Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Association held on Wednesday, October 13, 2004 at the Renaissance Hotel in Asheville.  Should you have any questions, comments or corrections, please contact Bridget Downey PHR.

Chapter Business:

Renee Anderson, our Chapter President, welcomed members and guests.

Frank Pomeroy introduced the Vendor of the month, Larry Zapf of Beverly Hanks & Associates. Larry and Beverly Hanks are working on innovations in real estate. When he asked what our members wanted to hear, he was told that we wanted something to make our jobs easier that didn’t cost anything. To meet this challenge, Larry presented Beverly Hanks’ Full Service Relocation Division. It features area information, hotels and restaurants with corporate discounts, assigned agents for area orientations, cost-of-living differential analysis, and custom brochures. Their services are free. They just want the opportunity to sell a home.

Program Highlights:

The meeting featured a roundtable format, with groups reporting on their discussions at the end of the program.  Discussion Topics included:

This discussion highlighted maximum leave times, different FMLA calendars, and reasonable accommodation under ADA. Good resources for information include WCI, attorneys, and 800 numbers for ADA and FMLA questions.

There is a new law that allows employers to secure restraining orders to prevent workplace violence from abusive spouses, disgruntled former employees, or anyone else who may pose a threat. A new form is expected around the beginning of December that employers can take to the Magistrate for the Courts. It will be found on the Administrative Office of the Courts web site.

Discussion centered on the overall approach to evaluations. The 360-degree approach and the challenges of adjusting evaluations for rote hourly positions were explored. For changes to existing programs, the group agreed that changes should be carefully though through, employees should be involved, and implementation should be incremental.

Available programs include JobLink, the NC Services for the Blind, Retired Brains, and a variety of services obtained by calling 211. JobLink, now located on the AB Tech campus has a new online job search availability. They have programs for youth aged 16 to 21, and can provide information on tax breaks for employers who hire people with disabilities. The Going Home initiative works with employers to place non-violent first time offenders in jobs.

Fewer concerns and surprises than expected have been seen with the changes to the FLSA. The two criteria, duties and salary have, to date, seemed to simplify decisions rather than complicate them. The biggest effect has been seen on School Counselors and Coaches. These positions were not classified as exempt, yet they had frequent requirements for work weeks over 40 hours. There has been a great deal of political posturing, leading to misunderstandings and misinformation in the media.

This group explored the idea of mentorship programs as a way for different age groups to break stereotypical barriers. They agreed that we will all need to be proactive in developing ways to better adjust to the anticipated population shifts.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.