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2012 SHRM Pinnacle Award Winner

Michiana Chapter

Successful Practice Showcase Webinar Series

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Investing in Our Military and Armed Forces

Michiana Chapter

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• 1st Annual Michiana Military Job Fair– November 17, 2011

• What got us on this mission?• Unemployment rates for Military Vets & Reserves was over 20%

– Over twice as high as civilian unemployment

• ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) and EPAF (Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces)

– Explained to us that we as employers were needed to help improve this inequity in our community

• Workforce Readiness had our mission set

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• How did we make it a success?– Local HR & Chapter Support

• Scheduled ESGR & EPAF for our Chapter Luncheon topic for September 2011

• Requested additional volunteers for our Michiana Military Job Fair through meeting announcements and chapter e-mails

– Local Employer Sponsorships• Leveraged relationships with local communication companies to get free or

reduced advertising and live coverage of the event– Newspaper, Radio, Public Television– I was highlighted on a community program as a guest speaker with other experts on the

topic of Veteran/Military Unemployment

– Local Military Support Groups• Made crucial contacts with the Michiana Military Support Group

• Work One Veterans Specialists

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• How did we measure our success?– Sign-in sheets and surveys were given to all attendees and

attending companies– We surpassed our goal of attendees (75), employers (30),

and all survey responses were positive– Some attendees were employed because of this event

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• How did the community benefit from the event?– Due to the coverage of the event before, during, and after

we were able to educate the community on this need and discrepancy

– Military Veterans found jobs– Michiana SHRM created partnerships with local

organizations that have made this an annual event

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• Our Advice to other Workforce Readiness Chapters– Find a burning issue or “pain” area for your community– Network to find potential partner organizations that deal with

these issues everyday– Find a way to leverage your Chapter Network to support a

way to make things better

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SHRM Pinnacle Awards

For more information about SHRM Pinnacle Awards, please go to the SHRM Volunteer Leader Resource Center and click on “Awards and Scholarships”

To view other Pinnacle Webinars, go to the VLRC and click on “Affiliate Successful Practice Center”

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