Scoop December 2012

State Employees Association of North Carolina The SEANC Scoop December 7, 2012 SEANC Stands Up for Retirement Against Mary Easley's Pension Settlement

SEANC took on the Easleys yet again this week, when Legislative Affairs Director Ardis Watkins stood up for the retirement of hardworking state employees after it was announced that Gov. Mike Easley’s wife Mary had reached a settlement with the state that would more than double her pension from her time at N.C. State University. Watkins pointed out that the settlement is ironic because Easley harmed the state pension plan as governor by diverting appropriations from it and by not funding it at required amounts, adding, “This settlement will cost the retirement system far more than it will the university. As governor, Mike Easley neglected the retirement system and even diverted money from it for other purposes, showing no respect for the system or those state employees working to fund it."

Click here to read the November Reporter!

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SEANC Welcomes New Members

SEANC’s Member Action Department recruited 38 new members this week at worksites across the state.

Recruiters made stops at the Department of Public Safety’s basic training in Raeford and Asheboro, the North Carolina Justice Academy, courthouses in Harnett and Randolph counties, Community Corrections in Davidson and Randolph counties, Randolph Community College, Harnett Correctional Institution, the N.C. College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Transportation office in Forsyth County, Cherry Hospital and Vocational Rehabilitation in Raleigh. Also, 18 new members signed up using SEANC’s online application. If you would like for a member action coordinator to visit your agency, please contact Member Action Director Lynn Cote.

Send Us Your Holiday Pictures!

SEANC District 65's work to brighten the holidays for nursing home residents was highlighted by the Daily Reflector this week. If your district undertakes a similar project at the holidays, please let us know! Send pictures of members representing SEANC in parades, doing charity work or other activities to SEANC’s Communications Department for publication on SEANC’s Facebook page, website and in the February edition of The Reporter. Please include the names of all members pictured as well as the date and location of the event.

Member Discount: PerksConnect Mobile

Still got a few items left on the shopping list? Let SEANC’s partnership with PerksConnect help you get the best deals in town this year. Download the PerksConnect App specifically designed for SEANC members and find all the discounts around you, no matter where you are in North Carolina and beyond. The app is available for both Apple and Android devices.

SEANC Hot Spots:

Member Discounts SEANC in the News SEANC Insurance Update Your Contact Info Calendar of Events www.seanc.org 800-222-2758

State Employees Association of North Carolina The SEANC Scoop December 14, 2012 McCrory Names Heads of DHHS and DENR

Governor-elect Pat McCrory announced three members of his administration on Thursday. Thomas Stith will serve as his Chief of Staff, Former US Ambassador to Estonia Aldona Wos will head the Department of Health and Human Services, and John Skvarla, CEO of Restoration Systems, will head the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Also this week, SEANC released a statement to WRAL-TV regarding an investigative report on a former state employee who is being forced to reimburse the state retirement system more than $60,000 because he worked for a private company after he retired.

Click here to read the December Reporter!

SEANC's Central Office will be closed Dec. 2426

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Medicare Drug Coverage to Change

The State Health Plan will implement a new Medicare Part D prescription drug plan for Medicare-eligible members effective January 1, 2013. The plan offered by Express Scripts includes no premium, and all eligible retirees are enrolled in it unless you opt out before the start date.

SEANC has compiled some important “things to know” regarding the plan and the coverage it provides here. For more information, see the State Health Plan’s website or contact Express Scripts directly at 877-680-4882.

Send Us Your Holiday Pictures!

SEANC District 63 (pictured) gathered items to brighten the holidays of three families in eastern North Carolina this week. If your district undertakes a similar project at the holidays, please let us know! Send pictures of members representing SEANC in parades, doing charity work or other activities to SEANC’s Communications Department for publication on SEANC’s Facebook page, website and in the February edition of The Reporter. Please include the names of all members pictured as well as the date and location of the event.

Member Discount: SONIC

Need to refuel while picking up those last-minute items on your shopping list? Use your SEANC membership to receive 10 percent off your order at SONIC locations around the state. For details, visit PerksConnect's website and search for a SONIC location near you.

SEANC Hot Spots:

Member Discounts SEANC in the News SEANC Insurance Update Your Contact Info Calendar of Events www.seanc.org 800-222-2758

State Employees Association of North Carolina The SEANC Scoop December 21, 2012 SEANC Points Out That Pensions are Earned, Not Given as a Taxpayer Gift

SEANC Legislative Affairs Director Ardis Watkins was interviewed this week by WECT-TV in Wilmington on state employees’ rights to receive their pensions after being convicted of a crime that does not pertain to their job. Watkins pointed out that state employees contribute far more to their pensions than taxpayers do, adding that it “is not a gift from taxpayers to employees, these employees have earned their retirement. If the crime has nothing to do with the employment of the person, it seems like it would certainly be far reaching for the state to try to take action in that regard."

Click here to read the December Reporter!

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McCrory Fills More Holes in Administration

Governor-elect Pat McCrory made more cabinet appointments on Thursday, naming former prosecutor Kieran Shanahan to head the Department of Public Safety, former Salisbury Mayor Susan Kluttz to head the Department of Cultural Resources and Lyons Gray, a former state lawmaker, to head the Department of Revenue. Art Pope will serve as Deputy Budget Director. He still has three positions to fill at the departments of administration, commerce and transportation. McCrory will take the oath of office on Jan. 5 in the Old Senate Chamber of the State Capitol and the General Assembly will convene on Jan. 9.

Happy Holidays from SEANC!

SEANC’s Central Office in Raleigh will be closed Monday through Wednesday for holiday observances. Also, please continue to send pictures of members representing SEANC in parades, doing charity work or other activities to SEANC’s Communications Department for publication on SEANC’s Facebook page, website and in the February edition of The Reporter.

Please include the names of all members pictured as well as the date and location of the event.

Member Discount: AAA Carolinas

Traveling for the holidays? Travel safer by becoming an AAA member at a low price! SEANC members receive $10 off first-time enrollment. If you are already an AAA member, you can receive $10 off gift memberships for family and friends. See this form for more details.

SEANC Hot Spots:

Member Discounts SEANC in the News SEANC Insurance Update Your Contact Info Calendar of Events www.seanc.org 800-222-2758