OCTOBER 2006                                        Vol. 2 Issue 10 In this Issue... Four MT|SHRM members honored at State HR conference HR Excellence Awards holds best practices workshop Walk to D'Feet ALS Two committees join forces, become one  Cooper named new board chair  New date for November meeting Mentors needed Members in the news THIS MONTH'S SPONSOR       Do employees have a clue what benefits cost? We are a local company that has been recognized as a Future 50 company the last three years in a row. We produce benefit statements for employers from 50 to 100,000+ employees.   Contact Tom Smith, President, at (615) 377-4777   Four MT|SHRM members honored at state HR conference Kellie Conn SPHR, President   Dear Gordon,   Over 400 HR professionals gathered in Gatlinburg, Tennessee for the 14th Annual State HR Conference and Legal Seminar from September 20 - 22.    Hosted by the Tennessee Valley Human Resources Association, the three-day educational and networking event was held at the high-rise Park Vista Hotel.     This year’s conference included experts from across the state presenting on topics including strategic HR management, the administration of consumer-driven health care plans (CDHC) and a response to the controversial FastCompany article “Why We Hate HR” presented by National SHRM board chair Johnny Taylor Jr., JD, SPHR.  A full-day legal seminar kicked off the conference with legal updates for 2006 and a review of hot legal topics including developments in USERRA, crisis management and immigration legislation.   A highlight of the conference was Thursday’s awards luncheon, where four MT|SHRM members were recognized with top honors.  Bill Cooper of Lifeway was presented the Tennessee SHRM State Council’s highest honor, the James House Williamson Award.  This award is presented each year to one HR professional in the state who has made outstanding contributions to the professional development of human resources management.   Three of seven Human Resource Management Excellence Awards were also taken home by MT|SHRM members – Denis Blackwelder of Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon, Tracye Mayolo of Brentwood Services and Stephen King of Manchester Tank.  This honor is presented to HR professionals that have exhibited outstanding performance throughout their career in service to their chapter, profession and community.  We congratulate all of our award winners.   Next year’s state conference will be held September 26 – 28 in Chattanooga.   Back to Top >>>   HR Excellence Awards best practices workshop Heather Vincent, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Join the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Middle Tennessee Society for Human Resource Management as we present the 5th Annual HR Excellence Award Best Practices Workshop on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at the BellSouth Tower, 333 Commerce Street.    The HR Excellence Award workshop will feature 2006 HR Excellence Award winner Genesco as well as Facet of Excellence Award winners Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon and the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority.    In June, Genesco, Inc. was recognized as an HR Excellence Award winner for their overall human resources programs.  Genesco has been in business for over 80 years with many of their employees serving 30 or more years.  Learn how Genesco has turned a family environment into an award-winning culture.    Through a major transformation from a manufacturing company to a retail marketing company focusing on many different brands, Genesco has remained steadfast in its commitment to its employees.     Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon will share information on their innovative employee communications model.   You’ll learn how they effectively use surveys, focus groups and in-house communications to share important information with their employees as well as build trust and confidence in the company.   Metro Nashville Airport Authority will give a hands-on demonstration of their E3-I program:  Entertaining. Exercising. Enterprising. Intersecting.   You’ll learn how this behavioral interview process has engaged their entire workforce as well as changed the way they attract and retain new employees—with a huge drop in turnover as a bonus!   Presenters will share tips and best practices that can be transferred to your company!   Don't miss this opportunity to learn from three of your most recognized human resource peers!   Registration for Chamber and MT|SHRM members is $25.  All employees of a Chamber-member company may attend for the membership registration price.   Non-member registration for this workshop is $50.  Click here to register.   Back to Top >>>     Walk to D'Feet ALS Bill Sims SPHR, Past President   It's nearly time for the annual Walk to D'Feet ALS in Nashville, hosted by the ALS Association, Tennessee Chapter. Please join me in my fight against ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) by becoming a member of my team, Team Never Give Up, and/or making a contribution. Our team is again walking in memory of my Grandmother, Madge Cates Sims, who lost her courageous battle with this devastating disease in 1977. During her struggle with the debilitating effects of ALS, she forever inspired me with her bravery and determination. I would once again like to thank those of you that supported team Never Give Up last year, the number one fundraising team in Tennessee. Our team raised more than $30,000, and helped contribute to a dramatic increase in The ALS Association's ability to provide needed services to ALS patients in our area, as well as fund cutting edge research. It is amazing what can be accomplished when people band together toward a common goal. Please join me in our fight against ALS by joining team Never Give Up, or making a tax deductible contribution in support of our team. With your involvement, we can help raise awareness and make a difference in the lives of all ALS patients and their families. You may mail a check made payable to The ALS Association to me at 2606 Myers Park Terrace, Brentwood, TN 37027, or easily donate online now by visiting my personal page! Credit card donations made online are secure.   Back to Top >>>   Two committees join forces, become one Leslie Garrett Stephens Co-Vice Chair   The Community Relations Committee and the Career Transitions Team Committee have joined forces and formed a new MT|SHRM committee called "Community Involvement."  The purpose of the committees merger is to promote charitable organizations and events in the HR community and to give back to those HR professionals during job transitions by providing a network of contacts, networking meetings, and biography database ofHR professionals seeking advancement or new opportunities.   The new committee will be asking for your support in two ways.  First, let us know about organizations that are special to you.  We currently support The American Cancer Society (Relay for Life), WAVES, Sports 4 ALL Foundation, ALS, Habitat for Humanity, Big Brother/Big Sister, CASA, Magdelene House, and Bethlehem Centers of Nashville.  We will be making monthly announcements about upcoming fund-raisers, charity walks, and events to our MT|SHRM membership.  If you want to raise awareness in the HR community about a not-for-profit group, please contact Tim Potter.   Also, we are looking for volunteers for the MT|SHRM Community Relations Committee who would be willing to act as a HR professional liaison to others HR professionals seeking employment in similar job roles/industries.   The Transitions Team meets every other Monday for networking, special guest speakers, and job and lead sharing for those seeking advancement or change in their career.  We would like to have a list of people who would be willing to provide networking opportunities, information about the company that they represent, or answer questions job seekers may have about roles and responsibilities, corporate culture, or simply act as a point of contact for your company.   The new committee chairs of the Community Involvement Committee are Tim Potter, Mark Marshall, Leslie Garrett Stephens, Rachel Thompson and Emily Sloan.   Additional committee members include Beth Hunter, Barbara Stewart, Judy Parker, Jodie Courreges, Joe Hardy and Vera Mosley, Matt LeBlanc.   Back to Top >>>     Cooper named as new board chair  Kellie Conn SPHR, President   I'm very pleased to announce that Bill Cooper, SPHR, a 15 year member of MT|SHRM and recipient of the 2006 James House Williamson Award (the top HR honor awarded by the Tennessee State HR Council) has accepted the appointment of Membership Chair.    Bill holds the key management role for Employee Relations at Lifeway, and has held every office in our "cousin" HR organization, the Human Resources Association of Middle TN.  He has also held a leadership position with our state conferences, including one year as Conference Co-Chair.    Bill Cooper can be reached at 615-251-3612.  Please join me in welcoming Bill.   Back to Top >>>     New date for November meeting Tiffany Ingram, Vice Chair, Programs   Our regular chapter luncheon meeting in November will be a joint meeting with American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) and will be held on November 16, the third Thursday of the month instead of our regular meeting date of the second Thursday.   We will be meeting in the downstairs ballrooms of the Maxwell House for this meeting and the speaker will be announced shortly.   Back to Top >>>     Mentors needed Matia Messemer   MT|SHRM will be continuing the Mentor Program with a third year with MTSU and TSU's student chapters.  The Mentor Program partners a member of MTSU or TSU's student SHRM chapter with a professional member from our chapter.   The purpose of the program is to allow student members the opportunity to learn through their mentor's personal experiences in the human resource field, and allow the professional member the opportunity to prepare the next generation of human resource professionals. The relationships created during the last two years were productive and gratifying.  We are looking forward to continued success for this year's program.   A mandatory introduction training meeting will be held on Thursday, October 26 at 6:30 pm that will set the foundation for the success of the mentoring pairs.  Other meetings mentors must commit to are the monthly meetings held November – May, and two group meetings in February and May.   To volunteer as a mentor or receive more information, please contact Matia Messemer at 615-252-4473 no later than Friday, October 13th to participate.   Back to Top >>>     Members in the news   How to Fix HR,” an article written by Dr. Gary Kaufman, is featured in the current issue of Harvard Business Review.    Dr. Kaufman, a long time member of MT|SHRM and the Continuing Education Commiittee, says he wrote the article to help executives get the most out of their human resources function.     Back to Top >>>

THIS MONTH'S SPONSOR Committee Links >>> Find out what's going on... Professional Development  Legislative Communications Diversity Community Involvement HR Career Tranistion Membership Finance Workforce Planning MT-SHRM South Member Relations   Quick Links >>>   About MT-SHRM General Information Board Members Career Connections About Career Connections Submit/Remove HR Jobs HR Job Listings Membership Information Join MT-SHRM Now Join National SHRM Guidelines for Membership Eligibility MT-SHRM By-laws Events Upcoming Events Calendar Events Photo Gallery  News & Resources Professional Development Advertising Opportunities Other HR Web Sites Legislative Issues Newsletter Archive   Looking for an HR Professional? Quick!  Post a job on  Career Connections and get the right person, right now!     MT-SHRM 2006-2007 Board of Directors   Kellie Conn - President   Denis Blackwelder - Past President   Tracy Anthony - Workforce Planning Chair   John Gilbert - Member Relations Chair   Lynn Hutson - Programs Chair   Bill Cooper - Membership Chair   Tish Meshew - Finance Chair   Kevie Mikus - MT-SHRM South Chair   Jimmy Patterson - Legal Advisor   Mark Peters - Legislative Chair   Art Smith - Communications Chair   MT-SHRM Communications Committee Art Smith - Communications Chair Kathy Story - Vice Chair, Newsletter Patty Bouchillon -Vice Chair, Web Site Dan Aronoff - Co-Vice Chair Marketing Gary Bynum - Co-Vice Chair Marketing Brooke Thurman - Vice Chair Editorial   Contacts   Please forward comments, suggestions and/or questions to communications@mtshrm.org   To change your subscriber information, contact Anne Powers   For Connections Newsletter sponsorship, contact Dan Aronoff      Connections Newsletter   is published monthly by Middle Tennessee Society for Human Resource Management © 2006 Past Issues