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MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

2010 Gubernatorial Candidate Survey

July 27, 2010

Primary Elections – August 10. Since less people vote in primary elections, your vote has more impact. Vote in the primary to keep your candidate in the running. You can cast an absentee ballot now if you will be on vacation or otherwise unable to get to your polling place. You have two options:

Vote in person before August 10 at your county auditor’s office or municipal clerk’s office.
Request a mail ballot before August 3. Election officials will send you the ballot which you must return by August 9.

For a ballot or for more information go to: www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=21

P.E. Exam Review Class - now is the time to register if you plan to take the fall P.E. exam. The fall session begins August 17 and meets weekly through October 11 at the MnDOT Office of Aeronautics. View the schedule or register, or click the link on the left for more information.

2010 MGEC Golf Outing and Social - join fellow members on Monday, September 13, 2010, at StoneRidge Golf Club in Stillwater (off of I-94). Golfing starts at 12:30 p.m., with dinner after golf (5:00 or 5:30 p.m.) To RSVP for the dinner only, e-mail rhonda.bauer@mgec.org. (There is a $20 fee for fair share members). For more information or to register for the golf outing, see the registration form. Special dietary requirements should be noted on your registration.

Medical Coverage for Adult Children (from the July SEGIP Newsletter) - “The medical coverage of adult children up to age 26 begins January 1, 2011. This benefit is available regardless if your adult child is married, is not in school, has a job of his/her own or is not your tax dependent. A 30-day Open Enrollment period for both parents and the adult child is legally required. To accommodate this requirement, an extended Open Enrollment will be held for all SEGIP members from November 1 through November 30, 2010. There are some limitations to the medical coverage. Adult children with access to their own or their spouse’s employer-based group coverage are not eligible and may not enroll. When two state employees are the parents of an adult child, only one parent may cover that adult child. Your adult child’s spouse is not eligible. Beginning January 1, 2011, you may use your Medical Dental Expense Account (MDEA) and Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) to pay for qualified medical expenses incurred by your adult child. Insurance eligible employees will be able to enroll their adult child even if they left the program due to age, were not previously enrolled, were ineligible, or are currently on COBRA. The federal tax code now makes the coverage of eligible adult children federally tax exempt. Minnesota law does not make such an exemption. Unless there is a change in tax law, employees will be required to pay state income tax on the benefit. Information on how to enroll will be included in the Open Enrollment materials.”

July SEGIP Newsletter - The latest addition of The SEGIP Report is now available. The July 2010 issue contains very important information on Federal Health Care and how it will impact the upcoming Open Enrollment period. It also contains a number of very useful articles on pre-tax, wellness topics such as our new Employee Assistance Program (EAP) vendor, and Open Enrollment. http://www.mmb.state.mn.us/doc/ins/newsletter/07-10.pdf In addition to the current issue, all previous issues may be viewed by logging on to the MMB website. You may access by going to the MMB web and clicking on Insurance and Wellness in the gray Main Menu box on the left side of the home page. Then click on the link entitled "SEGIP Report Newsletter" in the blue Related Information box on the right side of the Insurance and Wellness page. All additions are listed by date of release. Employee Insurance Division - 651-355-0100.

July 12, 2010

Civic Involvement and Your Job - State employment is clearly influenced by Minnesota's politics, and there's a lot at stake with the 2010 election. The budget deficit makes it impossible not to affect state programs and staffing. Party agendas also affect programming and staffing. Every ten years, political district boundaries are redrawn, changing the makeup of the house and senate. Your involvement now can make a difference. Candidates are seeking help during these last few busy months before the election. Parades, home parties, fundraisers, local organization meetings, town halls, debates, door knocking--you’ll never have a better chance for “face time” and to make your issues and suggestions known than during this time when they want to hear from you! To get involved check out their website (Google them) and/or Facebook site (just about anyone running for office has one) to find opportunities for face time. Links to Minnesota elections and elected officials:

“NEW” Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - as of July 1, 2010, the State has contracted with a new provider for services. They are NEAS (National Employee Assistance Services). You or any member of your family may call 800-657-3719 anytime, any day, or check out their services at www.neas.com. Go to their “our services” tab to learn more about the valuable ways they may benefit you. You may also login at their site by entering the pass code: STMN1. More information will be coming to you from the State’s EAP and from NEAS by letter, about mid-August. Their services are CONFIDENTIAL (within the limits of the law). You don’t need to provide any identifying information and they can help. Their services are available to you now and include:

Counseling Services - three in-person counseling sessions free
Legal Services – 30-minute free consultation with attorney
Common Issues – relationship, parenting, work stress, anger, depression, anxiety, grief & loss, etc.
Financial Services – unlimited financial consultation, debt management, identity theft assistance, credit report review, financial planning, and more
Work/Life Services – child and elder care resource locators, school and university database, health information library
Tobacco Cessation – “Breaking Free” 6-session telephonic coaching model; everyone has relapses but you can do it

Clinic Cost Changes - to take place 1/1/2011. If you are a member of a clinic in one of the following systems you may want to: 1) contact your clinic and doctor and complain about the price increases; 2) encourage them to reverse the increases for the Advantage Health Plan for state employees while they still have time to do so; and 3) let them know you may consider changing clinics in the next open enrolment.

Aspen Medical Group clinics in the Metropolitan Area - new pricing will take them from Level 2 to Level 3
Quello Clinics located in the Metropolitan Area - new pricing will move them from Level 1 to Level 2
HealthEast Clinics located in the Metropolitan Area - will move from Level 2 to Level 3

Executive Board Elections – the MGEC Nominations Committee requests that you consider and express interest in serving on the MGEC Executive Board. Starting January 1, 2011, terms for the following positions will begin: Secretary, Vice President, Director (five positions). Terms are for two years (except VP who serves one year as VP, one year as President and one year as Past President). Your contributions will be valued and we believe the experience will be valuable to you. Call MGEC at 651-774-0996 or e-mail mgec@mgec.org to express your interest or ask questions. The election will take place in fall 2010.

MGEC Survey – each year MGEC surveys members about a variety of issues. We do so to make sure we are providing the services our members need and want and to gather information on topics relevant to work being done. As we prepare the survey for this fall, you have an opportunity to suggest to us a question you think would be useful to your MGEC leadership to know the answer to. Send any survey suggestions for consideration to us at mgec@mgec.org.

2010 MGEC Golf Outing and Social - join fellow members on Monday, September 13, 2010, at StoneRidge Golf Club in Stillwater. Golfing starts at 12:30 p.m.; dinner after golf 5:00 or 5:30 p.m. To RSVP for the dinner only, email rhonda.bauer@mgec.org. For more information and to register for the golf outing, see the registration form. Special dietary requirements should be noted on your registration or sent to Rhonda. There will be no business meeting during the event. Annual meeting and scholarships/awards will occur separately (late winter/early spring 2011).

PE Exam Review Class - for those planning to take the fall P.E. exam, the fall review class begins in August. Scheduling and dates are still being worked out but you may register anytime at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MB2VZRF.

Risk Management Division new website - "On July 1st, Administration's Risk Management Division went 'live' with a new website that consolidates information and tools from our property and casualty, workers' compensation and safety divisions into one package. The new website has consistent navigation across its structure, which will get visitors to where they want to be faster; a more modern design and easier access to forms, publications and programs. With this improvement, our new address on the World Wide Web is www.admin.state.mn.us/risk."

Worksite wellness opportunities lead to improved employee health and productivity – you have resources through Minnesota Management and Budget, as well as your agency. Contact Linda Feltes, Employee Wellness Project Manager, MMB, 651-259-3779, linda.feltes@state.mn.us. Another resource is Melissa Schoeller, who can provide your worksite with a variety of classes: Boot Camp, Vinyasa Yoga, Kettlebells, Zumba, Spin, and any group fitness. "All classes can be done outdoors or in a small conference room. Please let me know if you have any further questions. She has some flexibility with times & days, also with how to go about getting a class/classes started. Thanks again and I am here to answer any questions or other ideas that you may have." Melissa Schoeller, 612-644-1953, www.urban-warriors.com, mjschoeller@gmail.com.

2010 Midwest Worksite Health Promotion Conference – November 4, 2010 at the St. Paul RiverCentre, "Sharing Solutions in Changing Times." For more information visit the conference website at http://www.healthsource-solutions.com/midwest-conference. Featured topics: Health Care Reform and the Future of Wellness, and Riding the Wave of Change.

June 10, 2010

Early Retirement Incentive guidelines for agencies - from Minnesota Management & Budget. Review the guidelines as you consider and plan your options.

Good health - Many employees completed the JourneyWell health assessment during the last Open Enrollment period. Benefit-eligible employees who have not taken the assessment can still do so. Completing the health assessment opens the door for employees to join any JourneyWell wellness program at no cost. There are online and phone-based programs. Employees can sign up for phone based programs by calling JourneyWell at 952-967-5128 (metro area), 1-866-977-5128 (outside the Twin Cities metro area) or toll-free TTY line at 1-877-222-2794. To register for an online program employees should go to: www.journeywell.com/SEGIP

DNR seniority rosters - have been posted on the DNR intranet at:
http://intranet.dnr.state.mn.us/jobs/seniority.html. Please review your entry and advise HR in writing as to any errors within the next 30 days. The MGEC website links to any seniority rosters received from agencies.

Completing your time sheet - it's important employees take the time needed to accurately code the time they work with the correct code. Mn/DOT has a list of codes you can use. Take the time to use the correct codes. In doing so Mn/DOT can determine how much time is really spent managing a consultant contract, in training, etc.… When there is a question, discuss it with your supervisor.

PRO positions – when returning to work after retirement be sure that your work assignment lasts more than six months in order to receive vacation, holiday and sick benefits.

May 14, 2010

Early Retirement Incentive - (SF1481 or HF2038) was signed by the governor Thursday morning. These are the latest details on the Early Retirement Incentive. The prior early retirement incentives passed by the house and senate differed from each other. The bill now provides an incentive benefit up to the equivalent of two years of employer paid health insurance. The funds are placed in your Health Savings Account. An employee must accept the incentive no later than December 31, 2010, and retire no later than June 30, 2011. Read the bill

Bridge Inspection – A bill was passed that requires in February of each odd-numbered year that the commissioner submit an electronic report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the Senate and House of Representatives committees with jurisdiction over transportation policy and finance concerning quality assurance for bridge inspections. At a minimum, the report must:

summarize the bridge inspection quality assurance and quality control procedures used in Minnesota;
identify any substantive changes to quality assurance and quality control procedures made in the past two years;
summarize and provide a briefing on findings from bridge inspection quality reviews performed in the past two years;
identify actions in response to the findings from bridge inspection quality reviews;
summarize the results of any bridge inspection compliance review by the Federal Highway Administration; and
identify actions in response to the Federal Highway Administration compliance review taken by the department in order to reach full compliance.

MGEC Engineer Trainees Need Home Base. There are a few Engineer Trainees needing a home base starting in June. If you know of an engineering opening at your worksite or believe they may be willing to consider one, please contact Jolene Forman at MnDOT 651-366-3413 or Dana Wheeler at MGEC 651-774-0996.

The Navy is looking for Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) officers. CEC officers handle the Navy’s infrastructure (Public Works, Naval Facilities or NAVFAC, as well as lead the Naval Construction Force AKA Seabees). For more information talk to MGEC members with Seabee experience: Fernando Nacionales, P.E. 651-201-3712; Jim Sellner, P.E. 218- 231-8470.

MGEC Brown Bag Lunches at your worksite are a valuable way for employees to touch base about work-related topics. Contact your MGEC Contact Person if you would like a worksite meeting set up. MGEC staff or Executive Board members are happy to attend.

Professional Association Memberships
Annual Meeting Update
Day at the Capitol Update
Golf Tournament (Sept. 13, 2010)
Workplace of Choice (MnDOT initiative)
Member Issue Advocacy Group
Retirement Incentive Update

May 2010 - MGEC Director Mohammad Dehdashti and Representative Tim Walz

MGEC Lobbies MN Congressional and Senate Delegation for a six-year transportation bill that simplifies the transportation department; is pay as you go and doesn’t leverage future taxpayers; requires inspection and design of public infrastructure projects to be done by public employees; provides funding for maintenance of the infrastructure; provides fair trade acts that level the playing field for US workers.

Center for Transportation Studies (CTS) Candidate Public Forums. Three finalists for CTS director will share their vision for the CTS during public forums. Each candidate will discuss their plan for leading CTS and engaging the Center's many constituencies to address the challenges and issues facing transportation. The CTS director is responsible for working closely with national and state transportation agencies, business organizations, elected officials, other universities, international partners and university leaders to build on the established CTS programs and leadership activities. For more information go to: http://www.cts.umn.edu/About/Jobs/director/index.html

Thomas Sorel
Commissioner/CEO, Minnesota Department of Transportation
David Ekern
Former Commissioner, Virginia Department of Transportation
Laurie McGinnis
Acting Director, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota