PARTY!!!!
Upcoming Chapter Discussion Groups
Board Meeting Minutes
Educational Information
Human Resources Association of the National Capital Area
Request for Chapter Member Assistance…
Getting the Experts on Board
Mark Your Calendars
Upcoming Meeting Topics
Check Out Previous Newsletters
PARTY!!!!
Please join the Dulles Chapter of SHRM in a festive evening of professional fellowship and fun!
What a great way to end the year!
A wonderful opportunity for you to connect with Chapter members!
Wednesday, December 5, 2000
(note date - first Wed.)
Registration/networking at 5:15pm. Dinner begins at 6:00pm.
- Test your knowledge of SHRM for prizes!
- Great Networking Opportunities
- Elegant Holiday Buffet & Cash Bar
- Installation of 2002 Chapter officers
Door Prizes! Digital Camera! Books on timely HR topics! Free 2002 Chapter Memberships! And many other holiday goodies and prizes!
Upcoming Chapter Discussion Groups
The next discussion group is "Sexual Harassment" with facilitator Cornelia Gamlen, scheduled for December 11.
Please join us to to share experiences, learn from others or both! They will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Lafarge Corporation, 12950 Worldgate Drive, Suite 600, Herndon, VA 20170. Contact Cindy Loison at Cindy.Loison@lafargecorp.com or (703) 480-370 if you are interested in attending.
And if you have any suggestions for topics for next year (either one where you would like to facilitate, or one where more information would enhance your work place effectiveness), please let Cindy know.
Board Meeting Minutes
Starting this month we will be posting the minutes from Board meetings on our web site - please take a few minutes to review them in full. Click Here to View.
Educational Information
Many thanks to the educational institutions represented at the Chapter meeting tonight for sharing their information on HR professional and other educational opportunities for us!
George Mason University, Office of Continuing Professional Education, Sandra Meyers
For businesses and professionals, the Office of Continuing Professional Education (OCPE) serves as George Mason University's (GMU) initial point of contact and referral. We can assist you in locating the ideal GMU resources and designing programs for any of your continuing education, training and professional development needs. OCPE has more than 15 years of experience in training thousands of professionals; professionals just like you. We are experts in designing and delivering on-going professional educational requirements for businesses, industry and government. We offer a vast array of non-credit, credit and certificate programs through varying avenues, such as public seminars, certificate programs and on-site contractual programs. Our offices are located in Fairfax, Prince William and the Center for Innovative Technology in Herndon.
Our programs include: The SHRM Learning System, HR Fundamentals, Employment Law, Process Management, Government Contracting and much more. For a complete listing of our upcoming programs, please visit our web-site at www.ocpe.gmu.edu or call (703) 733-2800.
George Washington University, GWSolutions, Bob Schultz
The George Washington University (GW) is pleased to announce the launching of GWSolutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of GW, to enhance its abilities to link the university with the marketplace. Its principle focus will be to provide a rapid response to market needs and trends through the development and delivery of educational solutions to enterprise clients nationally and internationally.
These are challenging times for organizations as they attempt to retain and educate employees while keeping themselves competitive. Technology has introduced new demands and success is dependent upon the ability to identify this changing landscape and transform rapidly to meet the new challenges. A savvy workforce is critical. Today’s successful organizations are constantly learning and the needs of each are unique.
GW has recognized that any initiative taken on by an organization demands the highest degree of expertise from the staff involved. In response to the demand for qualified experts and learning solutions we have created GWSolutions. This new organization will:
- utilize the full educational resources of The George Washington University along with qualified professionals from the business community, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and other universities;
- provide complete training and education solutions directly to its customers whether they are in pursuit of a degree, a professional certification, or simply to increase knowledge and improve skills;
- customize education and training programs to meet the unique needs of different organizations; and
- develop customized interdisciplinary degree programs tailored specifically to an organizations needs, including: Associate, Bachelor, and Masters Degrees in Professional Studies.
To optimize organizational and individual productivity, these products and services will not only support face-to-face delivery but also distance learning initiatives for corporate, business, non-profit and government clients. They include pre-and post-assessment, course/curriculum development and delivery, and multimedia product development including television, video, CD and DVD.
We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this exciting new venture in enterprise learning and to explore opportunities to present these new products and services to your organization. Contact Bob Schultz at 202-496-2272 or bschultz@gwu.edu.
Marymount University, Dr. Ed Parks
Are you looking to enhance your career by expanding or sharpening your skills, moving up in your organization, or changing jobs? Marymount University might be the right match for your needs. Like you, the other students in our three human resources graduate programs are working adults who want to gain practical, hands-on skills from faculty members and classmates who are experienced and up-to-date in the field. Classes are conveniently scheduled one evening per week, 6:30-9:15pm, six Saturdays, 9:00-4:30pm, or sometimes in a special Friday-Saturday or one-week format. Most classes are at our Ballston campus, but some are available at our Loudoun site. Marymount's School of Business offers 36-credit M.A. degrees in Human Resource Management, Organization Development, and Human Performance Systems. In addition, we offer graduate certificates (15 or 18 credits) in Instructional Design and Organization Development.
For more information, contact the HR Department chair, Dr. Karen Medsker at 703-284-5959 (kmedsker@marymount.edu).
Human Resources Association of the National Capital Area
2001-2002 Professional Development Programs
The HRA's Professional Development Series is designed to provide Senior and mid-level HR Professionals with the tools they need to become effective Business Partners, Leaders, and Contributors to their organizations. These half-day programs include presentations on current Human Resources topics by well-known local and national experts.
November 28, 2001: Alternative Dispute Resolution and Cultural Integration
Loew's L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, Washington, D.C.
How often is the Human Resources Professional called upon to settle workplace disputes, negotiate a resolution to an employee relations problem, mediate arguments, settle disagreements between supervisors and employees, before the dispute gets to court?
How often do cultural differences and misunderstandings impact on these disputes?
When and how should you be directly involved? What alternatives exist to lawsuits and court appearances? How can the HR Professional positively impact the employment dispute process and lead employees and employers to satisfactory resolutions?
Dr. Janet Solomon, an HRA member and principal of Washington, DC. based Creative Conflict Resolution and Toyo Obayashi and Dan Miller of the Baltimore law firm of Miller and Obayashi will provide the answers, and will educate you on dispute resolution techniques, on the current legal environment, and on the impact of cultural differences in today's workplace disputes.
Each program begins at 8:00 am and concludes at noon. Cost for each program for HRA-NCA members is $125.00; for non-members, the cost is $160.00. These fees include breakfast, the presentation, and materials.
For Registration information, contact Carol Worley, 301-657-3065; cworley@cohncommunications.com
January 16, 2002: Leading From the Inside Out: A Coaching Model
Presenters: Dr. Virginia Bianco-Mathis and Dr. Cynthia Roman Strategic Performance Group
Dr. Virginia Bianco-Mathis, Professor at Marymount University in Arlington, VA, and principal of Strategic Performance Group is well known to HRA members as one of the top local Human Resources experts, especially in her field of Organizational Development and Organizational Performance.
Dr. Bianco-Mathis and Dr. Cynthia Roman, on the faculty of George Washington University, will lead an interactive program designed to help you promote a coaching environment in your organization. She will share her insights gained through extensive experience as an educator, consultant, and business executive.
This program is designed to promote Leadership and Coaching skills for the senior Human Resources Executive. Participants will learn concepts and methods to contribute to the internal management and leadership capabilities of their organizations.
Upcoming HRANCA Programs for 2002:
Current and Future Trends in Compensation
Employee Benefits Design and Communication
The Role of Human Resources Leadership in Today's Organizational Environment: How HR Can Lead the Organization Through the Significant Change Due to Today's Headline Events!
Creating a Quality Recruitment, Selection, and Retention Program
Save the dates: Wednesday evening January 9, 2002, and Wednesday morning, February 27, 2002, for a special series on recruiting and retaining the best employees, presented by the consulting team which assisted the Ritz Carlton Hotel chain.
The January monthly chapter meeting will feature Lisa French and A.J. Schuler from Talent+, an international performance consultancy. Lisa and A.J. will speak about the elements of a successful, quality-based recruiting and retention plan, and about the leadership role of HR in the process. (Dinner meeting)
They will provide more details, including an in-depth look at how they worked with the Ritz Carlton Hotels in implementing their Baldridge-Award winning Quality Management Strategy. They will share information from Ritz Carlton managers on their experiences applying the strategies and about the resulting success in hiring, retention, and community relations. (8:00 am to 12:00 noon)
Request for Chapter Member Assistance…
How much do you really like your job?
What do you value in the workplace?
Why do you stay?
I want to know!
My name is Michelle Verquer, and I am a doctoral candidate at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Presently, I am collecting data for my dissertation in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology.
The questions above are a few of the research questions I am exploring, and I really would be ever grateful if you would consider helping me out by answering similar questions. My research is strictly survey-based, and the survey takes approximately 30 to 50 minutes to complete (depending on how fast you can read). I provide means of returning completed surveys (self-addressed, stamped envelopes). There is a second part to the research that is optional and not required for your own participation. Along with the main survey, you will receive surveys for two coworkers and one supervisor (5 to 10 minutes). These surveys include ratings of your work group and organizational environment, and do not include any ratings pertaining to you or your performance. Again, this second part is not required.
There is only one criterion: In order to participate, you must work in a "traditional" organization (no solo consultants, freelancers, full time telecommuters). Part of my research is to study an organization from multiple perspectives, which requires the participant to have coworkers. If you are interested in participating or if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me directly at MLVerq@aol.com or 281.992.4882.
Thank you for your time.
Michelle Verquer
Getting the Experts on Board
Karen Stinson, ProGroup CEO and Founder
I recently went to a national conference in New York City with ProGroup’s other two principals, Myrna Marofsky and Ken Morris. Based on the conference agenda, I had high expectations for its content. They weren’t met. Was I disappointed? No, because the “ho-hum” speakers were balanced out with all I learned during break and lunch time discussions with other executives who were attending. The most exhilarating thing I learned was that every organizational leader we talked to was not only aware of diversity, but believed that it made good business sense to address it and to use it as a business advantage.
Opinions have definitely changed since I did my first diversity session over 15 years ago. Even four or five years ago, times were vastly different. On occasions that called for introductions, I’d introduce myself as Karen Stinson of ProGroup. The other person would ask, “What does ProGroup do?” When I said, “It’s a consulting firm,” the next question would be, “What kind of consulting?” When I answered, “Diversity,” the expressions, if the person didn’t bolt from his or her seat immediately, would range from blank to angry. Responses ran the gamut from, “What is diversity?” to “Let me tell you why we don’t need to do anything” to “Aaarg! I don’t believe in diversity and here’s why…”
Not so in New York in the year 2000. The enlightened responses of our conference colleagues reinforced our belief that diversity is seen as a viable field today. So, here is the question we asked those executives as the conference went on and we heard from top speakers on subjects such as Knowledge Management, Market Branding, Strategic Mapping, and Service Excellence: “Did you notice that not one of the ‘expert’ speakers even mentioned the impact of diversity issues on their subjects?” They often responded, “That’s right. Why didn’t they?”
Here’s my take on it. I don’t believe for a minute that the speakers were trying to avoid the issues and implications of diversity in their presentations. I believe it was something even worse. Despite all of the newspaper stories, articles, books, conferences, television specials, community activities, plays, and movies about diversity that have been available for over a decade, they didn’t have a clue. They haven’t woven diversity into their consciousness, let alone their fields of expertise. And they have gotten away with it so far.
Today, there is no excuse. In today’s workplace and marketplace, people who present themselves as experts have a responsibility to know about diversity or to work in alliance with organizations that can bring that awareness and expertise to their work. Those who don’t are doing a disservice to their clients. Whatever work they do for those clients will ultimately be a bad investment.
My challenge to you as you plan and implement your organizational development for the 21st Century is to expect diversity awareness and knowledge from all vendors, consulting firms, and independent contractors. This includes people who are doing any future focused work whether it involves marketing campaigns, compensation plans, culture audits, customer service initiatives, strategic planning, management development programs, or anything that’s tied to your bottom line. From what I heard around the luncheon table, it’s what your leaders expect you to do.
Thanks to Deidre Iannelli, our chapter’s Diversity Director, for finding this article for us.
Mark Your Calendars
Upcoming SHRM conferences and seminars:
- SHRM Workplace Diversity: New Challenges, New Opportunities Conference, December 3-5, 2001 in San Diego, CA
- SHRM Annual Employment Law & Legislative Conference, March 11-13, 2002, Washington, D.C.
- SHRM 54th Annual Conference & Exposition, June 23-26, 2002, Philadelphia, PA
- 2002 VA SHRM State Conference, October 9-11, 2002 in Roanoke, VA (never too soon to block the time)
Upcoming Meeting Topics
Upcoming meeting topics:
- December 5 - Holiday party and installation of officers - note the date: the first Wednesday
- January 16 - Legislative update by Jason Branciforte, Chapter Legislative Liason
- February 20 - Managing Your Boss with chapter member Marty Brown
- March 20 - Measuring the Employee Life Cycle: A Tool for Improving Retention - Mary Saily, Vice President for HumanR
- April 17 - Mentoring/Diversity with Anne Johnston (tentative)
- May 15 - Emotional Intelligence with Strategic Interactions (tentative)
- June 19 - Leadership with Book Signing with Dr. Virginia Bianco-Mathis (tentative)
And as we think about next year -- got any program ideas?
We are beginning work on next year’s programs and would love your input. Please share your ideas (either for speakers you’ve heard who would be good, or topics you would like to hear) with Nancy Streeter at nabss@aol.com.
That’s all for this month unless you have any ideas or suggestions? We received some great feedback after the last meeting. This is your chapter - let us know what’s on your mind!
Lynn M. Lorenz, SPHR
President
Dulles SHRM
E-mail
