July 2019 

HR InTouch

The Monthly Newsletter of the Greater Madison Area SHRM

In This Edition

President's Message

By Tammy Wacek, SHRM-CP, PHR
 

Government Affairs & Legal Updates


The Dangers of Destroying Documents Too Soon

Professional Development


New Policy Changes to SHRM Recertification!

College Relations Committee Celebrates Mentors and Students​
 

Compensation and Benefits


GMA SHRM Compensation Survey –  Participation Still Available to Save 50%!

 

Workforce Readiness


Diversity Workforce Investment at UW Health!

Alternatives to COBRA Coverage 

 

GMA SHRM Media Relations

Join Our Team!

Newsletter Updates


GMA SHRM News & Upcoming Events


Human Capital Conference Recap

GMA SHRM at The Duck Pond July 25th!

July HR Advice Network Roundtables

August 13 Professional Development Summit
- Session Focus:  Strategic Vision for HR

 

GMA SHRM Member News


Spotlight: Retention & Recruitment

Welcome New Members!

Movin' Up

In Transition

 


 

 

President's Message

GMA SHRM
2019 Corporate Partners

Platinum Level

Boardman & Clark Law Firm
Hausmann-Johnson Insurance Group
The Payroll Company
The QTI Group
UW Credit Union
UW School of Business - CPED

Gold Level

Career Momentum
Godfrey & Kahn
Group Health Cooperative of
South Central Wisconsin


Silver Level

Cottingham Butler
M3 Insurance
Reynolds Transfer
Summit Credit Union

Bronze Level

The Alliance
Edgewood College
Littler Mendelson
Madison Capitols Hockey
MRA
Restaino & Associates Relocation

Thank you!


 

Greetings GMA SHRM Members –

July is the beginning of our new GMA SHRM Board year, which runs from July 1st through June 30th. I would like to congratulate and welcome our new Board members!
 
Director of Volunteer Engagement: Lindsay Stilson
Director of Retention & Recruitment: Beth Davison
Director of Professional Development Summits: Jessica Zych
Director of Government Affairs: Hilary Stone
Director of Media Relations: Amanda Tetzlaff
 
Thank you to all our Board members for everything you do to support our Chapter! It would not be possible without your leadership.
 
If you are considering attending our HR Advice Network Roundtable for the South Central area, please note there will not be a meeting held in July due to the holiday. We also have a location change to NeuGen at 45 Nob Hill Road, Madison,  beginning in August. I encourage you to check out one of these informal discussions that address HR challenges.  They are held monthly at East, South Central and West locations. 
 
Please join us for our next family friendly event the evening of July 25th at the Madison Mallard’s game! We welcome members and their families to join us for tailgating before the game, where  food and soda will be provided (feel free to bring your own adult beverages).  Tickets for the game will be purchased at the gate that day.  For registration and full details, the event information is located here.
 
Please feel free to reach out to me with questions or feedback at tammy.wacek@wpsic.com.



Take Care,

Tammy Wacek, SHRM-CP, PHR
President
GMA SHRM

Click here to view the full GMA SHRM Board of Directors

 

Government Affairs & Legal Updates

The Dangers of Destroying Documents Too Soon

 

Submitted by Brian P. Goodman, Attorney with Boardman Clark and GMA SHRM VP of Programming

An employer that destroyed an employee’s personnel record within days of firing her will be hard-pressed to prevail in a former employee’s discrimination lawsuit. In a case out of the federal district court of Montana, Webster v. Psychiatric Medical Care, LLC , the company hired an employee only to terminate her two weeks after starting. It alleged her firing was due to performance issues. The company claimed that it did not foresee litigation, given the short period of time she was employed, and shredded the employee’s personnel record, including documents related to her training performance. The employee sued for disability discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and requested her performance and training records in order to show the she was performing satisfactorily. However, the records were already destroyed.
 
ADA regulations require that “[in] the case of involuntary termination of an employee, the personnel records of the individual terminated shall be kept for a period of one year from the date of termination.” Because the company had a duty to preserve the employee’s personnel records, the court held the company accountable for its failure to do so.  The court held that the appropriate remedy would be to issue an adverse instruction to the jury allowing the jury to infer that the destroyed documents would have shown that the employee’s job and training performance had been satisfactory. Additionally, the court explained that the jury may use the destruction of the documents as evidence suggesting her termination was pretext for discrimination. These court actions will make it challenging for the company to win the case, even if it didn’t discriminate against the employee.
 
This case should serve as a reminder to employers, it is essential to keep all personnel records for the duration established by law. In general, this requires private sector employers to retain an employee’s personnel records for at least one year after an involuntary termination, or at least two years for public sector employers (or longer based on the public employer’s adopted records retention policy). However, employers must be aware that other laws establish longer retention periods for certain documents. For example, payroll records should be kept for three years, and I-9 forms should be kept for three years after hiring or 1 year after termination, whichever is later. Employers should be reminded to update their records retention policies to ensure that they comply with the law. Additionally, employers should take this opportunity to review their personnel records storages practices and use electronic backups as appropriate. 

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Professional Development

New Policy Changes to SHRM Recertification!

Article Originally Published by SHRM

SHRM is announcing several policy changes to SHRM Recertification, which will become effective August 1, 2019. We believe these changes will improve the member’s experience in maintaining their credential. Below please see full details on each change, benefits of the change and frequently asked questions (FAQs):

1. Earn and Record PDCs During the Grace Period
 
Effective August 1, 2019, SHRM Certification holders who are recertifying can earn PDCs for activities they participate in through their grace period (the 60-day period between their certification end date and expiration date). This is a change from the current policy which does not allow PDCs to be earned during the grace period.
 
Benefit Of This Change
SHRM Certification holders who recertify will be provided with more time to add activities to their account.
Key Points
  • Any PDCs earned during this period may be applied toward the recertification requirement.
  • There is no maximum on the amount of PDCs one can earn during this period except in the areas with PDC limits (i.e., Advance Your Organization category - 20 PDC limit and the Advance Your Profession category - 30 PDC limit.)
  • Since this activity is taking place after the regular recertification cycle, individuals taking advantage of this benefit will need to remit a $50 late fee (in addition to the recertification application) to recertify.
FAQs:
  • Do I have to do anything to take advantage of this benefit? All you need to do is continue earning your PDCs and adding them to your account until you have 60 or more on record. Once that is done submit your application, pay the required fee and you’re done!
  • Is there a cost involved? Yes, in some cases there may be a cost for learning activities, and in addition to the recertification application fee, a $50 late fee charge will be accessed for taking advantage of this benefit. 
 
2. Immediately Begin Earning PDCs for New Recertification Cycle When You Recertify Early
 
Effective August 1, 2019, the new recertification cycle for SHRM Certification holders who recertify will begin the NEXT DAY after they recertify. Their end date will continue to be on the last day of their birth month. This is a change from the current policy that sets the new start date on the day AFTER the previous cycle’s end date.   
Benefit of This Change
  • Allows individuals to begin earning PDCs in their new cycle right away (this is particularly advantageous to those who recertify early).
  • Those recertifying early may have more than 3 years in their new cycle. Note: Conversely, those recertifying late may have less than 3-years in their new cycle.
Example
If a certification holder’s recertification end date is July 31, 2019 (last day of their birth month) and they recertify on May 15, 2019 their new cycle will begin on May 16, 2019, 12:00 AM and their end date will be July 31, 2022 (the last day of their birth month 3 years later).

FAQs:
  • The individual’s end date will not change.
  • The new cycle date will automatically update in the individuals account.
 
3. Carry Over a Maximum of 20 Credits to the Next Recertification Cycle
Effective August 1, 2019, SHRM Certification holders who recertify with more than 60 credits in their account will be able to carry over up to 20 credits to their new cycle. This is a change from the current policy which does not allow carry-over credits.
Benefit of This Change
  • Allows SHRM Certification holders who earn more than 60 credits the opportunity to get credit for up to 20 excess credits in their new cycle.
Key Points:
  • Individuals must have completed the recertification process (achieved recertification) with more than 60 credits in their account to carry over the excess. Individuals cannot carry over more than they have earned.
  • Maximum carry over is 20 credits per recertification cycle.
  • Carry-over credits will be autoloaded into the account and will appear as an activity in the Advance Your Education category.
  • Auto upload will appear in the account at the end of the month following recertification.
FAQ’s
  • What if I wanted to add PDCs to my previous cycle? PDCs cannot be added to a previous cycle.
  • Are there certain types of PDCs that are eligible? All PDCs are created equal. All PDCs are eligible.
  • Will this new policy be applied retroactively, for example, I recertified in 2018 with 75 PDCs in my account, can I get credit for the 15 excess PDCs in my new cycle? We’re looking into it and if it changes we will notify all certificants.

Additional questions? Email SHRM Cert News at SHRMCertNews@shrm.org.

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College Relations Committee Celebrates Mentors and Students

Submitted by Tyler Wood, Talent Acquisition Specialist & Recruitment Manager and GMA SHRM Director of College Relations Committee

In June, GMA SHRM held an event to recognize and celebrate GMA SHRM mentors and students. This was an inaugural year for a new mentor pilot program, led and hosted by the GMA SHRM College Relations Committee. Here, mentors and aspiring HR individuals shared learnings and ideas from the program, and also provided guidance on enhancements to the program. This partnership will strengthen the relationships with our SHRM campus partners and the HR profession.
 
If you’d like to learn more about mentorship or contributing to our student members, contact Tyler Wood at twood@uwcu.org.






Compensation and Benefits

GMA SHRM Compensation Survey – A Great Resource from GMA SHRM, Don’t Miss It!

 
Participation Still Open But Closing Soon!
How to participate:
  • Check for an email from 6/14/2019 with an email subject of "2019 GMA SHRM Survey Extention" from Thomas_Cummins@ajg.com.   This email will include the participation instructions to respond to the survey.
     
  • Don't have access to the email?   The survey staff at Gallagher Surveys are available to respond to your questions. Please contact Thomas Cummins at Thomas_Cummins@ajg.com

 

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Workforce Readiness

Get Involved; Dane County Regional Fair & Workforce Readiness Committee Partnership

Submitted by Jennifer Brikowski, Director of Workforce Readiness Committee, GMA SHRM

The Dane County Regional Job Fair is fast approaching!  The Workforce Readiness Committee is a partner in this event.  As in the past we are looking for volunteers to join us in an assistance capacity before the job fair starts.  The job fair will be held at the Alliant Energy Center on Wednesday, August 28, 2019.  The doors open at 10am for the job seekers in our job seeker preparation area.  They can start meeting with employers at 11am. 
 
As HR professionals this is a fun and engaging way to demonstrate your skills in resume and interviewing for those less experienced.  How rewarding to have an opportunity to affect a resume for a jobseeker before it is submitted or review some basic interview questions! In this competitive recruiting and retention climate it is also an ideal set up to have the first conversation with a job seeker about what your company might be looking for in a candidate. We are looking for volunteers to come in for one or two hours – between 10am to 12pm. You would be working with the job seekers one on one.

If you have time and are willing to spend an hour or two helping out, please reach out via email to jennifer.brikowski@dwd.wisconsin.gov
 
If your company would like a booth at the job fair, please click here for information and registration.


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Alternatives to COBRA Coverage 

Submitted by Jennifer Brikowski, GMA SHRM Director of Workforce Readiness Director, by Colleen Harryman, licensed federally-certified health insurance Navigator with Covering Wisconsin

When assisting employees who are leaving the workplace, one of the biggest concerns is health insurance coverage. While COBRA coverage does offer certain advantages, the monthly premium may be cost prohibitive. There are other options for employees to consider that may be more affordable.
 
Marketplace plans are often cheaper than COBRA.
 
Employees who lose employer sponsored coverage are eligible for plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace (Marketplace,) also known as Healthcare.gov. The Marketplace website address is: https://www.healthcare.gov/.
 
Plan premiums on the Marketplace tend to be significantly cheaper than the premiums for COBRA.
 
Many employees will also be eligible for financial help that will lower the cost of monthly premiums based on their household income. Some people will also qualify for lower out-of-pockets costs when they use their health insurance.
 
Marketplace plans are considered full coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and will cover the required essential health benefits under law.
 
Additional assistance for some Dane County residents.
 
Some consumers in Dane County with a lower household income may be eligible to receive additional financial help to lower their monthly cost for insurance though the Health Connect program of the United Way. You can find more information on their website: https://www.unitedwaydanecounty.org/get-help/healthconnect/.
 
When can a person enroll in the Marketplace?
 
The employee’s loss of employer-sponsored insurance coverage allows for a 60-day special enrollment period (SEP) in the Marketplace. The special enrollment period begins the day the employer sponsored coverage ends.  The employee may also enroll in the Marketplace 60 days prior to the end date for the employer-sponsored coverage. This early enrollment can prevent a lapse in coverage.
 
If the employee misses this 60-day SEP window, they will need to wait until the regular open enrollment period. Open enrollment for the federal health insurance Marketplace is November 1 through December 15 with coverage beginning January 1.
 
Cancelling COBRA coverage does NOT result in a Marketplace SEP.
 
Please note that if an employee chooses COBRA, cancelling that COBRA coverage early will not result in a special enrollment period for the Marketplace. If an employee still wishes to cancel their COBRA coverage early, they should meet with a health insurance agent or broker to see if they qualify for a short-term plan. Short-term plans do not offer the same protections as Marketplace plans and it is very important to read the “fine print” to understand what is and is not covered.
 
 
Navigators can assist with Marketplace enrollment.
 
Health insurance Navigators provide free, unbiased help to any consumer to enroll, understand, and use health insurance coverage. Navigators are licensed by the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and certified by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services. The Navigator’s role is to help the consumer understand how to use their healthcare and to help the consumer decide what plans works best for both their budget and health care needs. Navigators are not contracted by insurers and will not direct consumers to choose one plan over another.
 
But wait, there’s more!
 
Navigators may assist consumers with the filing of complaints and appeals, too. Navigators can also share information about additional resources such as prescription discount plans, social service programs, Medicaid, Medicare, etc. Best of all, Navigator services are free.
 
How do I find a Navigator in my area?
 
For Madison, Milwaukee and surrounding communities, contact Covering Wisconsin. The Madison telephone number for Covering Wisconsin is (608) 261-1455. The Milwaukee office phone number for Covering Wisconsin is (414) 270-4677.  An online scheduling feature is available on the Covering Wisconsin website: https://www.coveringwi.org/enroll.
 
In Northwestern Wisconsin, Navigator assistance is available through the Northwest Wisconsin Concentrated Employment Program (Northwest CEP.)  The website is https://nwcep.org/affordable-healthcare/. The telephone numbers are listed below:
 
Ashland CEP: 715-682-9141
Superior CEP: 715-392-6127
Spooner CEP: 715-635-2175
Park Falls CEP: 715-762-2477
 
Enrollment assistance in other areas
United Way operators are a great resource for finding many forms of assistance. When seeking local enrollment help, dial 2-1-1 and tell the United Way operator the county in which you reside. 
Next time an employee needs affordable health insurance coverage, direct them to the nearest Navigator!


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GMA SHRM Media Relations

Come Join Our Team!

Submitted to Amanda Tetzlaff, Talent Acquisition Specialist at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation and GMA SHRM Director of Media Relations
 
Have you liked our page on Facebook?
 
Do you follow us on LinkedIn?
 
Do you read our monthly newsletter?
 
If you answered “yes” to any of these, then you know there is a LOT going on with GMA SHRM! Our committees are comprised of volunteers who put so much time into helping you get the most value possible out of your GMA SHRM membership.
 
The Media Relations Committee strives to make sure all members know what’s going on with all of the committees, the latest news in the HR world, professional development opportunities, networking opportunities, and ways to get involved and give back. This takes work! And we’re always looking for more volunteers to help us. From helping post on social media, to attending and taking photos at events, we have a variety of volunteer roles that provide lots of flexibility…AND FUN!
 
Interested in learning more? We’d love to share details! To get started, just send an email to: amanda.tetzlaff@fairwaymc.com.


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Newsletter Updates

July is the beginning of our new GMA SHRM Board year, which runs from July 1st through June 30th.
Congratulations to our new Newsletter Coordinator, Mary Moua!  Read her Bio below;

Professional Life: Mary currently works at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation as an Employee Engagement and Social Media Specialist. It will be 2 years in September and all together 5 years as an HR Professional.  Her role focuses on making sure employees are happy, enjoy what they do and where they work. “I enjoy every minute of it! It is critical to make sure our employees feel valued, especially when opportunities are all around us. It’s the employees who make the organization what it is. We need to appreciate that and not take them for granted.”

Personal Life: Born and raised in Sheboygan, WI as 4th oldest daughter of 8 siblings (5 sisters and 3 brothers). Live with my significant other of almost 10 years. We love to attend fun events, plays, comedy shows and traveling, especially road trips and simply exploring!


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GMA SHRM News & Upcoming Events

Human Capital Conference Photos

By Dana Denny, Director of HCC Committee

Another extremely successful 14th Annual GMA SHRM Human Capital Conference (HCC) was held on May 14, 2019 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI. Although conference speaker evaluation results have yet to be reviewed, overall attendee comments were extremely positive, especially regarding our modified conference format and keynote speaker, Dr. Rick Risgby. Dr. Rigsby’s enthusiastic message included how to keep your workforce engaged, methods of employer excellence, and modelling leadership in the face of adversity. The 2019 HCC followed a slightly different conference agenda, with Dr. Rigsby providing an inspiring morning Keynote followed up with a workshop which reinforced his powerful message.
 
Other 2019 HCC highlights included afternoon themed Breakout Sessions on recruitment, retention and compensation, as well as the extremely popular employment law update. The Network Reception and Prize Drawing which ended the day welcomed new friends and reacquainted for many years. Many thanks to the GMA SHRM HCC, social media committees, as well as our Conference donors and sponsors who dedicated their time to efforts to another extremely successful event!
 

 

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GMA SHRM at The Duck Pond!

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Location: Warner Park - The Duck Pond!
2930 N. Sherman Ave
Madison, WI

Join your friends and bring your family to a fun evening with the Madison Mallards!

GMA SHRM members and family will meet in the parking lot for complimentary brats, hot dogs, chips and soft drinks provided from 5:00-6:15.

Individual game tickets are available for purchase for the game.  Friends and family welcome!

More Information


July HR Advice Network Roundtables 

We have three roundtables held monthly at three different locations throughout the Madison area. The current meeting schedule is below.
 
*Please note, there is a location change for South Central to NeuGen, 45 Nob Hill Road , Madison, beginning in August. There will not be a discussion held in July due to the holiday.  

East
Herzing University  
5218 East Terrace Drive
South Central
Effective August, new location:
NeuGen, 45 Nob Hill Road
 
Previous location: The Alliance
5510 Nobel Drive, 2nd floor
 
West
Johnson Block & Co 
406 Science Drive
  • First Thursday of every month excluding December
    8:30am-10:00am  There will be no meeting on July 4th     
  • RSVP to Tracy Niesen Breunig – tniesenbreunig@weatrust.com
  • Max number of attendees: 25
  • Last Wednesday of every month, excluding December
  • 8:30am-10:00am        
  • RSVP to  Dawn Koopman – dmkoopman@hotmail.com
  • Max number of attendees: 25

Program Details...

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August 13, 2019 - GMA SHRM Professional Development Summit

Alliant Energy Center

Session Focus:  Strategic Vision for HR

Session 1:  Become the HR Strategic Partner Your Organization Needs

Session 2:  Your Personal MBA: Understanding Business Functions & Business Acumen




GMA SHRM Member News

Spotlight:  Retention & Recruitment

Submitted by Gene Sarmiento, LegalShield Independent Associate and GMA SHRM VP of Membership 
 
I am excited about another year with GMA SHRM.  We ended the year with Meet, Greet & Eat on June 27 at Unos Pizzeria and start the year with the GMA SHRM at the Duck Pond.  We hope to see you at this family friendly event whether it’s for a few minutes at the Tailgate or stay for the game.
 
The new year comes with new board members bringing great energy and ideas.  I want to welcome Beth Davison with American Family Insurance as our new Director of Retention and Recruitment and Lindsay Stilson with Therma-Stor as our new Director or Volunteer Engagement and look forward to the leadership they bring to their respective committees.  These committees get to plan fun events that foster membership relationship and engagement and always looking for new ideas.  If you would like to explore getting involved, we welcome you to have a conversation and find out more about the volunteer opportunities.



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Welcome New Members!

GMA SHRM welcomes the following members who joined our chapter in May 2019!

Sheila Ace   Dimension IV Madison, LLC
Kara Berry   UW Credit Union
Kyle Borgardt   Paylocity
Alyssa Brant   Smart Solutions, Inc.
Carol Ellis SHRM-SCP, SPHR McFarland State Bank
Kristine Fleming   SSM Health Dean Medical Group
Katie Grieves   Frank Beverage Group
Andrea Hogg   Shine United
Alexandria Jacobson   Wisconsin Youth Company
Brian Jones SHRM-CP American Family Insurance
Kolleen Kaul   Sanford Rose Associates of Madison
Linda Kuklinski   Wisconsin Aviation
Shelley McCoy   Enterprise Solutions Technology Group, Inc.
Beth Munz SPHR Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.
Emily O'Donnell SHRM-CP Festival Foods
Mary Beth Pagura   SSM Health
Madeline Philipps   Springs Window Fashions
Kelly Tourdot   ABC of Wisconsin
Rajeshwari Vaidyanathan   Latitude Corp.


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Movin' Up

Have you started with a new company? Has your organization recently promoted you to a new position? Or do you want to recognize a new person or promotion within your department? If so, we want to hear about it. Send us an e-mail, and we’ll publish your good news in the next HR InTouch!  
 

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In Transition

If you are a member who is in between jobs, or who is currently employed but seeking new positions or career paths, write us a brief description of your skill set, areas of expertise, what you’re looking for, etc. Send us an e-mail. We’ll publish your information in the next HR InTouch.

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HR InTouch Guidelines

Article Writing:

Do you have an interest in writing for the HR InTouch? We have an interest in learning more about your area of expertise!

Why should you volunteer? Top three reasons: 1) to share your knowledge and experiences to educate others; 2) to become more connected in the HR and Dane County communities; and 3) to contribute towards the advancement of GMA SHRM and the HR profession.

The first step is for you to choose a submission option: you can pre-submit an article to GMA SHRM at any time for us to use in any of the upcoming newsletters, you can sign up to write for a particular month, or we can put you on a list of people to contact in future months whenever we need articles.

Article length:

Because the HR InTouch is now in an online format, the size is flexible. The article should be engaging and hold readers’ attention. Include the core information in your article, and we will advise if it is too lengthy.

Solicitation:

GMA SHRM is conscious not to allow solicitation through the articles, in an effort to protect the interests of our partners and members. The nature of the article should be educational (i.e., what are the business advantages of having a product like yours) or informational. Otherwise, if you truly are interested in advertising through the HR InTouch, you can work with our Marketing Committee. As a rule of thumb for article writing, if the submission relates to a for-profit event, or specifically markets your company (vs. your industry), it is an advertisement, and should be purchased. If it is a not-for-profit event that your company is hosting, or an announcement (i.e., a SHRM member recently joined your company), it is an acceptable addition to the HR InTouch content. If you have any questions related to the appropriateness of your submission, please contact us.

If you have questions, or to submit an article, contact GMA SHRM at chapteradmin@gmashrm.org .

 

 Amended