Join Us For "Measuring HR Effectiveness" on Wednesday, February 16
Embry Rucker Shelter Donations Update
VA's Career Readiness Certificate Focus Of January Community Speaker
Chapter Discussion Group
Deadline Extended For Dulles SHRM 2004-2005 Scholarship Program
Board Meeting Minutes
2005 Chapter Objectives Discussed At December Transition Board Meeting
Volunteer Opportunity Available
2005 Membership Renewals Due
"HR Today - Facing The Challenges Of Tomorrow, Now"
"Avoiding Danger Zones: The Latest On Employment Law"
HRA-NCA To Sponsor Spring 2005 PHR/SPHR Exam Preperation Sessions
Volunteer Opportunity Available
Mark Your Calendar
Article: ADHD Can Be A Workplace Problem

Join Us For "Measuring HR Effectiveness" on Wednesday, February 16

For Details on the Program: Click Here

Embry Rucker Shelter Donations Update

Members who attended the November dinner meeting donated $75 for the Embry Rucker Shelter. Donations were used to purchase Target gift certificates for the homeless. Embry Rucker Shelter Chief Executive Officer Kerrie Wilson extends her sincere appreciation for your generosity.

Virginia's Career Readiness Certificate Focus Of January Community Speaker

“Employers know that the costs of hiring, training, and retention significantly affect their bottom line,” said Governor Warner at his October 19, 2004, press conference where he announced Virginia’s Career Readiness Certificate. “The cost of making a good hire is high; the cost of making a bad hire is even greater.” In his first year, the Career Readiness Certificate has given more then 5,000 Virginians a portable credential to prove their skills to an employer.

The certificate was created to assist employers by certifying that a recipient possesses competency skills in Applied Mathematics, Reading for Information, and Locating Information that are required by more than 85% of all jobs in the nation. Each certificate includes a complete description of what these skill levels mean, and therefore what the recipient can do. It certifies that job seekers have the core employability skills required across multiple industries and occupations.

Individuals can earn a Career Readiness Certificate at any one of the six Northern Virginia Community College campuses or at one of the certified one-stop centers.

Board Meeting Minutes

The minutes from the Board meetings are available on our web site - please take a few minutes to review them in full. Click Here to View.

Deadline Extended For Dulles SHRM 2004-2005 Annual Scholarship Program

The Dulles SHRM chapter is pleased to announce our third Annual Scholarship Program - up to two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded!

As part of its mission to promote professional development and to raise the standard of performance in human resources management, the chapter is offering chapter members, sons and daughters of chapter members, and students in the local area the opportunity to apply. To qualify for consideration, applicants must be:

1. A chapter member in good standing, a son or daughter of a chapter member in good standing, or a member of a local student SHRM chapter during the time of application and receipt of the award; AND
2. Enrolled in a full-time or part-time program earning a degree in human resources or in a human resources-related field at an undergraduate college-level or graduate program.

Applications will be available at upcoming chapter meetings and may also be downloaded. Click Here for Download (Word Doc 199KB). Please send completed applications no later than Monday, January 31, 2005 to:

Dulles SHRM Scholarship Committee
P.O. Box 1249
Herndon, VA 20172

For more information, please contact Maggie Chan at Maggie.chan@sodexhousa.com or (301) 987-4353.

2005 Chapter Objectives Discussed At December Transition Board Meeting

As is Chapter tradition following annual Board Elections, outgoing 2004 Board members and newly elected 2005 Board members discussed 2005 Chapter objectives during the December Transition Board Meeting chaired by incoming Chapter President Kurt Cowles.

Preliminary 2005 objectives include:

• Grow membership by 15% over year-end 2004 membership;
• Maintain the Chapter’s fiscal integrity by reviewing actual expenditures against budget projections and exploring non-dues fund raising opportunities;
• Sustain community outreach by continuing and expanding the Workforce Readiness initiative;
• Increase recognition for the membership and for the Board (e.g., recognizing members who pass certification, recognize members for achievements, expand succession planning);
• Increase collaboration and knowledge of National SHRM;
• Sustain topical and timely programs offered to membership (e.g., explore programs targeted to senior-level HR executives, potential collaboration with NOVA SHRM).

Members who are interested in assisting with these or other initiatives are invited to contact Kurt (kcowles@mitre.org).

Volunteer Opportunity Available

The Skill Force Center in Reston (a Fairfax County agency) needs a volunteer to review resumes for job seekers. It requires a two-hour commitment once or twice monthly, or whatever time someone can give. Members who are interested should contact Judy Carter (judy.carter@cox.net).

2005 Membership Renewals Due

It is now time for 2004 members to renew Chapter membership for the 2005 year by visiting Clicking Here and submitting a renewal application through the membership forms link on the home page. Because the Dulles Chapter is a 100% national membership chapter, members are required to be a member of National SHRM before the joining the local chapter.

Membership renewal gives members the full membership privileges, including discounted chapter dinner meetings with the opportunity to network with peers and hear from speakers on a wide range of HR topics. In May, members will receive a copy of the Chapter’s 2005 membership directory, which will be updated and redistributed in Fall 2005.

Members who joined the Chapter during the last quarter of 2004 (October 1-December 31) need only complete the renewal membership form and omit sending any payment since 2004 dues payment included 2005 membership.

The 2005 dues payment is $30. After completing the renewal application, members should forward payment to:

Dulles SHRM
P.O. Box 1249
Herndon, VA 20172

"HR Today - Facing The Challenges Of Tomorrow, Now"

Be there for a lively conference kick-off with Mark Gorkin, the “Stress Doc.” Wrap up the day with a network reception and Vendor Expo. Register to win a door prize, including a trip to the SHRM Conference in San Diego in June 2005. Take advantage of the early registration price before December 15. Register online at www.hra-nca.org or call HRA-NCA at (703) 241-0229.

Where:
Cafritz Conference Center
George Washington University Campus, Washington, D.C.
When:
Friday, January 28, 2005
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

"Avoiding Danger Zones: The Latest On Employment Law"
NOVA SHRM Professional Development Seminar
Tuesday, February 22

Presented By: Manesh Rath, Keller and Heckman, LLP
When: February 22, 8:00-10:30 a.m.
Where: Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church
Cost: $45 Members; $60 Non-Members
Registration: www.novashrm.org/events

If your organization is relying upon last year’s answers, this program will help you steer clear of outdated HR practices. This is a fast-paced, highly interactive program that will provide senior HR professionals with up-to-date employment laws and entry- and mid-level HR professionals with critical employment laws in an understandable format. Manesh Rath is an attorney at Keller and Heckman LLP who has authored numerous articles on employment law matters and has spoken on employment law developments nationwide. This program is approved for 2.5 recertification credit hours.

HRA-NCA To Sponsor Spring 2005 PHR/SPHR Exam Preperation Sessions

Strengthen your human resources knowledge by participating in a comprehensive review of the HR functions while preparing for either the PHR or SPHR exam. This course provides 34 hours of instructor-led facilitation by Paul Shibelski, SPHR. Dates and times for the course follow. Participants are expected to attend all the sessions.

• Orientation: Friday, February 18 from 8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
• Session 1: Friday, March 4 from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Session 2: Saturday, March 5 from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Session 3: Friday, March 18 from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Session 4: Saturday, March 19 from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Review: Friday, April 8 from 8:00 - 12:00 p.m.

The seminar cost is $1,125 for HRA-NCA members and $1,200 for non-members. This price includes all sessions and the SHRM learning system. Breakfast is provided. The registration deadline is Friday, February 4, 2005.

Sessions will be held at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. The location is accessible via the Metro Red Line. Parking is available in local garages and on the street. Visit www.hra-nca.org/event for more information and to enroll.

Volunteer Opportunity Available
Tuesday, June 7

Award nominations close on March 15. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, go to www.hrleadership.org.

Mark Your Calendars

Upcoming SHRM Conferences and Seminars

2005 Conferences

• March 14-16 - Annual Employment Law & Legislative Conference, Washington, D.C.
• April 20-22 - Annual EMA Conference & Exposition, Dallas, TX
• May 22-25 - WorldatWork Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, LA
• June 19-22 - SHRM Annual Conference & Exposition, San Diego, CA

2004 Chapter Dinner Meetings

• December 15 - Transition Board Meeting

2005 Chapter Dinner Meetings

• February 16 (Dinner Meeting) - “Measuring and Managing Human Capital: A Strategic Imperative for HR” with Leslie Weatherly, SHRM
• March 16 (Dinner Meeting) - “Dealing With Difficult Situations and People” with Cornelia Gamlem, GEMS Group
• April 20 (Breakfast Meeting) - “Strategies for Becoming a Valued Partner to Senior Management” with LuAnn Kollaja, Hewitt
• May 18 (Dinner Meeting) - To be announced
• June 15 (Dinner Meeting) - To be announced
• July 20 (Breakfast Meeting) - To be announced
• August 17 (Dinner Meeting) - To be announced
• September 21 (Dinner Meeting) - To be announced
• October 19 (Breakfast Meeting) - To be announced
• November 16 (Dinner Meeting) - To be announced
• December 7 (Dinner Meeting) - Holiday Party
• December 14 (Dinner Meeting) - Transition Board Meeting

Article: ADHD Can Be A Workplace Problem
Source: HR.BLR.com, Monday, November 29, 2004
Contributed by Diversity/Education/Workforce Director Evelyn Kaiser

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, hinders the job performance of thousands of American workers, a North Carolina business journal reports.

While most people associate ADHD with hyperactive children who disrupt their classes, the disorder also leaves adults unable to fully concentrate on their jobs, accord to the Business Journal Serving the Greater Triad Area, which serves Greensboro and Winston-Salem.

Up to 1 in 20 employees may have ADHD, but hard numbers aren’t available, since there’s no test yet for measuring the chemical imbalance in the brain that causes the disorder. That leaves watching someone’s behavior for possible clues - a difficult approach to diagnosis, especially with adults.

Often, though, adults tend to display symptoms of other psychological problems as well as ADHD, the Journal reports. In particular, adults with the disorder are more prone to alcoholism and substance abuse as well as clinical depression.

Some of the common signs of the disorder are:

• An inability to concentrate,
• Poor memory, and
• Poor organization

As a result of these traits, adult ADHD sufferers:

• Have trouble completing tasks,
• Have trouble focusing on tiny details,
• Tend to manage time poorly, and
• Tend to be more moody than others, often getting mad over seemingly little things.

Not all the signs and symptoms of the disorder are negative, doctors tell the Journal. One positive trait is creativity. Because they have many thoughts crowding their minds at once, ADHD sufferers often make mental connections that others don’t. This also makes them good at multitasking.

In fact, people with ADHD can be productive, even exemplary employees. Kathleen Nadeau, clinical director of Chesapeake Psychological Services in Silver Spring, MD, and author of the book, ADD in the Workplace: Choices, Changes and Challenges,” says it’s just a matter of matching people with the right jobs and using the right tools. ADHD can be treated with medication to minimize the symptoms, and many adults with it also attend therapy sessions to help keep their symptoms under control, the Journal reports.

The easiest tool to help people with the disorder cope in the workplace is organization, but their style of organization may not be typical. For instance, their filing systems may not contain names of clients or projects, but labels such as “things that I need five minutes to finish” or “one quick phone call.”

Keeping lists and carrying small tape recorders are other common tools of organization for people with ADHD. They also tend to fare better when breaking big, long-term tasks down into smaller ones with earlier deadlines.

What can employers do to help? Experts interviewed by the Journal offered this advice:

• Assign them small portions of a project one piece at a time, instead of large projects all at once.
• Give written directions, which are easier to follow and remember than verbal ones, along with frequent follow-up.
• Be flexible with work hours, allowing employees to come in early or work late or on weekends when there are fewer distractions.
• Allow employees to listen to white noise since it can help keep them focused.

That’s all for this month unless you have any ideas or suggestions? This is your chapter - let us know what’s on your mind!

Cindy Loison
President
Dulles SHRM
cloisonhr@aol.com