January 2008 Program
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
Registration: 11:30 a.m.
Networking: 11:30 a.m. - Noon
Lunch: Noon
Program immediately following lunch
"Attracting and Retaining the Young Adult
Workforce Using New Media"
Presented by Stuart Mease, City of Roanoke

Have you ever heard, “If there was only a job… Keep me in mind if you hear of anything….I cannot find talented individuals…. There are just no jobs here… I would like to return to my hometown, but I cannot find a good paying job… I sure would like for my children and grandchildren to move back here…”? Does it sound familiar?

Come hear how the City of Roanoke is spearheading efforts to bring young professionals to the Roanoke Valley as well as retaining those who are already here.

Mr. Mease earned his MBA from Virginia Tech, where he also previously served in several roles, including job placement, office of the Executive VP, government relations, and for the Presidential Fellow.

Stuart’s primary focus is “connecting people.” In 2005, he created a blog to bridge the communication gap between individuals (primarily young professionals) seeking employment opportunities in the Roanoke and New River Valleys. He also connected over 200 students to local internship opportunities through a program and course he created while in the Department of Management at Virginia Tech.

Please make reservations by utilizing the on-line event reservation form or e-mailing Joy Hanson at jhanson@iamrrha.org. Please include "RVSHRM RSVP" in the subject line. Registration Deadline is Wednesday, January 16.
This month’s program is sponsored by:

Happy New Year!

As the New Year unfolds, I hope you find yourself enjoying good health, strong friendships, supportive family and a job that you love! Each year brings a new beginning and an opportunity to challenge our selves as we consider our personal and business goals and related objectives. It is easy to move past this process without giving it sincere thought. I encourage each of you to give yourself the gift of time to reflect and refocus on establishing goals so that you’ll have many accomplishments to cheer about as you ring in 2009!

I am thrilled to begin 2008 as the President of RVSHM. I appreciate the vote of confidence that came from the RVSHRM membership in allowing me to lead this very special group of HR professionals. We have a great group of board members and committee leaders that I will have the pleasure of working with in 2008. Many board members are returning, but new to the team will be Phil Peters, Professional Certification and Tracy Hale, Marketing. Please join me in supporting the board members as we strive to serve and advance the HR profession!

I want to thank Barbara Phelps for her service as 2007 President of RVSHRM. I am honored to have been mentored by her. I am happy to report that Barbara will continue to be involved in RVSHRM so we will have the opportunity to see her smiling face as we move through 2008. Also, a special thanks goes out to all the 2007 board members. Your contributions were appreciated by all the members that you impacted.

Members will soon receive a link for a membership survey. I encourage all of you to complete the survey. Understanding our membership as a group is extremely important as we consider programs and strategic direction for 2008 and beyond. Can you imagine some of the information that we could uncover? SHRM lists its mission as “serving the profession” and “advancing the profession”. Understanding our membership is the first step in supporting the national mission at a local level.

Please feel free to call me if you have any suggestions or comments about RVSHRM. This is your organization and your feedback is important. RVSHRM has grown to a total of 302 members recently and your voice needs to shape the future!

Best Regards,

Johna Campbell
President

A Board Meeting was not held in December.

Most of us are aware of Martin Luther King, Jr. day - this year on January 21.  But did you know that the holiday encompasses much more than remembrance and has become a day of service that transcends racial issues and civil liberties?  Here is an excerpt from www.mlkday.gov.  Be sure to check out this website.  Maybe it will give you or your organizations ideas of how you can engage and serve your community, while at the same time honoring the legacy of Dr. King.
 
"In 1994 Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, designating the King Holiday as a national day of volunteer service. Instead of a day off from work or school, Congress asked Americans of all backgrounds and ages to celebrate Dr. King's legacy by turning community concerns into citizen action. The King Day of Service brings together people who might not ordinarily meet, breaks down barriers that have divided us in the past, leads to better understanding and ongoing relationships, and is an opportunity to recruit new volunteers for your ongoing work.

Participation in the King Day of Service has grown steadily over the past decade, with hundreds of thousands of Americans each year engaging in projects such as tutoring and mentoring children, painting schools and senior centers, delivering meals, building homes, and reflecting on Dr. King's life and teachings. Many of the projects started on King Day continue to engage volunteers beyond the holiday and impact the community year-round.
Although the scope of the event grows every year, many people still are not aware of the service component of the holiday. By encouraging the participation of as many organizations as possible, we hope to make next year's King Day of Service the biggest and best ever, engaging more people in service that honors Dr. King's life and teachings."

Roanoke Chapter….give yourselves a big round of applause!  We will be adding over $1500.00 to the SHRM Foundation’s end of the year contribution which will place our Chapter very close to the top of the list for Virginia contributions.

We would like to thank all the members and organizations that contributed items to the silent auction and a very special “thank you” to the VWCC Student Chapter for their support in bringing in as many as 10 items that were auctioned off.

A big Happy Holiday thank you to all members and guests who attended the Holiday Party at Hotel Roanoke and to Dan “The Man” Semones for his music extravaganza.   Everyone enjoyed delicious food (Thank you Joy Hanson), fun and fabulous networking opportunities. 

Each year has been more successful than the last for donations and contributions made possible by members that care about the future of the Roanoke Valley Chapter and the future of the HR Profession. 

Enjoy what you do, because what you do, makes a difference in someone’s life…….

Strategic Research on Human Capital Challenges
New SHRM Foundation research identifies the biggest human capital challenges. In a survey of 526 C-suite executives, 75 percent identified succession planning as a significant challenge for their organizations. Other challenges include recruiting and selection, and retaining talented employees.
·  Read the full report
·  Download the executive summary
·  Read the press release

Meeting Reservation Reminder
From Joy Hanson, VP Arrangements

November’s meeting had 97 members in attendance! The highest attendance since February of this year. When so many are expected in one place, it is even more important to remember to make a reservation for the meeting to ensure smooth flow at the registration table. Please register with me by the Friday before the meeting as that is when the Hotel needs our expected count. If you have not contacted me before the meeting or are a walk-in with no reservation, please expect to wait to see if you can fill the spot of a “no show.” The Hotel informed me they prepare enough lunch plates for what is reserved, but there is no guarantee that much extra will be prepared. Thanks for your cooperation…and have a great week!

Constitution and By-Laws of the
Roanoke Valley Society for Human Resource Management
Click for a PDF

HRM Certificate Program
Begins in January

Mary Baldwin College will offer its HRM Certificate Program in Roanoke beginning on January 24, 2008. This popular 13-week course will meet once per week on Thursday nights from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. at WDBJ/Channel 7’s Community Room. Dan Oyler will facilitate the preparation course for HR professionals interested in sitting for the PHR or SPHR exam. Participants will receive a certificate from the college and CEUs. For more information or to register, visit Mary Baldwin’s Web site at www.mbc.edu/learninc or call Dan Dowdy at 767-6173.