DECEMBER 2006                                      Vol. 2 Issue 12 In this Issue... What a Year! Hold the (Policy Manual) Presses! Looking Ahead December Volunteer Recognition Meeting Safe Haven Family Shelter Congrats to HRCI Certifications in 2006 THIS MONTH'S SPONSOR   80% of Fortune 1000 companies trust Oakwood with their housing needs.   Learn more about Oakwood's temporary housing products and services at http://www.oakwood.com/   Housing Solutions for a World on the Move.SM Corporate Housing | Serviced Apartments | Apartment Management | Multi-Media Services What a Year! Kellie Conn, SPHR, President   2006 was a year of growth and development for MT|SHRM.  An increase in membership, our successful Golf Scramble and winning a prestigious award topped our list of exciting developments.  We also saw continued success for established programs.   Bill Cooper winning the James House Williamson Award at the 2006 State Conference, the highest honor awarded to one professional each year, was definitely a highlight event.  Denis Blackwelder, Tracye Mayolo and Stephen King also took home HR Excellence Awards for outstanding achievement in Human Resource Management.   The Second Annual Golf Scramble raised more than $25,000 in professional development scholarship funds for our members.  Adding nearly 200 participants, great weather and beautiful fairways of the Legends course equals a terrific event that can only get better in 2007!   The MT|SHRM South meeting continued to spur growth this year with a convenient location, relevant topics and networking for the South-area colleagues.   The Professional Development committee hosted four “After Work-shop” events, a half-day workshop, four HRCI certification study groups, a Leadership Development Program, six Executive Forum roundtables and six Legal workshops.    2006 saw another wonderful Career Transitions Group, including their “Backpacking through Italy” wine and cheese tasting mixer.   It also brought the addition of the former Middle Tennessee Compensation Association into MT|SHRM.  We are excited to have these new members and look forward to more specialty area development for our chapter in 2007.   What do these accomplishments have in common?  The wonderful volunteers!  We hope you’ll consider participating in one of our 15 committees and/or special projects in 2007.  Thank you to our 100+ volunteers for all you’ve done for our chapter and the HR community this year.   Back to Top >>>   Hold the (Policy Manual) Presses! Mark Peters, Esq., Legislative Chair   A hot legal topic this year has been surrounding the position taken by the Tennessee Department of Labor in the Sonic/Gamble case.  The results of that case required the employer to pay out unused vacation time to a terminated employee, regardless of a published policy that stated otherwise.   On Monday, November 13, the Tennessee Attorney General issued Opinion No. 06-169 which infers that the Tennessee Department of Labor's (TDOL) interpretation of Section 50-2-103(a)(3) is wrong and that an employer is not required to pay out vacation pay upon termination of employment if its vacation policy specifically disallows such compensation.   While this does not technically reverse the TDOL's decision in Sonic/Gamble, it does predict a short-lived relevance for the TDOL's interpretation and enforcement of their current position.    Click here for the full text of the Attorney General's opinion.   Back to Top >>>     Looking Ahead Denis Blackwelder, SPHR, Past President   As past President of MT|SHRM I would like to congratulate Kellie Conn and the current Board of Directors on a successful year.    Our membership continues to grow not only in numbers but in your continued support of this fine organization.  I would encourage each of our members to continue to participate in our organization’s awesome committees.  By your participation, you can enhance the professional and personal value of your membership through networking and sharing ideas with fellow members.   I continue to be extremely excited about the potential of this organization and the opportunities that we have to impact the future face of the HR profession and to be a part of the development of future HR leaders.   Back to Top >>>   December Volunteer Recognition Meeting Kevie Mikus, SPHR, 2007 Programs Chair   Please join us at our combined MT|SHRM Metro and South meeting at the Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville on Thursday, December 14 when we will present our Member of the Year award, celebrate those members that have attained their HRCI certification this year, and recognize all of our nearly 100 chapter volunteers for 2006.   This is typically our largest meeting of the year, so make your reservations now to assure your seat.   Back to Top >>>     Safe Haven Family Shelter Judy Parker, Community Involvement Committee   The Community Involvement Committee will be highlighting Safe Haven Family Shelter in December.  It is the only shelter in Middle Tennessee that houses homeless families as a unit.   Safe Haven accepts single mothers and fathers with children and married couples with children.  Between two shelters and six transitional homes, they can house 15 families at a time.   The residents at the shelter must be employed or in pursuit of a job; 75 percent of their earned income is saved so they can return to mainstream living with a substantial amount of savings.  Residents enter a 30 to 45 day program and receive budgeting courses, job training, life skills courses, counseling, and goal monitoring.  Safe Haven stops the cycle of chronic homelessness by returning families into a home of their own.   If you would like more information on volunteer opportunities or donations, please visit http://www.safehaven.org/.   Back to Top >>>     Congratulations to our 2006 HRCI Certifications   Nikole Abate, PHR Shabnam Aminmadani, PHR Stephanie Babb, PHR Carolyn Bowlds, PHR Melanie Carnaggio, PHR Linda Couser, SPHR Tonya Gracey, SPHR Peggy Harris, SPHR Rick Harris, PHR Jared Humphrey, PHR Tiffany Ingram, PHR Kathy Jones, SPHR Sheryl Kippenberger, SPHR Colleen Kirby, PHR Tami Lambert, SPHR April Osborne, PHR Brandon Ruffin, PHR Kami Vannoy, PHR Mary Ellen Yarbrough, SPHR   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   Bob McKown - President Elect    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