MINUTES – August 10, 2005

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

Introductions

Carolyn Worthington, our chapter president, recognized our new members, 29 since the beginning of the year.  This brings our total chapter membership to 150. 

Chapter Business

Karen Ballard announced that the newsletter will be out soon.  It is posted on our WNCHRA web site.  Karen applauded the efforts of Donna Cator, who has done a fantastic job with the web site.

Carolyn asked that anyone who is not receiving the NCHR Review contact her to be added to the mailing list.

Frank Pomeroy announced that we have openings for vendors.  The fee is $125, and goes towards our scholarship fund for students working on graduate programs in HR.

As a reminder, the state SHRM conference is scheduled for October 13-14 in Fayetteville.

Lorraine Poe announced that the first certification class will meet at 8:00 am on August 18 at WCI.  Anyone interested in attending, or anyone with certification who would like to lead discussions should contact Lorraine.

Frank introduced the vendors of the month, Mary Hill and Molly Milner with Pathways: Life after Cancer.  The organization was founded by Dr. Lewis Rathbin. They believe that emotional health is connected to mental health and affects the outcome of medical conditions.  Pathways provides individual and group counseling.  They can help us understand how employees can support co-workers with cancer.  They provide a number of workplace support programs, including:

 ·        Meeting with them and talking about the programs offered.

·        Learning about tools for living with, through, and beyond cancer.

·        Attending their seminar on Cancer support for Co-workers.

More people are now living with cancer, and most of us know someone who has cancer.  Programs and information are available to benefit individuals and workplaces.

Carol Rovello reminded members of the upcoming extended program on diversity.  Patty Digh will present a 2½ hour workshop on September 14 from 10:00 – 12:30. 

October’s program will feature the CEO as Ethics Officer, and will be presented by Dr. John Sherlock of WCU.

November’s meeting will focus on Background Investigations.

Program

Ron Hoechstetter, Ergonomics Consultant for CarePartners Health Services, provided information on Using Ergonomics and Self Care.  Ergonomics involves fitting the work to the workplace to make it as safe, comfortable, and productive as possible. 

To be effective, we must go beyond supplying ergonomic information; we must work to sell it. 

Ron pointed out that the bursting point of a lumbar disk is 1600 pounds.  That sounds like a lot until you add in the weight of your upper body, what is being lifted, and other forces that can multiply the effect.  To lift safely:

• Posture yourself for a wide base of support.

• Decrease the horizontal distance of the object being lifted from your body.

• Arch your back.

• Avoid twisting by pivoting and posturing your hips towards the item being lifted, or better yet, stand facing the item.

Micro-breaks increase efficiency in the office and on the plant floor.  Provide sit/stand options for employees.  Eliminate static postures.  Adjust your position frequently.  Ergonomics is 20% of the solution.  Behavior is the other 80%.

When purchasing office chairs, always negotiate a trial period. 

Some quick exercises are:

• Lie on your back on a soft but firm surface and do a pelvic tilt (curl up like a tube of toothpaste).

• Tilt your head up, down, left, right.

• Do a neck glide by tucking your chin in and back.

• Interlock and roll your fingers.

• Do a finger shake.

• Rotate your trunk.

• Inhale & stretch your frame upwards.

• Interlock fingers, palms up, and lean back.

A good range of motion, coordination, and flexibility helps prevent falls and breaks.

Announcements

Mike McCarthy of AB-Tech polled the group for interest in two programs:

·        How to Structure and Manage Corporate Wellness Programs

·        How to Create and Manage a Customer Service Measurement System

Montreat College will post job openings.  Contact Kathy Haney @ khaney@montreat.edu.

Mission Hospitals has several HR positions open.  Check their Career Center at http://missionhospitals.org/jobs.htm. Maria Roloff has been hired as Mission’s new VP of HR.

Alison McCaffrey has taken a job in Texas with Cardinal Health.  We all wish her the best of luck.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.