Happy New Year!  I hope each of you had a chance to relax, take some time off work and enjoy the holiday season with friends and family.  It’s hard to believe 2017 is here and within GMA, the year is off to a busy start!
 
First, I want to take this opportunity to welcome all of our new 2017 Corporate Partners!  Thank you for supporting GMA SHRM through your sponsorship.  I know you will find great value in your sponsorship and we would not be as successful as we are without you, so thank you for your support.
The WISHRM Day on the Hill Event is fast approaching!  The networking portion is on January 17 at Inn on the Park and the Day on the Hill is on January 18 at the Park Hotel.  You will have a chance to meet with legislators, receive employment and legal updates and hear an analysis on the recent election.  To learn more about this event and register today, visit this site.
 
We also are holding our annual Strategic Planning Event on January 27.  If you are interested in learning more about GMA, what goes into our strategic plan and how we can better serve you, our members, please save the date and email me at melissa.chadwick@bakertilly.com for additional details.
 
Our first PDS of 2017 is on January 31 at the Alliant Energy Center.  This is a PDS not to miss – we will feature 2 speakers, who will speak on “14 Lifesaving Tips when Facing an Armed Intruder or Active Shooter in Your Company” and “Defending Your Reputation in the Wake of a Crisis”.  Register here to attend!
 
With January upon us, we also are officially rolling out our new Guest Grant Registration!  If you are considering joining GMA SHRM, have a bona fide connection to Human Resources and would like to apply for one of these Professional Grants, please complete the contact information on the form at this link.  We would love to have you join us! Thank you to Mike Johnson and the Membership Committee for creating this great opportunity for future members to check us out.
 
Finally, perhaps you have a New Year’s Resolution to get more involved in GMA SHRM and serve on a committee but aren’t sure where to start.  I encourage you to reach out to LeaAnn Rens, our Director of Volunteer Engagement to learn more.  Whether you have only one hour or many hours to give, we have a volunteer opportunity for you!
 
I hope everyone has a great start to 2017 and I look forward to seeing you at one of the many upcoming events.  If you have any questions on upcoming events or feedback to share, please reach out to me at melissa.chadwick@bakertilly.com.


Best Wishes,

Melissa Chadwick
President
GMA SHRM

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Why Should I Attend the Day on the Hill? A Testimonial

Submitted by: Tammy L. Wacek, WPS Health Insurance

On January 18^th, 2017, the Wisconsin Society for Human Resource Management Council is holding their Day on the Hill event. You might be asking yourself what is this event all about and why should you attend. This event provides a unique opportunity to meet your legislators and advocate on behalf of the HR profession. In addition, there are multiple speakers coming to discuss timely legislative updates topics.

This year will be my third time attending the event and I can tell you it is a very interesting and educational opportunity. If you are someone that has never met with your legislator, this event will allow you to gain insight into how to talk with your elected officials and the forum to do so in a way that is not intimidating. When you sign up for the event, a legislative meeting will be scheduled for you and you will be able to meet your legislators along with other attendees within your district. Training is also provided prior to your scheduled meeting so you have talking points and will feel prepared for your meeting. This is a great opportunity to become an advocate or continue your advocacy efforts! 
For more information about the event and to register, visit the website: http://www.wishrm.org/2017-Day-on-the-Hill

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GMA SHRM Professional Award

The Greater Madison Area Society for Human Resource Management (GMA SHRM) has established a professional awards program encouraging continuing education in the human resources field.

Award
The annual $1,000 award will be given to a GMA SHRM member to support his or her professional development.
Examples of covered eligible programs include:

• Attendance at a National/State SHRM conference
• Post-secondary degree in business or human resources related discipline
• Support of certification or re-certification (PHR, SPHR, GPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, CCP, CEBS, etc.)
• Certificate programs in business or human resources related discipline

Eligibility
Eligible applicants for the GMA SHRM Professional Awards Program must meet the following criteria:

• GMA SHRM Member
• Currently working in an HR related field
• Current GMA SHRM Board Members are not eligible
Professionals who receive 80-100% tuition reimbursement from their employer are not eligible to use this award for tuition reimbursement.

To Apply
To be considered for the professional award, applicants must email one (1) pdf file containing the following information to chapteradmin@gmashrm.org.  Do not use the body of the email for any required portions below.

• Brief one page purpose statement explaining how continuing education or professional certification will enhance your HR career
• Current resume
• List all volunteer activities, including SHRM and relevant organizations including all community activities in which you have participated without pay.  Note all special awards, honors, and offices held. If you have participated in a research project, please include that experience as well. 

Award Provisions
Award recipients will be selected by the Professional Awards Committee based on demonstration of leadership qualities and interest in the human resources field, GMA SHRM participation, and a dedication to the advancement of the HR field.
The award program is open NOW and all applications must be emailed in one (1) pdf file by ­­­­­­February 1^st, 2017 to be considered. Application materials should be sent to chapteradmin@gmashrm.org.
The award will be paid on a reimbursement basis, pending a one-time submission of receipts for course work or program activity. Recipients must use monetary contributions within one year of receipt.

Additional Information
Questions regarding the professional award program should be directed to Jeff Westra.
The Greater Madison Area SHRM and its Professional Awards Committee reserve the right to alter or change this program. Any tax liability is the responsibility of the recipient.


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GMA SHRM Idea Exchange

Sometimes you just have that question…..you would really just like to ask an HR colleague quickly.  Perhaps it is limited to your field of work, or a specific situation.  Let GMA SHRM help! 
 
In response to a specific need, we are excited to launch the “Idea Exchange” as part of your membership in GMA SHRM!  The goal of the Idea Exchange is to provide a secure area for all GMA SHRM members to be able to start a dialogue and find someone to network with on a particular issue, and to share files in a more secure format - or at least share contact details so files could be shared.
 
This great new tool is available to all members of GMA SHRM.  You simply sign in on the GMA SHRM Home Page (click on Member Log In at the top) to access questions or to provide your response!”



Once you are logged in, click on ‘File Library’ at the top right, and Idea Exchange will appear on the drop down menu. 



Interested in joining the Social Media & Technology Committee? 
 
Simply want to learn more about what we do? 
 
Join our next committee meeting vie telephone conference!  November date TBD - contact Tia Gibson at tia.gibson@covance.com for teleconference dial in info!  
 

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Consider candidates who need a second chance in 2017

As you know and are probably experiencing, this is an extremely competitive market for recruiting and hiring. Companies everywhere are looking for different talent pools to fill their openings. One such source of candidates may be ex-offenders. While the overall Dane County unemployment rate as of November 2016 stood at 2.7% (not seasonally adjusted)[1], the rate of unemployment for ex-offenders can be 1.1 to 5.4 percentage points higher [2].
 
In October 2016, SHRM’s HR Magazine ran an extended feature on “Hiring Job Seekers with Criminal Histories.” [3] Every company and hiring manager needs weigh the potential risks and rewards for hiring a candidate with a less than pristine history. Most that do find that “the best approach to hiring individuals with criminal backgrounds is not so different from the one they use for everyone else: to evaluate each candidate on his or her merits.” [3] There are also incentives to hire ex-offenders – Work Opportunity Tax Credit and federal bonding programs  - and local organizations that are willing to help support ex-offenders re-entry – the Re-entry Program partnership among Madison-Area Urban Ministry (MUM), Dane County Human Services, and the Employment and Training Association (EATA). [4]
 
The benefits of giving an ex-offender a second chance can cause ripple effects through your organization and the community. Think about the feeling of being able to potentially positively impact an individual’s career path and the financial stability of their family. Think about how perceptions and unconscious (or conscious) biases towards someone with a criminal background may be challenged and changed. It’s a new year; consider giving an ex-offender a new start.
 
Do you have success stories or lessons learned regarding hiring ex-offenders? We’d love to hear them and feature them in an upcoming newsletter article. Contact Heather Kennedy, heather.kennedy@sparqcoach.com.
 
[1] http://worknet.wisconsin.gov/worknet_info/maps/pdf/uRatesCo.pdf
 
[2] https://www.chicagofed.org/~/media/publications/profitwise-news-and-views/2016/pnv-issue2-2016-employment-article2-pdf.pdf
 
[3] https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/1016/Pages/hiring-job-seekers-with-criminal-histories.aspx
 
[4] http://www.eata.org/Re-Entry_Program.html


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GMA SHRM Member News