Our Core Values

Service

Keep our members and their needs at the forefront of everything we do.

Integrity

Be principled in all interactions with members, decision-makers, and the public.

Collaboration

Work with other organizations and individuals who share our common goals.

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Diversity

Celebrate and reflect the individual differences and demographics of our members in all aspects of our work.

Our Mission:

“To advance, promote, and protect the benefits, interests, and well-being of North Carolina’s retired state and local public servants.”

Our Six Strategic Priorities

Advocacy

To expand the policy agenda & influence through a compelling vision, leadership, and the intentional engagement of stakeholders.

Service

To become a more service-oriented organization by expanding informational & educational offerings.

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Local Engagement

To become a relationship-centric organization through more local opportunities for engagement.

Communications

To build the association's capacity to expand strategic use of digital communications to better engage membership.

Awareness

To strengthen awareness of the association among pre-retirees through partnerships and targeted outreach.

Public Perceptions

To strengthen the public perception of public service and servants.

Mission and History of the Association

North Carolina Retired Governmental Employees Association, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “NCRGEA” or “the corporation”)) works to advance, promote and defend the rights, interests, and welfare of retired state and local government employees of North Carolina and their families.

NCRGEA was founded in 1971 by a group of retired state and local governmental employees in the Raleigh area with the goal of establishing an organization that would exclusively represent the interests of retirees.  Other organizations, such as the State Employees Association of NC (SEANC) and the NC Association of Educators (NCEA), included state retirees in their fields of membership.  However, these groups’ primary focus was on pay and benefits for active employees.

Organization's Highlights

General Assembly approves payment of State Health Plan coverage for retired teachers and state employees.

The Association begins bimonthly newsletter, Living Power.

Regular district meetings are initiated with the aim of covering the entire state on a 3-year cycle.

The Association initiates a blanket Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance policy as a free benefit of membership.

Free membership for Association members who reach age 90 is established.

The Vision Care Discount Program is provided to members.

The toll-free legislative Hot Line is established to provide members with current information on General Assembly activities

The Association establishes an optional group dental insurance plan for members and family.

The HearPO (now Amplifon) hearing assistance discount program is provided to members.

The Association internet web site is upgraded and members are given electronic access to a weekly Legislative Report and the bimonthly newsletter.

Prospective members can join the Association on-line and pay membership dues by credit card. Active members also can renew membership on-line using credit cards.

The Association establishes a new category of membership. Spouses of retirees may join as Associate members.

The Association initiates a new vision care discount program and a vision care group insurance plan under a 5-year contract with Superior Vision.

The Association initiates a new vision care discount program and a vision care group insurance plan under a 5-year contract with Superior Vision.

The Association establishes a new category of membership. Affiliate membership is offered to new retirees free of charge for one year with limited benefits including the Newsletter and legislative updates.

The Association establishes a new category of membership. Affiliate membership is offered to new retirees free of charge for one year with limited benefits including the Newsletter and legislative updates.

Membership exceeds 53,000 in January 2016

Living Powers newsletter available in large print

Carolina Cruise and tours joins with NCRGEA to offer trips and tours to NCRGEA members

Final Expense Insurance coverage offered through Walker Insurance Agency, Inc., Roxboro

AmWINs joins NCRGEA as a provider for Medical Supplemental Insurance focusing on local government retirees and spouses

Upstairs apartments are renovated.

Introduction of the IDShield/LegalShield programs

Free Access Perks Program introduced along side the Premium Access Perks Program

Dental plan provider changes to The Standard Insurance Company, offering two plan levels. $2,000 benefit and $1,000 benefit

Implementation of Selerix Benefit Platform through Markiii

COVID strikes, employees shuffling work schedules from March through September

Introduction – Setser Group – SWOT Begins (Strategic Plan)

No District Meetings scheduled due to COVID

No face-to-face board meetings. All meetings are virtual. Everyone is Zooming. NCRGEA makes technological advancements.

COVID remains a challenge to program offerings

50th Anniversary – 50 years of service to NC Retirees

Strategic Plan Implementation

The office gets a makeover. Paint, ceiling retiled, and new carpet

No face-to-face spring District Meetings

Fall Meetings are scheduled. Western NC. Meetings become more creative. Meetings are on zoom and YouTube.

COVID remains but curtails late spring

Executive Director resigns in January. Interim Director, provide via Setser Group from February through June

Lake Case decision comes down March 22 in favor of the plaintiffs.

No face-to-face spring District Meetings, but create the first all Virtual Public Service Week. June Five days of programming, Streamed on YouTube, presentations via Zoom

Executed new partnership with Association Member Benefits Advisors (AMBA)

New Executive Director Hired

New Communications Director Hired

50 years later, with membership over 67,000, who would have thought that the vision of NCRGEA’s early pioneers would have resulted in the strength our Association has today?

NCRGEA is the largest lobbying association in the nation for retired state and local governmental employees.  The objectives and mission of our Association have been, and will continue be, to advance, promote and defend by any lawful means the rights, interests and welfare of retired employees of the local governments and the State of North Carolina.

Timeline:

YEAR 1: July 2021 - July 2022

Focus: Branding, Reimagined Infrastructure, and New Coalition Building

  • Launch new website, digital communication strategies, and improved database system
  • Promote the brand to meet the moment and strengthen public image
  • Strengthen membership engagement infrastructures (local engagement groups, advocacy training)
  • Build the change & innovation culture at NCRGEA

YEAR 2: July 2022 - July 2023

Focus: Training and Leadership Opportunities to Increase Engagement

  • Highly relevant and targeted information (including internal policy expertise) sent out to membership
  • Targeted digital outreach to HR departments across the state and pre-retirees
  • Member-to-member recruitment drive

YEAR 3: July 2023 - July 2024

Focus: Elevate our Influence and Impact on North Carolina and Humanity

  • Increase local engagement opportunities
  • Mobilize Membership in local lobbying & advocacy
  • Ongoing member recruitement

YEAR 4: July 2024

Focus: NCRGEA has Captured 30% of the Available Market and has Become the "Go-to" Resource Center for Government Retirees in North Carolina