meshrm hrvoice may2010slides

HR Voice- Augusta & Beyond

Grassroots Advocacy for Maine HR Professionals

With:

Susan Post - SHRM NE Regional Director

David Pease - SHRM State Council Director

Mary J. Herman -Consultant Strategist; Former Lobbyist; Former First Lady, State of Maine

Chris Rector ( R) - Maine State Senator, Knox

Peter Gore- Vice President for Advocacy & Government Relations: Maine State Chamber of Commerce

Ken Palmer- Professor Emeritus, Political Science: The University of Maine

Sarah Conroy- SHRM Maine State Government Affairs Director

This half day event is for Maine HR Leaders to understand the value of their involvement in SHRM and pending labor & benefits legislation in Maine and beyond to shape the legal landscape to help carry out the HR mission. The program will offer tools, support and insight into ways to make sure the HR voice is heard and individual practitioners can then act on their own or be a part of a Chapter effort. This will also help HR professionals to attain business goals within theirorganizations beyond “traditional” HR functional areas.

2010 Leadership ForumMay 11th, 8 - 11:30 am ~ Samoset Resort ~ Rockport

RSVP to [email protected]

The use of this seal is not an

endorsement by the HR Certification

Institute of the quality of the activity. It

means that this activity has met the HR

Certification Institute’s criteria to be pre-

approved for recertification credit.

David PeaseMaine State

SHRM Director

Susan PostNortheast Region

SHRM Director

HR Voice-Augusta & BeyondHR Voice-Augusta & BeyondGrassroots Advocacy for

HR Professionals in Maine

Grassroots Advocacy for

HR Professionals in Maine

HR Professionals Day 2009 What a Fine Looking Bunch!

HR Professionals Day 2009 What a Fine Looking Bunch!

Our PanelistsOur Panelists

Ken PalmerProfessor Emeritus, Political Science: The University of Maine

Peter GoreVice President for Advocacy & Government Relations: Maine State

Chamber of Commerce

Chris Rector (R)Maine State Senator, Knox

Mary J. HermanConsultant Strategist; Former Lobbyist; Former First Lady, State of

Maine

Sarah ConroySHRM Maine State Government Affairs Director

Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda

• Objectives Today’s Session &

SHRM Government Affairs in MaineSarah Conroy

• The Political Landscape in MaineKen Palmer

• Lobbying in MainePeter Gore


• The Maine Legislature Today

Chris Rector

• Strategic Consulting in Maine

Mary Herman

(Break)


• SHRM HR Voice Overview and 2010

Government Affairs Advocacy Initiative

Sarah Conroy

• Moderated Panel Discussion

• Audience Q & A – don’t be shy!

Objectives for Today’s Maine HR Voice ProgramObjectives for Today’s Maine HR Voice Program

To help us understand the value of our involvement in

government affairs and showcase this value to our

companies and chapters to give HR a voice in important labor and benefits law in Maine and nationally.

To learn how to use this voice as HR professionals to

attain business goals within our organizations beyond

the traditional HR functional areas.

To offer tools, support and insight into how to have that

say in conjunction with the SHRM Government Affairs Team or independently.

SHRM Government Affairs in MaineSHRM Government Affairs in Maine

Your Government Affairs Team (GAT)

HRASMLisa NoonanCeline FruehGreg Fall

Johnna MajorCarol Taylor

CMHRAAmie Parker

HRAEM

Sarah JoyNESHRMRobin Beckwith

Ryan BusheyState CouncilSarah Conroy

MSHHRAChris RiendeauKVHRA

Cathy DeMerchant

Special Thanks To Bethany Turon (CMHRA), Shannon

Kashinsky (HRASM), Amy Cross Sawyer (HRASM),

Mary Caldwell (Midcoast SHRM) & Director Emeritus,

Bill Saufley!



Expect to hear from us in the coming

months:

• Survey on what you expect from your

Government Affairs Team.

• Bringing SHRM national government

affairs information to Maine.

• Your help is much appreciated as we

seek to lead HR grassroots advocacy

here in Maine.



Invite Others to Join Us!

Contact Sarah at [email protected] or

Your Chapter Government Affairs Director

124th Maine Legislature, Session II Efforts124th Maine Legislature, Session II Efforts

Alliances

We hope to grow our efforts to reach out to:

• Legislators

• Trade Groups and Associations

Suggestions welcome, we were lucky to work

this session with:

– Maine State Chamber

– Maine Staffing Association

– Maine Associated Contractors & Builders,

and, of course SHRM

• State Departments, Agencies and staff


Short Session?!?!?

Total bills proposed for session: 423, with 150

making it to the Governor for signature.

# of bills we tracked: 26+

Of these, # that passed: 16

# that failed: 10

# of letters, calls, visits by HR professionals

to their legislators on LD 1665: 100+Remember, this is just ME, we also work with SHRM on

Congressional, Executive & Judicial Issues


Short Session?!?!?

This means:

• Analysis

• Position Proposals

• Tracking and providing updates to

members

• Letter, Email, Call Campaigns

• Attending or listening in on public

hearings and work sessions


Are We On The Right Track?

• We hope to lead grassroots advocacy with your guidance, not provide updates only.

• We need you to know how important your voice is in the process.

• We are the experts in HR and it is important for us to help shape what will be ours to manage.


Are We On The Right Track?

• Our survey will ask for:

– Interest level

– Feedback

– Involvement


Where Might Our Efforts Lead?

• Do we want a voice beyond just legislation in Maine and DC?

• Upcoming Gubernatorial & Other Elections?

• Review of Regulations from Executive?

• Judicial Watch?

• What about other approaches, e.g. –letters to the editor, blogs?


Important Dates

• Primary, Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

– Includes referenda

• General Election, Tuesday, November 2,

2010

– Flurry of bills submitted between election and

convention

• The 125th Maine Legislature Convenes

on Wednesday, December 1, 2010

– The fun begins again!

What Started it All….What Started it All….


Maine is special! Our Constitution calls for a participatory citizen legislature – it’s our heritage and a double-edged sword.

Begs your input, but tends to create laws because “it’s what we do” (Ken can tell you more about our moralistic political culture)

This may put us at odds at times as HR professionals want to be able to do what we do best without well intentioned, sometimes unnecessary bills.

As Mainers, we are tasked with speaking up!


Our Biggest Gift As HR Professionals

Educate…

…and we may need not legislate

Use our expertise to craft P&P, train and

help set workplace standards so the first

thought is to come to HR, not, there

oughta be a law….


Tips• Get to Know Your Senator and

Representative if you have not already

• Recall that Maine has term limits – since

1993 Senators & Reps serve 2 year terms,

limited to 8 years

• Learn who serves on key standing

committees like Labor and Insurance &

Financial Services


Tips• As an HR professional in Maine, you are

speaking for yourself, the HR profession

and probably your company

• These may not always be in sync

• Be clear about which hat you are wearing

when you contact your legislators


We may win some, we may lose some, but

we are all Mainers so it’s important to be

gracious

We are not lobbyists, but can decide to

engage lobbyists on a particular matter

Our hope is to become the go-to association

for all things HR!

The Political Landscape in MaineThe Political Landscape in Maine

Kenneth T. Palmer, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus, Political Science

Lobbying in MaineLobbying in Maine

Peter M. Gore

Vice President, Advocacy & Government Relations

The Maine Legislature TodayThe Maine Legislature Today

Christopher Rector

Maine State Senator, Knox (R)

Strategic Consulting in MaineStrategic Consulting in MaineMary J. Herman

Principal

©SHRM 2007

Grassroots Advocacy: What Is It & What Role Can You Play?

©SHRM 2007

What Is Advocacy?

Advocacy – The act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy; active support.

The American Heritage: Dictionary

of the English Language – 4th Edition

©SHRM 2007

The Importance of Advocacy

“America is not governed by the majority, but by the

majority of those who participate.”

- Thomas Jefferson

©SHRM 2007

A member benefit that allows SHRM members to directly influence the

outcome of state and federal policies and create long lasting relationships with legislators and legislative staff.

What is HRVoice?

©SHRM 2007 36

While E-mail Communications to Legislators are Important, We Need to Put a Face On the HR Profession

SHRM’s Member Advocacy Capabilities To Date

©SHRM 2007

As a member advocate for the HR

profession, it is important that

you keep your elected officials

informed on public policy issues

and how they affect the HR

profession and your

organization.

Exercise Your Voice

©SHRM 2007

• Use SHRM as a Resource

• Know your opposition’s arguments and be able to refute them

• Tell your story – make it PERSONAL –Give them the HR perspective

• Research voting history on related issues -find out your legislator’s position on the bill

• Understand and familiarize yourself with the bill

Stay Educated

©SHRM 2007

Washington, DC & State Insiderwww.shrm.org/government/insiders_published

State Pending Legislation Report

www.shrm.org/government/states/pendingleg_published

HR Congressional Monitorwww.shrm.org/government/scoreboard_published

www.shrm.org/government/update

Educational Resources

©SHRM 2007

Educational Resources

• Public Policy Statements/Fact Sheets

• Public Policy Presentations

• State and Federal Monitoring & Tracking

• Webcasts & Conference Calls

• Toolkits

©SHRM 2007

Legislative Alerts

Legislative Alerts sent from the

SHRM Governmental Affairs staff informing HR professionals of

proposed legislation on the state and federal levels.

©SHRM 2007

Day Inside the Beltway (DITB)

The "Day Inside the Beltway" program encourages SHRM members to travel to Washington, D.C. for a day of Capitol Hill office meetings.

Activities include meeting at SHRM headquarters with SHRM Government Affairs staff, and at the Senate and House of Representatives offices with your chapter members’ respective Members of Congress

©SHRM 2007

Day Inside the District (DITD)

The “Day Inside the District”program is a local initiative that provides an opportunity to generate interest and support of issues important to the HR professional on a federal and state level.

Most members of Congress and state legislators a good deal of time in their home districts and the DITD is the ideal opportunity for relationship building.

©SHRM 2007

Get Involved. USE YOUR VOICE!

1. Go to www.shrm.org

2. Sign in using your member number and last name.

3. Click on “Governmental Affairs," then go to “HRVoice” on the left side of your screen.

4. Choose “Write your elected officials.”

5. Click on one (1) of the current issues listed under the heading “Take Immediate Action on these Hot Issues.”

©SHRM 2007

Overview of SHRM’s Government Affairs Program

HR Voice Letter Writing

Congratulate yourselves!

• On LD 1665 those of you using HR Voice directly generated

more than 85 letters to your elected officials

• This does not include letters using The Chamber’s CapWiz program or any calls, email, letters or other generated outside the portal.

• The enhancements to HR Voice and the SHRM Advocacy Program will demonstrate why we need to make it our portal of choice for efficiency & analytics.

©SHRM 2007 51

� As of April 7, 2010, we have identified 27,249“advocates” within our NEW HR Voice advocacy database

� We have advocates in each of the 435 congressional districts throughout the United States

� The district with the most advocates – Virginia’s 10th

District in the outskirts of Washington represented by Congressman Frank Wolf (R) – has 204; the one with the least – New York’s 16th District encompassing the Bronx and represented by Congressman José Serrano (D) –has 1.

SHRM’s NEW HR Voice Action E-list

©SHRM 2007

Issues We’re Tracking in the States

Subject areas currently being tracked by CQ StateTrack:

• Background/Credit Checks *• Discrimination in the Workplace

• Domestic Partner Benefits

• Harassment in the Workplace

• Health Care Reform

• Human Resources

• Leave|Paid *

• Leave|Unpaid

• Mandated Use of E-Verify *

• Military Leave

• Misclassification of Workers

• Union Organizing

• Workplace Weapons|Parking Lot *53

©SHRM 2007

Member Advocacy Strategy in 2010

� We launched the program at the 2010 Employment Law and

Legislative Conference to our State Legislative Directors on

March 17.

� Program will encourage participation in all 50 states, but will

focus our efforts with an initial 10 states in 2010 and a pilot

program - California.

� Program will be phased-in to all 50 states over a five-year period.

� The 10 key target states for 2010 will be dispersed throughout

the 5 SHRM regions and include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida,

Kansas, Maine, Nebraska, New York, Rhode Island, Washington

and Wisconsin.

� The major focus of this effort . . .

57

©SHRM 2007

SHRM’s 2010 ‘SHAPE’ Program for Chapters and State Councils

59

Government Affairs

In coordination with the SHRM Government Affairs Team (GAT), develop and implement a

chapter outreach program to establish/enhance relationships with state and federal elected

officials. Chapters are strongly encouraged to coordinate such efforts with the GAT’s Member

Advocacy Specialist, ensuring consistency of SHRM’s messaging on current HR public policy

matters.

»» Create a “Day Inside the District” Program, where members within your chapter can meet

with their state or federal public policy-makers within the district. This includes inviting a state or

federal public policymaker to speak at a chapter meeting.

»» Create a “Day Inside the Beltway” Program, where members within your chapter can meet with their federally elected officials in Washington, D.C.

»» Develop and implement (or maintain) an information sharing campaign to engage your

members in the legislative process which include tactics such as:

»» Presenting, at least quarterly, a legislative update at chapter meetings

»» Providing, at least quarterly, a legislative update in the chapter newsletter (either online or

print)

»» A chapter representative attends the SHRM Employment Law & Legislative Conference and

participates in the Capitol Hill Advocacy Day:

• Reporting back to the chapter on the conference and the Capitol Hill Advocacy Day is a great way to include the members in the experience.

• Share what you learned on your Hill visit through your update column in the newsletter or in

your update at the chapter meeting.

SHRM 2010 Affiliate Program for Excellence (SHAPE) planning workbook Appendix B: Idea Center

©SHRM 2007

Member Advocacy Strategy in 2010

60

By the end of 2010, identify at least one key contact

(‘precinct captain’) in the congressional districts

throughout the 10 target states and California

Panel Discussion & Audience Q & APanel Discussion & Audience Q & A

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