HRAConnection

Important Dates in this month's Newsletter

HRACI Consultants Forum
Friday, June 5, 2009
Leading Edge Marketing in Indianapolis

HRACI Monthly Meeting
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Building HR Credibility in the Organization

HRACI SMA-Central Indiana Meeting
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Networking Event & Wine Tasting

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

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President's Pen

Submitted by: Brian Cox, PHR, President HRACI

Starbuck’s, Nike, Google, Amazon, Shula’s, Microsoft, McDonalds and the List Goes ON!

As you read the title of this message you likely visualized a logo or product or recalled an experience (or maybe even salivated) when you internalized these brands.

That’s the point. A strong brand means something to everyone. It may not mean the same thing all the time, even if this is what corporations are striving for with their branding efforts. However, the main point is that the brands are recognizable, meaningful, and memorable and provide a value proposition to a broad audience.

As HRACI celebrates 35 years of serving HR Professionals, the time has come once again to refresh our brand. (Does anyone remember Central Indiana Personnel Association?). We need to make our brand meaningful and recognizable, declare our definitive affiliation with SHRM, and attract and engage those HR Professionals in our community who are not even aware we have a Chapter right here in their back yard.

I have been hinting that this branding update has been in the works and we are now finally ready to start sharing thoughts and ideas, gather your input and participation in the final creation and, finally, formally vote on adopting our new Chapter identity.

Karen Seketa and her Communications team have spent hours on this work and will be unveiling all the details as well as asking for your feedback via several communication vehicles: Upcoming monthly meetings, e-mails, and the HRACI.com website to name a few.

I must say…progress is the key to continued success and longevity as a professional association and as we look back over the past 35 years and see how far we have come, this is the beginning of another exciting “chapter for our Chapter”.

As this roll-out occurs, I thank you for your input, opinions and involvement.

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Membership Update

Submitted by: Angie Ritz, PHR

The transitional membership option is available for anyone who is currently out of a job and would like to join HRACI. The rate is $62.50 for the year, which is ½ the new member rate. Visit the website for more information at http://hraci.org/HRACImembership.htm.

Congratulations to our members who referred someone to HRACI! Each person referred one new member:

March – Dawn Webb, Mary Rahe, and Stacy Rouse

April – Larry Baysinger, Bianca Furst, and Shannon Crawford

The first referral gets you a $5 Starbucks card and subsequent referrals are tracked throughout the year for a monetary reward in December. Keep spreading the word about HRACI and the benefits membership can offer to HR professionals!

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Student Chapter Update

Submitted by: Leigh Ann Crick

Congratulations to our Student Scholarship Winner!!

An HRACI scholarship has been awarded to Andrew Neibert for the 2009- 2010 academic year. Andrew is currently a junior at Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) majoring in Business with an emphasis in Human Resource Management. He anticipates graduating from IUPUI in May 2011. Andrew is involved with various community service initiatives including the Sam H. Jones Community Service Scholars at IUPUI as well as the United Way. Andrew will be joining HRACI as a student member. Please help us congratulate Andrew on his academic accomplishment thus far and welcome him to HRACI.

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Volunteer Update: Seeking Nominations for "Outstanding Human Resource Professionals"

Submitted by: Angi Hill

It’s again the time of year when HRACI is asking for your nominations for outstanding Human Resource Professionals. Each year, HRACI presents an award to the Volunteer Leader of the Year and the Professional of the Year. HRACI is collecting nominations for both of these awards through June 26, 2009. We will then select the winner from all of the nominees and they will be presented with their award at our July luncheon.

The winner of each category will receive their award, free admission to the July luncheon and free admission to the Indiana State HR Conference. Our local HRACI winners will also be nominated for and represent HRACI for the state awards of the same name. The state winners will then be announced at the Indiana conference.

We are very excited about our increased participation and nominations over these past years and look forward to more outstanding nominations this year. This is a great way to give praise to an employee, recognize hard work and let someone know that their efforts have been noticed. Please nominate your friend, colleague or even yourself for one or both of these awards today! You do not need to be a member of HRACI to submit a nomination and you can remain anonymous. If you have any questions, please contact Angi Hill at ahill@smart-itstaffing.com.

Download a Volunteer Leader of the Year Application

Download a Professional of Year Application

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Diversity Update: Education Opportunities

Submitted by: Erin Brothers

Join us for the Diversity Best Practices Session
Hosted by HRACI and Diversity Round Table of Central Indiana
Thursday, July 23, 7:30am-9am
Charge: Free to Members of HRACI and DRTCI
Nonmember charge $10
Continental Breakfast Included

This Diversity Best Practices session will feature a roundtable discussion with Human Resources Diversity professionals educating attendees about their programs/services and answering questions in a small group setting. The session includes four 20-minute segments, and attendees will choose their top four topics of interest.

Featured HR Diversity Professionals

Tony Pickell, Precision Planning AAP speaking on Affirmative Action, EEO
Dale Hinshaw, Omni HR Consulting speaking on Re-entry programs
Delores Duff, Document Developers speaking on Career Coaching/Transitional Services
Julie Paini, IBLN/Mayor’s Office speaking on disabilities and Indianapolis Business Leadership Network
Two more diversity speakers not yet confirmed

Watch for more information and registration, coming soon to HRACI.org

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Diary of an Unemployed HR Professional

Submitted by: Abby Olson, SMA Committee

I’ve recently learned some tough lessons related to searching for a job in today’s economic climate. The victim of a recent company-wide layoff, I’ve come to several realizations, which I’m more than willing to share with fellow job seekers and HR professionals alike!

First, take the opportunity to analyze what it is you want to do. This is a perfect chance to make sure you are in the career and/ or industry that best suits your goals. If you don’t feel that you are in a career that energizes you, consider going back to school. This is a great time to take advantage of the “down time” you have by bulking up on your skills set. Knowing where you have come from will help you know where to go in the future!

Next, develop a marketing plan. Determine companies you’d like to target, and start looking for ways to connect with HR professionals or leaders in those companies. Develop a target list of potential companies as part of your marketing plan. The target list will help your networking conversations and your contacts “brainstorm” potential new contacts.

Tap into your network and schedule those informational interviews! Get creative in determining the reaches of your network – you may be very surprised by connections you make through your church, school alumni association, job-search support groups, etc. Utilize purposeful networking skills. Know what you want to get out of each discussion – in particular, make sure you leave each discussion with no less than two additional networking contacts. Remember why you are networking with people: not to get a job with their firm, but rather to be the first person on their mind when they hear of a new opportunity.

Take advantage of professional association memberships (i.e., HRACI). Attend as many events as possible, and don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to new people. Go to each event with the goal of networking with as many professionals as possible. A good “rule of thumb” is to gain two leads from these conversations and remember to always follow up within 24 hours!

Understand your unemployment benefits. If you don’t, consult a professional or look for a local seminar you can attend. The laws are changing frequently, especially with the new administration. It is important to stay on top of this information (as either a recipient of the benefits, or as an HR professional with a firm who is administering these benefits).

Volunteer. Get out of your house and do something that gives you energy! This is yet another opportunity for networking as well. Additionally, many times volunteer opportunities and “giving back” turn into employment.

Lastly, keep a positive attitude. It can be very difficult to do this in today’s job market, but it is of the utmost importance. You never know who will observe the way you handle yourself. Also, handling your situation in the most positive way possible will be a great success story when you land your next position.

Please keep in mind these excellent networking opportunities:

HRACI monthly luncheons (the next one being Thursday, June 18, 2009, at the Indianapolis Museum of Art)
SMA Networking Event at Easley Winery (205 N. College Avenue, Indianapolis), Tuesday, June 23rd, 5:00-7:00PM. Cost: $10. For more information or to register, visit HRACI.com.
Right Management continues to partner with HRACI in providing career transition support. Please contact Bobbie Shreiner, Right Management, office phone 317-706-2106, for the next Career Transition sessions and the June HR networking group.

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Certification Update: Let HRACI Know About Your PHR/SPHR/GPHR Certification

Submitted by: Jennifer Lange, PHR

You can now notify HRACI of your PHR/SPHR/GPHR certification. Just go to www.hrci.org, Login and go to "My Online Profile" then click on the "Chapter Notification Link" and select "IN -- HR Assoc. of Central Indiana-0099" from the drop-down menu and then "Submit". Even if you have been certified for years, you should complete the chapter notification link to be sure that HRACI has accurate records of your accomplishment.

PHR/SPHR Certification Study Groups Starting
Submitted by: Jennifer Lange, PHR

Thinking About Taking the PHR or SPHR Certification Exam in December 2009/January 2010?

The 2009 Fall HRACI PHR/SPHR study groups will start mid-September. Classes will meet one (1) night a week in the evening from 6:00 pm to 8:30 p.m. for nine (9) weeks. We HOPE to have two (2) locations (depending on interest) -- northside and downtown.

In late July/early August, HRACI we will begin accepting online registrations for the HRACI study group(s) and each session/location will be limited to 25 participants. However, if you know that you’re interested -- send an email to Jennifer Lange (jennifer.lange@oldnational.com) and she’ll be sure to contact you when the registration link on HRACI’s website is live to ensure that you don’t miss it!

Again this Fall we are going to be using the HRCP study materials (this is NOT the same as SHRM Learning System) which includes six (6) study booklets covering each section of the exam, review questions and answers for each unit, and over 500 flashcards. To learn more about the HRCP materials, you can go to www.HRCP.com.

The cost for the program will be around $400 for HRACI members and $600 for non-members (specifics still TBD).

If you have questions or would like more information please contact Jennifer Lange, PHR at 317-693-2757 or via email at jennifer.lange@oldnational.com.

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Communications Update

Submitted by: Karen Seketa, SPHR

Exciting times are coming! May I have a slow, gradual and very patient drum roll please? We are moving so much closer to our chapter vote on a new name and a new look for HRACI. My committee and our board have been working very hard on this process to be sure that we are managing this exciting change very carefully with all consideration.

We are working very hard to unveil our pending changes by our chapter meeting in June and will do our very best to be prepared to get that done. As Brian has mentioned a number of times over the past 6 months, we are working to more closely align our chapter with the National SHRM organization with a focus on increased brand and name recognition throughout Central Indiana. With the help and guidance of our partner in the process, Brandswag, we will, indeed, achieve that goal. Look for more information to come your way very soon and thank you in advance for your participation in our process.

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Kelley School of Business Potential Instructor Positions

Submitted by: Patti Daniels, PHR

The Indiana University Kelley School of Business at Indianapolis is seeking to develop a pool of qualified applicants who would be interested in being considered for potential future openings on the IUPUI campus. Part-time instructors may be needed for classes in the areas of human resources management, training and development, recruiting and selection, employee benefits, and organizational behavior. Qualified applicants should have at least a Master’s degree in a relevant field, as well as appropriate professional background. If interested in being considered for these future openings, please forward your resume to Jane Lambert, Executive Director of Academic Programs for Indiana University Kelley School of Business – Indianapolis, at jlambert@iupui.edu.

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SHRM Spotlight

Submitted by: Brian Cox, PHR, President HRACI

Did you see the survey on the SHRM.org website this month which asked the question: "The H1N1 Virus, Is Your Workplace Prepared?"

What impact did the H1N1 (swine flu) have on businesses? This poll looked at strategies organizations took to reduce the spread of H1N1 virus in their workplace. Check out the full survey results by clicking on "Poll Findings, Are You Prepared for a Pandemic?" under the SHRM Online Highlights on the front page.

June 28–July 1, 2009
Morial Convention Center
New Orleans, Louisiana

The SHRM Annual Conference & Exposition is a chance for you to gather with some of the greatest minds in human resources, academia, business, globalization and leadership. Learn real strategies and techniques for improving your work and your workplace.

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HRACI June 5th Consultants Forum

Leading Edge Marketing in Indianapolis

In this challenging environment, marketing is becoming increasingly important. This program will feature three panelists that will identify leading edge, cost effective marketing techniques that work in Indianapolis.

Bob Chenoweth will address how to reach new strategically targeted prospects while staying “top of mind” with current contacts. Bob will demonstrate how to showcase your expertise and services by posting new or existing content to the Internet and combining that with email marketing to dramatically (and cost-effectively) increase reach.

Many Human Resources practitioners would like to reach out to specific audiences - or even the general public - with their message, but don’t know how to go about it. Who, exactly, is their audience? What is the message? And how do they go about reaching those people? Communications professional Ann C. Smith will share some tips on pitching press releases and story ideas to the news media. Ann will provide insights on fine-tuning your message and choosing the most effective and cost-efficient vehicle to deliver it.

Rachael Neely will discuss social media… Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and blogging… and how to use these sites to increase your business, gain awareness, and expand your client base. How do you tweet? Should I have a personal Facebook profile or Fan Page? And what kind of return should I expect from social media sites? These questions and more will be answered. You will walk away with the confidence and enthusiasm to build your presence on the web, and the knowledge on how to maximize your business through social media sites.

About the Panelists

Bob Chenoweth is the founder, President and Chief Creative Officer of TipTopics LLC. A professional writer, content and media consultant and graphic designer, Bob also owns Chenoweth Content & Design LLC, which specializes in helping business owners and operators craft messages that communicate, illuminate and resonate.

Ann C. Smith is a highly experienced communications practitioner with expertise in both corporate and agency public relations. Ann led the public relations program for Cummins Engine and the public relations division of the $5 million marketing communications agency, Rosetta. An award-winning journalist, she served as Assistant Managing Editor of a daily newspaper, the Courier-Tribune, and Director of News and Public Affairs for a pair of radio stations, WGTC and WTTS. Today, she is the owner of her own agency and holds Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) certification from the State of Indiana and from the City of Indianapolis. Her company offers a wide variety of communications services to various organizations. Ann is a member of the Hoosier Chapter Public Relations Society of America, the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club.

Rachael Neely is a marketing strategist at The Sanders Group, a multimedia and marketing firm in Indianapolis. Rachael focuses on providing clients with integrated marketing solutions that will shorten their sales cycle and improve closing ratios through creating prospecting tools and measuring outcomes. When creating a marketing strategy, Rachael considers every client’s unique challenges, goals, and objectives in order to continuously improve client outcomes. She is on the marketing committee for the American Diabetes Step Out event and the Hoosier Work/Life Conference. In Rachael’s spare time, she volunteers at Girls Inc and teaches a class on “media and self-esteem” to IPS students.

This program has been approved for recertification credit hours toward PHR, SPHR and GPHR recertification through the HR Certification Institute (HRCI). The use of this seal is not an endorsement by the HR Certification Institute of the quality of the program. It means that this program has met the HR Certification Institute’s criteria to be pre-approved for recertification credit.For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HRCI homepage at www.hrci.org.

C lick Here to Register Now!
Date:	Friday, June 5, 2009
Topic:	Leading Edge Marketing in Indianapolis
Panelists:	Bob Chenoweth, TipTopics LLC Ann C. Smith Rachael Neely, The Sanders Group
Agenda:	Registration: 7:30 a.m. to 7:55 a.m. Program: 7:55 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Location:	Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana 1635 West Michigan Street Indianapolis, IN 46222
Cost:	$10 Members $25 Non-Members

Location and Refreshments Sponsored by:

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HRACI June Monthly Meeting

Building HR Credibility in the Organization

How do we raise trust from an often-ignored asset or liability to a strategic advantage in the marketplace?

Doing business at the “Speed of Trust” dramatically lowers costs, speeds up results, and increases profits and influence.

What does this mean for HR?

On March 10th, 2009 CFO.com released an article titled, “Memo to CFO’s; Don’t Trust HR. The tag line read, A professor says most human resources professionals are ill-equipped to carry out value-added workforce planning and transformation.

There was a firestorm of comments posted on this blog article immediately. These comments ran the range of total agreement to total disagreement and disgust.

For approximately 10 years, HR has been discussing how to be more strategic with their organizations and how to gain a ‘seat at the table’.

Many HR professionals are strategically aligned with their organization and doing exceptional work. Why is the reputation taking so long to shift? How do we as HR professionals gain credibility and trust in our organizations?

A 2005 Harris poll revealed that only 8% trust political parties and only 27% trust the government. And only 34% of Americans believe that others can be trusted.

On the organizational level:

Only 51% of employees have trust and confidence in senior management.
Only 36% of employees believe their leaders act with honesty and integrity.
Over the past 12 months, 76% of employees have observed illegal or unethical conduct on the job—conduct which, if exposed, would seriously violate the public trust.

We can no longer ignore the impact that trust has on our organizations. Do you view trust as a “tax” or a “dividend” in your business. Learn how to increase trust in your organization to do things faster and cheaper.

During this session participants will:

Review the 4 Cores of Credibility
Learn the 13 behaviors that build trust and credibility
Learn how to engage your team and stakeholders to increase influence through greater trust and trustworthiness

*Click Here to Register Now*
Date:	Thursday, June 18, 2009
Speaker:	Todd Davis, FranklinCovey
Topic:	Building HR Credibility in the Organization
Location:	Indianapolis Museum of Art 4000 Michigan Rd Indianapolis, IN 46208
Agenda:	11:30 a.m. Registration & Networking 12:00 p.m. Luncheon 12:15 p.m. Announcements 12:20 p.m. Program 1:20 p.m. Adjournment
Cost:	Members $25 Guests $35 Student $15
Sponsored by:

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SMA-Central Indiana Update

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW

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Welcome New Members

Ming Yuan
Rana McChristian
Patricia Stewart
Candace Sexton

Lisa Kochert
Annamarie Boike
Stephanie DiBlasio

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