April - Wow what a great month for Arkansas SHRM.  I would like to thank LeAnn Branch for a wonderful presentation at last month’s meeting, A Peacock in the Land of Penguins. We get so busy in our lives at times that we forget to look past the outer exterior of a person. If you were able to make it, you were part of a great experience.

The State conference was very informational and uplifting, great speakers and vendors, great networking, and I actually learned how to tweet.  Kudos to the volunteer staff who worked so hard on this conference. WCASHRM gives a big THANK YOU to Mountain Harbor Resort for donating a silent auction item to the State SHRM Convention.  Mountain Harbor provided a 2-night stay at the resort, worth over $300!! 

I had the privilege of attending the senior exhibitions this past month at Hot Springs High School.  If you have never done this, I highly recommend you volunteer for either this or the mock interviews.  These students have worked very hard on their presentations and are eager to learn more about the work force and what to expect when leaving school.  I found it very rewarding.

Our committee is working very hard on making this year’s Managers Seminar a good one.  If you have some ideas on what your managers want to learn and if you know of someone who would like to sponsor the seminar, please contact someone on the committee.

We are very close to meeting our goal this year for members, if you know someone who can benefit from being in our chapter, please have them contact Deanna.

As we move into the summer, we would like to remind each of you that we will be taking Board nominations in the month of July.  I would like to take the time to highlight some of these positions. 

• As the President, it is my responsibility to preside of monthly meetings and conduct 4 Board Meetings each year. I also participate in the ARSHRM State Council meetings as a representative from our local chapter. Jill Hilton will be fulfilling this role in 2013.
• The President-Elect works alongside the President and performs any duties that the President is unable to perform. The President-Elect also coordinates the sponsor for each meeting.
• The VP-Programs position arranges the programs for each meeting and coordinates with HRCI to certify these programs.
• The VP-Membership position maintains a roster of our membership and reaches out to potential members to educate them on the value of being a part of WCASHRM. This position also coordinates different events to bring in new membership and reach out to past members.
• The Secretary/Treasurer manages check-in at our monthly meetings, takes payments, records minutes at the Board Meeting and manages the WCASHRM accounts.

This is just a brief overview of the Executive positions on the Board. Please take some time to consider self-nomination or someone you think would fulfill one of these roles.

Please join us on May 29, 2012. We will meet at St. Joseph's at 11:30. (Please watch your email closely in case St Joseph cancels on us and we have to move the meeting)

Look forward to seeing you!

Sharon McConnell, PHR

A Note from Jill Hilton:

As many of you know, I have recently changed jobs.  I am now the Business Manager for the Arkadelphia Public Schools.  While it's a wonderful opportunity, I will be unable to participate in WCASHRM activities, at least for the near future.  I currently have responsibilities for payroll and benefits in addition to being responsible for everything related to the District's budget.  I plan to maintain my SPHR certification, membership in SHRM, and membership in WCASHRM.  Once I have become established in my position, I hope that I will have a chance to begin attending chapter meetings again.  In the meantime, I will follow along through the newsletter and emails from the Board.  I know that Sharon McConnell will do an excellent job as President in my absence.  I wish you all the best and look forward to seeing you soon.

In the early 1990s employers in the greater Fort Smith area formed a healthcare coalition to seek affordable, quality healthcare in the River Valley and eastern Oklahoma. The group was quasi successful in negotiating with providers, but when the unpaid part-time director of the coalition left the area, the coalition withered and died. In 1996, a larger group of employers formed another coalition - only this time with a paid full-time director. EHC was born and under the leadership of Executive Director, Caryol Hendricks, and its board of directors, the Coalition became a respected voice in Arkansas regarding health care.

In 2001, a group of Hot Springs employers asked to join EHC. A separate board was set up for Hot Springs and the two groups began working as one toward a common goal -- the best quality health care at an affordable price for their community and state!

Brian will give an update of discrimination law at the federal and state level, including a look at the EEOC, recent case law, and possible legislative changes. 

Brian Vandiver holds a bachelors degree from Hendrix College and a J.D. from UALR.  He is an attorney with Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard Law Firm and was named one of the "40 Under 40" by Arkansas Business. Mr. Vandiver primarily represents employers in all areas of labor and employment law. His clients range from some of the largest employers in the state to the smallest. His clients are both self-insured employers and insured employers with EPLI (employment practices liability insurance) coverage. He routinely advises, trains, and represents management in all areas of labor and employment law litigation and compliance. Mr. Vandiver served as a Judicial Clerk for the Honorable United States District Court Judge Stephen M. Reasoner (2000-2001). He has also served as an Adjunct Faculty Member for the UALR William H. Bowen School of Law, teaching Employment Law (spring 2006, spring 2008) Disability Law (fall 2003, fall 2009), and Employment Discrimination Law (spring 2009).

VP Parker is confirmed to be this year's Keynote. Watch for more speaker info. Register Today! Download the Registration Form HERE or register online HERE!

For questions, email SEMINAR@WCASHRM.org.

We need sponsors and vendors! For information, please see the form, or contact Sponsor & Vendor Chairs, Sharon McConnell and Tracy Belton at: SponsorVendor@WCASHRM.org.

SHRM featured WCASHRM's Managers Seminar in last week's HR News. You can read the article HERE.

2012 Managers Seminar Committee

Tara Mauk Arthur, PHR - Chair

Tracy Belton & Sharon McConnell, PHR - Sponsor & Vendor Chairs

Janet Edgar & Allison Ramsey, PHR- Facilities Chair

Deanna Harris - Finance Chair

Holley Little & Terry Davis - Program Chairs

Mary Ann Wiestner, PHR - Registration Chair

Kelly Hernandez - Publicity Chair

Wanda Benson - committee

Connie Poteet Named Scholarship Recipient

Connie Poteet is the WCASHRM Scholarship recipient for 2012.  Ms. Poteet is a Hot Springs resident who graduates with her BSE in Human Resource Development in May 2012 from the University of Arkansas.  She has an overall GPA of 3.769, was inducted in Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and has been on the Chancellor’s list. 

As a non-traditional student, Poteet has completed her undergraduate studies while raising two active teenagers and working full time at National Park Community College in the Nursing Division.  After graduation, Connie plans to complete her Master’s degree in Human Resources and Workforce Development.

At the SHRM Foundation, we help predict where the workforce is headed because we’ve been studying its evolution for over 40 years.  Our vision is a world of inspired business leaders implementing the winning combination of employee fulfillment and business success. We offer unmatched workforce knowledge for the benefit of professional workforce leaders with a total focus on studying and reporting the management practices that work.  Supporting the SHRM Foundation is a chance to contribute to an ongoing study of the direction of human resources in society. The SHRM Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit affiliate

FOUNDATION NEWS

Just released!
HRM's Role in Corporate Social and Environmental Sustainability
Written by an international team of authors, this new report summarizes the latest research on sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Learn how to take the lead in advancing sustainability throughout your organization.

Congratulations! The winner of the SHRM Learning System drawing is Phil Vardiman. Thank you to all of our donors, who shared great quotes about the SHRM Foundation.

"The SHRM Foundation provides innovative educational resources assisting organizations to stay ahead of our changing employment landscape. As HR professionals, we mold futures. The SHRM Foundation helps meet those challenges."

2012 Sponsorship Opportunities
Our financial sponsors play an important role in helping us to shape the workforce. For more information on partnership opportunities contact Tiffany Merklinger, Development Manager, at 703-535-6316 or tiffany.merklinger@shrm.org. 

Get Involved with the SHRM Foundation
Volunteer for the Foundation.

• Review research grant applications
• Provide feedback on report content
• Review scholarship applications

Complete a Get Involved Form today.  These can be found on the SHRM website.  Thank you!

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

I am still looking for VOLUNTEERS to help recruit new members to reach our goal this year. Please email deanna.harris@sflic.net if you want to help.

Also, members can earn a chance to win a Kindle Fire in our drawing to be held at the Christmas party in December by doing one of the following:

(1) INVITE A POTENTIAL MEMBER to a monthly meeting,

(2) RECRUIT A NEW MEMBER by contacting a member directly by providing them with the WCASHRM membership application, or

(3) HELP RECRUIT A MEMBER by emailing contact information for a potential member to deanna.harris@sflic.net.

PHOTOS

MEMBER PHOTOS NEEDED for the Member Directory on the website. Please email a JPEG photo to deanna.harris@sflic.net or see Deanna before or after the next meeting for your photo op.

SHRM

If you are not currently a member of SHRM, you can JOIN anytime during the year. SHRM continues to offer a $15 discount on “new membership” dues.  (The annual membership is currently $180, so SHRM is offering the membership for $165 for NEW MEMBERS ONLY.)  Be sure to use write the Member Discount Code - 0118 and our Chapter # - 467 on your application, so SHRM gives you the discounted rate and adds you to the WCASHRM member roster.

As a reminder, WCASRM waived our membership dues in 2012 for SHRM members (members with WCASHRM as their primary chapter). If we are able to continue this next year, than all SHRM members will benefit from this savings. 

If you would like more information about joining the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), please contact Deanna Harris, WCASHRM VP Membership, at membership@wcashrm.org or contact SHRM directly at SHRM.MemberRelations@shrm.org.

Mark your Calendars for this year's Employment Law & Legislative Affairs Conference!

September 19-20, 2012

The Peabody Hotel in Little Rock

Hot Topics for 2012 include:

• I-9 Compliance
• EECO and the new ADA
• The Obama NLRB
• The Ask a Lawyer session

Registration information coming soon! Sponsors needed! Contact Conference Chair, Stephanie Amerson at samerson@arvest.com.

NEW! Focus on HR

The latest episode of Focus on HR is now live on YouTube and the SHRM website.  IN THIS EPISODE: News: Background check guidelines, health coverage dips, Dr. Shaquille O'Neal. Focus on SHRM: HR Competencies. Feature:  Fixing health care. You can check out the episode here: www.shrm.org/FocusOnHR.

SHRM UPDATES

For SHRM Updates, click HERE for the monthly Southwest Central Region update, or below for the SHRM quarterly update. Lots of great information is included in these documents!