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 Dodie Collins and a large contingent 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.

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 that 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 legislator was endorsed by EMPAC? Click here.

Want to meet your official SEANC lobbyists? Click here.

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