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> Business to Business > Nightmares > Human Resource Chapter Receives Distinguished Award
Human Resource Chapter Receives Distinguished Award
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Chapter's mission gets recognition
By Patricia Guenette
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in Alexandria, VA has awarded the Superior Merit Chapter designation to the Human Resource Management Association of Western New England ( HRMAWNE) for its scope of work in perpetuating and supporting the mission of the organization in 2007.
The Society for Human Resource Management is the world's largest association devoted to human resource management. The Society serves the needs of HR professionals and advances the interests of the HR profession. Founded in 1948, SHRM has more than 225,000 members in over 130 countries, and more than 575 affiliated chapters. "This recognition demonstrates both the leadership and the successful partnership the chapter has with SHRM to serve the networking and professional development needs of human resource professionals and to the advancement of the human resources profession" noted Pamela J. Green, SPHR, Chief Membership Officer for SHRM.
The HRMAWNE Chapter, founded in 1945, originally known as the Industrial Relations Association, has been a progressive organization whose purpose is to:
promote professional relationships; encourage and facilitate operating effectiveness of human resource professionals;
bring to members a greater understanding of human resource issues;
improve standards of performance in our profession; and
provide a means for exchanging ideas and discussing problems and solutions common to human resources administration.
This past year, the chapter served over 130 members; the chapter activities offered nine program meetings focused on topics that met the ever-changing needs of the general membership. The topics ranged from Succession Planning, Social Security Ins and Outs, Workplace Violence, Diversity, Unemployment, Workers Compensation, 10 HR Challenges that Should Keep You Up All Night, Talent Management, and Massachusetts Health Care Reform.
Currently, the chapter is planning for another program year. The topics will include: Legal Updates, Leadership, What's New at MCAD, New/Pending MA Legislation, Health and Wellness, Diversity, and Workforce Readiness with a special event planned at the end of the program year. We also feature a new "Vendor of the Month" at each meeting to provide information and an update on products and services pertinent to HR administrators. This is a great example of an added value and benefit to our membership.
Our membership is diverse. Company sectors include, but are not limited to: financial services, insurance, educational institutions, manufacturing, consultants, health care, etc. The majority of companies range from small employers to large employers located in the Western MA and Connecticut regions. There is no restriction on membership companies relative to company size. It should be noted that small businesses gain a great deal of education, networking and resources to help them in their specific roles which can be very beneficial with limited resources.
The Superior Merit Award is very well deserved as the Board continually strives to meet the mission of our chapter which is to develop the professional knowledge, competence and effectiveness of its membership by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and best practices. We do this by being responsive to evolving workplace and societal trends and by partnering with the local business, economic and educational communities. Just last year, we successfully conducted workshops for student chapters that focused on resume writing, mock interviews, interviewing skills, and effective networking. This partnership fostered continual growth and development for students in preparing them to enter the workplace but it also resulted in some effective mentorship opportunities for students and our members alike.
Membership is open to persons responsibly engaged in human resource/personnel work for a member organization of the HRMAWNE. Consultants and other third parties, such as insurance brokers, are also eligible for limited membership status. If you are interested in learning more about membership, please check out our website at: http://hrmawne.shrm.org.
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Patricia Guenette
is the current president of HRMAWNE. She is also the Vice President of Human Resources at Square One in Springfield, MA. She can be contacted at (413) 858-3115 or pguenette@startatsquareone.org. |
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