North Carolina has several fine organizations representing retired public school, state, county, and municipal employees at our Legislature - retirement & health benefits, social services and, of course, taxes are generally the key issues. One of those groups is the North Carolina Retired Governmental Employees Association (NCRGEA).
Earlier this week the SECUJustAsking blog's email lit up like the Fourth of July! SECU members from all across North Carolina were writing in about an NCRGEA letter they had just received, concerning the SECU Board elections. 'Course the folks I heard from were "a good bit less than happy" with the letter, because it seemed to favor - without much reason - the incumbents.
Barbara Perkins one of the SECU member nominated candidates - and an NCRGEA member! - also soon called. Her language was, shall we say, "descriptive"! One sentence in particular created "intense ire". So, we decided to drop by the NCRGEA office early the following morning to discuss the letter with NCRGEA Executive Director Tim O'Connell.
Here's the follow up letter we sent which summarized the meeting, noted the offending sentence, and proposed a solution to de-escalate the situation. Barbara Perkins and I thought it was reasonable, but it got us "lawyered up". Take a look, decide for yourself...
✅ Dear Mr. O'Connell,
First,
thank you for your time and courtesy in agreeing to meet with Ms.
Barbara Perkins and me this morning. Ms. Perkins is, as you know, a
member of NCRGEA and a member nominated candidate for the SECU Board.
Our
meeting was to inquire about the origin and content of your letter
dated 9/6/2023 to all NCRGEA members, supporting the SECU
self-nominated, board incumbents. You confirmed that you authored the
letter on behalf of the NCRGEA Board and that the member nominated
candidates (Perkins, Clements, Stone) were never contacted or
interviewed. You acknowledged that you were unaware that all six SECU board candidates were certified as qualified potential board members by the SECU Nominating Committee.
We expressed our concern over the appearance of a lack of balance in your letter, particularly with the following statement: 'We
understand that the opposition candidates who are running seek to undo
much of the progress that has been made, claiming to represent the will
of the membership but in fact,they represent only a small faction."
From our conversation today, the facts upon which you based that
unusual statement were not clear. The continuing flood of emails we are
receiving from NCRGEA members statewide confirms their doubts about
your letter also.
As discussed, we are certain
that the impact of your letter, if unaddressed, will unnecessarily cause
disruption and controversy for NCRGEA for years to come. While it is
impossible at this point, to rectify any damage or injustice created by
the first letter, we suggested that NCRGEA provide - in fairness to all
NCRGEA members - a second mailing on Thursday, 9/14/2023 including
information on the 3 SECU member nominated board candidates. Let the
9/6/2023 letter stand, but provide NCRGEA members complete information
on all qualified SECU candidates so the best decisions can be made.
You
agreed to discuss these concerns with your Board and respond by midday
Wednesday, 9/13/ 2023. I agreed to draft a second letter, the content being subject to your approval prior to mailing.
Hope you and your Board find this proposal fair and equitable to all NCRGEA members - and in the very best interests of both NCRGEA and SECU.
Thank you again for your great courtesy.
Sincerely,
Jim Blaine
✅ Well, whaddayathink? Did we deserve to get "lawyered up"?
I'll share the letter from the lawyer with you tomorrow, but...
... the letter is in the freezer right now cooling down!
Surprised it took this long. Yet another tactic to suppress the members' right to know what's going on.
ReplyDeleteLet the members vote for who they want and give them the whole picture not an edited version (would this be classified as misinformation - asking for a friend)... what are they scared of?
ReplyDeleteI mean they have all the advantages, they control the narrative 'web site', they have all the members names and means to communicate with them ... etc. They have the upper hand yet they choose to behave this way ...
ReplyDeleteI've volunteered in a lot of organizations but have never seen those folks act like this! But then again we were true volunteers...
Visible Truth is worth more than any advantages They may have and there is no proof of Their so-called progress. Taking SECU down to Industry Standard would not be viewed as progress.
Deletefor those who will open their eyes and see the truth ... we see it, most let others tell them "the truth"
DeleteI love you Jim Blaine 😂 You are the man even if we don’t succeed in all this. Thank you for caring so much! It means the world to someone that hates corporate America and constantly watches rogue CEOs lie to their staff across America. Folks…this is what happens when someone with goodwill stands up to the corruption! They are struggling to hold onto power! We will battle them to the very end. You made this possible, JB! Thank you again!
ReplyDeleteI agree with 7:33. Well said
DeleteI hope the overwhelming majority of us agree. It seems we do based on the regular water cooler conversation.
DeleteThis is just so crazy to me!! The fight from these volunteers is crazy! Wake up folks! It’s right here under our nose!! Wake up folks and employees!! Everything published to employees is an attempt to debunk this blog!! Why? Is all said true?? I think so !! Vote without fear!! Your a member
ReplyDelete"Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed."
ReplyDeleteThe second letter being addressed to whom and being approved by O’Connell? Please clarify. Thanks
ReplyDeleteNot sure how to answer this question, but 1) NCRGEA mailed a letter written by Mr. O'Connell on behalf of the NCRGEA Board to its membership about the SECU elections 2) the letter to Mr. O'Connell you see reprinted in the blog summarizes our (Ms. Perkins/me) discussion with Mr. O'C and our proposal on how to de-escalate the rising controversy within NCRGEA, 3) the letter tomorrow is NCRGEA's response to letter #2.
DeleteGuess that didn't help much, did it!
Got it. You draft the letter and he approves it. It is then sent to NCRGEA membership. Has he yet responded?
DeleteBe diligent and "Do the Right Thing" ... that's what we have been commanded to do, and he will help us shine the light!
ReplyDeleteDesperate People do Desperate Things. One day soon we will have the answers to what has led This Board to Desperation.
ReplyDeleteVote CLEMENTS, PERKINS and STONE and let's put an end to this madness.
This Member has no doubts This Board just sealed their loss with this statement made under the cover of NCRGEA:
ReplyDelete"We understand that the opposition candidates who are running seek to undo much of the progress that has been made, claiming to represent the will of the membership but in fact, they represent only a small faction."
Two questions come to mind from that one statement.
1. Members of NCRGEA, Members of SEANC and Members of SECU are awaiting any evidence of progress made for the Members of State Employees' Credit Union by This SECU Board.. What progress are you referring to?
2. Exactly what number represents a small faction?
As I was reading the posts last evening, I was reminded of the significance of the phrase "History is a Great Teacher." Over the past two years, This Board has devalued SECU's history in their search for what "They" want to see at the
ReplyDeleteNew/New State Employees' Credit Union.
I would like to encourage any SECU Member or SECU Employee to search and read an article posted on "Chip Filson blog - SECU - August 19, 2021." This five minute read gave me a clear picture of the SECU - Where We Were in 2021 versus Where We Are in 2023 - and the importance of returning to our SECU core values and mission statement. This Board and Jim Hayes have taken SECU in a wrong and dangerous direction. As a Cooperative owned by all Members - We, the Membership must demand a return back to the People helping People philosophy which made SECU successful and great! I encourage all Members and Employees who want to feel a sense of pride for our credit union again, take a moment to read this article. And at the end of the read, I am sure many will see the contrast between Leaders who lead with a purpose-driven humble, servant's heart - and Those who are in it only for the power and money, lacking all credit union principles. This Board failed in following the simple instructions of "Don't Mess This Up!"
As a Member who will be forever indebted to Mr. Blaine, Mr. Lord and all others who have been working so hard to right the wrongs done over the past two years to SECU, the Members and the Employees.
Thank You for sharing the indisputable facts.
Keep fighting the good fight and
Vote Perkins, Stone and Clements.
https://chipfilson.com/2021/08/secus-mike-lord-two-remarkable-accomplishments/
Deleteworth a look!
https://chipfilson.com/2021/08/secus-mike-lord-two-remarkable-accomplishments/
DeleteThat is a great article!
Delete"In today’s individualistic culture that celebrates personal achievement, choosing a leader where the mission supersedes personal ego is a tribute both to the organization’s values as well as the leader’s character. Especially so in the second largest credit union in America."
Guess the board should have read that before messing it up.
this board does not care about anyone or anything except this board. This board and Leigh Brady do not know or associate with "people of modest means." In other words, most of the members that this board is exploiting through RBL.
DeleteTake us back to the SECU of 2021 and let this all be a bad dream. So disgusted with these SECU Board of Directors.
DeleteThis whole thing makes me think APCO is still engaged, contacting agencies.
ReplyDeletewhy would any agency contacted by APCO not be immediately suspicious? Look at APCO's sleazy client list--SECU now added to it! Let's restore SECU's reputation of integrity! Vote Perkins, Stone, Clements!! (link to APCO list https://www.secujustasking.com/2023/07/the-we-are-secu-on-road-tour-managed-by.html
DeleteLook at APCO Instagram page…if you have Christian values of any sort…you’ll want to look away.
DeleteDeclaring a truce on APCO please. Don't know much about them and they are not the issue here. Thanks.
DeleteFidelity® Government Money Market Fund
ReplyDeleteAS OF 09/14/2023
+4.97%
SECU Money Market Account
1.00%
So much progress!!
DeleteAnd we’re bleeding deposits as a result.
Delete