Page 16 - Work Force November 2021

A benefit provider’s perspective:
EBF meets with ADM participants virtually
While the 110th Annual Delegates Meeting was held virtually, that didn’t stop CSEA Employee Benefit Fund (EBF) representatives from meeting with CSEA members.
Throughout
the week, EBF
representatives
Jordan Rider, senior
benefits specialist
for our union’s
Southern Region;
Erin Bazinet, senior
benefits specialist for the Capital Region and Gina Tralongo, senior benefits specialist for the Central Region, were on hand staffing virtual information tables that were available through our virtual venue platform.
The online platform was a unique way to safely interact with members and present important information that attendees could relay to other members.
Like many of our experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, this type of interaction was an adjustment.
“We all look forward to gathering in person each year to learn and to
strengthen our union purpose at the Annual Delegates Meeting,” Bazinet said. “To be safe, this year’s ADM was held virtually. I must admit I was not optimistic about a new virtual
platform. But, to my surprise, I came away having enjoyed the entire experience. After learning the tools to navigate the platform, it provided ease of communicating with
others as best a virtual scenario could.”
Virtual booths
As a benefit provider, EBF was thrilled to be able to set up a customized virtual booth where they could showcase important information, answer questions and even provide a way for members to register to win prizes.
“I was able to connect with members in the exhibit hall where we had virtual tables set up for chatting and questions,” Tralongo said. “It was great being able to see who popped in, greet members and engage with them. I was excited to
A screen capture of the EBF presentation at the ADM.
A screen capture of the EBF presentation at the ADM.
16 The Work Force
November 2021
be able to talk to
a member from a unit that does not currently have
our benefits and
is interested in learning more about how to negotiate EBF benefits in their next contract.”
Tralongo
Workshop presentations
Rider, Bazinet and Tralongo also presented a workshop to a diverse audience of state and local government CSEA members.
“My favorite
part of any ADM is
the opportunity to
present information
about who the
Employee Benefit
Fund (EBF) is,
and how we
work tirelessly to
benefit the CSEA
membership,” Rider
said. “Just knowing that CSEA leaders and activists made the choice to attend our session out of all those available made the presentation more than just a ‘presentation.’”
The workshop, ‘Getting the Most Value from Your Negotiated EBF Benefits,’ educated the participants on what EBF benefits were available to them, showed them how to access information specific to our subscribers, and provided practical ways to empower the membership so they can get the most out of their benefits.
“Starting the week off with our workshop and continuing with the virtual booths [let us] ensure that we remain connected and to the membership we serve,” said Rider.
To learn more about what CSEA Employee Benefit Fund has to offer, visit cseaebf.com or call EBF at (800) 323-2732.
— Geoff Switts
The virtual
booths were available for most of the meeting.
“Well organized
virtual ‘tables’
were available to
visit at convenient
times throughout
the week,” said
Bazinet. “Under
the circumstances,
this was a great
way to connect
with members then
to discuss topics and issues that pertain to them.”
Meet and greet tables
Many of us have not seen each other since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Meet and Greet area was nice to connect with various regional officers, members and staff I have yet to meet in person,” said Tralongo, who is EBF’s newest specialist.
Drop-in tables provided a way to catch up and share some smiles with someone from across the state from your computer or device.
Rider
Bazinet
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