November 2017 • Vol. 36, Issue 1
REPORTER UE
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State Employees Association of North Carolina
Check out how delegates "Took the LEAP" inside
Delegates at the 34th Annual SEANC Convention elected officers for 20172018 on Sept. 8 in Greensboro. The officers were sworn in on Sept. 9. Their terms began on Oct. 1, 2017. The 2017-18 officers are: President — Stanley Drewery of District 67 was re-elected to a one-year term. He retired with 30 years of state service with both the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Safety and was awarded the Order of Long Leaf Pine for his service. He has been a member of SEANC for 35 years. He is a veteran and served seven years in the Army National Guard. He is a Grifton resident. First Vice President — Darius McLaurin of District 40 was elected to a one-year term. He has been a SEANC member for 12 years and has worked for the state for 24 years. McLaurin currently is the Chief Business Officer at the Governor Morehead School in the Department of Public Instruction. He holds a bachelor’s degree from
SARA COWELL COBURN
Delegates elect statewide officers for 2017-18
SEANC’s statewide officers are (from left) President Stanley Drewery, First Vice President Darius McLaurin, Second Vice President Jimmy Davis, General Treasurer Chevella Thomas and Past President Ross Hailey.
Johnson C. Smith University. He resides in Raleigh. Second Vice President — Jimmy Davis of District 4 was elected to a one-year term. Davis is a 28.5-year state employee and 28-year SEANC member. He is a Probation/Parole officer for the Department of Public Safety. He is a Forest City resident. General Treasurer — Chevella Thomas of District 27 was re-elected to a one-year term. She is retired with 33 years of state service with N.C. Central University’s Division of Administration
and Finance and is a 32-year SEANC member. She holds bachelor’s degrees in accounting and management and a master’s degree in information sciences. She resides in Durham. Ross Hailey of Washington serves as Immediate Past President. Delegates also heard speeches from Gov. Roy Cooper and State Treasurer Dale Folwell, voted on bylaws changes, and contributed more than $15,000 to set up a fund to help families of members in need because of natural disasters or death while on the job.
Two state employees killed in prison break attempt, fire The dangers facing our correctional officers and support staff at our prisons each day was brought to light again on Oct. 12, when two state employees at Pasquotank Correctional Institution in Elizabeth City were killed in an apparent prison break. Justin Smith, a correctional officer and District 69 member, and Veronica Darden, manager of the Correction
Enterprises sewing plant, were killed as inmates set fire to the plant. Three other employees remained in critical condition as of presstime, and seven were treated for injuries and released. For years, SEANC has implored legislators to take correctional officer safety seriously. A correctional officer is attacked every eight hours in this state. SEANC President Stanley Drewery
issued a statement saying, “we pray someone in power will finally care enough to do something.” “Every day thousands of brave men and women go to work in our prisons to protect us all from dangerous criminals...It’s past time for the state to give these heroes the resources, training and manpower to ensure that they return home safely.”