Scoop June 2016

email : Webview : Senate passes budget with no across-the-board raises, COLAs

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Friday, June 3, 2016

SENATE PASSES BUDGET WITH NO ACROSS-THE-BOARD RAISES, COLAS As expected, the Senate rushed its budget proposal through this week, giving the final OK to it after midnight this morning, and it is a bad deal for state employees and retirees.

The Senate has opted to go with something they call “performance raises” rather than real across-the-board increases for state employees. For retirees, the news is even worse. The Senate didn’t including a cost-ofliving adjustment at all in its proposal.

If you will recall, the House approved a modest but reasonable 2-percent pay raise and $500 bonus for state employees and a 1.6-percent COLA for retirees. Click below to watch an interview with Sen. Erica Smith-Ingram (D-Northampton) who bravely brought

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email : Webview : Senate passes budget with no across-the-board raises, COLAs

forth an amendment Thursday to include the House’s proposal in the Senate budget. The amendment was gutted in favor of a Republican senator’s pet project.

Also this week at the legislature, SEANC members turned out in bunches at Tuesday’s House Pensions and Retirement Committee meeting to oppose two aspects of a retirement bill that was harmful to future retirees and SEANC. One part of the bill would have taken away retirees’ rights to have association dues, PAC donations and even insurance premiums easily deducted from their pension checks each month. Another would have set a minimum retirement age of 55 for new hires.

Thanks to the support of Rep. Pat Hurley and Rep. Jeff Elmore, both provisions were removed.

Click below to watch this week’s Legislative Update, or read more on these topics here.

BOWL-A-THON A HIT ONCE AGAIN The SEANC Scholarship Foundation held its third annual Bowl-a-thon on May 14 in Raleigh. Thanks to the support of many, this tournament was a great success, netted

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email : Webview : Senate passes budget with no across-the-board raises, COLAs

$4,457 for the Scholarship Foundation, including $1,171 from the silent auction! Thank you to all of our sponsors.

CORPORATE SPONSORS Doug Sutton Insurance Colonial Life LANE SPONSORS Districts 12, 39, 56, 61 TEAM SPONSORS Districts 1, 3, 16, 19, 21, 38, 44, 47, 60 , 65 Wayne Fish Mitch Leonard Chuck Stone Special thanks to our Scholarship Foundation Board and SEANC Office Staff. This year’s annual scholarship application judging was held May 24-26. Winners will be announced in June, and a total of $38,500 in scholarships will be rewarded.

EVERYONE WINS WITH SEANC RECRUITING! SEANC added 66 new members in the past week, including workers from the departments of Department of Administration, Burke County Schools, Cultural Resources, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Transportation, East Carolina University, the Administrative offices of the Courts, NC State University, Pitt County Schools, UNC Hospitals, UNC-Asheville, UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC-Greensboro, Vance County Schools, and Winston Salem State University.

The Membership Committee recently increased incentives payments for recruiting new members. Until July 22, members receive $5 for every new member they sign up. Also, the committee approved a new membership challenge until July 22 as well. The first 20 people to schedule a membership recruitment event will receive $25, and anyone who schedules an event before July 22 will be entered in a drawing for $250. Contact the Member Relations Department schedule your event today!

BUY YOUR TICKET TO WIN SOME CASH! Tickets for the annual Scholarship Foundation cash raffle are now on sale! See your District Chairperson to purchase a raffle tickets for $1. Prizes once again total $10,000 this year, with all proceeds going to the scholarship fund which allows the foundation to award SEANC members and their dependents scholarships annually. The drawing will be held at the SEANC Convention on Saturday, Sept. 10. Don't know how to contact your District Chairperson? Click here.

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email : Webview : Senate passes budget with no across-the-board raises, COLAs

FAMILY FUN AT TWEETSIE RAILROAD Looking for a family-friendly vacation this summer? Visit Tweetsie Railroad, located between Boone and Blowing Rock. The entire family can enjoy train rides, live shows and enjoy visiting the goats, emus, deer and more! Finish your day with rides at the County Fair and Miner’s Mountain. Purchase discounted tickets at any State Employees’ Credit Union branch.

Please note: Tickets purchased at the State Employees’ Credit Union are NOT VALID for Day out With Thomas (June 10-19).

SOMETHING TO QUACK ABOUT! SEANC members can enroll in supplemental insurance with Aflac, which helps provide a safety net for you and your family. Aflac offers insurance for the cost of daily living paying you cash to help with life's unexpected expenses.

The plans offered to SEANC members are: Group Critical Illness Insurance, Group Accident Insurance, Group Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Group Disability Insurance and Group Whole Life Insurance, which can be accessed through SEANC's Insurance page, and through Aflac.

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email : Webview : RETIREES STAND UP FOR COLAs

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Friday, June 10, 2016

RETIREES STAND UP FOR COLAs AS BUDGET DEBATE ENTERS HOME STRETCH The tide seemed to turn this week in favor of across-the-board raises for state employees and retiree cost-of-living adjustments thanks to the efforts of SEANC lobbyists and members who contacted their legislators.

As expected, the House unanimously rejected the Senate’s budget proposal on Wednesday, and both sides named conferees who will work out a compromise.

The Senate and the governor both proposed performance increases rather than across-the-board raises that were in the House budget. SEANC is more optimistic than ever that the House may just win out and state employees will get some of the across-the-board increases they deserve.

The retiree cost-of-living adjustments are not dead, either. Thankfully, around 50 retired SEANC members turned out at the legislature on Wednesday to stand up for the need https://t.e2ma.net/message/3af6l/7d8p4i[7/25/2016 9:51:01 AM]

email : Webview : RETIREES STAND UP FOR COLAs

for a COLA for all retirees.

Click below to watch a video wrap-up of the day. Click here to read this week’s Legislative Update.

Click below to watch the full conversation with Sen. Erica Smith-Ingram, who last week stood up for state employees and retirees in the Senate budget debate.

SEANC IN THE NEWS

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email : Webview : RETIREES STAND UP FOR COLAs

SEANC members discussed the budget in news stories like this one from the News & Observer featuring SEANC Government Relations Director Ardis Watkins and SEANC North Central Region Representative Wendell Powell.

Powell eloquently described the problems that correctional officers in the Department of Public Safety run into because of rapid turnover thanks mostly to the lack of pay raises year after year – a problem facing workers in all departments.

“You have new officers training new officers,” he says. “You need those guys who’ve been here 10 and 20 years to teach them the unwritten rules, the dos and don’ts. (New officers) don’t understand inmate behavior. They don’t know how things work, and that opens up the department for more lawsuits or mistakes.”

Also this week, Watkins was quoted in a news story from WBTV in Charlotte on the continued failures of the state retirement system. She pointed out that state Treasurer Janet Cowell has made decisions with pension money – including paying large fees to Wall Street on risky investments – that haven’t paid off and have put retirees in jeopardy.

“The returns on the pension fund have not been anywhere near what we would have wanted to see but, more importantly, they're not near what other large pension funds are returning,” Watkins said. “We're basically a ‘D’ student when it comes to performance.”

SEANC has endorsed Dale Folwell to take Cowell’s place because he plans to put our money in safer investments. He doesn’t feel the status quo is acceptable, unlike his opponent, who Cowell has endorsed.

HELP KEEP WATCH OVER SEANC FINANCES The SEANC Audit Committee, created by the 2015 Convention to monitor the association’s finances, is seeking qualified members to fill current vacancies, as well as candidates for the committee to be voted on at the 2016 Convention. Please submit a letter and resume to the Audit Committee if you are interested in serving on this important committee, which meets six times a year to review the finances of both the central office and each district. The committee’s next meeting is Aug. 9.

To qualify, members must possess a background in finance or money management.

Also, the committee has created an email address where members can anonymously report potential financial problems at any level in the organization. To report a problem, email auditcommittee@seanc.org.

EVERYONE WINS WITH SEANC RECRUITING! SEANC added 101 new members in the past week, including workers from the departments of Administration, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Justice,

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email : Webview : RETIREES STAND UP FOR COLAs

Public Instruction, Public Safety and Transportation, the Administrative Offices of the Courts, East Carolina University, N.C. State University, Winston-Salem State University, Robeson Community College, South Piedmont Community College, Western Piedmont Community College, UNC Hospitals and schools in Burke, Johnston and Wake counties.

The Membership Committee recently increased incentive payments for recruiting new members. Until July 22, members receive $5 for every new member they sign up. Also, the committee approved a new membership challenge until July 22 as well. The first 20 people to schedule a membership recruitment event will receive $25, and anyone who schedules an event before July 22 will be entered in a drawing for $250. Contact the Member Relations Department to schedule your event today!

BUY YOUR TICKET TO WIN SOME CASH! Tickets for the annual Scholarship Foundation cash raffle are now on sale! See your District Chairperson to purchase a raffle ticket for $1. Prizes once again total $10,000 this year, with all proceeds going to the scholarship fund which allows the foundation to award SEANC members and their dependents scholarships annually. The drawing will be held at the SEANC Convention on Saturday, Sept. 10. Don't know how to contact your District Chairperson? Click here.

YOU BELONG IN A ZOO - OR AQUARIUM - THIS SUMMER! Looking for a great day trip with the family this summer? Check out the NC Zoo or NC Aquariums! Show your SEANC membership card to save on admission tickets.

Questions? Contact a Member Services Program Specialist at 800-222-2758.

LET INFOARMOR PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY! If you plan on shopping online this year, then you will want to be sure you're protected against identity theft. SEANC members can enroll today at a special discount price with InfoArmor!

Enroll today to receive the following: Proactive identity monitoring, including High Risk Transaction monitoring Credit monitoring, monthly credit scores and an annual credit report Fully-managed Privacy Advocate Identity Restoration WalletArmor to make replacing a lost wallet quick and easy Digital Identity report with Privacy Grade and tips Solicitation reduction And more!

Click here to learn more or call InforArmor at 800-789-2720, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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email : Webview : State employees and retirees should be a priority in budget debate

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Friday, June 17, 2016

STATE EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES SHOULD BE A PRIORITY IN BUDGET DEBATE The House and Senate continue to iron out the details of the state budget behind closed doors, and SEANC’s lobbyists are not happy about what they are hearing.

Rumor has it that state employee pay raises and retiree cost-of-living adjustments are not the priority they should be in the negotiations.

In fact, some have suggested that retirees will get as little as a one-time bonus of $352, which would do little more than pay for a month of groceries after taxes.

Active employees are also on the back burner, apparently. We need you to tell them to make state employees and retirees a priority. There’s more than enough surplus this year to finally recognize our hard work. We continue to fall further behind each year there’s no pay increase or COLA. Please contact your legislator today and tell them it is unacceptable to leave state

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email : Webview : State employees and retirees should be a priority in budget debate

employees and retirees out in the cold once again. We are a priority. Click here to find your legislators’ contact information.

As SEANC Lobbyist Flint Benson says in the video below, “They need to know that your vote in November depends on their vote in June.”

Also this week, Benson speaks with longtime SEANC member and Rep. Gary Pendleton (R-Wake) about prioritizing state employee issues, including the fighting of more cuts at the Department of Transportation. Pendleton was named EMPAC’s Freshman Legislator of the Year in 2015 for his efforts.

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SEANC SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 47 WINNERS The SEANC Scholarship Foundation recently announced the 2016 recipients of the SEANC Scholarship Program. 47 scholarships totaling $38,500 were awarded to active and associate members, their spouses and their dependent children. Click here to view the 2016 Scholarship Recipients.

The SEANC Scholarship Foundation offers renewable scholarships in three categories: financial need, merit-based and member-only. For more information about SEANC Scholarships visit https://www.seanc.org/scholarship.

The scholarships awarded by the SEANC Scholarship Foundation and the individual districts are one of the association's largest benefits for members. Each year, applications are available in January and are due by April 15. Special thanks to the members of our SEANC Scholarship Foundation board for their time and services. If you have any additional questions about scholarships please contact Celia Wilson at (919) 833-6436 or cwilson@seanc.org.

RETIREMENT SYSTEM CONTINUES TO UNDERPERFORM News was released this week that the state retirement systems continue to underperform under the leadership of state Treasurer Janet Cowell. The systems returned just 1 percent for the quarter ending March 31; well below its benchmark goal, and reported a loss of 0.7 percent for the prior to that date. When you’re talking about an $86.7 billion fund, that’s a lot of money!

The average return for all public pension plans nationwide was 1.25 percent in the quarter. If our fund performance had just been average, there would be $212 million more in the fund – more than enough to pay for COLAs this year.

SEANC has argued all along that the system is paying too much in fees to Wall Street and investing too much of retirees’ hard-earned dollars in risky hedge funds and other “alternative investments.”

EMPAC has endorsed Dale Folwell to take Cowell’s place because he plans to bring management of the fund in-house and not be beholding to Wall Street, unlike his opponent, who Cowell has endorsed because he is committed to the status quo, which is a losing proposition for state retirees.

ATTENTION DISTRICT CHAIRPERSONS AND SECRETARIES An email that included convention registration links was emailed to all district chairpersons and secretaries on June 6th. The email included links to register district tables, hospitality suites, raffle information as well as an attached printable file to complete delegate registration for the convention. If you are a district chairperson or secretary and did not receive this email, please contact Alicia Miller

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email : Webview : State employees and retirees should be a priority in budget debate

at amiller@seanc.org or 919-833-6436.

EVERYONE WINS WITH SEANC RECRUITING! SEANC added 28 new members in the past week, including workers from the departments of Administration, Environmental Quality, Health and Human Services and Public Safety, the Division of Employment Security, the Community Colleges System, James Sprunt Technical College and the Administrative Offices of the Courts.

The Membership Committee recently increased incentives payments for recruiting new members. Until July 22, members receive $5 for every new member they sign up. Also, the committee approved a new membership challenge until July 22 as well. The first 20 people to schedule a membership recruitment event will receive $25, and anyone who schedules an event before July 22 will be entered in a drawing for $250. Contact the Member Relations Department schedule your event today!

BEAT THE HEAT THIS SUMMER! Summer is here and it's time to take advantage of SEANC's great deals at area water parks. Hit the waves at Jungle Rapids in Wilmington, Myrtle Waves in Myrtle Beach, or at Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe in Greensboro.

Be sure to check the parks' websites for hours and dates of operation. Members can purchase discount tickets for these water parks at any State Employees' Credit Union Branch (SECU). Click here to find a SECU branch near you.

SEANC members can purchase discounted tickets to Water Country USA in Williamsburg, VA., through the SEANC website or by calling the SEANC office and speaking with a Member Services Program Specialist at 800-222-2758.

SHOW YOUR PETS HOW MUCH YOU

♥ THEM

We love them like family, and now you can purchase VPI insurance to help take care of medical expenses for your pets. Coverage is available for dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets, plus optional wellness care coverage reimbursement for vaccinations, flea/tick preventive and more. Policyholders are free to use any veterinarian worldwide —even specialists and emergency care providers.

Members can enroll at any time. Call 877-738-7874 today for a free quote or click here to view a list of covered services and more information.

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email : Webview : SENATE HOLDING OUT ON PAY RAISES, COLAs

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Friday, June 24, 2016

SENATE CONTINUES TO HOLD OUT ON PAY RAISES, COLAs IN BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS https://t.e2ma.net/message/nm59l/7d8p4i[7/25/2016 9:48:05 AM]

email : Webview : SENATE HOLDING OUT ON PAY RAISES, COLAs

Budget negotiations are almost complete.

Legislators are getting antsy, and the only thing holding them back from going home are state employee raises and retiree cost-ofliving adjustments.

Lawmakers on both sides insist they will finish the budget in the coming week, with a goal of leaving town before the July 4 holiday. And yet, they continue to make this whole thing harder on themselves than it has to be.

As you know, the House included a modest 2-percent raise and $500 bonus for active employees and a 1.6-percent COLA for retirees in its budget. But while conservatives harp on a supposed $1.2 billion surplus they have built, Senate leaders are steadfast in their opposition to raises for state employees and COLAs for retirees.

It should be a no-brainer for them. Pay raises and COLAs would cost less than 20percent of that surplus. To not get increases with such a large surplus would be outrageous.

It’s time for SEANC members to appeal to a higher power. And it’s time for that higher power to come through for us. We're talking, of course, about Gov. Pat McCrory.

We need you to contact Gov. McCrory directly and demand he put pressure on the Senate to see the light. The governor, after all, has the power to veto the budget.

Demand that Gov. McCrory support the House's proposal at a minimum.

As District 39 member Mark Dearmon says in the video below, it's time to contact the governor at 919-814-2000 or visit https://governor.nc.gov/contact/email-governor to tell him that state employees and retirees deserve to be a part of the "Carolina Comeback" that has up to now left us out!

As SEANC Lobbyist Suzanne Beasley said in the video above, “It’s hot in Raleigh, but we can turn the heat up a little more on them. Please call.” Click here to find your legislator’s contact information, and please contact them as well this weekend before it’s too late. Click here for this week's Legislative Update.

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email : Webview : SENATE HOLDING OUT ON PAY RAISES, COLAs

89 NEW MEMBERS CHOSE THE #SEANCROUTE DURING BUNCOMBE COUNTY BLITZ!

One week, 10 stops, a BBQ food truck and 89 new members sum up SEANC’s fantastic week in Buncombe County. This week, SEANC made ten stops across Buncombe County at the Children's Developmental Services Agency, Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Juvenile Justice, Buncombe County Clerk of Court's Office, Division of Community Corrections, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and the Asheville Department of Motor Vehicles.

In addition to making stops at state agency offices, SEANC greeted members with breakfast at Dunkin Donuts in Swannanoa, provided lunch via Appalachian Smoke BBQ food truck across from the Black Mountain Neuro Medical Treatment Center, and

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email : Webview : SENATE HOLDING OUT ON PAY RAISES, COLAs

wrapped up the week with a "40 and Under" event at Bonfire BBQ. SEANC sends a special thanks to District 2 members for their hard work, ensuring a successful week. Thanks to everyone in Buncombe County who made us feel so welcome.

Don’t forget, members receive $5 for every new member they sign up until July 22. The first 20 people to schedule a membership recruitment event will receive $25 and entered in a drawing for $250 until July 22. Contact the Member Relations Department to schedule your event today!

KEEP WATCH OVER SEANC FINANCES The SEANC Audit Committee, created by the 2015 Convention to monitor the association’s finances, is seeking qualified members to fill current vacancies, as well as candidates for the committee to be voted on at the 2016 Convention. Please submit a letter and resume to Director of Operations Chuck Stone if you are interested in serving on this important committee, which meets six times a year to review the finances of both the central office and each district.

To qualify, members must possess a background in finance or money management.

Also, the committee has created an email address where members can anonymously report potential financial problems at any level in the organization. To report a problem, email auditcommittee@seanc.org.

HYATT LEGAL PLANS Need to prepare a will or sell your home? The Hyatt Legal Plan fully covers attorney fees for services such as preparation of wills, powers of attorney, living wills, real estate transactions, traffic ticket defense and much more.

The plan provides easy access to a national network of experienced attorneys and coverage for the most frequently needed personal legal services.

The cost is $12.95 per month and click here for more information or to enroll today.

SAVE ON YOUR AUTO INSURANCE WITH METLIFE! Traveling this summer? Make the most of your SEANC Benefits and take advantage of competitive rates on your auto insurance with MetLife. MetLife Auto offers RV & motorcycle insurance, as well as boat insurance, so you're protected, whatever you're driving.

Take advantage of their convenient payment plan through payroll deduction. Call 800438-6388 for more information and to receive a free quote.

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email : Webview : SENATE HOLDING OUT ON PAY RAISES, COLAs

ATTENTION DISTRICT CHAIRPERSONS AND SECRETARIESÂ An email that included convention registration links was emailed to all district chairpersons and secretaries on June 6th. The email included links to register district tables, hospitality suites, raffle information as well as an attached printable file to complete delegate registration for the convention. If you are a district chairperson or secretary and did not receive this email, please contact Alicia Miller at amiller@seanc.org or 919-833-6436.

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