May 9, 2005
MITRE
Tysons Corner, VA

Attendees:

Kurt Cowles, President
Lisa Forester, SHRM Foundation Rep and Scholarship Coordinator
Judy Perrault, Director-at-Large
Amy Lourenco, Secretary
Cindy Loison, Past-President
Andrea Evans, Student Chapter Liaison
Denise Henderson, Communications Director

Via phone:
Denise Hartman, Legislative Liaison
Sarah Cower, Registration Coordinator
Lynn Padgett, Registration Coordinator
Bonnie Little, Vice President, Membership
Michaele Vestal, Certifications Representative
Mary Walter Midkiff, Assistant Vice President, Programs

Agenda:

- Judy Perrault moved and Lisa Forester seconded a motion to accept the April minutes. The motion was passed unanimously.

Treasurer Report:

- Judy Carter sent the Treasurer's report in advance. Our balances have increased since last month. There remains a large balance in the checking account.

- Some credit cards presented at the meeting are not good. We need to address this issue. Also, it was brought to our attention that it may be illegal to charge a higher fee for the use of a credit card. We discussed whether we could charge X, but discount for using cash or check. Kurt Cowles proposed for the remainder of the year we forego a fee and pay Nancy Streeter whatever fee is incurred for use of their processing.

Programs Report:

- Mary Walter Midkiff reviewed the current schedule. We have sponsors through July, and speakers for the year (except July, October and November).

- We discussed a possible speaker on creative approaches to benefits - Trudy Doubna from Kelly Benefit Services. She recently spoke to the Washington Chapter. Denise Hartman has heard a speaker from AON at a recent Montgomery SHRM meeting who was terrific and will pass contact info onto Programs.

We discussed a variety of issues from the survey, including:

• Networking like the Chamber (table-switching)
• A cork-board/easel each month to post job openings
• Follow-up from business cards received of non-members (Bonnie Little is currently working on this with Kim Esch)
• Microphone - the cost is $160 to rent a wireless mic/stand from hotel; Mary Walter Midkiff will check on purchasing microphone, since the one we currently have don't seem to be working well
• Giving all attendees a list of registrant info (to enable networking and follow-up) -- clearly this would only have info from folks who pre-registered, would need to have the "warning" not to use to sell, would have an "opt-out" option, and would currently require lots of work. Kurt Cowles will check with John DuBois on whether he can help us populate a spreadsheet with info from on-line registrations. We also discussed whether to give this out at the meeting or e-mail.
• Buzz sessions -- 5 minute networking on a question or topic with a timely report out to group (like our Question of the Month, but topical). We also discussed doing a whole session like that versus having a speaker.
• Timing of meetings -- We have 3 breakfasts scheduled this year. We need to review attendance and perhaps add more next year if they are particularly well-attended.

Legislative Report:

- Denise Hartman is working with Aaron Benjamin on a “Day Inside the Beltway” for us for the Fall. The likely topic will be healthcare reform.

Certification Report:

- Michaele Vestal met with National Louis University and Eileen Taylor regarding the fall study group. The class will be held on Tuesday evenings. More info and dates to follow from Michaele Vestal.

Membership Report:

- The Spring Directory was distributed and Bonnie Little has already gotten corrections. If there are significant changes/additions, we will re-publish in August.

- We have 194 paid members, consisting of 120 renewals and 74 new members. We do have SHRM membership numbers for all who were included in the Directory. We have also received an additional 25 applications with no payment yet.

- Kurt Cowles will work with Bonnie Little to follow-up on those who do not renew. It's important for us to find out why. Also, Bonnie Little will give Registration membership forms to have folks fill out if they want to pay for their membership at the meeting (or else we end up with money but no info).

- Bonnie Little discussed the work she's been doing with SHRM national on ensuring that folks have designated us as their chapter. We received about 7 inquiries from the at-large mailing that was just completed. Lee Hubert had been planning to send a letter to the folks from the at-large list, but lost the list and stationary. Kurt Cowles will contact Terry (at SHRM) to get another run or the date of the next list. Christie Cordova is checking on the national pilot SHRM is launching to enable payment of chapter dues along with national dues.

Discussion Group Report:

- Mary Walter Midkiff facilitated the May 5 discussion on Outsourcing, hosted by Denise Henderson in Reston. There were 12-13 attendees. Andrea Evans and Michaele Vestal have volunteered to help Cindy Loison schedule sessions for the rest of the year. A possible topic is Ethics, perhaps to be facilitated by someone at Right Management.

President's Report:

- The State Council Meeting on April 29 was attended by Kurt Cowles, Denise Hartman and Evelyn Kaiser. Leslie Weatherly, who heads our district, was very appreciative of our monetary support.

- VA SHRM is working with a magazine to launch a Best Places to Work in VA. It will cost $1,000 to apply. VA SHRM will get a cut.

- National SHRM is being lobbied to change their rule on the minimum number of members needed to have a chapter (currently 25).

- There will be a Leadership Conference in November. Typically, the President and President-Elect attend. We’ll look to increase our attendance this year.

- We are able to apply to the SHRM Foundation for scholarship awards for our study group, but the deadline is May 31.

- Kurt Cowles talked to Shelly Prochaska about the $850 that must be spent each year for the facilitator guide for our study group leader.

- Other chapter happenings: Winchester SHRM is having a Summer Slammer Event on June 3, a whole day event for $199 featuring Richard Jolly and Cal Ripken. New River Valley donated money to tsunami relief. Some chapters send pins to new members.

- ACTION ITEM: Amy Lourenco to check with Bonnie Little on what she's currently sending to welcome new members and revise if necessary to show to Board.

- Wistaria Krigger was a former recipient of our Scholarship. She is graduating and we spoke about giving her a pen or something to commemorate same.

- Relevant SHRM VA resource sites: www.shrmva.org and

- Folks attending national conference in San Diego are needed to man the booth advertising the upcoming DC conference. Contact Kurt Cowles.

- Folks are also needed to volunteer for the 2006 conference in DC. HRA-NCA is the lead chapter. $35K will be given to the volunteer chapters to divvy up -- perhaps on big name speakers?

- Kim Clark Pak Stys, President of WTPF, invited heads of HR-related organizations to collaborate. Attendees at the event included President of HRLF and member of Quality of Work-life organization in DC.

- National has approved our chapter charter. ACTION ITEM: Kurt Cowles to send to Amy Lourenco for placement in official records.

- SHRM Foundation recognizes chapters that donate monies to them. The median donation for medium-sized chapters is $550. Kurt Cowles suggested that we target $1,000 for this year as our donation. He also mentioned that individual donations from members to the Foundation count towards our tally.

Student Chapter Liaison Report:

- Andrea Evans informed us that 1 GMU student who attended a chapter meeting got a job via contacts made there! Andrea Evans will soon be meeting with the incoming President of the GMU student chapter.

Communications Report:

- Articles are needed by Friday for the newsletter. Responses to Evelyn Kaiser's volunteer opportunity inquiries are going well. We continue to get 7-8 new job postings each month.

Questions or Comments? Contact the President

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