HR news and updates from across  Maine--Spring 2016

Saint Joseph's College Logo 
Greetings Maine HR! It is an honor to be serving in my second year as the SHRM Maine State Council's Director.
 
Our council is very active and dedicated to executing our strategic initiatives that support our mission of providing support to human resource professionals, employers, and SHRM chapters across the state in an effort to enhance Maine's workforce and promote advancement of the human resources profession.

I encourage you to participate in the upcoming events which are endorsed by the SHRM Maine State Council:

The Maine HR Convention - If you aren't already registered, there is still time but you should hurry because you don't want out miss out on the impressive list of keynote speakers, educational sessions with both HRCI and SHRM recertification credits, networking opportunities, exposition hall, the MESHRM Gala, entertainment, bookstore, LUCKY auction and more!
MESHRM plans to be very visible again this year at the convention. Please visit us at our booth! Whether you are in a chapter, or not, we would love to connect with you! Not to mention - we are bringing some giveaways with us. MESHRM volunteers will be running the booth so please stop by and say hi to us!

If you haven't made a donation to the silent auction that benefits the SHRM Foundation and MESHRM, please do! You may donate here. There is still plenty of time and I would love for us to have a record-breaking year. Money raised at the auction goes towards HR scholarships for our members. During the convention, please be sure to stop by and purchase some tickets and enter to win some great prizes.   

Best Places to Work - Be part of the Best Places to Work program in Maine. The registration deadline is May 27 and there is more information here: http://bestplacestoworkme.com .

Our council has had two meetings so far this year where we have identified our 2016 strategic initiatives in the following areas:
  • Membership: Promoting both SHRM membership and local chapter membership since both membership types are valuable to anyone practicing HR in Maine
  • Workforce Readiness: We are happy to be continuing our partnership with the Maine Employers Initiative supporting their annual scholarship program
  • Diversity: Please visit the DHC's website http://meshrm.shrm.org/diversity-hiring-coalition for information on their 2016 programs that include:
    • April 12 - Diversity at Portland YMCA @ Delhaize in Scarborough
    • June 28  - Racial/Ethnic Diversity @ Portland Adult Ed
    • August 30 - Professional Development @ location TBD
    • October 13 (tentative) Annual Retreat @ the Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport
    • December 13 - Book Club @ Bowdoin College (Book: Becoming Nicole by Amy Ellis Nutt)
  • Certification: Promoting the new SHRM-SCP and SHRM-CP Certifications as well as continuing to assist with HRCI certifications
  • College Relations: Our College Relations Director is looking into HR-related internship programs that the council may be able to assist with in the future.
  • Scholarships: We will continue to offer scholarships again this year. Please be on the lookout for more specifics in late spring.
If you are not familiar with MESHRM or our Chapters, please take a few minutes to visit our website  and look around. You can also find links to all of the Chapters, the DHC and MSHHRA .

If you have any ideas on how MESHRM can better assist the state, a chapter, or you - please feel free to contact me. I hope to see you in May at the convention!

Best regards, 
Marcia Benner
State Director, Maine SHRM State Council
VP of HR - Damariscotta Bank & Trust
- Upcoming Events -

Best Places to Work in Maine - Register by May 27!
This exciting initiative is dedicated to identifying and recognizing Maine's best employers. The process is managed by Best Companies Group and winners are published in Mainebiz and celebrated at an awards event in October, 2016. To find out more or to register, visit their website at www.BestPlacestoWorkME.com
2016 Conference: HR Supporting Diversity
Maine Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration (MSHHRA)
September 15 & September 16th is MSHHRA's bi-annual conference at Sebasco Estates in Phippsburg. The conference theme is HR Supporting Diversity. Individuals do not have to be a  member of MSHHRA to attend this conference. MSHHRA members are free and non-MSHHRA members receive a great conference for only $100. The conference will be approved for both SHRM and HRCI general credits of 5.75. Please email Karen Littlefield if you are interested, and she will send you a brochure!


2016 MAINE HR CONVENTION
REGISTER BEFORE WE SELL OUT! Seats are filling up QUICKLY for your state's human resources conference. We expect over 800 of Maine's HR community in May at the Samoset Resort. Join your HR colleagues for all four days or any mixture of days. SHRM and SHRM chapter members enjoy a member discount. Visit the Convention website to view the program schedule. There are more than 40 dynamic sessions that are approved for 24.25 HR (GENERAL) credits and 15.75 business credits. We are also approved for 24.25 recertification credits for the new SHRM CP and SCP designations.
 
NOT ON OUR EMAIL LIST? 
Email us  and we'll add you to our list.

 
2016 Annual Maine Workers' Comp Summit
Comp Summit is Maine's annual, system-wide event for the workers' compensation community. Each year we crunch the numbers, parse the language of the statue, and look to the future. The quality education at this conference reaches the legal community, occupational health and wellness providers, insurers and adjusters, case managers, and Maine employers and employees alike. We seek continuing education credit for Maine and New Hampshire attorneys, case managers (CCM, CRC, CDMS), and human resource professionals (HRCI & SHRM credits.)

Visit the Comp Summit website to learn about this year's program.
NOT ON OUR EMAIL LIST? 
Email us  and we'll add you to our list.
 
We create the experience, so that you can make a difference.
Join New England's Top HR Talent in 2016!
 
2016 Strategic at Mt. Washington.
Strategic HR at Mt. Washington enters year FIVE. We engage a senior-level, strategic-thinking audience in every aspect of the conference. If you are looking for a unique, senior-level experience in the world of HR, have we got the conversations for you! A Big Idea Sunday, a Strategic Monday, and a Bring it Home Tuesday - all rolled into one strategic experience at the historic Omni Mount Washington Hotel. Visit the Retreat website to see this year's program. Look at the business case for attending and register before the early-bird rate expires June 1st! With special thanks to the SHRM State Councils in New England.
 
NOT ON OUR EMAIL LIST? 
Email us  and we'll add you to our list.
- Awards and Scholarships -
Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Maine State Council Recieves Excel GOLD Award!

This award recognizes outstanding achievements in state council operations and a commitment to providing meaningful programs and services to our members. It also is recognition of our continued growth and development as a business leader, capable of developing strategies that lead to business success!  We are very proud of our leadership and thank SHRM for their continued partnership.

Maine Development Foundation now accepting employer nominations for 2016 Next Step Maine Employees of Promise Scholarship Program.
Next Step Maine Scholarships are given to employees who are engaged in taking additional steps in their education and skill development and who are considered promising contributors to the organizations for which they work.  Scholarships are only available for employees of Next Step Maine Employers - committed employers who have joined our statewide Next Step Maine Employers' Initiative to advance the skill and educational attainment of Maine's workforce.

Not sure if you're a Next Step Maine Employer?    View our list of current Next Step Maine Employers.  If your organization is on this list, then you are eligible to nominate an employee of promise today.  If you are not yet on this list, click here  to learn more about the becoming a Next Step Maine Employer and enrolling in this free statewide initiative. By joining the Next Step Maine Employers' Initiative, your organization will be recognized as a Next Step Maine Employer and a leader in supporting employee development.  It is free to join this initiative. To join, you need only to complete our   online employer enrollment form.  Once you have successfully completed this form, you will automatically be eligible to nominate your employees. 

Nominations for the 2016 Next Step Maine Scholarship Program will be accepted from Thursday, February 11th through 11pm on Friday, April 22nd. Scholarship notifications will be made in May. The nomination process is a two-part nomination process. The employer must complete an online Employer Nominator Form and the employee nominated must complete an online   Employee Nominee Form.

To learn more about this scholarship, review the guidelines, and access the nomination forms, visit our website at: nextstepmaine.org/next-step-maine-scholarship
 - Chapter News -
Central Maine Human Resource Association (CMHRA) News
Chapter Meeting
Topic: Workers Comp - the best & worst things an employer can do with a WC claim - practical advice, checklist, case-studies, take-aways. 

Date: April 19, 2016, 7:45am - 9:30am

Location: Ramada Hotel and Conference Center - 490 Pleasant Street, Lewiston

Price: Included in Membership / $25.00 for non-members
Maine Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration (MSHHRA) News
 
MSHHRA meets quarterly at the MHA Building in Augusta with the business meeting starting at 12:30 p.m. Our first meeting of the year was March 17, 2016. Our guest speaker was Judy West, SVP and CHRO for MaineHealth/Maine Medical Center. The topic was Workforce Planning in a Dynamic Changing Healthcare Environment. Learners came away with an understanding of the specific challenges as it relates to healthcare human resources professionals in retaining and recruiting talent; changes in the demographics that Maine will experience not only for today but also the future.
 
MSHHRA members have a great opportunity to network and get some great education by attending the Maine HR Convention at the Samoset in May.
 
Our next meeting will be scheduled on June 9, 2016. Our presenters will be Jacqueline DeSaint, Leadership and Training OD Specialist, Maine Medical Center; and Kris Evans, professional speaker, entertainer and partner with Harvard Risk Management Corporation. Jackie's topic will be Employee Engagement/Roundtable; and Kris will be speaking about Identity Theft - we will learn the major types of identity theft, as well as how to be more prepared to protect non-public information (NPI).
 -Society For Human Resources (SHRM) News -
Why Seek SHRM Certification?
Earning your SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP credential makes you a recognized expert and leader in the HR field - and a valuable asset to your organization, keeping you and your organization more competitive in today's economy. This professional distinction sets you apart from your colleagues, proving your high level of knowledge and skills.

FOCUS ON YOU
SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP are your credentials, based on the current HR landscape. This certification is 100% focused on the competencies and knowledge all HR professionals need to lead in today's business community.
 
UNIVERSAL SKILLS & RECOGNITION
SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) are based on one single, comprehensive SHRM Body of Competency and Knowledge™ (SHRM BoCK™) and are relevant worldwide, giving professionals the recognition and flexibility to use their knowledge, skills and competencies anywhere their career takes them.
 
COMPETENCY & KNOWLEDGE BASED
SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP test HR competencies as well as knowledge, and their application, to ensure the professional's ability to demonstrate what they know, and what they can do with their knowledge in the variety of situations they encounter.
 
DEVELOPED WITH EMPLOYERS IN MIND
SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP are based on in-depth research focused on -and backed by- global employers and business leaders. They reflect what HR practitioners need to know to be leaders in their organizations and in the profession.
 
EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY AND INCLUSIVITY
SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recognize diversity in the HR profession. The eligibility requirements minimize barriers to participation and reflect current HR roles. The exam windows provide accessibility and flexibility for all eligible professionals worldwide. In addition, the new exam is affordable, making certification attainable by more professionals.
 
UNIVERSALLY APPLICABLE
SHRM believes that HR certification must be as inclusive and diverse as the profession itself. The SHRM certification is applicable across industries, geographic borders, job responsibilities and career levels.
 
GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED
By creating a consistent certification path for HR professionals around the world, SHRM will deliver a new global standard. To ensure worldwide recognition of the new certification, SHRM anticipates seeking accreditation of the certification program according to standards for educational and psychological testing defined by the American Educational Research Association, the American Psychological Association, and the National Council on Measurement and Education.

 
Interested in getting your chapter events promoted via the newsletter? Email us the info and we'll contact you for more details!
 
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