DECEMBER 2005                     Vol. 1 Issue 3   In this Issue... A Very Special 'Thank you' Meeting  Community Involvement Committee 'Out There' in 2005  Mother Nature Couldn't Stop After-Work Crowd  Leadership Development Program Advances to Third Year YWCA Needs Help Teaching Interview Skills Country Music Marathon Seeks MT-SHRM Volunteers College Relations Committee Completes First Program Chapter Volunteer Activity Impressive in 2005 University of Phoenix Offers MBA with HR Emphasis THIS MONTH'S NEWSLETTER SPONSOR JASON MICHAELS LIVE!             International Award-Winning Illusionist Whether it's providing magical entertainment at a holiday party or creating a buzz for your company, Jason Michaels is your answer for a unique event. Do something different this year!  Call Jason at 615.430.3666 >>> www.jasonmichaelsmagic.com A Very Special 'Thank you' Meeting Denis Blackwelder President   Dear ,   Happy Holidays!   I hope you'll join me for our December Holiday Luncheon on Thursday, December 8, 2005 at 11:30 a.m. at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel.   During this special year-end meeting we will recognize all of our 2005 chapter volunteers to say “Thank you” for their hard work and dedication.  We will also award two scholarships to our student chapter members and announce our 2006 Professional Development Scholarship Program for MT-SHRM members.    This will be our only chapter meeting in December and I promise you won't want to miss it.  I look forward to seeing you there!    Back to Top >>> Community Involvement Committee ‘Out There’ in 2005 Tracy Anthony Vice Chair Community Involvement   The goal of this committee is to offer our members the opportunity to give back to the community through charitable donation or by volunteering time.  Since this committee was formed in March of 2005, there has been a lot going on.   A few examples are the wine tasting mixer 2 held at Bistro 215 which raised over $650 for Project for Neighborhood Aftercare, blood drives for the American Red Cross, the President’s Lock-up which raised over $1,000 for Muscular Dystrophy Association and food donations at our September, October and November meetings that collected over 160 pounds of food for Second Harvest Food Bank.   Last year in Nashville over 3,000 children were caught up in the court system because they were abused, neglected or abandoned by those they loved and trusted the most.  Fortunately, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) was there to help and in January, we will be hosting a BBQ lunch to benefit CASA.  Watch the events calendar for more details.   Yes, we were 'out there' in 2005, and 2006 looks like it will be just as busy.  If you would like to become involved with this committee, we need you.  Please contact Tracy Anthony at 615-399-2228 or any member of the Community Involvement Committee.   Back to Top >>> Mother Nature Couldn’t Stop After-Work Crowd Art Smith Communications Chair   As if on cue, tornadoes rolled through Middle Tennessee on a Tuesday night in November while a crowd of MT-SHRM members and guests huddled in a concrete stairwell at Caterpillar Financial to hear John Daniel speak on The HR Executive’s Role in a Crisis.  Talk about a live demonstration! 2   “It was so appropriate," laughed Danny Nelms. "Just as Ron Samuels was introducing the speaker, security told us to leave the auditorium and go directly to the stairwell.  When we got there, John just picked-up his presentation where he'd left off and it just put everything he was talking about in perspective!”   The Continuing Education Committee presented their fourth and final After-Work Program for 2005 on November 15th. Special thanks to Bob McKown, Programs Chair; Tammy Lambert, Professional Development Vice Chair; Everett Guthrie, Continuing Education Committee Lead, and committee members Gary Kaufman, Brian Pieper and Art Smith for a wonderful slate of programs during 2005.   Those who value professional development of our membership, or anyone who just likes to have fun) are encouraged to join us and be a part of our committee.  Contact Tami Lambert for more information.   Back to Top>>> Leadership Development Program Advances to Third Year Tami Lambert Vice Chair Professional Development   Three years ago, the Professional Development Committee recognized the need for a leadership development program for MT-SHRM members.  A group was assembled and professionals were interviewed to identify the core competencies of a leader and to develop a curriculum with eight key areas:  strategic thinking and planning, effective communication, creating vision, teamwork, delegation and accountability, decision making and problem solving, influencing others, and positioning you for success.    In 2004, the first Leadership Development Program was launched.  Last spring, the 2005 class brought the number who have been through the program to over 20.    We are proud to announce the 3rd Leadership Development Program. The 12-week program will commence on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 and run weekly through April 18, 2006.  Meetings will start at 5:45 and conclude at 8:15 p.m.    The tuition for the 12-Week program is $560, which includes an assessment, one-on-one coaching, the development of a personal action plan to ensure goals and objectives are achieved, and a light supper during class.     Class size is limited to 15 participants so early registration is suggested.  Click here for more information, including meeting location, facilitators and registration information.    Back to Top >>> YWCA Needs Help Teaching Interview Skills Judy Parker Community Involvement Committee   The Community Involvement Committee has agreed to help the YWCA conduct mock interviews with participants in their Youth Advantage Program.    This four-week program provides job preparation training for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18.  The mock interviews are a big part of helping to prepare these students during their employment search experience.   Last year, six volunteers from MT-SHRM helped conduct the interviews.  Amy Money from the YWCA is coordinating the project and would like to build a pool of volunteers.   The interviews will be conducted at Hunters Lane High School.   If you can volunteer to help with this important training initiative, please contact Judy Parker at 615-370-1141.   Back to Top>>> Country Music Marathon Seeks MT-SHRM Volunteers Tiffany Smith Vice Chair Facilities   The Nashville Sports Council is looking for volunteers to help with next year's Country Music Marathon and 1/2 Marathon to be held on April 29, 2006.  Each volunteer will receive a Race Crew t-shirt, goodie bag and a free ticket to the post-race concert to be held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center.   In addition, each volunteer’s name will be entered into the Race Crew Appreciation Drawing with a chance to win two round-trip tickets to any Southwest Airlines destination and a two-night stay at a selected partner hotel.   To volunteer, contact Tiffany Smith or go to Country Music Marathon’s Volunteer page for more information.   Back to Top>>>     College Relations Committee Completes First Mentor Program Tiffany Ingram Vice Chair College Relations   The College Relations Committee had a great year in 2005. Because the student SHRM chapters run on an academic schedule, we have seen the completion of our first mentor program and the beginning of our second. The program runs from October through May of the academic year. Last year’s program paired 15 MTSU students with 15 HR professionals.   With the success of last year’s program, this year we've added the TSU student chapter to the program and have 16 pairs of students and professionals participating.   The initial meeting was held at the end of September and the program is off to a great start.  During the next semester, the pairs will be participating in job shadowing events.    We continue to receive feedback that indicates these events are rewarding for both the students and the mentors involved.  If you are interested in offering internships or other opportunities to college students, please contact Tiffany Ingram at 615-322-0053.   Back to Top>>> Chapter Volunteer Activity Impressive in 2005 Kellie Conn Member Relations and Special Projects Chair   Nearly one in four MT-SHRM members volunteered to serve our chapter in 2005.  It’s no surprise to our volunteers that participation in a committee makes a difference in our chapter, our community and our profession.  And, it helps MT-SHRM meet its goals and objectives while contributing to the advancement of the HR profession.   Volunteering for MT-SHRM offers many benefits that will help you grow personally and professionally, including furthered exposure to other HR professionals, a larger network of professionals and specialists, contacts in a variety of companies and recognition as a leader in our profession.   2005 was a great year for the special projects committees.  Here are a few examples of the accomplishments:   By-laws.  A special projects committee of Susan Heard, Belinda Bracey and Kellie Conn revised our chapter by-laws to conform to national SHRM guidelines and better reflect the state of our chapter.    New awards.  The Committee organized and orchestrated several awards for the State HR Conference in October.  Aimee Hull, Marcie Claas, Tiffany Ingram and Kellie Conn worked together over a period of four weeks to put together the awards program that included the James House Williamson Scholarship and the HR Management Excellence Awards.   New MT-SHRM chapter logo.  A new logo was developed this year as part of our chapter branding initiative.   Jase Tillman of iQ Concepts provided the graphic artistry and marketing knowledge that helped us come up with the logo choices our members voted on this summer.    If you have an interest in the Member Relations and Special Projects Committee, please contact John Gilbert at 615-382-6408.   Back to Top>>>     University of Phoenix Offers MBA with HR Management Emphasis Scott Jarrett University of Phoenix   University of Phoenix exists solely for the purpose of helping working adults achieve their educational and career goals.  And now, University of Phoenix offers a Masters of Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resources Management.    The MBA/HR Management degree program is ideal for HR professionals who want to further their education and enhance their career.  The program is based on courses specific to the field of human resources, including employee motivation, compensation, and a seminar in Human Resources Management.    The format for the MBA/HR Management degree program is perfect for a working adult.  Students can attend class one night per week in Nashville or Franklin, or do the majority of the course work online using the FlexNet program, which is a combination of classroom and online instruction.  Students take one course at a time, each lasting six weeks, and the program can be completed in 22 months.    If you would like more information, please contact Scott Jarrett at 615-986-3672.   Back to Top>>>

THIS MONTH'S SPONSOR   Committee Links >>> Find out what's going on... Programs  Legislative Communications Diversity Membership Community Involvement Finance Workforce Readiness MT-SHRM South   Find Out What All the Chatter's About >>>   Join the MT-SHRM Chat Room and ask questions of, or give advice to your fellow members about resources, best practices, practically anything under the sun!   Membership Registration Required   Register Here   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 New Stuff! 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 2004-2005 Board of Directors   Sheila Armstrong - Past President   Rita Baumgartner - President Elect   Denis Blackwelder - President   Barry Campbell - Membership Co-Chair   Judy Cline - Workforce Planning Chair   Kellie Conn - Member Relations, Special Projects Chair   Tracye Mayolo - Finance Chair   Rachel McClelland - Membership Co-Chair   Bob McKown - Programs Chair   Jimmy Patterson - Legislative Chair   Dan Ryan - MT-SHRM South Chair   Art Smith - Communications Chair     MT-SHRM Communications Committee   Art Smith - Communications Chair   Gayla Zoz - Vice Chair, Marketing and Public Relations   Kathy Story - Co-Vice Chair, Publications   Patty Smothers - Co-Vice Chair, Publications   Ginny Thornton - HR Job Development   Gary Bynum - Web site Manager   Dan Aronoff - Web site Marketing     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 © 2005