Can you believe we are more
than halfway through the year! I have enjoyed serving as your President and would
like to thank the membership for their support to the organization and to me personally.
Getting to attend the National SHRM Conference is a great benefit of being President.
It was a wonderful experience from beginning to end.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu was the opening speaker and that alone was a tremendous inspiration!
For almost an hour, he captivated an audience of 12,000 with the subject of his message
being “every person has the propensity for goodness and the ability to recognize
it.” Each day was packed with informative sessions. It was hard to decide which
ones to attend. If you can work it in to your busy schedules, try to attend next
year’s National Conference – it is definitely worth it. By the way, it
will be held in San Francisco!!
On the home front, we have had a productive year so far. I would like to thank
the Executive Board and our Committee Chairs for the many hours spent on seeing that
our goals for the year are on target. My personal thanks go to Secretary Tami Manard
for the detailed minutes that make my job easy.
Our By-Laws have been completely revised. They were approved at the July general
meeting and should be out to the membership soon. Thanks go to Terri Reshard
and her committee for the many hours of work spent seeing that this goal was
accomplished. The budget is strong and we feel we will be able to accomplish our
goals and meet our commitments through March 31, 2001. Treasurer Kathy
Starnick keeps us on track with the budget updates.
In July, we had the annual Employment Law Seminar and it was a success. Donald
Works III, Of Counsel with the firm of Jackson, Lewis, Schnitzler, and Krupman, presented
an outstanding program on the latest employment issues. President-Elect Robin Grobsmith
has done an excellent job on our programs this year.
Tara Henley, Legislative Chair, is providing us with legislative updates at each
meeting and our goal is to make our HR VOICE (s) heard.
Our “Hospitality Partners” have had a very positive effect! It was a personal
goal of mine to have our guests, our new members, our speakers, and all of the
membership made to feel comfortable and welcome. Hospitality Chair Susan Gates and
her committee always make everyone feel welcome and do a great job setting up our
meetings!
The accreditation classes are underway. Special thanks to our members that
volunteered to teach a class. And, to Sheryl Martin, Accreditation Chair, and Dr.
John Irwin, Education Chair, for coordinating that project.
We are well above the 30% affiliate requirement set by National. Membership Chair Kathy
Williams has done a great job providing information on National at each general
meeting. PR Chair Nancy Jo Willis, Web Site Coordinator Jim Miller,
Newsletter Chair Cyndi Ronca and our members are getting the word out to the
community on what we are all about. We continue to grow and we are an organization that professionals
want to be associated with.
Diversity in the workplace is an issue that is becoming more and more important
these days. Diversity Chair Sherry Ray and her committee will be working
on getting monthly information to the members and we look forward to that.
With your help, I know the remainder of the year will be just as productive and
successful as the first half. The Nominating Committee has met, and a slate of officers
for 2001 will be sent out and ready for vote at the September General meeting.
As always, I look forward to seeing each of you at our general meetings.
Remember to volunteer for a committee if you can manage the time. Become a hospitality
partner at each meeting you attend – all that requires is to make someone feel
comfortable and welcome. Most of all, enjoy being a member of SHRM/Emerald Coast
Chapter. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!
Martha |
