Now, in one breath, that’s still very low compared to many other organizations.  However, in another breath, the price hike couldn’t have come at a worse time.  Every study I’ve seen indicates that there are more HR Professionals out of work than ever before.  And many companies are also choosing to eliminate or outsource their HR Departments.  So why, in turn, would the world’s largest HR organization decide to raise their dues?

Interesting, this price hike came at the same time that SHRM’s Board of Directors quietly voted to increase their annual honorariums.  You can read more on that story here.

At the end of the day, they’re the biggest fish and I’m still going to be a member.  But their recent actions can’t help one but wonder…

“After nearly three months of behind-the-scenes maneuvers, a bipartisan summit and numerous speeches, the final vote by Congress on health care reform legislation appears imminent.  According to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the vote could come as early as Saturday, March 20, 2010, which at least one observer said was setting up a showdown of “epic proportions.”  If you’re a SHRM member, you can read the full article here.

Admittedly, it’s been interesting to hear the arguments on both sides leading up to this.  Personally, I have gone on record as saying that I don’t think the final legislation will look like what’s being proposed now.  And I cannot imagine an insurance world where people can pick up coverage and/or drop it at any time without being responsible for any back-premiums or pre-existing conditions.  So needless to say, this weed could be historic and I, for one, will be curious to see what happens…

Our first stop will be in Ohio at the 37^th Annual Ohio Human Resource Conference.  It’s at the Kalahari Resort from September 16^th through the 18^th.

We’ll be talking to HR Professionals and vendors – and may even take a few trips down their awesome water slides if time permits.

There will be more information to come on this event, as well as initiatives in other states…

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Hopefully this post will help clarify some options available to you, if you work in HR or you “also do HR” as a part of your job.

I’ve been a SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) member since 1997.  There are over 250,000 members worldwide.  Their web site is the first thing I check in the morning and the last thing I check in the evening.  I’m not in sales, but even I would tell you that if you’re not a SHRM member and you work (in any capacity) in the field of HR, you’re doing yourself a tremendous disservice.  OK, taken from the actual SHRM web site (Membership Center), “If you need to have access to industry best practices, sample forms, policies and general HR information, timely legislative updates and the ability to ask specific HR questions, then SHRM membership is for you!”  Need I say more?

Whether or not you’re a SHRM member, you have the ability to join a SHRM chapter (sometimes called a local chapter).  There are more than 575 of them.  Most major cities have them.  I’ve been involved with one since 2004.  Again, shamelessly stolen from the SHRM web site, “The purpose of chapters is to provide a local forum for your personal and professional development; provide an opportunity to develop your leadership, managerial, public speaking and group decision-making skills; provide a local networking arena; and to provide a focus for legislative attention to local, state, and national human resource management issues.”  I hated to just cut and paste those quotes, but I couldn’t have said it any better.

SHRM would say that you should join both and I agree.  Honestly, if a SHRM chapter is running properly, you won’t see too much overlap with SHRM anyway.  So look at it this way – you get the big picture from SHRM and advance the profession locally through a chapter.

OK, really quick, if you’re a SHRM member, but not a member of a SHRM chapter, you are called a SHRM at-large member (a highly desirable person to SHRM chapters).

Please allow me to recap – networking, education and resources!!!

Thisis just a friendly reminder from HR Whiz.