July 2026
President's Report
I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Fourth of July! As we celebrated America's 250th birthday, I found myself reflecting on the wisdom and vision of our Founding Fathers. They established a nation where every American has the freedom to share their thoughts and ideas, recognizing that while we may not always agree, our shared commitment to one nation is what unites us. That same privilege and responsibility carries into our work as HR professionals. Each day, we balance the needs of our organizations with our responsibility to ensure employees are treated fairly, their voices are heard, and our workplaces remain strong and successful. What a privilege it is to serve in a profession that has such a meaningful impact on both people and business.
June was a busy month. I had the privilege to represent WCASHRM at the National SHRM Conference in Orlando, Florida. It was an amazing time of learning and networking. There were so many amazing speakers, and hearing Oprah’s wisdom and encouragement on the closing day was truly the highlight of the event for me. We also had the pleasure of hosting Stuart Jackson from Wright Lindsey Jennings at our in-person membership meeting in June, where he spoke about Accommodations in the Workplace! A huge thank you to Clearway Credit Union for their continued support of WCASHRM and their sponsorship of this event. Don’t forget, our next membership meeting will be virtual on July 28, 2026, with Sheila Moss discussing I-9 compliance. You definitely do not want to miss this!
WCASHRM’s third-quarter community outreach partner is Scars and Stripes, Inc. This nonprofit is dedicated to supporting and empowering the veteran population in the Hot Springs area community by addressing areas like suicide prevention, homelessness, VA benefits, mental health, and more. Please consider donating to this important cause when you register for this month’s meeting.
Early bird registration for the 21st Annual Manager Seminar ends July 31st! This premier management training event will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Hot Springs Convention Center. The seminar is an excellent opportunity for both new and experienced managers to gain practical knowledge and training on a variety of leadership and management topics. We are especially excited to welcome our keynote speaker, Cindy Rowe, who will kick off the day with her presentation, “The People First Advantage: Building Loyalty and Leading with Kindness.” Reserve seats for your team today. We cannot wait to see you there!
Thank you all for your passion and commitment to the HR profession! Stay cool and safe during these dog days of summer.
Please mark your calendars for the following Programs/Events of interest:
August 27, 2026 – WCASHRM 21st Annual Manager Seminar – Hot Springs, AR
October 14-16, 2026 – ARSHRM State Conference-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
Sincerely,
Jen Vaughn
Jen Vaughn, SHRM-SCP | WCASHRM President | EMAIL ME
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Meeting Topic
The I-9 Survival Guide : Staying Compliant in a Complicated World with Sheila Moss
JULY 28 | 11:30 a.m. | VIRTUAL - zoom LINK WILL Be in the confirmation email.
FREE FOR WCASHRM CHAPTER MEMBERS. $10 FOR NON-WCASHRM MEMBERS.
Description: Form I-9 compliance remains one of HR’s most deceptively challenging tasks—easy to overlook, yet costly when mistakes occur. In this fast-paced and engaging session, Sheila Moss—nationally known as the “I-9 Lady”—will guide participants through the essentials of proper I-9 completion, retention, and verification. With humor, real-world examples, and practical strategies, Sheila will cut through the confusion, highlight the most common pitfalls, and equip HR professionals with tools to manage compliance confidently. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of their obligations and practical tips they can apply immediately in their organizations.
Learning objectives:
1. Recognize the core requirements for accurate and compliant Form I-9 completion, including timelines, documentation, and retention rules.
2. Identify common errors and pitfalls that increase audit and penalty risks—and learn practical ways to prevent them.
3. Apply best practices for everyday compliance (including E-Verify use, reverification, and remote verification) that balance legal requirements with HR efficiency.
Sheila Moss' journey began with her passion for human resources and organizational dynamics. Her commitment to excellence quickly established her as a trusted authority in the field. She travels across the nation each year, delivering presentations and training programs. Her expertise transcends sectors, leaving a significant impact on the corporate landscape. Fostering positive workplace behavior and enhancing organizational culture and effectiveness, she drives transformative change in the workplace.
Sheila is affectionately known as the "I-9 Lady" for her expertise in employment eligibility compliance. Through her consultancy group, Information Solutions Team, she and her team have guided numerous organizations in navigating compliance regulations, earning widespread recognition and respect. Since founding her company in 1996, Sheila has achieved multiple accreditations and awards. Her dedication to empowering organizations and individuals has inspired a new generation of leaders to embrace innovation, compassion, and collaboration, shaping the future of workplaces.
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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Managers' Seminar
Registration is now open for the WCASHRM Managers Seminar.
Cost is $95/per person and includes lunch. Cost increases after 7/31. Visit our website for more information on the sessions or download our paper registration form to share with friends, family, and colleagues. The event is approved for 6 hours of HRCI, SHRM and CLE for Attorneys.
We are seeking sponsors and vendors for our event. Thank you to 1st Employment for their continued support as our Presenting Sponsor.
This distinguished, award-winning event typically draws over 300 attendees from more than 75 organizations across Central and South Arkansas, encompassing a diverse audience from small business proprietors to senior-level managers across various industries.
We currently have sponsorship and vendor spots available! To reserve your position or to request additional information, please contact Janet Edgar at (501) 627-3215 or Jenny Sales at (501) 304-5050 or email [email protected]. Registration is also available for completion online at www.WCASHRM.org/Seminar
$1000 Lunch Sponsor
Logo on Website (Seminar Page and Meeting Page)
Logo on Onsite Program
Logo on Luncheon Signage
Vendor Booth
Market to 300+ registrants
Recognition at Keynote Session and Concurrent Session Before Lunch
Registration List after event
Three (3) complimentary registrants
$500 Break Sponsor
Logo on Website (Seminar Page)
Logo on Onsite Program
Logo on Break Signage
Vendor Booth
Market to 300+ registrants
Recognition at Keynote Session
Registration List after event
Two (2) complimentary registrants
$250 Concurrent Session Sponsors - one session
$350 Concurrent Session Sponsors - two sessions
Logo on Website and Onsite Program
Market to 300+ registrants
Recognition for Session
Introduction of Speaker (optional)
Registration List after event
One (1) complimentary registrant
$225 - Vendors
Face-to-face time with 300+ individuals
representing over 75 companies
Booths include 6X30 table with 2 chairs
Electricity with $50 payment
Registration List after event
One (1) complimentary registrant
Visit our Seminar page for more information including registration.
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Community Involvement
Thank you to everyone for your support of the Sunshine Therapeutic Riding Center during Q2.
WCASHRM's third quarter Community Outreach partner is Scars and Stripes, Inc. This nonprofit is dedicated to supporting and empowering the veteran population in the Hot Springs area community by addressing areas like suicide prevention, homelessness, VA benefits, mental health, and more. Please consider donating to this important cause when you register for this month’s meeting.
For more information, visit: https://www.scarsandstripesinc.org/
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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.
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 chance to apply for an Area Foundation Scholarship and attend SHRM’s Leadership Conference at a reduced rate.
- Build Lasting Friendships: The additional benefit of serving is building amazing friendships.
Positions Include:
President - Leads Chapter in various capacities, including chapter meetings, board meetings. Represents Chapter in community and on State Council. MUST BE A NATIONAL SHRM MEMBER!
President-Elect - Assists President with various functions. Will serve as the Chapter President for the next term. Handles monthly meeting sponsors. MUST BE A NATIONAL SHRM MEMBER!
Secretary - Takes minutes at board meetings. Maintains chapter records.
Treasurer - Handles the Chapter finances - collecting monies, balancing checkbook, paying bills. Monitors budget.
Vice President, Programs - Coordinates and programs monthly meeting speakers and program materials. Applies for SHRM and HRCI credit for monthly meetings.
Vice President, Membership - Recruits new members; maintains membership roster; sends out new member kits and membership information; Greets members upon check-in at monthly meeting. MUST BE A NATIONAL SHRM MEMBER!
Diversity Director - Communicates diversity information to chapter and coordinates annual diversity program with VP, Programs.
Legislative Director - Communicates legislative updates and alerts to chapter members. Provides legislative updates to members at monthly chapter meetings. RECOMMENDED TO BE A SHRM MEMBER.
College Relations Director - Serves as liaison between WCASHRM and any area SHRM student chapter. Promotes the annual scholarship. Develops mentor relationships.
Certification Director - Promotes SHRM and HRCI Certification and Promotes certification Study Group. MUST BE A NATIONAL SHRM MEMBER AND HOLD A SHRM CERTIFICATION!
Workforce Readiness Director - Coordinates workforce readiness programs in the community and with local schools.
SHRM Foundation Director - Coordinates chapter SHRM Foundation fundraiser; promotes Foundation.
Ready to make an impact? If you are interested in staying in your current position or exploring a new role for 2027, please reach out to Jenny Sales at [email protected] to discuss this beautiful opportunity! You can also download and return our nominating form to nominate yourself and others.
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Diversity
July Diversity and Inclusion Calendar 2026
Visit Arkansas SHRM's Inclusion and Diversity page for July dates.
Terry Davis | Diversity Director | EMAIL ME
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Certification
SHRM Certification EARLY BIRD PRICING
Early-bird pricing for the SHRM-CP® and SHRM-SCP® exams is available through the end of August. Also, add Promo Code SUMMER26 at checkout for an additional 25% off!
Apply now to lock in your lower exam fee before regular pricing begins. Visit https://www.shrm.org/shop/certification for more info.
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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College Relations
Jennifer Vaughn, MBA, SHRM-SCP
ARSHRM College Relations Director | EMAIL ME | 541-990-9798 cell
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Membership Corner
WELCOME NEW WCASHRM MEMBERS
Debra Alfaro, Hostess
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.
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.
New! Tiered SHRM Professional Membership
Below is a Tiered HR Professional Membership that SHRM recently launched, which will include:
- Professional ($299): Foundational support for credible HR practice. This tier reflects SHRM’s current HR Professional membership, and benefits remain the same.
- Professional Plus ($595): Deeper insight and decision support for experienced leaders. Benefits include more education products including access to the People Manager Qualification (PMQ), SHRM Conferences on Demand and eight eLearning Modules.
- Professional Premium ($995): More executive level content for workforce intelligence designed for leaders accountable for enterprise-wide outcomes. Benefits include the education products outlined above and a dedicated SHRM Connect community; two specially curated research webinars each year; access to an executive session at SHRM’s Annual Conferences & Expo; discounted (40%) leadership coaching offering through SHRM Linkage and 50% off one SHRM Specialty Credential each year.
Each tier builds upon the previous one, ensuring that members can choose the level of support that best aligns with their role, goals, and professional needs.
Here is the link to this tiered membership: www.shrm.org/membership/hr-professional-tiers.
The Tiered Membership is being launched to a targeted group of individuals including former members (long lapsed) or new individuals, and eventually to Volunteer Leaders.
This beta phase is intentionally designed as a focused learning phase. Early participants will help SHRM refine the experience, inform future investments, and shape how Tiered Membership evolves through 2026 to all audiences. The feedback will be critical to ensuring that this model delivers real value in real-world decision moments.
DETAILS:
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
Deanna Harris, SHRM-CP | Membership VP | EMAIL ME
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SHRM Foundation
Equipping Employers to Support Working Caregivers
Caregiving in the Workplace: Real Stories, Real Impact
Check out the latest research from the SHRM Foundation. Caregiving touches every career. This short video highlights real stories—and the difference employers make when they build more supportive, flexible workplaces.
Millions of employees balance work with caring for children, aging parents, or loved ones with health needs. Without employer support, caregiving strains productivity, loyalty, and well-being, but with the right policies and culture, employers and employees alike can flourish.
Join the SHRM Foundation to help employers create workplaces where caregivers can thrive at work and at home.
Visit for more info: https://www.shrm.org/foundation/thriving-together/supporting-working-caregivers.
Ways You Can Donate
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)
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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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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About WCASHRM
Starting in February 2024, Google and Yahoo are implementing new email authentication requirements for all bulk email senders. The changes are to protect recipients from scams and phishing attempts by authenticating all incoming emails based on specific requirements.
If you are having trouble receiving mail from your organization, a firewall or spam filtering service is likely the cause of the issue. However, you can add several domains and IP addresses to your local Allow List ensure safe delivery. Depending on your e-mail service, you may be able to do this yourself, or you may need the assistance of your IT administrator. We recommend including the following:
- 166.78.71.148
- 159.135.230.118
- 159.135.230.230
- 159.135.230.228
- 159.135.230.229
- 159.135.230.23
- starchapteremailhost2.com 67.43.2.30
- hostemail1.starchapterhost.com 209.59.162.85
- hostmailbox1.starchapterhost.com 67.43.7.204
- starchaptermail.com 69.60.117.130
Messages from the organization will usually have the same reply-to email address on them (visible if you start to reply to the message). Adding this address to your address book or contact list can also help ensure delivery. Adding webmail@ (the domain name) to the address book or contact list can also help. These changes can be helpful if e-mails are being reported as bounced, too.
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