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Our Mission is to enhance professional development, education, networking, and support for Human Resource Professionals, those seeking to enter the field of Human Resources, and
the business community with a vision to be the premier resource for leadership and development for Human Resource Professionals and organizations within Southwest Washington.
March 2009
“Employee Free Choice Act”
The Impact on Business
Approved for 1 HRCI credit towards SPHR/PHR/GPHR recertification.
On Tuesday, March 10, 2009, Stacey Mark of Ater Wynne LLP will address the
Employee Free Choice Act and its potential impact on business. Attendees will learn:
How the Employee Free Choice Act would change 70 years of established labor
law
How the “card check” system promotes unionization
What makes employees want to unionize
Special points of
interest: How the elimination of secret ballot elections plays out in the real world
• Presidents Message! What employers can do to stay union-free
• SHRM Spotlight! As it relates to EFCA issues, this presentation will provide information that will allow you
to:
• Program Events!
Impact organizational decisions.
• Legislative Update!
Contribute to the development of your corporate strategic plan, and align the
• Study Group Update! human capital management plan with the strategic plan.
• Workforce Readiness Facilitate communication of your organization’s core values and ethical behaviors
Volunteer
Opportunities!
FEATURED SPEAKER:
• Membership Drive Stacey Mark, a partner at Ater Wynne LLP, Portland, chairs their Labor & Employment
Group and the Sustainable Practice Advisory Group. She focuses her practice on
• Welcome new Members!
developing strategies that enable employers to meet their legal obligations in ways that
• And More!!! promote their overall business objectives.
Read more information regarding the featured presenter and register online
at www.SWHRMA.org
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
11:15am—1:00pm
Royal Oaks Country Club
Register online at www.SWHRMA.org
Message from the Chapter President
Ann Nordquist
Last month I lead off by stating what an exciting time it is for HR Professionals. Well, that just might be
an understatement! It is an exciting time. I also want to be sure and acknowledge that it is a challenging
time as well for many us and our companies. As HR Professionals, that means it is time not only for in-
volvement and action as called for last month, but also it is a time for courage and resourcefulness.
Courage comes in many forms, and next month I’d like to share one of my favorite stories. This month,
I’d like to focus on resourcefulness.
Through SHRM and SWHRMA, you have many tools and resources at your disposal. These resources
can help you be a strong leader for your company or in your role. They can provide you with options,
actions, solutions and ideas to implement or to use as a springboard in designing what works best for
your own unique situation.
There are many toolkits, white papers, surveys and samples you can draw upon. There are various e-
newsletters, interactive on-line instant messaging and webcasts. The webcasts are one-hour in length,
and also count for recertification credit. What could be better than that – at your fingertips, when you
need the information, and pre-approved credit. SHRM offers more than 100 archived webcasts on a wide
variety of topics. If you haven’t done so lately, spend a few minutes discovering or refreshing on the
wealth of resources available to you as a member of SHRM.
Your local chapter is a valuable network of resources as well. Comprised of HR Professionals whose
combined knowledge and experiences equals hundreds of years and a wide spectrum of industries! Get
to know your colleagues, share your knowledge and help a peer. Help will be there when you need it
too. We all have much to offer one another. And now, with spring and new beginnings in the air, it is a
very good time to start.
While everyone else is downsizing, we are looking to expand. This is your
opportunity to spread the word about the extra value that comes from
membership in SWHRMA.
With no additional cost to all SHRM members, by simply designating our
chapter as their “Primary Chapter”, these members can enjoy discounts to
all the functions that are put on each year at our own Southwest Washing-
ton Chapter.
SWRHMA is Proud to Introduce the
‘09’ Membership Drive
Contest
Southwest Washington Human Resource Management Association
Starting on March 1 and continuing on throughout the year we will have a
contest monthly.
Anyone who signs up:
3 new members in one month gets a $50 Barnes and Noble gift card.
2 new members in one month gets a $25 Barnes and Noble or Starbucks
gift card.
1 new member in one month gets one free SWHRMA luncheon
These prizes will be given away monthly at the following month’s luncheon
or simply mailed to your address.
But That’s Not All!
Everyone who earns a gift card will be entered in the Grand Prize Drawing.
We will be announcing the Grand Prize winner at the December Meeting.
Drum Roll……………………………………………….!!!
The Grand Prize is a three nights stay for two at the
Empress in Victoria BC.
Please remember that SWHRMA is a 100% chapter therefore every member must be a member of
SHRM
Less than two months in to 2009 and already big changes for HR…..
Well, we knew that 2009 was going to be a busy year for HR Professionals. While we still grapple with un-
derstanding changes made to FMLA and what implications the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act will pose to our
businesses, the February 17th passing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (aka “the
federal stimulus package”) gives us HR Professionals yet one more thing to stay on top of. The ARRA in-
cludes a COBRA provision that will require immediate action by most employers.
In a nutshell, the COBRA provision provides for a 65% subsidy of COBRA premiums for employees involun-
tarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009, and their covered dependents. Em-
ployers are required to cover the 65% subsidy and then take a credit for it against their federal payroll
taxes. Nearly all employers with group health plans will need to comply with the new law, which will require
new notifications to former eligible employees and their dependents and temporary modifications to future
COBRA election notices.
What should you do now?
Contact your COBRA administrator or legal counsel to ensure that COBRA election notices are updated.
Determine a procedure for notifying eligible employees (and dependents) who were terminated on Sep-
tember 1, 2008 or later.
Ensure your Finance department is aware of the changes and how that will affect federal payroll taxes.
Find out more about the changes and what you should do by visiting the following link on SHRM’s web-
site:
http://www.shrm.org/hrdisciplines/benefits/Articles/Pages/COBRAsteps.aspx
Get Involved!
We’ve already seen a few key legislative changes this year, and surely this is just the beginning. It is in-
creasingly important for HR professionals to get involved and let their voice be heard before new laws are
passed. Earlier this month, SHRM sent out an online HR Advocacy Questionnaire to members as a way to
identify public policy interests and provide ways to become involved in SHRM’s advocacy efforts. Your in-
volvement and feedback helps SHRM prepare for public policy debates. If you have not done so already,
please take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire (est. 5 minutes) located at:
http://capwiz.com/legal-workforce/mlm/signup/?ignore_cookie=1 Deadline February 28, 2009
Also, be sure and visit the Advocacy link at www.shrm.org to find out other ways you can get involved.
PHR/SPHR Spring Study Group
Preparation course for the HRCI exam. February 12th—April 30th, 2009
SWHRMA Study Group Update
The SWHRMA PHR/SPHR Spring Study Group is underway. We had an overwhelming response from those inter-
ested in attending the study group and the class sold out!
The course is to aid HR professionals in preparation for the PHR or SPHR certification exams. We have 48 enrolled
in the class with 15 preparing for the PHR exam, 11 preparing for the SPHR exam, 11 for PHR-Student and 11 still
deciding.
The class is every Thursday, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. February 12th – April 30th. Sessions/Topics include:
An orientation with pre-assessment test, facilitated by Lisa Hobbs, SPHR, - OMSI, Portland, OR
Strategic Management facilitated by Rick Howell, SPHR, GPHR, CCP, - Longfibre, Longview, WA
Workforce Planning & Employment facilitated by John Kreutzer, Attorney - Bullivant/Houser P.C., Portland,
OR
Human Resource Development –Training, facilitated by Ann Nordquist, SPHR, - Boyds Coffee, Portland, OR
Human Resource Development –Performance Management, facilitated by Julie McCord, SPHR, - Xenium,
Portland, OR
Total Rewards – Benefits, facilitated by Wendy Henderson, PHR, CPP - The Management Group – Vancou-
ver, WA
Total Rewards – Compensation, facilitated by Mary Hood, SPHR, CCP - Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus
and Mary, Marylhurst, OR
Employee & Labor Relations, facilitated by Deb Sternberg, SPHR, CLRP – Boeing, Portland, OR
Risk Management, facilitated by Ann Nordquist, SPHR, - Boyds Coffee, Portland, OR
We will be conducting another study group session beginning in August. Check the SWHRMA website in
the upcoming months for more information.
On behalf of the SWHRMA Professional Development/Certification Team, I would like to thank Sharp Laboratories of
America for their graciousness and hospitality in allowing us to hold the study group classes at their facility.
For questions regarding The SWHRMA PHR/SPHR Study Group, please contact Your SWHRMA Professional Develop-
ment/Certification Team: Sheryl Johnson, Co-Chair sjohnson@sharplabs.com; Connie Thompson, Co-Chair, Con-
nie.Thompson@columbiacardiology.com; Maria Coley, Committee Volunteer Coley.Maria@con-way.com or Pam Noll,
Committee Volunteer PamNoll@msn.com
nities
HR Car eer Oppor tu
z
If you are searching for human resource employment opportunities, or your company needs to fill a human
resource position, you can go to the SWHRMA web site at www.swhrma.org, and click on “HR Careers”. This
links directly into the Portland Human Resource Management Association and Society for Human Resource
Management Association Job Banks. While there is no charge to an individual posting their resume, there is a
small charge to businesses posting openings to these Job Banks.
SWHRMA now has the capability to post HR related job openings on our website for free!
Does your company have a job opening for an individual in Human Resources? If so, please see the tab, “Job
Posting” on the SWHRMA website for more information.
z
Host a SWHRMA luncheon, conference or networking
event to promote your HR related service or business!
For More Information Contact:
Leah Cox
(360) 576-4223
Leah.Cox@adaliscorp.com
WORKFORCE READINESS
Professional Volunteer
Opportunities
Clark County Skills Center - Legal/Medical Office Applications
Mock Interview Day
Clark County Skills Center is hosting a mock interview day for Wednesday, March 11, 2009 for their Legal/
Medical Office Applications program students.
The center is in need of HR volunteers to be interviewers for the event. It will start at 8:30 AM and con-
clude at 1:15 PM. There will be a small break in our restaurant program in between the two sessions for a
brunch.
Please contact Leslie Hinton at the Skills Center to volunteer at 360.604-1001 x2182 or
lhinton@egreen.wednet.edu.
NW Youth Career Expo:
WORKFORCE READINESS
Volunteers Wanted
The 2009 NW Youth Career Expo is just a couple months For questions, assistance in advertising local
away and we need your help! Youth Workforce Readiness programs contact:
The event usually draws about 5,000 students from 8th
grade to 12th grade (mostly juniors & seniors) from all David Konz, PHR
over Oregon & Washington. The students get a chance
to meet with employers in the community, participate in SWHRMA’s Workforce Readiness Director
mock interviews and talk about career opportuni-
ties. Colleges and trade schools also attend.
david.konz@tidewater.com or
360.693.1491 x315
SWHRMA members have graciously volunteered in past
events for the mock Interview portion. This is a great
opportunity to give back to the youth in our area!
The event will be May 7, 2009 from 9:00 AM to
2:00 PM at the Oregon Convention Center.
Please e-mail Gail Muller, Volunteer Coordinator, at
gail@staff4u.com to sign up and be a mock interviewer.
More information about the event can be found at
www.nwyouthcareersexpo.org.
SHRM WA State Council &
Snohomish County HR Association
Are Proud to Present
Bruce Tulgan
Nationally known Consultant, Speaker
and Expert on Intergenerational Differences in the Workplace
ONE DAY ONLY - Thursday, March 12, 2009
~In the Auditorium at the Seattle Art Museum~
Two Sessions Offered
Morning Session: 9:00 am – 12:30 pm – geared toward managers and
supervisors: Not Everyone Gets a Trophy and It’s OK to Be the
Boss (see detailed session descriptions below)
Afternoon Session: 1:30 – 3:00 pm – geared toward employees: Mixing
Bruce Tulgan Four Generations (how to get along despite our generational differ-
ences)
Bruce Tulgan is an advisor to busi-
ness leaders all over the world and a Cost: $25 per session (each paid attendee will receive a copy of one of
sought-after speaker and seminar Bruce’s books)
leader. He is the founder of Rain-
maker-Thinking, Inc., a management
training firm. Bruce is the author of
the classic Managing Generation X as Registration is limited to 280 people per session and is on a first-come,
well as Winning the Talent Wars, It’s first-served basis. To register go to http://snohomishcounty.shrm.org.
Okay to Be the Boss and now Not
Everyone Gets a Trophy: How to
Manage Generation Y. He has also
written for the New York Times, USA Note: These sessions are co-sponsored by Media Partners, a Seattle
Today, Harvard Business Review,
and Human Resources. For more
based training company. All sessions will be videotaped so all attendees
information about Bruce Tulgan and are required to sign a release authorizing their possible appearance in the
Rainmaker-Thinking, or to watch final tapes.
short videos of Bruce’s presentations,
visit his website at
www.rainmakerthinking.com.
2009 Board Members
Ann Nordquist, SPHR Becky Whitten, SPHR
President Secretary
Boyd Coffee Company Tidland Corporation
(503) 674-0713 / Ann.Nordquist@boyds.com (360) 834-2345 x445 / bwhitten@tidland.com
Carrie Cofer, SPHR Krista Holland
President Elect/Foundation/Diversity Advocate Website Director
Columbia Machine, Inc. Riverview Community Bank
(360) 649-1501 / carcof@colmac.com (360) 514-5103 / kholland@riverviewbank.com
Angie Sperandio-Hart Julie McCord, SPHR
College Relations Director Membership Director
(503) 241-6486 / asperandiohart@yahoo.com Xenium
(360) 695-1013 / Julie.McCord@XeniumHR.com
Patti Murphy
Legislative Director Carol Zaharko, SPHR
Walsh Construction Co. Programs Co-Chair
(503) 853-8584 / pmurphy@walshconstructionco.com G.Loomis
(360) 225-6516 x263 / czaharko@gloomis.com
Sheryl Johnson, SPHR
Professional Development/Certification Co-Chair Jennifer Burris, PHR
Sharp Laboratories Programs Co-Chair
(360) 817-8406 / sjohnson@sharplabs.com PML Microbiologicals
(503) 570-2500 x189 / jburris@pmlmicro.com
Diana Shaw
Treasurer Lisa Hobbs, SPHR
HR Consultant Past President
(360) 256-7149 / dseh@pacifier.com OMSI
(503) 797-4667 / lhobbs@omsi.edu
David Konz
Workforce Readiness Wendy Henderson, CPP, PHR
Tidewater Barge Lines Communications Director
(360) 693-1491 / david.konz@tidewater.com The Management Group, Inc.
(360) 397-0332 / whenderson@TMGnorthwest.com
Non-Board Members Volunteers
Volunteer Opportunities College Affiliation Contact List
Troy Potter
Student Chapter President
Are you interested in learning more
Washington State University—Vancouver
about SWHRMA?
(360) 852-0540 / tagep0088@yahoo.com
Are you interested in a specific board
role and would like to know more?
Get Involved! You can! Committee Volunteers
Now it’s easier than ever! Cerise Jolliver, PHR
Contact any board member Membership Coordinator
for volunteer opportunities Co-Chair a board position to (360) 750-4905 / cerisej@pacifier.com
or questions! learn more!
Marianne Jones
Membership Coordinator
(360) 735-5023 / mpjones@esd.wa.gov
Members are welcome to attend the monthly
board meetings held at The Management
Group Inc on the first Thursday of every Maria A. Coley
month. Contact Wendy Henderson / Com- Professional Development/Certification
munications Director, for more information! (503) 450-3221 / coley.maria@conway.com
Brenda Wallace
Event Registration
(360) 573-2000 / registerswhrma@yahoo.com
Pam Noll
Professional Development/Certification
Pam.Noll@msn.com
P.O. Box 871285
Vancouver, WA 98687
Creator and Editor of this newsletter is presented by:
Wendy Henderson, CPP, PHR / HR Generalist &
Communications Director for SWHRMA
