Another Day in the HR Field

This is a post I started in April and just getting a chance to publish. My apologies for the delay.  It's been a few years since Tami Ireland and I started the state legislative conference with then ILSHRM Director, Carolyn Spherl.  With continued support we have had our ups and downs but yesterday put a smile on both of our faces for a couple reasons. Those reasons center around two things: 1) Growth & 2) Opportunity.  Both of us have visited Capitol Hill in DC during the SHRM sponsored Lobby Day and have mirrored our approach as closely as possible. However, some years  have not even come close to this year especially as it relates to opportunity.  If you compare the picture of our first year to this years, you can see the growth in number of participants. It's obvious to us that even though growth has been slow it is still growth. Can't wait to see what the 2015 ILSHRM / CICSHRM legislative event will bring next Spring.  The opportunity I was referri...

First of all, thanks to all those who participated in the Spring 2013 MAC Survey and to all the SHRM State Council Directors in the North Central Region for electing me to serve you. The input we received was so valuable and made our jobs easier as representatives of our volunteer leaders and the members in the states we serve. The MAC Representatives met for an hour each with the HRCI Board, SHRM Foundation Board and SHRM's Board of Directors prior to the SHRM Annual Conference.  The MAC Reps expected to spend about 20 minutes with each board; however, they were so engaged and interested in the information that we had to share on behalf of the members that we were given additional time. Since our approach for collecting data was via survey, we were able to provide actual data and statistics to back up the information that we covered. Our methodology paid off, as the information we discussed was fact based and gave it credibility in the eyes of the board members. The MAC Sur...

Check out all the cool baskets one could win when the donate money to the SHRM foundation at this weeks annual conference in Oakbrook. SHRM Foundation iPod Shuffle $15. iTunes Gift Card SHRM Foundation DVD HR Books Value $100.00 Illinois State Council “SHRM Illinois Special” Moleskin Leather Ruled Notebook UIS & UIS College of Business & Management Logo Items including a Canvas Tote Bag and 20+ more items! Value $150+ HRA of Greater Oak Brook Wine plus other items! DuPage SHRM “ Doing DuPage with DSHRM” Hilton Lisle/Naperville stay for 2 including brunch DuPage Convention & Visitors Guide book with an extensive list of discounts; an HR-related book Value: $200.00+ Rockford Area SHRM Coffee/Tea from Meg's Daily Grind – Assorted Gourmet Coffee – Assorted Specialty Teas – Mugs – Specialty food items, and more…. Northern Illinois SHRM Two $25.00 Visa Gift Cards Value $50.00 Northwest HR Council “Fiesta Basket” •...

I have had the pleasure of knowing, Joe & Jason, from  Talent Anarchy for almost a year now.  They are unique, talented and genuine.  They keynoted at our conference last year and the reviews were so magnificent that we are proud to bring them back again by way of "popular demand".  Take a couple minutes to watch the following videos and I know you will agree!!! http://youtu.be/7wcqprMCAS4 http://youtu.be/2OIzXwolyWs The ILSHRM conference will be August 6 & 7 in Oakbrook, Illinois.  I hope you will consider joining us and flying your "HR Freak Flag with us!"

Over the last couple weeks I have been compiling my required annual faculty performance review which summarizes teaching, scholarly work (which is not required for my professionally qualified (PQ) position as opposed to AQ for those with PhDs) and service to the university, community and the profession.  Since I had to compile the following information as part of my blogging contribution (service to the profession), I thought I would share the links here especially as it relates to the two sites I have contributed to in addition to my own.  I have not shared on this site in the past that I have blog posts elsewhere.  So the following is exert from my performance review: “While I do not write scholarly works, I do write for my students, clients, and the HR community via blogging which I started in 2010.  In addition, I am a contributing author for two other blogs called Women of HR and Illinois State Council SHRM).  In 2011, I wrote a total of 41 posts betwe...

Next Thursday I will be on my way to Grapevine, Texas to spend a couple days with #SHRM staff and all my state council director counterparts from all over the country. It will be my third Regional Summit to attend and while my directorship will be coming to an end this December I am sure my volunteer positions for SHRM will not end. I am happy to meet our state director elect Cathy aka @MarathonHR there to do some planning so her transition into this position is smooth. However, she is not the only special person I will be spending time with on this trip besides those attending and hosting the conference. As I began to think about this trip and the idea that my best friend from grade school is accompanying me on this trip, I thought to myself "how fitting". It is fitting because I feel I have come along way over the last 21 years in this HR career and she was the person who started it all. Heck, she was an HR professional long before me. She is also the one that introduc...

After listening to Bryan Wempen & I on the archived Drive Thru HR show recorded Tueaday, I started to think of some additional ideas to help others get the most out of their #SHRMLead experience. Having gone to this conference for about a decade, I hope the information shared on the show and this blog post can help at least one attendee. On the show I talked about networking with other leaders and with staff as well as taking in a night tour of DC id time allows. Additional ideas for attendees are: *Sign up for SHRM12 in Atlanta and get your leadership buddies to go with you to schedule just the right hotel and save yourself a bunch of emails trying to coordinate when your back in the office. *Think about or jot down some questions you have for other chapter leaders or SHRM staff and ask them in the breakouts or during the breaks. *If your a program or conference chair check out the speakers as a possibility for your chapter or state council. We had a speaker from this conference ...

After attending the SHRM Leadership Conference since 2000 as a volunteer either at the chapter or state level this year promises to be one of the best of 10. I can't say 11 because I did skip the 2001 conference due to what happened on 9/11/01. This year, like last, will have one of the largest contingencies attending from Illinois ever. We will have almost 100% from our Chapter Presidents/President-Elects and several new CORE Board Members will be in attendance this year for the first time in their state roles. I look forward to building relationships with all of our fabulous volunteers and meeting others throughout the country to learn from and share with ideas that can help each other. I also look forward to the red carpet type of feeling we get from the great #SHRM staff. Thanks to ILSHRM board of directors and all of our chapter presidents and their boards of directors. You are the face of #SHRM in #Illinois! On Tuesday, I will be on the Drive Thru HR blog talk radio ...