA size and funding source
5. Suspend the requirement that COLAs be granted equal to the CPI increase until the employer contribution drops below a stated threshold that doesn’t overstrain the budget
The Competing Interests:
The retirement systems could assure that COLAs keep pace with CPI increases if COLAs were not limited to the CPI increase or by the 4 percent cap and if COLAs could be funded from other sources in addition to investment gains, such as increased employer contributions. On the other hand, using increased employer contributions might further strain the tight budgets of state and local governments, particularly in this time of recession.
SEANC’s Position:
SEANC supports the adoption of Option 4. Repealing the restrictions on the size of COLAs and sources for funding them will open the door to making up for COLAs that were nonexistent or granted in amounts less than the CPI increases in previous years, and even to offset changes, such as to Social Security or retiree medical benefits, that affect retiree economic well-being. The General Assembly can assure that state and local government budgets can sustain increases in employer contributions when needed in those years when investment gains alone are insufficient to fund the appropriate COLAs.
Of course, any COLA must be conditioned on the provision that the increase be made with actuarial integrity. SEANC has spent significant resources in its watchdog role to assure that the state’s retirement systems are funded in the actuarially sound manner required by both statute and the resulting contract with the members of the systems, and it can only condone spending on benefit enhancements in a manner that is actuarially sound.
tharris@seanc.org
Harris
Convention delegates donated food and money to six food banks serving North Carolina as this year’s community service project. District 5, pictured, led donations with a $1,000 check. More than 2,000 pounds of food and $23,000 were donated.
PHOTO BY
EMPAC-endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Elaine Marshall is escorted into the convention hall by District 20 Chairman Cliff Brown and District 20 member Wanda Hunt. Marshall, also a District 20 member, thanked delegates for their support in the upcoming election.
Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton greets convention delegates as he enters the convention hall on Sept. 10.
SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry speaks with Retiree Council Chairman Bob Hopper before she addresses convention delegates.
PHOTO
Members of the Department of Correction’s Honor Guard present the colors during the opening day of convention.
Left to right, District 42 member Alfred Johnson, and District 21 members Janice Bass, Ernestine Harris and Doris Allen discuss their hopes for the 2011 long legislative session during the EMPAC dessert reception on Sept. 10.
Gov. Bev Perdue and Lenell Miller of District 66 pose for a photo outside of the convention hall on Sept. 10. “We go into public service because we believe in our own small ways, we can make a difference,” Gov. Perdue told convention delegates during her speech.
Executive Director Dana Cope speaks with District 17 member Andrew Murph Jr. during convention. PHOTO BY SOPH
This year, there was a tie! District 10 member Kim Martin and District 67 member Thomas Singleton hug after judges announced they had tied for the 2010 EMPAC’s Got Talent Competition.
PHOTO BY
District 39 member George Thiessen and the State Employees’ Credit Union Fat Cat showcase the Scholarship Foundation Board’s winning $6,000 raffle ticket. PHOTO BY
Communications media broadcast spokesperson award winner Kim Stewart of District 57 and EMPAC Legislator of the Year winner Sen. Doug Berger (D-Franklin) discuss the 2010 legislative session and resulting budget. Stewart won the communications award for the way she discussed providing quality public services with NBC 17 in Raleigh.
SEANC’s past presidents are honored during Saturday’s convention business. This year, 10 past presidents were able to attend convention! Thank you for your SEANC service.
District 67 member Bruce Jones enjoys a piece of cantaloupe during the Sept. 10 EMPAC Legislative Dessert Reception. Jones was among 500 SEANC members who came to the event to meet with legislators and enjoy delicious desserts and fruit.
SEANC’s 2011 Top 10 Policy Platform Objectives
1. Seek legislation to remove oversight of the State Health Plan from under the auspices of the Majority Leaders of the Senate and House to a government agency.
2. Oppose legislation that would remove state employees from the protections of the State Personnel Act through the Office of State Personnel.
3. Seek continuation of a fully paid individual health care benefit for active qualified and retired employees.
4. Oppose privatization and downsizing of state government services.
5. Seek an increase in the retirement accrual rate to 2.0 to provide employees with 60 percent of their final compensation upon retirement.
6. Seek legislation that limits the distribution of state employee and retiree personnel information and specifies safeguards and procedures that will be followed to protect identifying information, health-related data, financial information, drivers’ license numbers, home telephone numbers, etc. from unauthorized distribution.
7. Seek repeal of G.S.§ 95-98 and enact legislation permitting collective bargaining by North Carolina public employees; further, seek amendment to G.S. § 143-3.3(g) and G.S. § 135-18.8 to delete language that voids dues deduction from payroll or from retirement benefits if employee or retiree associations engage in collective bargaining.
8. Seek legislative change from the State Treasurer serving as a sole fiduciary to a fund committee approach to managing the state pension fund for employees subject to N.C. General Statutes Section § 147-69.2(b)(8).
9. Seek an amendment in the event of the death of a state employee, that any and all unused sick leave be paid in a lump sum, based on the employee’s salary at the time of death, to the surviving spouse or beneficiary, if the beneficiary does not elect survivor’s alternate benefits.
10. Seek consistent and uniform policies, procedures and guidelines that clearly state responsibilities and reimbursements for state employees who use personal vehicles in performance of work-related activities.
Convention Delegates Adopt Bylaws Amendment
During the 27th Annual SEANC Convention, delegates voted on Sept. 10 to adopt the following bylaws amendment:
The SEANC Treasurer shall, within 30 days of collection, rebate 20 percent of membership dues to the district from which they were collected except for dues paid by affiliate organizations.
8.1 Effective Oct. 1, 2010, the SEANC Treasurer shall reduce the rebate to each district by 50 cents per member per month and apply those funds to the payment of the per member dues owed by SEANC membership to SEIU.
SEANC Convention
Marked by Philanthropy
North Carolina Food Banks and Triangle Down Syndrome Network to Benefit
By Mary aDeLaiDe riDDick
GREENSBORO – On Sept. 9, SEANC members donated more than 2,000 pounds of food and $23,000 to six food banks serving North Carolina – MANNA Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina and The Food Bank of the Albemarle. For every dollar donated, these food banks can return more than $8 worth of food to the areas they serve. SEANC District 5 led the monetary donations with a $1,000 contribution.
During SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry’s speech, she remarked on SEANC’s gift, “The international union is so impressed with the incredible generosity of SEANC leaders in the food drive that the international union is committed to match what you raise.” SEIU matched SEANC delegates’ contributions with an $11,000 check bringing SEANC’s total to $23,000 for North Carolina’s food banks.
A second spontaneous service project took on a life of its own as SEANC’s Youth Council challenged delegates to donate funds to the Triangle Down Syndrome Network’s 2010 Buddy Walk in honor of Mackenzie Woodard. More than $6,000 was raised as district after district pledged funds to support Woodard who was born with Down syndrome. She is the beloved daughter of two SEANC members.
mariddick@seanc.org
STATEWIDE SALES AND SERVICE
Fran Albritton, LUTCF Locust, NC 704-485-8062
T y Cobb, CFP An gier, NC 919-639-2300
Rob Jernigan Fayetteville, NC 910-483-6210
Ron Jackson Raleigh, NC 919-781-6716
Chris Harris Greenville, NC 252-531-1218
John Hill New Bern, NC 252-633-1871
Scott Kittrell Sanford, NC 919-303-5976
Mark Younts Salisbury, NC 704-637-9554
Jeff Tate, LUTCF Henderson, NC 252-438-3334
Will Walters Fayetteville, NC 910-483-6210
Page Simpson Raleigh, NC 919-389-3115
State Employees Service Office 8364 Six Forks Road, Suite 200 Raleigh, NC 27615
Free 800-334-1217
919-844-1777
a night with the seanc stars
the
three
the
Teresa Canton of District 3 was honored with the Distinguished Service Award during the convention’s banquet for her 35 years of service to the state and SEANC.
District 27 member Ray Evans and District 5 member Lander Corpening (not pictured) were honored with the President’s Awards for helping Tony Smith achieve the goals of his presidency.
District 6 Chairman Wayne Freeman accepts the District of the Year Award – Category A for his district during Saturday night’s banquet.
District 19 Chairwoman Marie Tate, left, accepted the Excellence in Communications Award – Website or Bulletin Board for her district. District 66 member Rudy Croom, right, won the Excellence in Communications Award – Print Media for his March 13 interview in The Wilson Times.
The Member Discount committee recognized
top
member discount business recruiters during
Saturday night banquet. District 16 member Melva Daniels, left, came in third place by recruiting 11 new businesses. The second place recruiter was Douglas Ledford of District 2, not pictured, with 14 new businesses. District 7 member Henry Belada, right, who also chairs the Member Discount committee, won first place by recruiting 33 new businesses!
District 65 Chairman Del Kingsland, center, and member Treva Brigman, right, walk to the stage as President Tony Smith takes their photo. District 65 was honored with the District of the Year Award – Category B.
District 4 Chairman Jimmy Davis walks to the stage during Saturday night’s banquet to accept the 2009-2010 District Chairperson of the Year award.
PHOTO BY Sara Be TH McLa
The Darrell Arnold Award is presented to SEANC staff members by the president for dedicated service to the association. This year, President Tony Smith honored the entire SEANC staff.
Gov. Bev Perdue presents Parliamentarian Roy McGalliard of District 5 with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine for his many years of dedicated state service. McGalliard retired from Western Piedmont Community College with 30 years of state service.
President Tony Smith, left, and Humorist Jeanne Robertson take a moment to pose for a photo following the banquet. Robertson lent the night a humorous twist with her remarks during dessert.
Newly-elected Treasurer Marilyn Jean Martin poses with the Member of the Year award she received during Saturday night’s banquet. This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated unselfish commitment and dedication to SEANC throughout the year.
Incoming SEANC President Charles Johnson gives his acceptance speech to convention delegates during the banquet on Saturday night. His daughter, Marjorie, briefly joined him on stage.
Newly-elected First Vice President Sidney Sandy and his wife Dale pose on the red carpet as they enter “A Night with the SEANC Stars” banquet on Sept. 11.
District 22 Chairwoman Michele Shaw accepts the District of the Year Award –Category C for her district.
PHOTO BY Sara Be TH McLa MB
PHOTO BY TONY BOO e
PHOTO BY Sara Be
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PHOTO BY Sara Be TH McLa
PHOTO BY
2010 - 2011 board of governors
e xecutive Committee
President Charles T. Johnson
A resident of Raleigh and District 45 member, he is a Correctional Captain for the Department of Correction at Central Prison. With 18 years of state service and SEANC membership, last year Johnson served at the statewide level as second vice president. He has served as District 45 chairman, vice chairman and North Central Region Representative to the Executive Committee.
First Vice President Sidney Sandy Retired from the Department of Transportation with 33 years of state service and SEANC membership, Sandy is a resident of Indian Trail and District 11 member. He has served as first vice president, second vice president, treasurer, Area 6 EMPAC chairman, District 11 chairman, Piedmont and Western Region Representative to the Executive Committee, state membership chairman, state personnel benefits chairman and served on the Blue Ribbon committee.
Second Vice President Cheryl Moon
A Knightdale resident and District 43 member, she is a retired Department of Motor Vehicles employee with 30 years of state service. A SEANC member for more than 30 years, she has served as District 43’s chairwoman and statewide as Insurance Board of Trustees chairwoman and two years as general treasurer.
General Treasurer Marilyn Jean Martin
A resident of Salisbury, Martin is a Correctional Captain for Piedmont Correctional Institution and has more than 29 years of state service and SEANC membership. She has served as Piedmont Region Representative to the Executive Committee, district chairwoman, district vice chairwoman and as a member of the statewide Collective Bargaining Committee and Blue Ribbon Committee.
Past President Tony Smith
A resident of Morganton and District 5 member, he is a Maintenance Supervisor IV for the Department of Correction. He served two terms as president, first vice president, second vice president and as an area EMPAC chairman. On the district level, he has served as chairman, vice chairman and on all district committees. Smith has more than 18 years of state service and SEANC membership.
Secretary to the President Betty Gautier
A Benson resident and Administrative Officer III with the Department of Agriculture, she has been a state employee for 34 years and a SEANC member for 30 years. Gautier has previously served two terms as Secretary to President Tony Smith and District 38’s secretary and treasurer.
Parliamentarian Roy McGalliard
A resident of Morganton and member of District 5, he is retired from Western Piedmont Community College with 30 years of state service and is an Order of the Long Leaf Pine recipient. He has been a SEANC member for 38 years and has served as parliamentarian many times on both the state and district levels. He has also served as chairman of his district and on various state committees.
Parliamentarian Ray Evans
A resident of Hillsborough and member of District 27, he retired from the Department of Motor Vehicles as a Motor Vehicle Inspector with 27 years of state service and 45 years of SEANC membership. On the statewide level he has served as Blue Ribbon Committee chairman, Bylaws Committee chairman, Parliamentarian for six presidents and chairman of the Redistricting Task Force. He has also served as his district’s chairman.
Insurance Board of Trustees Chairwoman
Shanticia Hawkins
A Durham resident and member of District 26, Hawkins is a Central Region Program Manager for the Department of Correction and has 13 years of state service and SEANC membership. On the state level she has served as MAT and Awards committees chairwoman and on the Insurance Board of Trustees. For her district she has served as chairwoman, vice chairwoman and secretary treasurer.
Retiree Council Chairman Bob Hopper
Retired from the Department of Motor Vehicles with 30 years of service, Hopper is a Hickory resident and District 9 member. He has been a SEANC member for 50 years. On the statewide level he has served as Retiree Council chairman for the past five years, State Nomination Committee chairman, Member Discount Committee chairman, and as a member of the Credentialing and Blue Ribbon Committees. On the district level he has served in multiple capacities.
Western Region Representative/ District 7, Henry Belada
A retired Department of Health and Human Services employee with 30 years of state service and a resident of Morganton, Belada has been a SEANC member for 18 years. He has served as district chairman several times and as state Member Discount Committee chairman
Piedmont Region Representative/ District 19, Angela Lyght
A Durham resident, she is an HR Facilitator at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Lyght has been a state employee for 18 years and a member of SEANC for 8 years. On the statewide level, she has served as a member of the Youth Council, Communications Committee and Minority Council. At the district level she has served as secretary, second vice chairwoman, first vice chairwoman and on all district committees.
South Central Region Representative/ District 37, Joseph Qubain
A Planning Engineer for the Department of Transportation, Qubain has been a state employee and a member of SEANC for 20 years. He is a resident of Raleigh and has served on EMPAC, the Insurance Board of Trustees and is a past district chairman.
North Central Region Representative/ District 47, Doranna Anderson
A 14-year state employee and SEANC member, Anderson is the Oral Health Education and Promotion branch head for the Department of Health and Human Services. A Raleigh resident, she served her district as vice chairwoman, secretary, treasurer and chairwoman of the Scholarship, Communications and Retiree committees. She is a member of EMPAC Area 10. This is her second term as the North Central Region Representative to the Executive Committee.
Eastern Region Representative/ District 64, Gene Mills
A retired state employee of 32 years, Mills is a 29-year SEANC member who resides in Greenville. She has served as district chairwoman and vice chairwoman. She is also a member of her districts’ Policy Platform, EMPAC and Bylaws committees.
District 12, Jim Rowell
A retired Department of Correction employee with 28 years of state service and SEANC membership, Rowell is a resident of Marshville. He has served as state Parliamentarian five times, district chairman 12 times and on the state Bylaws Committee.
District 13, Sue Eldridge
A retired state employee with eight years of service, Eldridge has been a SEANC member for 12 years. She is a Charlotte resident and has served as Membership chairwoman, secretary and vice chairwoman on the district level.
District 16, Melva Daniels
A retired state employee with 30 years of state service and 20 years as a SEANC member, Daniels is a Winston-Salem resident. She has served as district secretary, membership recruitment chairwoman, a member of the state Member Discount committee and EMPAC.
District 17, Wayne Talbert
An Assistant Superintendent of Custody for the Department of Correction, he has 28 years of state service and SEANC membership. Talbert is a resident of Yanceyville, he has previously served as district chairman and state membership chairman.
District 18, Larry Miller
A Lieutenant with the Department of Correction and a resident of Hamlet, Miller has been a SEANC member and state employee for 18 years. He previously served as a member of EMPAC.
District 20, Cliff Brown
As a retired Department of Correction employee and a resident of Aberdeen, Brown has 21 years of state service and has been a SEANC member for 25 years. At the statewide level, he has served as president for two terms, first vice president, second vice president and Area 8 EMPAC chairman.
District 21, Joel Valentine
A Maintenance Mechanic II for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Parks and Recreation, Valentine has been a state employee and a SEANC member for 10 years. He is a resident of Manson and has served as his district’s chairman and Policy Platform Committee chairman.
District 22, Michele Shaw
A Lillington resident and Correctional Sergeant for the Department of Correction, she has been a state employee and SEANC member for seven years. She has previously served as a member of the Youth Council.
District 23, Jeremy Register
A resident of Whiteville, Register is a Transportation Supervisor for the Department of Transportation. He has been a state employee and SEANC member for 14 years. He has served as his district’s chairman, vice chairman and as chairman of his district’s Bylaws and Membership committees.
District 24, Terry Baker
Retired from state government with 14 years of service, Baker is a resident of Elizabethtown. During his 14 years of SEANC membership, he has served as district chairman and treasurer and as chairman of his district’s Policy Platform, Membership and Fundraising committees.
District 25, Jonathan Stephenson
A Program Assistant at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Stephenson is a resident of Durham. He has been a state employee and SEANC member for five years. On the statewide level he has served as Collective Bargaining Committee chairman and on the Planning Committee and Youth Council.
District 26, Stacy Dowdy
A Butner resident employed with the Department of Correction, Dowdy has been with state government and a member of SEANC for nine years. She served her district as vice chairwoman and Fundraising Committee chairwoman.
2010 - 2011 board of governors
District 27, Gracie LeSane
A Durham resident, LeSane is an Endowment Accountant at North Carolina Central University. She has been a state employee for seven years and a SEANC member for six. LeSane has served as district chairwoman and district Scholarship chairwoman.
District 36, Bruce Dixon
A Wake Forest resident, he is a Nursing Educator for the Department of Health and Human Services’ Dorothea Dix Hospital. He has been a state employee for 23 years and a SEANC member for 20 years. He has served on his district’s Awards, Planning and Bylaws committees.
District 38, C.J. Stephens A Lieutenant for the State Highway Patrol and resident of Raleigh, Stephens has been employed with the state for 22 years and a member of SEANC for 17 years. During his membership he has served as district chairman, Minority Council member and Insurance Board of Trustees representative.
District 39, Art Anthony
A state employee for 20 years and a SEANC member for 15, Anthony is a Research Specialist for North Carolina State University and a Raleigh resident. On the statewide level, he has served as Policy Platform Committee chairman, general treasurer and on the Insurance Board of Trustees.
District 40, Anne Brown
A state employee and SEANC member for 16 years, Brown is a Personnel Analyst at the Department of Correction. A resident of Mebane, Brown has served her district as vice chairwoman and EMPAC memberat-large.
District 41, Mike Gould
A Raleigh resident, he is a Probation/ Parole Officer II for Wake County. Gould has 12 years of state employment and 10 years of SEANC membership. At the district level he has served as chairman and Bylaws chairman. On the statewide level he has served on the Policy Platform, Advisory and Collective Bargaining committees and EMPAC.
District 42, Betty Jones
A resident of Zebulon and a Financial Analyst for the Department of Health and Human Services, she has 27 years of state service and 22 years of SEANC membership. She has served her district as chairwoman, nominating chairwoman and as an EMPAC member.
District 43, Nicole Hunter A Driver License Examiner for the Department of Motor Vehicles, Hunter has been a state employee for 10 years and a SEANC member for nine years. She is a resident of Raleigh and on the state level has served on the Insurance Board of Trustees and as Youth Council chairwoman. At the district level she has served as Bylaws chairwoman and on the Scholarship and Fundraising committees.
District 44, Sandra JohnsonLemon A Policy and Process Administrator and EEO Officer for the State Treasurers’ office, she has been a state employee and SEANC member for five years. Johnson-Lemon has served as state EMPAC secretary and on the state Scholarship Foundation and Minority Council. At the district level she has served as vice chairwoman and communications chairwoman.
District 45, Jonathan Williams With 11 years of state service and SEANC membership, Williams is a Correctional Sergeant for the Department of Correction. A resident of Apex, he has previously served as his district’s chairman.
District 46, Sharon Dobson A Raleigh resident with 12 years of state employment and SEANC membership, Dobson has served on the Planning Committee and the MAT Committee.
District 56, Michael Johnson
With 22 years of state service and 21 years as a SEANC member, Johnson is a Program Director for the Criminal Justice Partnership Program in the Department of Correction. A Kelford resident, he has served SEANC as a member of the Policy Platform Committee.
District 57, Darius McLaurin A Knightdale resident and Assistant Director of Administrative Services for the Department of Correction Division of Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency Program, McLaurin has 16 years of state service. During his four years of SEANC membership, he has served on his district’s EMPAC and as a convention
District 59, John Miller
A Housekeeping Administrator II for the Department of Health and Human Services at Cherry Hospital, he has been with the state for 37 years and SEANC for 35 years. He has served his district as vice chairman and treasurer, and has been a member of numerous committees. On the state level he served as Eastern Region Representative to the Executive Committee. He is from LaGrange.
District 60, Hiawatha Jones A Teacher for the Department of Health and Human Services’ O’Berry Neuro Medical Center with 32 years of state service and SEANC membership, Jones is a resident of Goldsboro. At the district level she has served as chairwoman, communications and scholarship chairwoman. On the statewide level she has served on the Communications and Policy Platform committees.
District 61, Michael Bell
A Correctional Administrator at Pender Correctional Institution, Bell is a Warsaw resident with more than 37 years of state service and 35 years of SEANC membership. He has served 12 years on the Scholarship Foundation Board, 10 years as the chairman. Additionally, Bell has served as his district chairman, vice chairman and secretary-treasurer.
District 62, Lewis Sasser
Sasser is a retired Investigator for the Department of Insurance with 35 years of state service and 38 years as a SEANC member. He has served as his district chairman, vice chairman, bylaws chairman and policy platform chairman. On the state level he has served on the Retiree Council, Collective Bargaining, Awards, Planning, Policy Platform and Blue Ribbon committees.
Compiled by Amber ernst
