The Cliff - The Hill And A Voice

The ILSHRM Crew posing before lobbying.

The end of the year has passed now, and the jury is still out on whether or not my efforts and the efforts of 380 of my SHRM peers will really pay dividends.   During the SHRM Leadership Conference, we were part of the largest contingent from any Leadership Conference to storm The Hill.   Our message had mostly to do with preserving existing tax code, for employee benefits.  We spoke about preserving benefits for college reimbursement, health care deductions, and the continuation of tax credits for retirement contributions. So with the Fiscal Cliff behind us it would appear that our efforts were effective, in as much as we did not hear about these benes  being whacked, in the 11th or maybe I should say 26th hour.  But this whole mess got me to wondering, did our efforts really matter? Was it worthwhile?

I have been involved in business and life long enough to know that you don't win all the battles, just ask Mr. Obama or Mr. Boehner.. Sometimes any small success is a victory. So even if our trip to The Hill does not result in the exact outcomes that we desired, we (all of us who participated) all made progress in the relationship building area.  This is largely what the whole effort  of going to Capitol Hill, is all about, the relationship thing,  I like many others am trying to build a relationship with our folks in Congress, so that if they ever have questions or need information about HR, they might contact me.  Remember, and the SHRM A Team tells  us this repeatedly, there are only two members on Capitol Hill who have any experience as an HR practitioner.  You can do the math 2 divided by 535 is 0.003,  three tenths of one percent, a very small minority.

These folks in Congress are busy every minute of the day and if you can make just a small in-road into getting their ear about an issue or two that is a success. While we did not get to speak to either one of my Illinois Senators, my group did get to speak with our Congressman Aaron Schock from Peoria, IL.  Rep. Schock listened to our issues as did his staffers.  As for the Illinois Senators, we did not see Sen. Kirk as he was still recovering from a stroke.  Regarding Senator Durbin, nothing was said regarding his whereabouts.  We did meet with one of his staffer, who was most gracious and attentive - but at my advanced age they all (All Congressional Staffer) make me feel like I am talking to my children.

While some of the HR folks who attend the Lobby Day are overwhelmed by the whole process, I find it exciting and invigorating to be that close to the process and to think that I actually do.... have a voice!

-Dave Ryan Director of Social Media ISC-SHRM

SHRM, Schock and Relationships

Either we have some pretty smart cookies doing our bidding for us out at the Mothership on Duke street, or they are scamming us big time - at least based upon my findings.  The crew at SHRM Government Affairs have been working diligently to get their members (you and me and anybody else reading this) to become more active in government affairs.  One thing they do every year at the SHRM Leadership Conference is called Lobby Day.  This is where they very quickly and efficiently teach members who to go Capitol Hill how to become advocates for SHRM and HR issues.  It's fairly easy and not all that intimidating. I did  it last year.

Now part of the effort is to introduce legislators to SHRM members. Another part, bigger picture is to  have these SHRM members build relationships with their elected officials.  Last year on my trip, I did get to meet with my U.S. Representative Aaron Schock (R-Peoria, IL).  He seemed like an articulate, congenial, intelligent young man - wise beyond his 31 years.

Last November when I met with him as part of Lobby Day, I extended him an invitation to, "stop by and see us if you are in the neighborhood."   Really it just seemed like the cordial thing to do. Quite frankly I viewed it like inviting someone to the party that you are almost certain will not show up. Well in late July I got a call from one of the Congressman's staffers asking if he could come by and see our operation on August 9. What...he's want to take me up on this- really. Uhmm... we would love to have the Congressman come by, to see what we do, see and hear about some of our challenges and left unsaid build our relationship.

U.S. Representative Aaron Schock (left) touring our food plant. 

On the appointed day Representative Schock dropped in met our Company President, CFO and toured our facility.  I work in manufacturing so I had the gentleman who runs that department tour with Represtative Schock.  It was quick tour.

Nonetheless, we did get to discuss with Representative Schock some issues that our Company was facing, and put faces with names.  As the discussions wrapped up, I suggested to his Chief of Staff that I was a pretty sharp HR guy and would love to be included in any discussion that they were having on legislative matters that involved Human Resources.  She said she would be happy to contact me about those issues.

So there it is.  Once you get the relationship started the SHRM formula seems to be working.  I wonder if all those Government Affairs people at SHRM are really super smart and earning an honest living, or that if very few SHRM members have actually taken the time and made the effort to build a relationship with an elected official, in an effort to advocate for Human Resources/SHRM and business related matters.

The true answer is this; Mr. Aitken, Ms. Horn, Mr. Layman, and Mr. Lusk all do one heck of a job for SHRM and their members and it is because of their planning and forethought, I have had this opportunity to develop a relationship with my elected official. So thanks guys!   I Hope that I have the good fortune to attend SHRM Lobby Day 2012.

-Dave Ryan Director of Social Media ISC SHRM

ILSHRM12 More than A Conference

I have been home from the Big Show in Atlanta for a couple weeks. I am working my small part of trying to ensure that our 13th ANNUAL ILLINOIS HR CONFERENCE AND EXPO is a success. One of the things I do, as the Director of Social Media is blog and tweet about SHRM events going on here in Illinois. For the State Council this is our biggest event.

Now, the State Council or any SHRM chapter is only as good as the people who run the Chapter or State Council; consequently we are like the Marines… looking for a few good men/people. So here is the pitch, attending the State Conference would be a really great way to meet many of the folks who make up the Board of the State Council. I would guess that many, if not all of our 20 Chapter Presidents from around Illinois will also be in attendance. This means you can meet or talk with them as well at the event. Then you can gauge if you would like to get more involved in the organization.

Needless to say, being a devout SHRMie (as my wife refers to us) I would like to see more people involved, because I think great work is done by SHRMies at all levels. Specifically, I would like to share one my recent successes which is because of SHRM and the opportunities I have been afforded as a Board Member of the Illinois State Council of SHRM.

Last year, I was fortunate enough to attend the SHRM Leadership Conference, which takes place every year in the Metro DC area. In my opinion, one of the main purposes of the conference is to re-evangelize older members like me, and pump-up and interest new members. This is done in a number of ways by many different folks at SHRM. I had attended several times before, but had never done what they call the Lobby Day. This is where SHRM members from all over the country head over to Capitol Hill and visit with their elected officials about SHRM’s position on some current issues. SHRM tells us this is very effective. So in 2011 I participated in Lobby Day, along with about 400 other members. This is part of SHRM Advocacy Team’s efforts, or what they call the A-Team. Their goal is to get members engaged with the elected officials.

Congressman Schock & Dave Ryan

The whole program is well put together, and quite enlightening. I did get a chance to actually talk to the Congressman Aaron Schock, who represents the district where my employer is located, and where I live as well. He’s my guy. While the visit was brief, we spoke and I kindly told my young Congressman that if he was ever in the neighborhood and would like to come by and see me, and the folks at my employer, I would be happy to show him around. The meeting ended, we went our separate ways.

Now, from November of 2011, let’s fast forward to July 2012. On Wednesday July 11, I got a call from someone in Congressman Schock’s Office asking me if 10:45 on August 8 would be ok instead of 10:15. I had to contemplate the voicemail. Hmm, it sounds like The Congressman is, or would like to come see me, my employer and our staff. I called back Congressman Schock’s advance person, and he admitted that someone was to have contacted me first. Elated, that Congressman Schock had taken up my passing offer I was thrilled. I called back and now we have a confirmed visit. How cool is that?

This came to fruition because of SHRM Lobby day. It would be my hope that I will get to know Congressman Schock a little better this time. That is how relationships are built – slowly. Heck, who knows, he might even call me if there is a significant piece of HR related legislation pending; I could tell him how it would affect me and other SHRMies out here in the hinterlands.

So, you see if you attend the 13th ANNUAL ILLINOIS HR CONFERENCE AND EXPO you may well become interested in becoming a part of it, and you too could be knee deep in politics, law, HR and not to mention all of the Conference frivolity.

We will let you know how the visit works out, hope to see you at the conference.

-Dave Ryan Director of Social Media ISC SHRM