HRAConnection

Important Dates in this month's Newsletter

HRACI Annual Diversity Conference
Thursday, April 16, 2009
HRACI Diversity 1/2 Day Conference

SMA-Central Indiana Quarterly Program
Thursday, April 23, 2009
“Economic Effects on Staffing Management & Recruitment – Strategies for Survival, Techniques to Manage and Thrive, Job Security and How to Shine!”

HRACI Consultants Forum
Friday, May 8, 2009

Indiana CPA Society 2009 Solutions Summit
Friday, May 8, 2009

Read on for details on these and other important HRACI activities!

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President's Pen

Submitted by: Brian Cox, President HRACI

"The Boy Scouts Have Never Been So Right"

Growing up, I fulfilled my obligatory commitment to being a Boy Scout... 3 whole days. Now, don't get me wrong, I have no ill will toward the Boy Scouts as they are a fine institution which demonstrates sustained success over many more years than most corporations have been in business. It just wasn't for me at the time as I had sports and music to attend to and the schedules and interest collided. However, all was not lost. In those few short days, I learned one of the most important lessons of Scout life..."always be prepared".

Paying heed to this lesson as we enter work through the first months of the new Administration in Washington and continue to work through the economic situation, we all find ourselves supporting our companies in finding ways to reduce, re-align and refocus on our core capabilities. If you were able to attend our monthly chapter luncheon last week, you heard Attorney Michael Padgett share with us all of the enacted and proposed legislation directly affecting key HR issues such as the overturned Lilly Ledbetter decision, the changes in ADEA and continued review of the Employee Free Choice Act.

This is where the Scout's mantra of being prepared comes in. As HR professionals, it is time to tune in to new and proposed legislation, work with our teams to be prepared to:

Implement what has passed already
Weigh in on the current legislative proposals and share your voice no matter what side of the issue you are on
And finally, have game plans in place for proposed changes before they happen

We have not before seen the amount of change in the HR landscape as we are seeing today. Thus, join me in making Legislative and Employment Law knowledge and awareness a daily item of quick review and necessary action.

The Legislative Committee and SHRM's Legislative team will continue to bring you content that can assist you in your preparedness.

See you at the next den meeting!

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Membership Committee

Submitted by: Angie Ritz, PHR

Spread the word about HRACI’s transitional membership program! This is a one-time offering to those HR professionals who are not currently employed. The membership fee is ½ the cost of the full membership rate. See the website for more details at http://www.hraci.org/HRACImembership.htm.

The referral program is getting lots of attention. Do you want to be a part of it? Refer new members to HRACI throughout the year and you will be rewarded! A $10 Starbucks card is given for your first referral and subsequent referrals are tracked throughout the year for a grand total in the form of an American Express card at the end of 2009. Each referral increases your monetary reward - $15 for 2 referrals, $25 for three, $35 for four and $50 for five. Each referral beyond 5 will be rewarded with an additional $5. Take advantage of this great incentive to bring HR professionals to HRACI!

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April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month

Submitted by: Shawna Lake, SPHR

The Volunteer Management Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your efforts to promote and support HRACI. Together we are serving HR professionals and advancing our profession! If you are currently serving on a committee, special interest group, or the Board, we hope to see you at our recognition event on April 20th. For more information, please email volunteeropps@hraci.org. Click on the Volunteering tab from the homepage to see more specific ways you can get involved.

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SMA April Breakfast Event - Learn to Survive and Thrive

Submitted by: Eric Mellendorf

The current state of the economy is affecting virtually everyone – and for most of us, the effects are not positive. Some in our HR community have unfortunately lost their jobs as part of corporate downsizing; others have seen their level of influence diminish as recruiting and retention initiatives have been replaced by an emphasis on cost-cutting and staff reductions.

As with any challenge, though, you can take steps to seize greater control over your situation and position yourself for continued success. Make plans to learn how by attending the SMA April Breakfast Event, being held Thursday, April 23 from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the Junior Achievement Center, 7435 North Keystone Avenue in Indianapolis.

The program “Economic Effects on Staffing Management and Recruitment – Strategies for Survival, Techniques to Manage and Thrive, Job Security and How to Shine!” will feature a panel of experts that include Bobbie Shreiner of Right Management, Elizabeth Stahl of EJ Stahl & Associates, and Hazel Walker of Business Networking International. These experts will share insight and suggestions on how to reinforce your importance within your organization, as well as how to network effectively for continued career success.

Bring a friend! Everyone who brings an HR professional who is not an HRACI member will be entered into a drawing for one of our door prizes.

This program has been approved for recertification credit hours toward PHR, SPHR and GPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HRCI homepage at www.hrci.org.

Click Here to Register
Date:	Thursday, April 23, 2009
Panelists:	Bobbie Shreiner, Right Management; Elizabeth Stahl, EJ Stahl & Associates; and Hazel Walker, BNI Group
Topic:	"Economic Effects on Staffing Management and Recruitment – Strategies for Survival, Techniques to Manage and Thrive, Job Security and How to Shine!”
Location:	Junior Achievement Center 7435 North Keystone Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46240
Agenda:	7:30am - 9:00am
Cost:	Members $10 Non-Members $25

SMA membership is a free benefit of your HRACI membership. SMA – Central Indiana serves the needs of professionals focused in recruiting and retention by providing continuing education, developmental programs, and networking opportunities. Be sure to visit the SMA page on HRACI.com for details on other upcoming programs and events!

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HRACI Annual Diversity Conference

Submitted by: Erin Brothers

The Annual Diversity Conference featuring SHRM’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Shirley Davis

Join us for the annual Diversity Conference at the Holiday Inn North on Thursday, April 16. This year’s conference will feature the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for SHRM, Dr. Shirley Davis. We are excited to present four great breakout sessions to attend: the highpoints of legal changes in HR brought to you by Mitzi Martin of Baker and Daniels; a look at cultural competencies by Dr. Quay Kester of Evoke Communications; an economic outlook for Indiana by Michael Hicks of Ball State University; and using philosophical aspects of cultural difference by Dr. Ken Durgans, Assistant Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at IUPUI. Please click on the link for more information about our speakers and to register. http://www.hraci.com/HRACIdiversity.php

We are keeping our same low prices as 2008 and offering you more speakers! The conference is approved for 3 CEUs. Continental breakfast and lunch will be served as part of your registration. If you bring four or more members of your company, we will discount each of your registrations! And, if you can’t join us for the entire conference, don’t miss the Keynote Speaker during lunch, Dr. Shirley Davis from SHRM. You may register for the keynote/lunch only for a reduced rate.

This conference has been approved for 3 recertification credit hours toward PHR, SPHR and GPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HRCI homepage at www.hrci.org

Register Now!
Topic:	HRACI Diversity Conference
When:	Thursday, April 16, 2009 8:00 a.m. – 1:20 p.m.
Location:	Holiday Inn North at the Pyramids 3850 DePauw Boulevard Indianapolis, IN 46268
Cost:	Attend the Entire Conference Members: $59 Non-Members: $79 Students: $25	Attend the Luncheon and Keynote Speaker Only Members: $25 Non-Members: $35 Students: $15
	Special Corporate discount for 4 or more attending from the same company! $49 for every member $69 for every non-member to take advantage of this offer you must register everyone at the same time!

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SHRM Spotlight

Submitted by: Brian Cox, President HRACI

Imagine being part of an open discussion with Jack Welch, one of the world’s most successful and respected former CEOs - whose advice has been sought by Presidents and featured at the annual World Economic Forum.

Thanks to SHRM, now you can - and you don’t even need an invitation to the Oval Office or a ticket to Davos, Switzerland.

I am delighted to announce that Jack Welch will be the keynote speaker at SHRM’s 61st Annual Conference and Exposition in New Orleans from June 28 through July 1, 2009. For 20 years, Mr. Welch was the legendary Chairman and CEO of global megabrand General Electric. Under his leadership, the company had gone from a market value of $14 billion to one of more than $410 billion, making it the most valuable and largest company in the world - and among the most admired. He is the author of several highly-regarded books on business leadership, and together with his wife Suzy, writes a weekly column titled The Welch Way, syndicated in newspapers and magazines around the world.

Perhaps most important of all, Mr. Welch is an ardent and vocal advocate for HR’s contribution to business, recently writing “If ever there is a time to underscore the importance of HR, it has arrived.”

This is great news for you and for SHRM! With a candid and exhilarating kick-off by Mr. Welch, this year’s Annual Conference is destined to be one of SHRM’s finest - and most memorable. There is so much for you to take back to your colleagues, organizations and communities - from extraordinary networking opportunities to the latest news about how Washington’s policy agenda will affect you, from sessions on how to thrive during the economic downturn to workshops that offer real solutions and an exhibit hall filled with thousands of innovative ideas, tools and resources.

We are privileged to have Mr. Welch join us as SHRM’s opening keynoter, following the news that Tom Brokaw, SHRM’s original Sunday speaker, was assigned by NBC to produce a special report from Afghanistan in late June. Now, all we need is you to complete the program - and make this an experience you can own!

I sincerely hope you’ll join me to hear Jack Welch’s views on the economy, the global business crisis, and today’s critical role for human resources - and benefit from the great educational and networking opportunities the SHRM Annual Conference has to offer. This is an extra special event that should not be missed.

Go to the SHRM web site now to register for the SHRM Annual Conference. I look forward to seeing you in New Orleans.

Laurence G. O'Neill
President & CEO
Society for Human Resource Management

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HRACI Consultants Forum Meeting

Technology – The Moving Force in Business

The advancement of technology continues to reflect the speed of light and as an internal and external consultant we must be ahead of the curve. This program will prepare us to more effectively collaborate “strategically” with our peers, client leaders and prospects. Lisa Meece of Bottom-line Performance will share the pitfalls, possibilities and paradigms of Web 2.0, as well as what makes it different and how the associated paradigm shift is changing business. She will also cover how social media is currently affecting your brand, your people, and your clients and how it will impact us in the future. Other new technologies on the forefront will be reviewed and its affect on workplace learning.

Other panel members will then introduce how the utilization of new technology is the basis of cutting-edge applications entering the marketplace. For example, we will learn about:

How the emerging Cloud Computing delivery model is revolutionizing the delivery of healthcare benefits by providing a technology solution that is cutting-edge, economical and efficient.
The integration of a focused, web based career management application for candidates that provides companies with a more robust, meaningful tool for applicant tracking over time, which led to the development of the “Career Tracker”. Many believe that this is the future of resumes…. a timeline based, virtual portfolio. This same concept is providing a useful internal tool for companies to manage employee performance in a more insightful way.
Strategically using Web 2.0 technology to HR’s advantage by engaging the workforce through a corporate social media outlet. We will also learn about how technology can change employee behavior by ensuring the corporate message is spread thru multiple channel communications - email vs. blogs and/or effective use of instant messaging and texting.

By attending this program you will learn how businesses are leveraging new technologies like Web 2.0, cloud computing and virtual worlds to expand their business. Let HR become the technology champion and not the barrier.

Panel Members
Lisa Meece, Senior Learning Designer, Bottom-Line Performance
Jeff Bockelman, President & Founder, CareerScribe LLC
Joe Gilbert, CLU, ChFC, RHU, FLMI, VP - Consultant Services, Healthx
Chuck Gillespie, Director of Human Capital for Dealerflow Corporation and Managing Director of Peoplebase

Register Now!
Date:	Friday, May 8, 2009
Topic:	Technology – The Moving Force in Business
Panelists:	Lisa Meece, Senior Learning Designer, Bottom-Line Performance Jeff Bockelman, President & Founder, CareerScribe LLC Joe Gilbert, CLU, ChFC, RHU, FLMI, VP - Consultant Services, Healthx Chuck Gillespie, Director of Human Capital for Dealerflow Corporation and Managing Director of Peoplebasl
Agenda:	Registration: 7:30 a.m. to 7:55 a.m. Program: 7:55 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Location:	Telamon 1000 East 116th Street Carmel, IN 46032 Click Here for Directions
Cost:	$10 Members $25 Non-Members

Meeting Room Sponsored by:

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Indiana CPA Society Solutions Summit

The Indiana CPA Society is hosting it’s 2009 Solutions Summit: “It’s All About People” on May 8th, 2009. HRACI is proud to co-sponsor this event and encourages members to attend.

Summit topics include Strategic Diversity Management, Work/Life Balance, Secrets to Surviving Tough Times, Succession Planning, and many more.

For more information and to register for the event please visit http://incpas.org/SolutionsSummit.

Click Here to download a Brochure

When registering, be sure to select the HRACI registration for the summit.

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Welcome New Members

Sheila Gauntt
Darin Herron
Lori Stewart
Joshua Girt
Michael Farr
Melissa Williams
Carla Feagans
Linda Eskew
Kara Hensley
Karen Pinson
Tracey Carney
Deb Hunter
Tony Pickell

Bethany Kingseed
Temeka Easter
Karyn Oyler
Lisa Work
Dawn Williamson
Amy Batule
Anita Lovejoy
Jason Moore
Chalise Klecz
Bianca Furst
Brian Anders
Tracy Clifford

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