What will the new membership fee be?

What does my “all inclusive” membership grant me?

What is a Professional Development Summit (PDS)?

When is this change going to be effective?

Can I renew by the end of 2015 to get another year at only $55?

How should I explain to my employer that my dues are going up?

Do I still need to register for events?

Why did you make this change?

Why is the Human Capital Conference an additional charge?



What will the new membership fee be?
The new fee will be $75 for members who are both local and national members and $100 for members who are local only members

What does my “all inclusive” membership grant me?

• Four ½ day Professional Development Summits (PDS)
• September Summit
• Human Capital Conference in May at the discounted Member Rate (there is a registration fee for this event)
• Two Networking events a year
• Two GMA SHRM Revealed events a year
• Monthly HR Resource Network Group meetings

 
What is a Professional Development Summit (PDS)
Our new educational programs will be called Professional Development Summits (PDS) and will be taking the place of our current summits and toolboxes. These PDS will be free and included in the new all-inclusive membership fee. Four times a year we will be offering two educational sessions (PDS) each day. This equals to eight educational programs that will be offered in four days. They will start at 8am and the sessions will run one right after the other with a short break in between. You can attend either one (first or second) or attend both! You will be receiving just as much education and only be out of the office four mornings of the year instead of eight. We will continue to offer quality programming and recertification credits (both HRCI and SHRM) for all of these events. 

 
When is this change going to be effective?
New membership rates will begin January 1st, 2016 and you will notice the dues increase in your renewal month.  For example, if your membership renews in October 2016, and you are a local and national member, your dues renewal notice will show that $75 is due to renew your membership starting in October.


Can I renew by the end of 2015 to get another year at only $55?
Unfortunately, no.  Your dues are applied towards your membership based on your renewal month, not when you choose to renew.  The good news is, you will receive the same programs, networking and GMA SHRM revealed events for free until you renew at the new rate.


How should I explain to my employer that my dues are changing?
Our goal when changing the membership structure was to make it easier on our members – you.  We’re hoping that it will be easier for you to ask for one check for $75 rather than a dues check for $55, then needing to ask to be reimbursed for summits and/or toolboxes throughout the year.  Those are now all included in the annual, $75 fee.


Do I still need to register for events?
Yes.  This is still a very important piece of our programming success. In order to have an accurate headcount, available food and beverage and name-tags, it will be important that you register for the event in advance. Our Chapter Administration also verifies registration and attendance for information on recertification credits. If you do not register for an event, they cannot confirm that you were at the event and could not provide the necessary verification. So, please continue to register for all events.  


Why did you make this change?
Our GMA SHRM Board was looking for a way to continue to offer high quality programming to our members, while understanding that time away from the office is a premium. Also, with the new SHRM certification structure, the need for differentiating between SHRM–CP and SHRM – SCP recertification credits were no longer needed. Although we will continue to provide strategic credits for those members who choose to continue their SPHR certification.  It has been several years since we have increased in our dues and even now, the dues increase allows you to attend all of the programs, except the Human Capital Conference, free of charge.  By offering four ½ day events a year, you can be away from the office just 4 times instead of 8 and get the same amount of programming.  Our intent is to make your time away easier to plan and attending events easier to fit into your schedule.


Why is the Human Capital Conference an additional charge?
The Human Capital Conference (HCC) is a full-day conference event held each year in May at the Alliant Energy Center.  The event features 2 keynote sessions, 3 groups of 3 breakout sessions, breakfast and lunch and a networking reception at the end of the day.  We invest even more in our speakers for this event and do have to charge a bit more to cover the additional speaker and venue costs.