Inside NCRGEA’s Advocacy Goals
NCRGEA has many active programs and processes in place to achieve its annual goals, but to be even more effective, the Association needs the voice of its members to be heard in the General Assembly.
NCRGEA is the largest association of retired government employees in the United States and is the primary voice and committed advocate for North Carolina’s retired public servants. Currently, NCRGEA advocates for the following:
Our NCRGEA Advocacy agenda is created every biennium and reviewed annually by our Board of Directors and our Government Relations Committee prior to the start of the General Assembly’s long session. Long sessions occur in odd-numbered years and short sessions in subsequent even-numbered years.
Because the lobbying goals of the association trend around similar issues: healthcare, pension sustainability, cost of living adjustments for retirees, among others – our advocacy priorities and goals do not often fluctuate in subject, but in subject matter. In more recent years, achieving progress toward our advocacy goals has become more complex due to the changing political tides and conflicts that make them increasingly more difficult to accomplish.
NCRGEA has a team of four registered, contracted lobbyists who are always represented at the General Assembly. When in session, we attend House and Senate committees, track bills relevant to our agenda, mission, and strategic goals, and meet with legislators and staff to promote NCRGEA’s agenda. Cultivating relationships with legislators, legislative staff, “sister” groups and government agencies, including the Office of the State Treasurer, are of utmost importance for the lobbying team.
Our lobbying team is also prepared to speak to support or oppose legislation of positive or negative consequence for NCRGEA members.
Government Relations Updates and Alerts
When the legislature is in session, your NCRGEA staff compiles and shares this information through email updates, this website, our YouTube channel and other social media posts, and calls to action. We keep this information up to date to keep you informed. The goal is to provide you with the most current information so you are able to make an informative decision as to how to approach legislators to show your support or opposition on an upcoming issue.
End-of-Session Summary
At the close of each legislative session, your NCRGEA lobbying team will provide a synopsis of the decisions made during that session. Additionally, our team will analyze trends in pension issues, cost of living adjustments and other fiduciary matters of importance to our association members.
Contact with Local and Legislative Members
Through our website, we provide the tools to help you contact your legislators. By calling, writing letters, or sending emails, contacting your legislators is crucial to our mission and goals at NCRGEA. We provide helpful tips and outlines, as well as sample letters to help you advocate for the issues in which you believe. You are always welcome to contact NCRGEA regarding any thoughts or issues you may have or if you have questions, comments, or concerns.
Our Government Relations team is the lobbying arm of NCRGEA. Our lobbyists team and Government Relations Committee are responsible for carrying out the advocacy goals and agenda as created and adopted by the NCRGEA Board of Directors.
The Association is composed of members of our Board of Directors who are appointed by the President. This Committee is responsible for reviewing proposed legislation, recommending advocacy goals for the Association to the Executive Committee, and working with representatives of the retirement systems and the General Assembly to improve legislation to retired local and state governmental employees.
NCRGEA has many active programs and processes in place to achieve its annual goals, but to be even more effective, the Association needs the voice of its members to be heard in the General Assembly.
by NCRGEA Lobbyist Jessica Proctor Legislators began the week with a busy three days of
CLICK TO WATCH! YouTube video channel for NCRGEA legislative updates
NCRGEA Government Relations Update February 2, 2022
