We realize that our Local Members Only (LMOs) are not fully aware of the benefits of SHRM membership.  To help address this, we plan to host afree “SHRM is the Solution” webinar for our Local Members Only (LMOs) in the SWC Region on Thursday, May 31^st, at 11:00-12:00pm CT.

"SHRM is the Solution – Tools to help you be successful in your job and HR career"

To:  SWC Region SHRM Members & Guests
Fr:   SHRM-SWC Region Field Services Directors Sherry Johnson, PHR and Scott Ferrin, SPHR
 

We often hear from members that they did not realize the wealth of new services that SHRM has online and miss using the resources available to help them meet daily HR challenges. 
 
The SHRM-Southwest Central Region Field Services Team is offering a webinar on Thursday,May 31^st to help you learn how to solve your most urgent HR problems and the best networking resources in your area.

In presentations held for other states, HR professionals have told us how the SHRM website has helped them "work smarter, not harder!"  Below are some member comments:

• "Saves me time when I am looking for answers to specific HR questions"
• "Provides me with practical, real world information that is easily accessible"
• "Helps me stay up-to-date with HR trends"
• "Helps me to access resources such as data, sample documents, and tools"
• “I found out more about volunteer opportunities and SHRM chapters in my state”

So learn how “SHRM IS THE SOLUTION” to your challenging HR needs and join the SHRM-Field Services Team in this webinar:

Date/Time:     May 31^st     11:00am–12:00pm CT  

Webinar Access:  http://shrm.adobeconnect.com/swc053112/

Then call in to HEAR the audio through the call in number 1-800-745-6370 pass code 811236.

We are looking forward to meeting you!!!

---------------- 
If you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting before:

Test your connection: http://shrm.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/go/connectpro_overview

Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat and Adobe Connect are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.

If you have questions regarding this webinar, please contact Sherry Johnson, PHR atsherry.johnson@shrm.org or Scott Ferrin, SPHR at scott.ferrin@shrm.org.

HR Professional of the Year Nominations, SHRM Networking Social & Silent Auction, About Our Chapter. Click on the following link to view the Wichita SHRM 2Qtr 2012 HR Focus Newsletter.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2012 SHRM Wichita Chapter HR Professional of the Year Award.  The individual selected will represent our chapter at the Kansas State level for the annual George Trombold award.  Both awards are based on, and recognize, outstanding achievement in the field of human resource management, community service, and SHRM participation.

The Professional of the Year Award is a peer award.  Through it, we can acknowledge the best among us.  It is an important way to acknowledge the value of our profession, and the people who serve it, to our businesses and our community.

Any Wichita Chapter member, including past recipients, who is an active professional in the human resource management field, and has a minimum of five years experience in the profession, may be nominated.

Consider the worthy things being done by your HR professional peers.  Then send their name and email address to me at jon.m.tiger@spiritaero.com.  I will email them that you have nominated them, and invite them to complete an application form if they wish to be considered for this award.

Nominations are due to Jon Tiger by close of business Friday June 8rth.  Applications are due from nominees via email by close of business Friday June 22nd.

Register here: http://www.wichitashrm.org/CalendarofEvents/89595.aspx?view=c

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced availability of a new timesheet application enabling your employees to independently track their hours to help determine the wages they are owed. Consequently, if your organization is still relying on manual or outdated timekeeping systems, you may now face increased exposure to wage and hour audits and/or lawsuits.

Want to learn how to assess your own wage and hour compliance risk? Download the must-read white paper"Why You Can't Afford to Ignore Wage and Hour Compliance" and learn about the latest labor litigation trends and related recommendations from Paul DeCamp, former Administrator of the DOL's Wage and Hour Division.

Minimize your compliance risk... Download this free white paper, featuring expert advice from nationally recognized wage and hour legal authority Paul DeCamp, partner, Jackson Lewis LLP.

On-the-job training funds received

The Kansas Department of Commerce announced today that it has been awarded a $5 million, four-year technical skills training grant by the U.S. Department of Labor that can be used by Kansas employers for on-the-job training to support the hiring of new engineers.

The individuals eligible for training funded by the grant can be both recent graduates not currently employed in the field and other dislocated or unemployed engineers who meet educational prerequisites but may lack the specialized skills and experience necessary for a particular engineering job opportunity.

Employers can receive up to $25,000 per individual to reduce the costs of training an engineer to fill a particular position, Commerce said.

“The state must be focused on doing what we can to encourage the recruitment, training and employment of much needed engineers, if the Kansas economy is to recover and expand,” said Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George.

“This grant complements nicely the Brownback Administration’s Kan-Grow Engineering Fund, which is a 10-year investment to substantially increase the number of engineering students graduating from Kansas State University, the University of Kansas and Wichita State University,” George said.

Use of this funding is intended to reduce the number of H-1B visa hires (of non-citizen immigrants) and to create greater opportunities for Kansans and other eligible participants. Fees charged to employers hiring foreign workers under the federal H-1B visa program serve as the basis of this grant’s funding.