MINUTES – May 11, 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.

WORKSHOP

Many thanks to our workshop planning committee, who put together an outstanding workshop consisting of: 

• Lisa Claxton of Jackson Lewis – FMLA, ADA 

• Penny Wofford of Ford & Harrison – Employee Benefit Plan Administration

• Jonathan Yarborough of Constangy, Brooks & Smith – Employment Discrimination & Harassment 

• George May of Ford & Harrison – Wage and Hour Issues

With any luck, we may be able to have another 
workshop later this year. 

Chapter Business

Introductions were made, and several job openings were announced.  There are also a growing number of job postings on the WNCHRA web site at www.wnchra.info.

Karen Ballard has agreed to join the Newsletter Committee!  Thanks, Karen.

Carol Rovello gave us advance notice of some of the programs scheduled this year.  June’s presentation will showcase the Benefits of Humor in the Workplace.  July’s program will explore the Changing Demographics in the workplace.  August's topic is the HR Manager as CEO.  In September we will have an extended meeting to allow extra time to learn more about Diversity in the Workplace.  November’s program on Background Checks and December’s Social and Officer Installation round out the year.  Jonathan Yarborough is working with Senators Dole and Byrd for a future meeting, but we’ll need to be somewhat flexible to accommodate their schedules.

Our chapter now has 140 members, up from 117 at the beginning of 2005.

At the State Council Meeting, scholarships were announced for assisting SHRM members in the certification process.  The SHRM web site, HRCI.org, or Lorraine Poe can provide further info.

Good News from Our Chapter:

·        We’ve achieved 3 of our 5 2005 goals and are well on our way to the other two.  That should help us earn a Superior Merit Award.

·        New Member Orientation has begun, with a lot of help from Karen Ballard & Rachel Bemis.

·        This morning’s workshop is worth 2.25 HRCI Credits.  Just keep the program announcement and receipt.

·        Lorraine Poe is spearheading a feasibility study to start an affiliate chapter in the counties west of Asheville.

·        Our vendor program nets us close to $1,500 per year for scholarships.

·        Our treasury is doing well – we’re buying a lapel microphone so we don’t have to keep renting them each month.

·        Thanks to Donna Cator, our web site is expanded and enhanced.  Check it out.

·        Membership and participation keep growing!

There are plans in the works for a member survey by early fall.  We can do this on-line through the State SHRM Site.

Challenge:

There is some interest in having the annual State Conference in Asheville for 2007.  It will be in Durham in 2006.  We would need to work with the state representatives to make this happen.  We polled the membership present to see who had enough interest to volunteer to work on the project.  Here are the members who volunteered:

Carol Rovello – agreed to lead the team

(If I missed anyone, just let me know – that’s a lot of names to keep up with – THANKS!)

Another Challenge:  Let’s all try to say S-H-R-M instead of SHRM?

Katherine Unger has created a ListServ for our chapter.  It’s a great way to get our tough questions answered by the folks most likely to have experience with the tough issues – us.  Katherine will be explaining how to use the ListServ at the next meeting – after she returns from a well-deserved graduation cruise.

We are working to revise our bylaws.  They are on the web site at http://wnchra.info/bylaws.htm.  Take a look and send Carolyn Worthington a message with any changes you think would improve our chapter.  Some of the changes that have been considered include:

·        Creating new membership categories and fees.

·        Revising the EEO statement to specify certain groups.

·        Waiving dues for certain membership categories, such as retirees.

·        Changing how often we are required to meet; how often the executive committee meets.

Dr. Mark Huselid, who wrote The Workforce Scorecard: Creating a Human Capital Scorecard for the CEO, will be doing a workshop at Goodwill Industries on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.  Contact Goodwill for more information.

Carolyn has copies of information on the June National SHRM Conference in San Diego for anyone interested.  Some of the featured guests include Bill Cosby and Hall & Oates.

Anyone not receiving the NC HR Review, contact Carolyn Worthington to get your name added to the mailing list.

The State Council Meeting is held four times a year.  The next one is in conjunction with the State Conference October 13-14.

The December State Council Meeting (about 45 – 50) may be held in Asheville.

Featured Vendor

This month’s featured vendor was our very own Frank Pomeroy, of Comforce Staffing.  We could go on and on extolling Frank’s virtues, but since a picture tells a thousand words:

If this leads you to think Frank’s all fun and games, well, you’re right! But, Comforce also has some terrific new programs including HR services to move employees off your payroll and onto Frank’s and a new In-Depth Job Analysis Report that tells you the right interview questions to ask.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.