President's Report

I can’t believe it’s already October! 2026 has flown by, and while it may not quite feel like fall outside yet, we are definitely on the home stretch of another busy and rewarding year. It has been such a privilege to serve WCASHRM alongside an incredible team of volunteer leaders and members who continue to make our chapter stronger, more connected, and more impactful.

We wrapped up September with a fantastic in-person membership meeting featuring Kristi Spaethe, who presented “Creating a Culture of Feedback.” Kristi shared practical strategies and valuable takeaways for creating more meaningful conversations and building a workplace culture where feedback helps employees and teams grow. Thank you, Kristi, for a great program!

Our September meeting also served as our Annual Business Meeting, where we elected the 2027 WCASHRM Board of Directors. I am incredibly excited to introduce this outstanding group of HR professionals who have volunteered to serve our chapter in the coming year:

President- Jennifer Vaughn
President-Elect- Jenny Sales
Secretary- Shayne King
Treasurer- Sheryl Staggs
VP of Programs- Brooke Gilbert
VP of Membership- Deanna Harris
Certification Director- Jennifer Greer
College Relations Director- Amanda Mace
Diversity Director- Terry Davis
Foundation Director- Brandi Brazil
Legislative Affairs Director- Jennifer Hermann
Technology Coordinator-Tara Arthur
Managers’ Seminar Chair- Tara Arthur
Special Events/Outreach Coordinator- Janet Edgar

Please join me in welcoming and congratulating our 2027 Board! We are still looking for a volunteer to serve as our Workforce Readiness Director. If you are interested in becoming more involved with WCASHRM and serving our HR community, we would love to hear from you!

We look forward to officially swearing in our 2027 Board at the WCASHRM Holiday Party on December 8 from 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at Mama’s Little Italy in Hot Springs. Our Holiday Party is always a fun way to celebrate another great year together, enjoy some Christmas cheer, and support the SHRM Foundation through our annual Silent Auction. Mark your calendar and watch for RSVP information!
 
Be sure to join us virtually on October 27 at 11:30 a.m. as we welcome Allyson Lewis for “Seeing What’s Possible: Practical AI for HR.”  Allyson will provide a live demonstration of practical AI skills and tools you can use in your professional life. This is a timely topic with plenty of real-world applications, and you won’t want to miss it!

WCASHRM would also like to extend our sincere appreciation and congratulations to two HR professionals who recently retired: Kari Ekberg with Radius Aerospace and Susan Edwards Strop with the City of Mountain Home.  Thank you both for your years of service and contributions to the HR profession. We celebrate all you have accomplished and wish you the very best in this exciting new chapter!

Are You Ready to Level Up?  The 2026 Arkansas SHRM HR Conference & Expo is almost here! Join HR professionals from across the state in Hot Springs, October 14–16 for three days of learning, networking, and professional development.  If you haven’t registered yet, there is still time! Attendees have the opportunity to earn 14.75 SHRM recertification credits, 12 HRCI Business credits, and 1 HRCI Ethics credit.

And WCASHRM members, don’t forget our chapter photo on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. on the stairs leading up to the Expo Hall. I am excited to see everyone there!

WCASHRM's fourth-quarter community outreach partner is Tri-Lakes CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) provides compassionate volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected children in the foster care system. They are committed to ensuring a consistent voice, safe home, and promising future for children in foster care. Through the combined community efforts of volunteers, staff, attorneys, judges, foster families, family service workers, board members, donors, and supporters, Tri-Lakes CASA provides a CASA advocate for foster children in Garland, Hot Springs, Grant, and Clark and Pike counties. Please consider making a donation to this important organization when you register for this month's membership meeting. Every contribution helps us extend WCASHRM's impact beyond our profession and into the community we serve. Donate to our quarterly “Giving for a Cause.”  Add it to your registration or go to the  WCASHRM Catalog, and we will donate on your behalf!

As we head into the final months of 2026, thank you for everything you do to make WCASHRM such a positive, engaged, and impactful organization. I am incredibly grateful for our members, volunteers, sponsors, speakers, and community partners who continue to make our chapter successful.

There is still plenty to look forward to before we close out the year, and I can’t wait to finish 2026 strong together!

Please mark your calendars for the following Programs/Events of interest:

October 14-16, 2026 – ARSHRM HR Conference & Expo - Hot Springs, AR
December 3-4, 2026 – Arkansas VLBM (Volunteer Leaders) - Mt. Magazine, AR
April 8-9, 2027 – ELLA Conference - Little Rock, AR
June 27-30, 2027 – SHRM Annual Conference – Chicago, IL
August 19, 2027 – WCASHRM 22nd Annual Manager Seminar – Hot Springs, AR

Sincerely,
Jen Vaughn

Jen Vaughn, SHRM-SCP | WCASHRM President | EMAIL ME

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Monthly Sponsor

Wright Lindsey Jennings is a full-service law firm with 77 attorneys in Little Rock and Rogers. Our Labor & Employment Team is prepared to guide you through all aspects of the employee/employer relationship. We counsel clients on day-to-day workplace matters, including employment agreements and handbooks, AI usage in the workplace, leave policies and procedures, compliance with medical marijuana laws, disciplinary issues, harassment and discrimination claims and investigations, and the use of alternative dispute mechanisms before and during litigation. We also offer advice to meet the needs of a changing workforce, including issues related to remote work and data privacy. Our attorneys have extensive litigation experience, but place a premium on preventing employee claims that could lead to investigations and litigation. WLJ provides many resources to the HR community, including free seminars/webinars with HRCI and SHRM credit, e-newsletters, website articles and social media content, and onsite or virtual training. Visit www.WLJ.com to learn more.

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Meeting Topic

Seeing What’s Possible: Practical AI for HR, Demonstrated Live with Allyson Lewis 

OCTOBER 27 | 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.M. | VIRTUAL - zoom LINK WILL Be in the confirmation email.

FREE FOR WCASHRM CHAPTER MEMBERS. $10 FOR NON-WCASHRM MEMBERS.

Some things you have to see for yourself. This hour isn't a presentation about AI — it's AI actually working, live on screen, on the work that fills your week.

Allyson Lewis works with real HR tasks: a job posting rewritten so the right person finally applies, a policy made so readable employees actually read it, and an Arkansas HR question researched with sources you can click and check yourself. Along the way she teaches the six-step prompting framework that makes it all repeatable — and one trick almost nobody knows, where the AI argues against its own answer so you know what to trust before it ever leaves your hands.

Then she shows you what's next: one powerful prompt that takes a single new hire and builds the complete onboarding kit — welcome letter, first-week plan, checklists, and forms — assembled in minutes while you watch. That's not someday. That's this year. And the HR professionals who learn this first won't be catching up to the change — they'll be the ones leading it.

Bring your curiosity and one task you're tired of doing by hand. You'll leave with a prompt library, a way to verify anything AI gives you, and the time-saving skill you'll use tomorrow morning.

ALLYSON WHITE LEWIS is the founder and CEO of The 7 Minute Life, a company dedicated to helping individuals and organizations maximize productivity and make the most of their time. An entrepreneur, author, and sought-after speaker, Allyson has become a leading authority in time management and efficiency. Allyson is an entrepreneur, speaker, and executive coach. She is the author of 5 books. Her books have sold more than 130,000 copies and have been translated into Chinese, Turkish, Korean, and Spanish. Allyson is actively involved in bringing AI technology into the workplace to take productivity to the next level. Her pioneering research and training are helping organizations leverage AI automation to work smarter. Allyson worked in the financial services industry for more than 30 years including 24 years with Morgan Stanley and 7 years with Merrill Lynch. Her clients include Kellogg’s, Walmart, Morgan Stanley, Northern Trust, and the FBI. She has been a guest on CNN and Bloomberg Information TV. Her work has been seen in Investor’s Business Daily, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Sun Times, and Fast Company. Allyson has spoken to thousands of individuals and organizations on the importance of time management and productivity. A gifted and energetic speaker, attendees walk away from Allyson’s programs with the mindset, motivation, and practical skills to stop letting the clock run their lives. Her cutting-edge, customized sessions allow organizations to work smarter, faster, and more productively.

One hour of SHRM PDC & HRCI is approved.

WCASHRM is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP.

HR Certification Institute's® (www.HRCI.org)  official seal confirms that this Activity has met HR Certification Institute’s® (HRCI®) criteria for recertification credit pre-approval, including SPHR® and PHR®.

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Join the Board!

Elevate Your Career: Serve on the 2027 WCASHRM Board!

It's time to step up and shape the future of HR in Central Arkansas! We are seeking passionate, driven leaders to join the 2027 WCASHRM Board of Directors. Serving as a volunteer leader is a transformative opportunity to grow your expertise, expand your influence, and give back to the community that supports you.

We are seeking a Workforce Readiness Director. This position coordinates workforce readiness programs in the community and with local schools. (We have a volunteer for VP of Programs!)

Here is what you gain by serving:
- Grow Your Expertise: Your knowledge and skills will expand exponentially by volunteering alongside a community of amazing HR leaders and continually learning from their diverse experiences.
- Boost Your Resume & Network: Be recognized as a leader in the field and expand your professional network with HR professionals across the state.
- Earn Recertification Credits: Hours spent as a volunteer leader can be counted toward your recertification for SHRM and HRCI.
- Give Back to the Profession: Embrace the "full circle" of leadership by nurturing and giving back to the next generation of volunteers, which is just as important as the learning you receive.
- Access Exclusive Opportunities: You gain the opportunity to attend ARSHRM conferences for free.
- Build Lasting Friendships: The additional benefit of serving is building amazing friendships.

Ready to make an impact? If you are interested, please reach out to Jen Vaughn at [email protected] to discuss this opportunity.

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Community Involvement

WCASHRM's fourth-quarter community outreach partner is Tri-Lakes CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) provides compassionate volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected children in the foster care system. They are committed to ensuring a consistent voice, safe home, and promising future for children in foster care. Through the combined community efforts of volunteers, staff, attorneys, judges, foster families, family service workers, board members, donors, and supporters, Tri-Lakes CASA provides a CASA advocate for foster children in Garland, Hot Spring, Grant, and Clark and Pike counties. Please consider making a donation to this important organization when you register for this month's membership meeting. Every contribution helps us extend WCASHRM's impact beyond our profession and into the community we serve. Donate to our quarterly “Giving for a Cause.”  Add it to your registration or go to the  WCASHRM Catalog and we will donate on your behalf!

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ARSHRM Events

Approved for 14.75 SHRM and HRCI with 12 hours HRCI Business and 1 eligible for Ethics.
Register online at www.HR2026.org.

WCASHRM is collecting door prizes for the 2026 Arkansas SHRM HR Conference & Expo, October 14–16! Donating a door prize is a fun and easy way to showcase your company, organization, or brand in front of HR professionals from across Arkansas while helping make the conference experience even more exciting. If you have a door prize to donate, please email [email protected] to coordinate drop off/pick up with Jen Vaughn, or bring it to the Expo Hall in the Convention Center.

If you are attending, the On-Site Brochure will be located in the Vault on HR2026.org, or follow Arkansas SHRM on Facebook for all the activities, including Wednesday Night 1980s Dance Party, Thursday Night at Bridge Street Live, and the SHRM Foundation Fundraiser. The conference is also collecting breakfast items for the Harbor House. 

Lots of totally rad fun is expected at this year's conference!

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Upcoming Events

Celebrate the Season with WCASHRM!

Join us on Tuesday, December 8, from 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at Mama’s Little Italy on Airport Road in Hot Springs as we celebrate the holidays and wrap up another fantastic year with WCASHRM!

Enjoy a delicious sit-down lunch and dessert, FREE for WCASHRM members, along with festive holiday games, fellowship, and plenty of fun! Guests are welcome to attend and may purchase their lunch. We’ll also host a silent auction benefiting the SHRM Foundation and officially swear in our 2027 WCASHRM Board Officers.

We'll hold our Annual SHRM Foundation fundraiser at the Holiday Party. Have an item you’d like to donate to the silent auction? Email [email protected] or bring them to our September board meeting so we can begin building our auction baskets.  Every donation helps support the important work of the SHRM Foundation!

RSVP is open! We can’t wait to celebrate the season, our members, and another great year of WCASHRM together!

Register Here

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SHRM Foundation

WE NEED YOUR HELP — HOLIDAY PARTY DONATIONS NEEDED!

Our WCASHRM Holiday Party is approaching, and the Foundation needs YOUR help making this year’s event a success!

We are asking members, employers, community partners, and local businesses to donate items that can be used as raffle items, or items that can be used for gift baskets during the Holiday Party.

Donation ideas include:

No donation is too small. Combining several donated items can also make a great, themed auction package! Proceeds from the Silent Auction will support our WCASHRM Foundation fundraising efforts and help us continue working toward our 2026 Foundation fundraising goal of $2,026.

If you or your organization would like to contribute an item, please contact Brandi Brazil @ [email protected].

Why Do We Support the SHRM Foundation?

Sometimes we hear “SHRM Foundation” without really thinking about what our donations make possible. The SHRM Foundation is the nonprofit, philanthropic arm of SHRM. Its mission centers on equipping HR professionals to create better workplaces while strengthening the HR profession itself.

Foundation support helps provide scholarships, professional development grants, certification opportunities, research, tools, and resources for HR professionals and emerging HR leaders.

Each year, the Foundation invests hundreds of thousands of dollars directly into the HR community through scholarships and professional development grants. It also develops resources addressing some of the issues we are navigating every day—including workplace mental health, caregiving, skills-based hiring, job quality, and the changing future of work.

When WCASHRM raises money for the Foundation, we are investing back into our own profession and the people who will lead it next.

Grant Opportunity — Applications Are Open!

If earning your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP has been on your professional development list, take a look at the current SHRM Foundation grant cycle.

The Foundation's 2026 SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP Certification Grant #2 application period is currently open, with an application deadline of October 16, 2026. The certification grant can provide the SHRM certification exam along with SHRM's online learning system.

Specialty Credential grant opportunities are also open through October 16, 2026.

Don't assume a scholarship or grant isn't for you—review the eligibility requirements and apply! These opportunities are one of the very reasons our chapters raise money and advocate for the Foundation.

What's New at the Foundation?

The SHRM Foundation's 2026 priorities reflect many of the challenges HR professionals are dealing with right now. Current areas of focus include:

The Foundation also continues to provide practical tools HR professionals can use in their own organizations, including resources for creating mentally healthy workplaces and implementing skills-first talent practices.

Your Support Matters

Whether you donate an auction item, bid in December, apply for a Foundation grant, share an available scholarship with someone beginning an HR career, or simply help spread the word—you are supporting the future of HR.

Support the SHRM Foundation: Make a Difference and Invest in Your Future

WCASHRM was one of the top 25 chapters to donate in 2024. Help us continue to support the SHRM Foundation by donating every meeting. SHRM Foundation is a 501(c) 3, whose mission is to mobilize the power of HR and the generosity of donors to lead positive social changes impacting work, workers and the workplace. You can give via our West Central Arkansas WCASHRM - Catalog and we will submit your donation on your behalf, or you can go directly to the donate.shrmfoundation.org website to give. Please be sure to list our chapter #467 so WCASHRM receives the credit for your donation. (If you donate via our website, please help us cover the credit card fees. For a $10 donation it is $0.75)

Let’s Lead the Way

As a chapter, let’s show our commitment to advancing the HR profession by supporting the SHRM Foundation – whether through donations, applying for scholarships and grants, or by sharing these opportunities with others.

TOGETHER, WE CAN CREATE A WORLD OF WORK THAT SUPPORTS WORK FOR ALL.

SHRM Foundation - Building an Inclusive World of Work

Brandi Brazil, SHRM-SCP | SHRM Foundation Director | EMAIL ME

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Managers' Seminar

Save the date for 22nd Annual WCASHRM Managers SEminar on
August 19, 2027 At the
Hot springs convention center

Registration will open in January 2027.

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Certification

Price Drop: SHRM Certification Just Changed!

SHRM Certification application rates across all applicant categories have been announced! 

SHRM-CP:
New Member Price → $399
New Non-Member Price → $499
SHRM-SCP:
New Member Price → $399
New Non-Member Price → $499

SHRM Certification Website

Scholarship

WCASHRM offers a scholarship for certification testing fees reimbursement per testing window for chapter members. 

The chapter will reimburse up to $600 for four (4) chapter members, who successfully pass their certification testing annually.  The reimbursement is available to chapter members who are national SHRM members and their employment does not pay for their certification testing. Applications will be accepted after successful exam results. You can download the scholarship form here.

If you are planning to test and want to find a study buddy or would like information regarding our scholarship, please reach out to me.

Jennifer Greer, SHRM-SCP | Certification Director | EMAIL ME

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Workforce Readiness

The Hot Springs Chamber is asking for partnership and volunteers for Arkansas Career & Technical Student Organization events held at the Hot Springs Convention Center. They are seeking Breakout Session Presenters, College and Career Fair Vendors, Event Sponsors, Competitive Event Evaluator/Judge, Time Keepers, and Room Volunteers

State Conferences and Competitions
DECA - February 8 - 9, 2027
Educator's Rising - February 18, 2027 - Arkansas Tech University
Technology Student Association (TSA) - March 3, 2027
HOSA - March 30 - 31, 2027
Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)  - April 7 - 8, 2027
Skills USA - April 12 -14, 2027

Career and Technical Student Organization Event Volunteer Form

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Membership Corner

WELCOME NEW WCASHRM MEMBERS

Your Name Could Be Here!

Know someone who is in HR but not a chapter member? Share our chapter with them! Since we meet virtually 8 months of the year, we reach all areas of the state.

WCASHRM MEMBERSHIP COST:

WCASHRM dues are free for SHRM members who primary designate their SHRM membership with our chapter, $30 for SHRM members designated to another chapter, or $45/annually. Our members consist of HR professionals, small business owners, office managers, payroll clerks, benefit coordinators, and others interested in the Human Resource function.

In addition, the national organization - the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) - provides a multitude of resources including articles, legal updates, research, online tools including job descriptions, templates, audit information, and expert help in HR and business. 

The paper membership application is here or the online membership application is here. If you're a SHRM member, you'll need to designate your membership to Chapter#467 with SHRM here.

Benefits of being a WCASHRM member include:
-Virtual meetings are free for members. (Virtual meetings are $10/month for non-members.)
-An opportunity to network on a monthly basis with local HR professionals.
-Regular legislative updates in the industry, community, state and federal levels.
-Recertification credits at our chapter meetings and annual Managers’ Seminar.
-Monthly topics that are relevant and of concern to Human Resource professionals.
-Monthly newsletters with information relating to the chapter, SHRM and HR industry.
-Participation in local workforce readiness activities.
-Certification study groups.
-Certification and College Scholarships.
-Chapter + SHRM (Dual) members get the best rate for ARSHRM
-Conferences.
-Post jobs for free on our website

WHY JOIN SHRM?

Today is a great time to renew your annual membership with SHRM!  As a SHRM member, you’ll gain access to over $13,000 worth in HR tools, research, training and resources that can enhance your role as an HR Professional.  A SHRM membership provides value daily and is a solid investment for any HR professional.  If you renew now, you can lock in your 2026 annual membership for $299. Check out the SHRM Membership Benefits Guide for more details on all the benefits of being a SHRM member.

As the cost of doing business goes up, getting the most out of your resources is more critical now than ever.  When you become a SHRM member, you’ll gain access to over $13,000 in tools, research, training and resources that can enhance your role as an HR Professional.  A SHRM membership provides value daily and is a solid investment for any HR professional. 

Deanna Harris, SHRM-CP | Membership VP | EMAIL ME

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Diversity

Diversity and Inclusion Calendar - October 2026

Global Diversity Awareness Month (U.S.)

Celebrates the diverse cultures and populations that enrich our world. Encourages organizations to strengthen inclusion practices and cultural understanding in workplaces.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Recognizes the contributions of employees with disabilities and promotes inclusive hiring practices and workplace accessibility.

ADHD Awareness Month

Raises awareness about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and its impact on children and adults. Encourages understanding, support, and inclusion of those with neurodiversity in schools and workplaces.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Dedicated to increasing awareness of breast cancer, promoting screening and early detection, and raising funds for research. The pink ribbon symbolizes hope and support for those affected.

Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Promotes acceptance and inclusion of people with Down Syndrome, highlighting their strengths and advocating for inclusive communities and workplaces.

Hispanic Heritage Month (continues through October 15)

Celebrates the culture, history, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. The start date honors the independence days of several Latin American nations including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

October 1 – International Day of Older Persons 

Highlights the contributions of older workers and raises awareness about issues of aging in the workforce.

October 2 – International Day of Non-Violence/Gandhi Jayanti (Hindu)

Marks the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, honoring his legacy of peace, nonviolence, and justice.

October 10 – World Mental Health Day

Raises awareness of mental health issues and mobilizes efforts to support workplace wellbeing and reduce stigma.

October 11 – National Coming Out Day

Supports LGBTQ+ individuals in openly expressing their identity, while encouraging allies to create inclusive and affirming environments.

October 11 – 19 – Navratri (Hindu)

A nine-night Hindu festival honoring the Divine Feminine through prayer, fasting, music, dance, and community celebrations. Durga Puja, celebrated during this period in many regions, honors Goddess Durga's victory over evil.

October 12 – Indigenous Peoples Day/Columbus Day

Recognizes the history and cultures of Native peoples while also marking the federal Columbus Day holiday observed in parts of the United States.

October 15 – White Cane Safety Day/Blind Americans Equality Day

Recognizes the achievements and independence of people who are blind or have low vision while promoting accessibility and equal opportunity.

October 16 – World Food Day

Raises awareness of global hunger and food insecurity, encouraging organizations to support food equity and sustainability initiatives.

October 16 – Boss’s Day/National Boss Day

Offers an opportunity for employees to appreciate leadership, highlight inclusive management, and encourage positive workplace relationships.

October 17 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Focuses on addressing economic inequality and workplace strategies that reduce barriers for underrepresented groups.

October 18 – World Menopause Day

Raises awareness about menopause and encourages understanding of its impact on employees' health and well-being. It promotes education, reduces stigma, and highlights the importance of supportive workplace policies and inclusive conversations.

October 24 – United Nations Day

Celebrates the founding of the U.N. and its mission to promote peace, justice, human rights, and international cooperation.

Terry Davis | Diversity Director | EMAIL ME

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Chapter Meetings, RSVP's, Payments

All 2026 Monthly Meetings will be held 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

In Person meetings for March, June, and September. The August meeting will be held on August 18 so it doesn't conflict with our Managers Seminar.

All other meetings will be virtually via Zoom.

IN PERSON LOCATION: 

The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce | 659 Ouachita Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71901 | 501.321.1700

VIRTUAL ZOOM LINK:

We no longer email the meeting link the morning of the meeting. It is available in the confirmation email that you receive immediately after registering. Please save this email for access to the meeting. Please add [email protected] and [email protected] to your safe list so it doesn’t deliver to junk. If you can't locate the link, please email [email protected] for the link.

COST:

Virtual: Free for members; $10 for non-members.

In-Person: $15 for members; $20 for non-members. $5.00 late fee.

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