January 2012 Newsletter

BOARD MEMBERS

President Rachel Untz, PHR

Nippon Sharyo Manufacturing, LLC President-Elect

Anne Noble KSB Hospital Secretary

Susan Swegle, SPHR Jack Mabley

Developmental Center Treasurer Dianne Frye

Dixon Public Schools

Education Chair Kathryn Snow, SPHR

SVCC Certification Chair

Kendra Hull, PHR Sinnissippi Centers Diversity Chair

Carol Fitzgerald YWCA of the Sauk Valley

Legislative Chair Doug Lee

Ehrmann, Gelbach, Badger & Lee

Membership Chair Amber Olson Dixon Direct

Program Co-Chairs Sally Hanrahan

and

Mike Winters Best, Inc.

Workplace Readiness

Jeanne DuPuy SVCC

Past President Lisa Taylor, SPHR

Halo

Happy New Year to all of our RRHRPA members! I hope that everyone is rested and refreshed after the busy holiday season and things have gotten off to a great start for you personally and professionally. I know for me the end of the year is typically a time to reflect on the year’s accomplishments and a great planning time for the coming year’s activities. Sometimes I look more forward to some things more than others, but it’s a good time to put the year into perspective.

As for the SHRM 2012 year kick off and the honor of serving as the chapter president,

these activities are off to a great start. I had the opportunity to attend the 2012 IL SHRM Leadership Conference on January 9th in Utica, IL in the company of Anne Noble, President Elect and Kris Boggs, SHRM Foundation Chair. It was an enjoyable event, with lots of networking from across the state with all of the IL SHRM Chapters represented. During the event we discussed how to overcome chapter obstacles, reviewed the chapter expectations for the year from the National SHRM organization and learned what it meant to serve as a board of director for the SHRM organization.

Some highlights or takeaways from the event were the encouragement from the SHRM

Organizations to embrace social media personally, professionally and within our Chapters. The State and National SHRM representatives are truly encouraging everyone to become frequent users of Facebook and twitter just to mention a few. There are several free HR resources available through these channels as well, that provide great insight to current events in the world of HR.

We were also encouraged, if we haven’t’ already, to check out the IL SHRM website as

there is a lot of information shared on the site for National SHRM events and local chapter events. So, if you’re looking for more HRCI credited events, this may be a resource to seek out. Their web address is: www.ilshrm.org We also had a great motivational speaker, Cynthia D’Amour, present to us about the ‘Lazy Leader Concept’ and I was provided a copy of her book, if anyone is interested in reading it please let me know.

At the event, it was also shared with us that through the IL SHRM Council’s profit

sharing activities tied to the profits from the IL State SHRM Conference that our chapter will be receiving a check in the amount of $2,300. This money is provided to our chapter to recognize us for the efforts that we make throughout the year to the SHRM organization and for professional development for our volunteer leaders and membership, which can be done through conferences, training, seminars, etc.

The other things that were discussed were the 2012 IL State SHRM Calendar of events

that we have attached in the newsletter for your reference and the IL SHRM State Conference that will be held on August 5-7, 2012 in Oak Brook, IL at the Drury Lane Theatre. I thought that last year’s IL State SHRM Conference was great and well worth the investment, but this year’s additions of a free Annual Conference being given away and a return visit from the motivational speakers from Talent Anarchy will make the 2012 conference event even better.

I look forward to all of the great things we are going to do this year and look forward to

serving as your Chapter President to help make our great organization even better, by embracing social media and making our opportunities to network event easier.

If throughout the year you have ideas that you would like to share, see opportunities for

improvement, or would like to volunteer in any way please let me know.

Happy New Year and I look forward to see you all at our January 31, 2012 Chapter Meeting.

Rachel Untz, PHR, President

MEMBERSHIP Please remember that annual dues are paid at the beginning of each year. Professional and Associate dues are $30 per individual. The membership application should be sent with your dues so we can be certain the information we have is current. It can be found on our website at www.rrhrpa.shrm.org; on the home page, click the “Become a Chapter Member” box on the right hand side of the page.

TREASURER’S REPORT Previous Checking Balance $1,377.25 Previous Savings Balance $2,139.02 Deposit Total $30.00

1/5/12 Membership dues Payments 11/28/11 Lisa Taylor (conference expense) $117.00

12/9/11 Todd Solomon (speaker fees – mileage) $135.42

Payment Total $252.42 Total Checking Balance $1,154.83 Current Savings Balance ($.40 interest added on 12/31/11) $2,139.42 Total Cash Balance $3,294.25 Dianne Frye, Treasurer

LEGISLATIVE

The National Labor Relations Board again has postponed the date by which each employer covered by the National Labor Relations Act must post a notice in its workplace informing employees of their right to organize, bargain collectively and engage in other concerted and/or protected activity under the Act. The new implementation date is April 30, 2012.

As set forth in an earlier update, those private employers that must comply with the rule are

retail businesses (including home construction) with gross annual revenues of $500,000 or more and non-retail businesses that have gross annual revenues of at least $50,000 and/or at least $50,000 of purchases of out-of-state goods or services. Businesses that do not fit neatly into either the retail or non-retail categories have their own revenue thresholds. While those miscellaneous categories are too numerous to list here, some of local interest are apartment houses ($500,000), architects ($50,000), communications media ($100,000), child care centers ($250,000), nursing homes ($100,000), hotels and motels ($500,000), law firms ($250,000) and restaurants ($500,000).

The notice is required to be posted in conspicuous locations in the workplace, including all

places where notices to employees concerning personnel rules and policies are posted. The notice informs employees that they have the right to organize and form a union; bargain collectively; discuss wages, terms of employment or union organizing with their coworkers or a union; raise work-related issues with their employer or a government agency and engage in strikes and/or picketing. The notice also informs employees that they have the right not to engage in any of these

activities. Doug Lee, Legislative Chair

DIVERSITY

What’s the second holiday in January, after New Year’s Day? Right, it’s Martin Luther King Day, and a great opportunity for co-workers to build teamwork as they join in a day of service. According to the website mlkday.gov, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"

The website goes on to explain that “Dr. King believed in a nation of freedom and justice for all, and encouraged all citizens to live up to the purpose and potential of America by applying the principles of nonviolence to make this country a better place to live—creating the Beloved Community.

On the 25th anniversary of the King Federal Holiday, we still have work to do to realize Dr. King’s dream. MLK Day of Service is the perfect time for Americans to answer Dr. King’s challenge to do something for others. Just as Dr. King set big goals and focused relentlessly on results, we need sustained citizen action to address today’s social challenges.

The MLK Day of Service is a way to transform Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and teachings into community action that helps solve social problems. That service may meet a tangible need, or it may meet a need of the spirit. On this day, Americans of every age and background celebrate Dr. King through service projects that strengthen communities, empower individuals, bridge barriers, and create solutions.”

Service opportunities are all around us! If you need some ideas, check the website; you just have to enter your zip code. Again, it’s http://mlkday.gov.

Carol Fitzgerald, Diversity Chair NEXT MEETING

January 31, 2012, 12:00 noon Sauk Valley Community College, Room 2K2

Jeff Kortes Anyone Can Recruit: Can You Sell the Organization? HRCI recertification credits have been applied for.

Upcoming Chapter Meetings

Upcoming Board Meetings

February 28 - Greg Manuel - Safety Programs and Worker’s Compensation

1/31/12 11:30am SVCC, Rm 2K2

3/27/12 11:30am

SVCC, Rm 2K2

If there are topics or specific presenters you are interested in or feel would be valuable to others in the chapter, please let us know by calling 815-288-1260, emailing your suggestions to best1@grics.net or talk to us at the meeting.

Sally Hanrahan and Mike Winters, Program Co-Chairs