Central IL HR Group E-Letter November 2008

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A Message from the President

 

Tammy's at her new position and looks forward to seeing you at the November meeting!

 

Phone: 217.819.3823

Email:  tammy.hoggatt@cparkdistrict.com

 

 

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RSVP For the November Meeting

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

11:30am to 1:00pm Hawthorn Suites

 

Topic: Labor Relations and the Employee Free Choice Act

 

Speaker: Bob Johnson, SPHR, Trainer and Consultant

 

This program has been approved for 1.0 (General ) recertification credit hours toward PHR, SPHR and GPHR recertification through the HR Certification Institute. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HR Certification Institute website at www.hrci.org.

 

RSVP: by noon on Friday, November 7, to Deanna Wright at 217-344-2144 or email dwright@clark-lindsey.com

 

MENU:

Meatloaf with brown gravy

Mashed Potatoes

Buttered Corn

Rolls & butter

Carrot Cake

 

Note:  No-shows will be billed $12 for their meals. As a courtesy, please turn your cell phones off.  Thank you!

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Announcements

 

2009 Dues Renewal forms:

Form is attached!  Contact Becky Krueger, Membership Chair, at (217) 255-5014 or e-mail beckyk@flex-n-gate.com

 

Workforce Readiness Committee Chair Needed:

CiHRG is looking for someone to chair the Workforce Readiness committee: 

The Workforce Readiness Chair serves as an appointed member of the chapter Board of Directors and is responsible for encouraging and coordinating chapter activities impacting the workforce; serving as workforce readiness/development liaison to local schools, businesses and the community; and collaborating with such entities to address local workforce issues through education and partnerships

 

Election of Officers:

Election of Officers for the CiHRG board will be held later this month.  Since Tammy Hoggatt assumed the role as president part way through the year, she will continue on as president for 2009 along with Stacey Cultra as president-elect.  Deanna Wright has been recommended to stay on for a second year as treasurer. Sue Key has served the maximum of two years as secretary and therefore Jenn Lance has been recommended to serve as secretary.  Elections for the treasurer and secretary positions will be held later next week and results will be announced in early December.

 

Wage Survey:

CiHRG members should expect to see the wage survey in the next few months.

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Legislative News

New Federal Law on Health Care Insurance,

President Bush Signs Michelle's Law

After passing Congress unanimously, President Bush signed H.R. 2851, "Michelle's Law," a new statute that allows dependent college students facing a serious illness to take a leave of absence and still preserve their health coverage. The bill was signed on October 9, 2008.

The law is named after Ms. Michelle Morse, who remained a full-time college student while battling colon cancer in order to remain eligible for health insurance under her parents' health care plan. Ms. Morse ultimately lost her battle with colon cancer, prompting her family to advocate for a change in the law.

Michelle's Law (P.L. 110-381), sponsored by Representative Paul Hodes (D-NH) and Senator John Sununu (R-NH), applies to health plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code. The law, which takes effect one year from enactment, provides that dependent students enrolled at post-secondary educational institutions suffering from a serious illness or injury that requires a leave of absence continue to receive health insurance for up to one year.

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Welcome New Members

 

Lori Kietzmann, Associate Member      

 

Jessica Mette, HR Generalist                  

 

Heidi Carmichael, Search Consultant     

 

Jackie Field, Matzner Chiropractic

 

Amy Acree, Human Resources Specialist, Cunningham Children's Home

 

Laura Czys, Recruitment Coordinator, Human Kinetics

 

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CiHRG Health and Productivity Committee Established

 

In a survey conducted after the half-day conference last April, results showed that 84% of the respondents were interested in opportunities to participate in a coalition or other community based activities to improve health care quality and value. In the September Board Meeting, the directors agreed that health and productivity was also a substantial initiative supported by SHRM and that a standing committee dedicated to these issues was needed. The CiHRG Board of Directors approved the establishment of a standing committee concerning health and productivity. The Chairperson is Barb Wleklinski, of Carle Clinic Association/WIN Program. 

 

The group has met on an ad hoc basis for over a year and studied the broad based issues concerning corporate health and productivity initiatives. Some of these issues include health benefit design, potential impact of health related legislation, wellness programs, and potential alignment with outside coalitions.

 

The Committee will serve to provide information to the CiHRG membership regarding wellness resources available in the area. The group will serve to promote effective communications linkages with the area medical community.  This Committee will also encourage the sharing of best practices amongst CiHRG represented employers.

 

For more information about joining this active Committee, please contact Barb Wleklinski at: 217-355-6224.

 

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Questions from CiHRG Members

(Please respond directly to the Member asking the question)

 

Lori Rairden, Rairden@illinois.edu, 217-244-4474:  We want to identify any internship opportunities (paid or unpaid) for an individual interested in HR.  She has completed a 9-month certification program at the University of California - Irvine.  Her training  included HR and the law, recruitment, compensation, performance management, etc.  Prior to her certificate program she worked with on-line questionnaires and surveys, analyzed data for statistical purposes, and managed research project databases and reports at The National Institute for the Educational Evaluation of Instruction and Training (INVALSI) and Autovalutazione.it, both in Rome, Italy.   She is open to opportunities to continue her training, especially if it relates to the hiring and recruitment process, compensation, and performance management.  Please contact me at 217-244-4474 or rairden@illinois.edu if you are interested in learning more about this individual and if you have or know of any such opportunities in the HR community.  Thanks!  Lori Rairden, Human Resources Coordinator, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science & Technology | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | 1209 Beckman Institute | 405 N. Mathews Ave. MC-251 | Urbana, IL 61801 | 217-244-4474 (phone) | 217-333-5441 (fax) | rairden@illinois.edu

 

Jaime Smith, jsmith@birkeys.com, 217-892-8255 Ext. 1157:  What payroll services do members use?  Do you have any recommendations? Thanks!  Jaime Smith, HR Manager, Birkeys

Carrie Treadway, carrie.treadway@strategicmail.com, 217-355-2600: Question on Document Preservation: Currently we use online sites to register employee selections with our health and life insurance providers, and we keep original applications on file in our offices.  However, we do not currently have a full backup plan for these documents in case the originals were to get lost or destroyed.  Does anyone else keep the original applications on file in their office?  If so, what do you do to safeguard against loss?  Thanks!  Carrie Treadway, Human Resources & Executive Assistant

Strategic Marketing and Mailing

 

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Membership News

 

We did it!!!  Our goal for 2008 was to increase membership by 20% (28 new members).

 

With the contributions of many of our members, CiHRG welcomed 30 new members this year.   As of November, membership has increased from 138 - 163!

 

Our goal membership goal for 2009 is to increase membership by another 23% (37) members!   Keep bringing guests and getting out into the community and recruiting potential new members to join the excellent training and networking opportunities offered by CiHRG!     

 

All members who successfully bring a guest to a CiHRG meeting during the period of March through November will be eligible to win a free CiHRG membership for 2009.   The member who brings the MOST guests (who join CiHRG during 2008) will be awarded a free membership in 2009!

 

For more information about the 2008 CiHRG membership drive, please contact Becky Krueger, Membership Chair, at (217) 255-5014 or e-mail beckyk@flex-n-gate.com

 

Note:  Guests who attend a meeting for the first time receive a complimentary lunch.  Thereafter, lunches are $12 per person.  

 

GREETERS WANTED:  Do you want to get involved with CiRHG, but don't have much time?  Then, we have the perfect opportunity for you!  We are looking for current CiHRG members to serve as greeters at each of our monthly luncheon meetings.  If you are interested, please email Becky Krueger, Membership chair at: Becky.Krueger@flex-n-gate.com

 

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CiHRG Board of Directors

 

Tammy Hoggatt, SPHR, President

 

Stacey Cultra, President-Elect

 

Deanna Wright, SPHR, Treasurer

 

Jenn Lance, Secretary

 

Amy Dillman, Chair, Legislative Committee

 

Minor Jackson, Chair, Diversity Committee

 

Becky Krueger, PHR, Chair, Membership Committee

 

Joe Streit, Chair, Student Affairs Committee

 

Cathy S. McArthur, Chair, Workforce Readiness Committee

 

Sue Key, Chair, Public Relations Committee

 

Beth Wileaver, PHR, Chair, Professional Development Committee

 

Barbara Wieklinski, Chair, Conference Committee and Health and Productivity Committee

 

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Future 2008 Meetings

 

December 9th

 

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November Quote

 

"How wonderful it would be if we could help our children and grandchildren to learn thanksgiving at an early age. 
Thanksgiving opens the doors.  It changes a child's personality.  A child is resentful, negative-or thankful.
Thankful children want to give, they radiate happiness, they draw people."
-   Sir John Templeton

 

 

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Quick Links

 

CiHRG Membership Directory: http://www.cihrg.org/members.php

 

CiHRG Website: http://www.cihrg.org/

 

SHRM Website: http://www.shrm.org/