Scoop January 2015 by SEANC

The SEANC Scoop STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION OF NORTH CAROLINA IMPORTANT LINKS Jan. 2, 2015

Member-Only Discounts SEANC Insurance SEANC in the News Update Contact Info Calendar of Events The Reporter

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2015! Once again we’ve made it through one year and are at the beginning of another. The start of a new year is always exciting and this one is no different. SEANC ended 2014 on a very high note. The year saw the release of an important investigation into the state’s pension system that exposed a system of secret contracts and high hidden fees that have provided the impetus for a movement toward true pension reform and transparency. The year also saw SEANC secure the highest overall compensation increase for state employees since 2008, a cost-of-living adjustment for retirees and the continued protection of worker rights. Finally, SEANC’s convention delegates elected an enthusiastic, positive and capable group of leaders to the Executive Committee. As SEANC looks forward to the challenges ahead in 2015, I know we are in good hands under the leadership of President Wayne Fish, First Vice President Ross Hailey, Second Vice President Stanley Drewery and General Treasurer Gloria Evans.

Bowling for Scholarships! Come join us for our second annual SEANC Scholarship Foundation Bowl-a-Thon! Register as a team or as an individual for one of two flights (1-3 p.m. & 3-5 p.m.) on Saturday, Feb. 28 at Buffaloe Lanes North in Raleigh. There also will be a silent auction with

In 2015, SEANC will continue to fight for North Carolina’s vital public services and the people who provide them. We will continue to advocate against privatization efforts and the giveaway of taxpayer dollars to corporate good ol’ boys. We will continue our efforts to protect state employee rights and due process. And, most of all, we will tell your story – the story of the people who make North Carolina great and who keep us safe and healthy every day – as we advocate for your salary increases and cost-of-living adjustments. The goal this year is a minimum 5 percent. And, just as important as our legislative goals, SEANC will be working harder than ever this year to increase its membership – not only to ensure SEANC’s future viability, but also to strengthen our voice in the General Assembly.

items from the Carolina Panthers, the Carolina Hurricanes, Dave & Busters and many more. Proceeds go to help SEANC members, spouses and dependents attend college.

So, what does SEANC need from you? SEANC needs your continued support. SEANC needs you to talk to your legislators and advocate for yourself and your fellow members. SEANC needs you to talk to your co-workers and tell them about our association and the positive impact it has on your life, and then sign them up as members. In short, SEANC needs you to be an active member! Want more information? Click here.

Get help paying for those college expenses! The SEANC Scholarship Foundation applications are now open for members, their spouses and their dependent children to apply. All SEANC members also are eligible for scholarships from SEIU, which range from $1,000 to $5,000 and come in both renewable and non-renewable forms.

RECRUIT! RECRUIT! RECRUIT! Do you have co-workers who are not SEANC members? Tell them why they should sign up today! Share with them your copy of the Scoop or the Reporter. Tell them about our legislative victories, including the $1,000 pay raise and 5 bonus days. Tell them that SEANC is a strong advocate for public employees and the vital services they provide - the only association that speaks for all state employees and works to improve North Carolina. For more information, visit our website, www.seanc.org and be sure to check out our Recruiter Resources.

Stay Connected!

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m excited about 2015 and I hope you are, too. Together, we can make it SEANCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best year yet! Happy New Year! Sincerely,

Dana SEANC

Cope Director

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Congratulations to the 50 new members who recently chose to empower themselves and the public services they provide by joining SEANC! They come to us from the state departments of Environment, Health & Natural Resources, Commerce, Health & Human Services, Public Safety and Transportation, as well as the Administrative Office of the Courts, UNC Hospitals, East Carolina University, N.C. A&T State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, UNCCharlotte, Durham Technical College, James Sprunt Community College, Wilkes Community College, and schools in Alamance, Anson, Iredell, Lee, New Bern-Craven and Robeson counties. Contact Lynn Cote for more information on hosting an event at your worksite.

Sign up today for our text messaging service to receive Special Action Alerts about what's happening at the General Assembly or for urgent member news. Just type the word SEANC into the body of the text and send it to the number 787753!

Need some new SEANC swag? Then visit the SEANC store. Now re-opened online with several new items, the SEANC store has everything you need from shirts to coffee cups to bags to help you make SEANC more visible in your workplace!

Want easy access to SEANC discounts? Then make sure you download the PerksCard app - PerksConnect. Available on the App Store and Google Play, this lets you start saving by showing local deals, right on your phone! Just be sure to use the group code SEANC when you register! Click here for more information.

Save more at Sam's Club! SEANC members can now enjoy membership rewards at any Sam's Club in North Carolina. Receive a $25 Sam's Club gift card when you join or renew as a Sam's Plus Member, or receive a $10 Sam's Club gift card when you join or renew as a Sam's Business or Sam's Savings Member. SEANC members must present a voucher at the time of membership purchase or renewal. Contact a Member Benefit Specialist at 1-800222-2758 or email cederrick@seanc.org for a voucher. Click here to find a Sam's Club near you.

New pet? Get VPI Pet Insurance today! Did you get a new pet over the holidays? SEANC members can cover their newest family members with pet insurance from VPI Pet Insurance. Coverage is available for dogs, cats, birds and even exotic pets. Optional wellness care coverage reimburses you for vaccinations, flea/tick preventative treatments and more. VPI also offers standalone wellness coverage for your pet. Click here for more information or call 1-877-738-7874 for a free noobligation quote.

State Employees Association of North Carolina 1621 Midtown Place Raleigh, NC 27609 800-222-2758 | seanc.org

The SEANC Scoop STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION OF NORTH CAROLINA IMPORTANT LINKS Jan. 9, 2015

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SEANC ramping up advocacy efforts General Assembly heads back to work;

The action in North Carolina is heating up and not just on the basketball courts. We’re talking about the action in the halls of the legislative building as lawmakers return to town for opening day of the 2015 General Assembly on Wednesday, Jan. 14. As they return, your SEANC lobbyists, staff and members will be there in force to welcome and remind every senator and representative - including House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, pictured above with SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope - of the need to value North Carolina’s vital public services and the people who provide them. Now we want you to come join us! We can help you find your representatives and other key legislative leaders so you can let them know state employees and retirees are watching and will be holding them accountable. Just email Government Relations Specialist Tony Booe and tell us you’re coming.

Among the members planning to be here on Opening Day are District 2 Chairwoman Dodie Collins and a large group from District 2, as well as District 1 Chairman Tony Rickman. Collins, who is the District 2 chairwoman, explained that they decided to come all the way down from Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, Polk, Transylvania and Yancey counties because they believe in the importance of meeting their legislators where they work. “We’re so far away. It’s hard for us to run to the legislative building at a moment’s notice, so we wanted to take this opportunity to see our legislators and help them put a name and a face to SEANC,” Collins said.

Hurricanes, Dave & Busters and many more. Proceeds go to help SEANC members, spouses and dependents attend college.

She said they will be reminding legislators about SEANC’s Top 10 Policy Platform Objectives, which begin with an increase in salaries and also include oppositions to privatization and downsizing of government services, improvements to the State Health Plan and true pension system reform and transparency. Most importantly, she said, they will be making sure that legislators realize state employees are real people.

“We want them to take notice of all state employees and what they do,” said Collins, a retired judicial assistant. “It’s so easy to pass by and see people working and not think about them being a state employee. I don’t think they [legislators] really see us as real live people who can sit down with them and tell them a story. We want to make sure they see us as state employees and as people they represent.” Not sure who represents you in the General Assembly? Click here. Curious if your legislators were endorsed by EMPAC? Click here. Want to meet your SEANC lobbyists? Click here. Want to join us on Opening Day or any other time? Email Tony Booe or call 919-810-0272.

Stay Connected!

Outstanding SEANC member saves a life SEANC District 2 member Richard Dean Griffin was honored this week in Raleigh with the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Extra Mile Award for his quick actions helping to save the life of a power company employee. According to the NCDOT news release, Griffin, who is a Madison County Bridge Division employee, was plowing snow on Nov. 1 near Marshall when he was flagged down by an employee of a local power company. Alerted to a second power company employee who was dangling from a nearby power pole and who had suffered electrical burns, Griffin was able to help contact emergency personnel and then help lower the injured man to the ground. Griffin then stayed with the men until EMS personnel arrived. The

injured man was taken to the burn center in Winston-Salem, treated and released. In the NCDOT news release, NCDOT Division 13 engineer Jay Swain said he believes, “Dean’s swift action and safety knowledge are responsible for the positive outcome of this situation. He is a true example of what it means to go above and beyond the call of duty.” Griffin was presented with the Extra Mile Award by NCDOT Sec. Tony Tata. To read more about Griffin’s actions, click here.

Tata also presented the Extra Mile award this week to the members of a Davie County DOT road maintenance crew who averted a potential accident when a driver came the wrong way down a ramp onto I-40. Among the six-man crew were District 16 SEANC members David Plagemann and Daniel Devoid. To read more about their story, click here. If you know of a SEANC member who has gone above and beyond in his or her service to the state or the association, let us know. Contact Communications Specialist Matt Whittle or call 800-222-2758.

Stay safe at work - be a Hazard Hero! Do you look around your workplace every day and see the potential for accidents? Do you go out of your way to make sure you and your co-workers stay safe? Then speak up and be a Hazard Hero! During his 2014 State of the State address, Gov. Pat McCrory announced one of his top priorities would be reducing the state’s high number of workplace injuries, which in January 2013 averaged 12,000 a year, and the high cost of worker’s compensation claims, which had reached $140 million a year. Now, says John Bogner, director of OSHR’s Division of Safety, Health & Workers’ Compensation, they want to get employees in every state agency, every cabinet department and every university, community college and school system even more involved in the effort. In June 2014, Bogner and the division launched a new program

called Hazard Heroes. The goal, Bogner explained, is to “engage and empower employees to identify hazards and fix them on their own, and if they can’t, report them to their supervisor.” The challenge, he said, is raising awareness in state government about the role of each employee in workplace safety. State government, he said, has always done a great job of serving the public and carrying out that primary mission. Now it's putting that same emphasis on the welfare of state employees. “We want to emphasize that mission in the workplace, too. If an injury does occur, we certainly want to make sure employees get the best care possible. Their welfare is our concern. But, there is also a business side to workplace safety,” Bogner said. “State employees are an extremely valuable asset and are essential in providing services to the citizens of North Carolina. If they are out of work due to an injury, we don’t have access to that valuable asset. So, it is important that we facilitate getting them back to work as soon as possible." For more on why the state created the Hazard Heroes program and how you can participate, click here.

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Congratulations to the 56 new members who recently chose to empower themselves and the public services they provide by joining SEANC! They come to us from the state departments of Health and Human Services, Public Safety, Revenue and Transportation, as well as the Administrative Office of the Courts, East Carolina University, N.C. Central University, UNC-Wilmington, Central Carolina Community College, Durham Technical College, Forsyth Technical College, Roanoke-Chowan Community College, Robeson Community College, Wake Technical Community College, Wayne Community College, and schools in Randolph and Wake counties and Charlotte-Mecklenburg City Schools. Contact Lynn Cote for more information on hosting an event at your worksite.

Run away to the circus for less! The circus is coming to town! Behold living legends as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey brings an all-new circus experience for children of all ages to the PNC Arena in Raleigh - Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Presents LEGENDS! Best of all, SEANC members can enjoy all of it at discounted rates. SEANC members can save $17 per ticket on Wedneday, Feb. 4, at 7 p.m., and 50 percent off ticket prices on Thursday, Feb. 5, and Sunday, Feb. 8, both at 7 p.m. Click here to order your discounted circus tickets.

Take care of your teeth! Get dental insurance! Need dental insurance? Enroll today in the MetLife dental plan. The plan includes an annual deductible from $25 to $50 and preventative care is 100 percent covered with no deductible for two visits per year. Enrollment forms received by the 10th of each month will be effective on the first of the following month. Already have MetLife Dental? www.metlife.com/mybenefits.

Manage

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For more information or to enroll, visit the SEANC insurance page.

State Employees Association of North Carolina 1621 Midtown Place Raleigh, NC 27609 800-222-2758 | seanc.org

The SEANC Scoop STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION OF NORTH CAROLINA IMPORTANT LINKS Jan. 16, 2015

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SEANC welcomes Assembly begins

lawmakers

General

SEANC members and lobbyists descended on the Legislative Building Thursday as the 2015 General Assembly convened for the first time. Wednesday’s session was primarily for housekeeping purposes to set rules and formally elect leaders. EMPAC-endorsed lawmakers will lead each chamber – House Speaker Rep. Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) and Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Phil Berger (R-Rockingham). But while the General Assembly won’t begin the actual process of legislating until they return on Jan. 28, opening day did give SEANC a chance to welcome senators and representatives and remind them of the importance of North Carolina’s vital public services and the people who provide them. Leading the charge Wednesday was District 2 Chairwoman Dodie Collins and District 1 Chairman Tony Rickman, who brought a group down from western North Carolina.

Help us make your Member Discounts even better! We are always striving to make your SEANC membership even more valuable. But we need to hear from you! Fill out this short Member Discount Survey. You could even win a $50 gift card. Surveys must be filled out by Jan. 25. Drawing will be held Jan. 26.

“It was nice opportunity. I think it’s important for legislators to get to know that there are real people behind those jobs," Collins said. Click here to read more about their day, as well as how SEANC is advocating for retirees this year. On Thursday, Government Affairs Director Ardis Watkins spoke to the state Retirement Systems Board of Trustees before it voted on its recommendation on 2015 retiree benefits to the General Assembly. Not sure who represents you in the General Assembly? Click here. Curious if your legislators were endorsed by EMPAC? Click here. Want to meet your SEANC lobbyists? Click here.

Want to join us on Opening Day or any other time? Email Tony Booe or call 919-810-0272.

Learn about changes to state Adverse Weather and Emergency Closing policies Bowling for Scholarships! Come join us for our second annual SEANC Scholarship Foundation Bowl-a-Thon! Register as a team or as an individual for one of two flights (1-3 p.m. & 3-5 p.m.) on Saturday, Feb. 28 at Buffaloe Lanes North in Raleigh. There also will be a silent auction with items from the Carolina Panthers, the Carolina Hurricanes, Dave & Busters and many more. Proceeds go to help SEANC members, spouses and dependents attend college.

The Office of State Human Resources announced last week the long-awaited update to its Adverse Weather Policy, as well as the creation of a new and separate Emergency Closing Policy. The key difference is that the Adverse Weather Policy applies only to commute conditions, while the Emergency Closing Policy applies to dangerous workplace conditions. The problem, explained SEANC General Counsel Tom Harris, is that while that had been the intent of the policy all along, it was not always put into practice that way. “The result of this new Adverse Weather Policy is that it will be consistently applied across the state,” Harris said. This means that if employees leave work or are unable to report to work due to adverse weather, the time missed will be charged to accrued compensatory time, or if none exists, employees may be approved to make up the time using overtime within 90 days – unlike in the past. “The time is shorter, but there are more ways to take it and the supervisor is instructed to cooperate with you to help you find those ways,” Harris said. “Hopefully the time will be adequate at 90 days with the possibility of using overtime in legitimate circumstances. Under the separate Emergency Closing Policy, if the worksite is closed because it dangerous for the public and employees to even be there, no work time will be required to be made up. Click here to read more about these important policy changes. If you have any questions or concerns about these policies, contact SEANC's General Counsel Tom Harris or call 800-222-2758.

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Congratulations to the 57 new members who chose this week to empower themselves and the public services they provide by joining SEANC! They come to us from the state departments of Health and Human Services, Public Instruction, Public Safety, Revenue and Transportation, as well as the Administrative Office of the Courts, UNC-Chapel Hill, Fayetteville State University, N.C. State University, Central Piedmont Community College, Craven Community College, Durham Technical College, McDowell Technical Community College, Winston Salem/Forsyth County and Henderson County Schools. Contact Lynn Cote for more information on hosting an event at your worksite.

Get your jam on at Monster Jam! Rev up your engines!

The General Assembly is back in session so stay connected! Sign up today for our text messaging service to receive Special Action Alerts about what's happening at the General Assembly or for urgent member news. Just type the word SEANC into the body of the text and send it to the number 787753!

Monster Jam is coming to the PNC Arena in Raleigh! See 12-foot-tall, 10,000pound machines racing and ripping up a customdesigned track full of obstacles to soar over or smash through! Shows are Friday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 14, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. With SEANC's discount, adults can save $4 per ticket while children's tickets are just $10. Visit the SEANC Benefits page to order tickets. Correction: In the Jan. 2 Scoop we advertised vouchers for discounted memberships to Sam's Club. The email address we listed to request the vouchers was incorrect. The correct address is cderrick@seanc.org.

See better for less with SEANC! Members can now see more clearly for less thanks to affordable vision coverage from SEANC Insurance! Click here for information on signing up for

Want easy access to SEANC discounts?

coverage or contact a Member Benefits Insurance Specialist at 919833-6436 or 800-222-2758. Also, be sure to check out ALL of SEANC's insurance programs on the SEANC Insurance page to save even more money!

Then make sure you download the PerksCard app - PerksConnect. Available on the App Store and Google Play, this lets you start saving by showing local deals, right on your phone! Just be sure to use the group code SEANC when you register! Click here for more information.

State Employees Association of North Carolina 1621 Midtown Place Raleigh, NC 27609 800-222-2758 | seanc.org

The SEANC Scoop STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION OF NORTH CAROLINA IMPORTANT LINKS Member-Only Discounts SEANC Insurance SEANC in the News Update Contact Info Calendar of Events The Reporter

Jan. 23, 2015

SEANC advocates for pay raise as General Assembly begins As lawmakers returned to Raleigh on Jan. 14, SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope reiterated state employees' need for a meaningful raise of 5 percent. And when EMPAC-endorsed House Speaker Rep. Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) outlined some of his legislative goals, he acknowledged the state has a problem with high turnover and that the General Assembly needs to work on retaining the state's highquality employees. Moore also said that as part of those efforts, raises are something he would like to "always" make happen.

SEANC President Wayne Fish joins SEIU leadership

SEANC President Wayne Fish officially joined the International Executive Board of SEIU earlier this month. As a member of the executive board, Fish will represent SEANC's 55,000 members and help direct SEIUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts over the next year. He also will help represent SEANC's, North Carolina's and the Southeast's priorities as election year approaches in 2016.

by Sunday, Jan. 25. Drawing will be held Monday, Jan. 26.

"I'm looking forward to working with SEIU," Fish said. "They have a lot of experience and a lot of resources that we can use here in North Carolina. They will be a part of helping us continue to grow our membership, improve our advocacy efforts on behalf of state employees and retirees, and promote candidates who value public services and the people who provide them. I look forward to continuing our partnership with SEIU."

The SEANC Scholarship Foundation wants you to bowl with us! Bowling for Scholarships! Come join us for our second annual SEANC Scholarship Foundation Bowl-a-Thon! Register as a team or as an individual for one of two flights (1-3 p.m. & 3-5 p.m.) on Saturday, Feb. 28 at Buffaloe Lanes North in Raleigh. There also will be a silent auction with items from the Carolina Panthers, the Carolina Hurricanes, Dave & Busters and many more. Proceeds go to help SEANC members, spouses and dependents attend college.

The second annual SEANC Scholarship Foundation Bowl-athon is coming up fast and we want you to join us! Scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28, there will be two chances to bowl - 1 to 3 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. - at Buffaloe Lanes North in Raleigh. Members can sign up as a team (up to six people) or individually. We're also looking for lane sponsors! Sponsor a lane for $300 or a team for $100. Not a bowler? That's OK. Come and join the fun and participate in our silent auction! We will be auctioning off a football from the Carolina Panthers, memorabilia from the Carolina Hurricanes, tickets to the N.C. Symphony, the Carolina Opry, the Alabama Theatre, the N.C. Aquariums, Tweetsie Railroad, Battleship North Carolina, Ripley's Aquarium, a gift certificate to Dave & Buster's of Cary and more. Still need some convincing? Then come out to support your fellow SEANC members! Proceeds go to help members, their spouses and their dependent children attend two- and four-year colleges and universities. And if you need some help paying those high tuition, room and board and book bills, then apply for a SEANC Scholarship today! There are three categories available to students attending both two- and fouryear institutions. Also available to SEANC members and their families are SEIU scholarships. Last year, SEANC students were awarded more than $10,000 in SEIU scholarships. Click here to learn more.

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Congratulations to the 55 new members who chose this week to empower themselves and the public services they provide by joining SEANC! They come to us from the state departments of Health and Human Services, Public Safety, Revenue and Transportation, as well as the Administrative Office of the Courts, the State Employees' Credit Union, East Carolina University, N.C. A&T State University, N.C. State University, Forsyth Technical College, Wilson Technical College, and schools in Granville, Tyrell, Wake and WinstonSalem/Forsyth counties. Contact Lynn Cote for more information on hosting an event at your worksite.

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 and to receive special discount pricing. For more information, call InforArmor at 800-789-2720, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Visit the Biltmore House! Looking for a romantic Valentine's Day getaway? Use your SEANC membership for a discount at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, including a special two-day ticket. Tickets must be purchased seven days in advance between now and March 19. In addition, with your discounted two-day ticket, you can also get a free Audio Guide to Biltmore House included with your admission, giving you access to fascinating stories about America's largest home and its families. Visit the SEANC Benefits page to order online. Questions? Contact a Member Benefits Specialist at 800-222-2758.

State Employees Association of North Carolina 1621 Midtown Place Raleigh, NC 27609 800-222-2758 | seanc.org

The SEANC Scoop STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION OF NORTH CAROLINA IMPORTANT LINKS Jan. 30, 2015

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SEANC speaks out against premium increases, other changes to State Health Plan Higher premiums, the end of the current PPO 70/30 premiumfree option, increased wellness surcharges and new wellness activities. Those were the plan changes for 2016 recommended by State Treasurer Janet Cowellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s staff to the State Health Plan Board of Trustees at the boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meeting last week. After a year with no premium increases in 2015 thanks to the punitive surcharges being paid by members, the staff recommended a number of changes going forward for active employees and nonMedicare retirees.

SEANC lobbyist and health care expert Chuck Stone spoke against those changes, especially the loss of the premium-free option, which is one of SEANC's top 10 legislative priorities. "The State Health Plan ... continues to shift costs to state employees and does nothing to make dependent care more affordable for state employees' families ...," Stone said after the meeting. For a video of his remarks to the board, click here. For detailed information about how the plans could change pending the board's Feb. 11 vote, click here.

Legislative Update: General Assembly begins work in earnest

Western Region uses basketball to encourage recruitment! Looking for a creative way to recruit new members? Take a page out of District 1-9's playbook! Every new member who joins by Feb. 20 will be entered to win two tickets to the first round of the ACC Tournament. Whatever current member recruits them also will be entered into a second drawing! Click here for information.

Reminder for State Health Plan Medicare Retirees! If you are in a State Health Plan Medicare Advantage Plan and wish to switch into the Traditional Medicare Plan (supplemented by the SHP PPO 70/30), you must do so by Saturday, Feb. 14. To discontinue a Medicare Advantage product, take immediate action and notify both the State Health Plan office (919881-2300) and the Medicare Advantage Plan in which you are enrolled.

After a two-week break to get organized and name committee chairs, the General Assembly session reconvened Wednesday, Jan. 28. And while not much legislating has occurred yet, several bills have been filed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including one by Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell). The bill, SB3, would eliminate an employee's right to voluntarily have SEANC (and other employee association) dues conveniently deducted from his or her paycheck each month. Maintaining these payroll deductions is one of SEANCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s members' top 10 legislative priorities, and our lobbyists and staff will be advocating for employees to maintain that right. "Everyone has a right to have a voluntary system where the workers choose to have a dues deduction," SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope said. "We will work with lawmakers to ensure employees maintain that right." In an interview with the News & Observer, SEANC Government Affairs Director Ardis Watkins said, "We fail to see how this accomplishes any public interest." She also noted that the association will be working to defeat the bill. SEANC staff will be watching closely as more bills are filed and committee meetings begin. At the top of the priority list is a meaningful raise of 5 percent for employees and a cost-of-living adjustment equal to 2.5 percent for retirees. Click here for the full Legislative Update.

Need some new SEANC swag? Then visit the SEANC store. With several new items, the SEANC store has everything you need from shirts to coffee cups to bags to help you make SEANC more visible in your workplace!

The SEANC Scholarship Foundation wants you to bowl with us! The second annual SEANC Scholarship Foundation Bowl-athon is coming up fast and we want you to join us! Scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28, there will be two chances to bowl - 1 to 3 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. - at Buffaloe Lanes North in Raleigh. Members can sign up as a team (up to six people) or individually. We're also looking for lane sponsors! Sponsor a lane for $300 or a team for $100. Not a bowler? That's OK. Come and join the fun and participate in our silent auction! We will be auctioning off a football from the Carolina Panthers, memorabilia from the Carolina Hurricanes, tickets to the N.C. Symphony, the Carolina Opry, the Alabama Theatre, the N.C. Aquariums, Tweetsie Railroad, Battleship North Carolina, Ripley's Aquarium, the Carolina Mudcats, the Durham Bulls, a gift certificate to Dave & Buster's of Cary and more. Still need some convincing? Then come out to support your fellow SEANC members! Proceeds go to help members, their spouses and their dependent children attend two- and four-year colleges and universities. And if you need some help paying those high tuition, room and board and book bills, then apply for a SEANC Scholarship today! There are three categories available to students attending both two- and fouryear institutions. Also available to SEANC members and their families are SEIU scholarships. Last year, SEANC students were awarded more than $10,000 in SEIU scholarships. Click here to learn more.

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Congratulations to the 51 new members who chose this week to empower themselves and the public services they provide by joining SEANC! They come to us from the state departments of Environment, Health and Natural Resources, Health and Human Services, Public Safety, Revenue and Transportation, as well as the Administrative Office of the Courts, East Carolina University, N.C. Central University, N.C. State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, Central Carolina Community College, and schools in Bladen, Guilford, Randolph and Surry counties. Contact Lynn Cote for more information on hosting an event at your worksite.

A SEANC discount can make Valentine's Day even sweeter! Need some flowers for Valentine's Day? Let SEANC help you make your sweetie smile and get a great deal at the same time! As a SEANC member, you can save 25 percent on flowers for your special someone this Valentine's Day by using the Perks Card Network. Click here to access this deal before it's too late!

Let us help you always take care of you and your family! SEANC members can receive Colonial Life supplemental insurance for accident, cancer, critical illness, disability, hospital confinement, and whole and universal life policies These personal insurance products can enhance your current benefits portfolio and can be customized to fit your individual needs. For more information on the plans, visit the SEANC Insurance page or call a Colonial Life representative at 1-866-265-3599.

State Employees Association of North Carolina 1621 Midtown Place Raleigh, NC 27609 800-222-2758 | seanc.org