MINUTES – February 9, 2005

Chapter Business/Brief Updates:

Mike Neeley informed our membership now has reached 138 with 20 new members this year.

Five chapter goals have been established for 2005.  These are now listed on our Goals and Chapter Chatter page:

Carolyn Worthington, our President encouraged members to volunteer to participate in achieving these goals.

She also  informed the group that topics for this year's meetings may include programs on business ethics, diversity, fair credit reporting, ask a legal expert panel, financial tools for the HR manager.

Lorraine Poe reported that the SHRM study course information is now online and that anyone interested in a study group should contact her.

Donna Cator talked about our chapter website:

Katherine Unger is working on the ListServ for our group and will report once established.

Frank Pomeroy reported on our chapter's scholarship award program which is forthcoming.  He also reported that a meeting with Dr.Sherlock will be set up to discuss the WCU Masters Program.

Program Highlights:

Carol Rovello, Director of Employee and Organization Development at A-B Tech presented an interesting program on REACTIONS TO CHANGE.  Lorraine Poe handed Carol a message right at the beginning of her presentation informing Carol the Renaissance Hotel needed all members to  move to the next room - not easy to do when it's a luncheon meeting!  After much confusion and many false starts, Carol revealed that this uncertainty in the face of change was her topic for the day.  We remained in our current room to hear her presentation, which included a discussion of members' reactions to the scenario.

She explained that Organization Development (OD) is a systems approach used to help an organization move from Point A to Point B through a defined course of action and facilitation of change.  Major initiatives benefiting from OD include new leadership, restructuring, new processes or procedures, new technology, new products, etc.

Carol shared that using OD methods can help alleviate fears and resistance by addressing uncertainty and trepidation.  When making a change, consider these OD strategies in the planning stage:

• establishing common goals

• minimizing fear and resistance

• facilitating a collaborative approach

• building and maintaining trust

• staying focused on the desired outcomes

Key elements of OD are Interpersonal (relationships and interactions ...who is involved and who is impacted), the Process (achieving buy-in) and Structure.  Communications is key and succumbing to a sense of urgency without planning can cause critical situations later.  Five basic principles of OD that support the key elements are Engagement and Involvement plus Empowerment to create a sense of importance and independent thinking, Relationships within and across work units, and Structure - the planning and organizing in order to effectively lead through the changes, by framing information in positive ways despite negativity, and starting early with communications.

Common Motivators need to include Autonomy (sense of independence and that the change is "real" work), Challenge (i.e., sustaining enthusiasm), Enjoyment (appropriate fun or humor), sharing the Importance, Recognition, and Relationships and a sense of Accomplishment (at specific points or at completion).

In conclusion, Carol stated that not underestimating a communication plan is very important, start with the end in mind, and seek two desired outcomes from which to develop the plan:  achieving a meaningful process and achieving the desired outcomes.

Vendor: 

Right Management is the world’s largest provider of HR consulting, with locations on 6 continents and in 30 countries.  They specialize in Career Transition and Leadership Development with offerings such as Winning Strategies for Leadership Development, Due Diligence in mergers and acquisitions, Leadership Coaching, Right Job Bank and Resume Bank, Organization Consulting,  and Leader and Team Development.  For more information contact Lana Crum.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.