SHRM Maine 
State Council
An affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management
HR news and updates from across  Maine
December 2014
In This Issue
A note from our MESHRM Director
Pathway to Certification
20th Annual Maine HR Convention
MESHRM Scholarship Winners
Strategic HR New England 2014
Worker's Comp Summit
A Note from MEHSRM Director, Deb Whitworth

To my SHRM colleagues:

 
To say the last two years as Maine SHRM State Council Director has been rewarding is an understatement. It has been an extraordinary honor to serve human resources professionals in this wonderful state we live in.  I have been given the gift of meeting so many talented people who have chosen this profession and at so many levels, everyone I've met is advancing our profession in ways that are emulated in other states.  Representing Maine human resources professionals at local, regional, and national conferences, events, and meetings have given me memories that I will not soon forget.  As I prepare to hand over the responsibilities of leading the Maine SHRM State Council to my successor, Marcia Benner, I feel a little like I did when my children left for college:  sometimes the days seemed very long but in retrospect the years just flew by.
 
Thank you for affording me the honor of serving you, and, with you, advancing our amazing profession.  This is our time.  We have arrived.  We are human resources professionals, business leaders, mentors, and coaches.
 
Happy Holidays!
Deb 
 

Have your PHR or SPHR certification and want to obtain the new SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification? Learn about the Pathway to SHRM Certification! Registration begins January 5, 2015.
 
  

Mark your calendars to join the Maine HR community at the Samoset Resort May 5-8, 2015. The 20th annual Maine HR Convention promises to be a celebration of learning. Join us for all four days or any mixture of days. SHRM and SHRM chapter members enjoy a member discount. Our 20th anniversary edition and will feature: 

  • Keynotes alive with big ideas
  • Strategic HR superstar sessions
  • Workshops committed to the takeaways
  • Solutions Centers that meet your challenges
  • Enhanced technology/social media
  • And lots of 20th anniversary fun and prizes

 

 ATTENDEE REGISTRATION OPENS IN JANUARY. Join our Hold-A-Seat list and receive first notice about the opening of registration and first crack at reserving an overnight room at the Samoset. To join, email becky@mainehr.com and put the words "Hold-A-Seat for Me" in the subject line.

 

Follow us on social media for updates and 

pre-conference networking:

 
MESHRM provides scholarships to HR Professionals
In August 2014, MESHRM awarded $2,500 in scholarships to following deserving awardees:
  • Lydia Sy, Managing Director at Maine Business Services dba Manpower - $750 for continuing education
  • Ryan Bushey, Human Resources Manager at Louisiana Pacific Corporation - $750 for conference registration fees
  • Todd West, Human Resources Generalist at Westbrook Housing - $500 for conference registration fees
  • Robin Baxter-Beckwith, Human Resources Director at Seniors/Domestic Home Care Agency - $250 for continuing education
  • Vicki Blais, Employee Benefits Coordinator at Community Health and Counseling Services - $250 for SHRM certification course
Congratulations to all awardees!
 
Participate in Research Regarding Applicant Tracking Systems

Dear Fellow SHRM member,

 

I'd like to invite you to participate in a survey that I'm working on with CEI (Coastal Enterprises, Inc.) regarding online applications and employment access for New Mainers (including immigrants and refugees). Please CLICK HERE to complete the survey.  CEI is one of the nation's premier non-profit Community Development Financial Institutions which specializes in rural business development and financing. They also provide technical assistance and business development opportunities for immigrants/refugees and other underserved populations. You can learn more about their mission and what they are up to by visiting their website:  www.ceimaine.org.

 

I got involved in this project because I believe there may be a disconnect between employers who want to hire hard-working talent, and the talent that wants to work for those employers.  I've had several meetings with folks at CEI and we are working together to identify barriers to employment, specifically for immigrants and refugees in Maine. We are currently  researching what impact, if any, the online application process may limit New Mainer's ability to access jobs.

 

Today, there are 14,701 jobs listed on Jobsinme.com.  The Maine Job Bank has over 10,000 listings.   Monster has 5,829 jobs posted in Maine.  There is a disconnect.  We need to help find out precisely what the disconnect is.  There is likely more than just one.  So let's start here, at the beginning of the application process, and find out why we have so many job openings in Maine and so many people who want to work, so many New Mainers who want to work, and the job and the applicant are not connecting.

 

Thank you very much for your time.  I promise this won't take you more than 10 minutes to complete.  The information is desperately needed and I appreciate your help!

 

Please CLICK HERE to complete the survey, or on the link below:

 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/onlineapplicationsystems

 

 

My personal best,

Deb Whitworth

Maine State Council SHRM Director

 
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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Strategic HR New England 

2014 Recap and Save the Date for 2015

 

2014 Recap: The 2104 edition of this retreat was held at the Mount Washington Resort and drew a sellout gathering of HR leaders from the six New England states. The faculty included renowned authors Margaret Heffernan from London and Aaron Dignan from New York City. And representatives of some of the most progressive and creative companies have crossed our faculty paths over the years - Johns Hopkins, Wegman's, Facebook, JetBlue, Omni Hotels, Covidien, Harvard Management, Draper Laboratory, IDEXX, Walgreens, Bit9, et al. The retreat contributes a total of $10,000 in grant money each year to the SHRM state councils in New England.


 
Mark your calendars for to join us at the Mont Washington Resort in 2015!

October 25-27, 2015

 

Interested in joining our e-mail list? Email Info@StrategicHRne.com and we'll be sure to keep you posted on the 2015 program.

 

Follow us on social media for updates and pre-retreat networking opportunities:
 
 LinkedIn |Facebook

Twitter #SHRNE15|YouTube


 

2015 Annual Workers' Comp Summit

August 30 - September 1, 2015 

Samoset Resort


 
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 general credit.)

 

Registration opens in April. Visit the Comp Summit website to learn about this year's program and credit information.

 

Interested in joining our e-mail list? Email Info@MaineHR.com and we'll be sure to keep you posted on the 2015 program.