Legislative Conference # 3

The Illinois SHRM Group attending ILSHRM Lobby Day 3-27-12

Have you ever attended The First Annual ... fill in the blank here.  I always wonder will there be a 3rd, 4th or 14th for that matter, annual event of the same name - or will it die a quick ugly death because those who started out were not committed enough to the cause to make the event continue.    Well it would appear that some committed folks at Illinois SHRM (Donna Rogers and Tammy Ireland primarily with an honorable mention to John Jorgensen)  have kept the Annual State Legislative Conference alive and moving forward.

Today I attended our third annual event in Springfield. While it did not have the number of attendees that the SHRM National Legislative Event does, we did have 30 people who were in attendance and committed to the cause of having SHRM have a larger legislative presence at the state level.  We started off our day by hearing from a triumvirate of lawyers from the Springfield Firm of Brown Hay & Stephens.  Thanks to Roland Cross, Stephanie Radliff and Kelly Greco for their informative presentations. We then heard from our own hired gun lobbyist Terry Stezco.  Terry spoke to the group and explained the need for and the how to develop a relationship with our legislative representatives.  Terry is going to lobby on our behalf as the needs present themselves, and he is also going to help us position our organization to better advocate for our causes.

David Lusk and Donna Rogers mugging for the camera.

And speaking of advocacy, after lunch we heard from the SHRM A-Team,  with "A" standing for Advocacy. The program is continuing to grow. David Lusk (pictured right) from SHRM National earned his lunch and provided the group with some great reasons to become more involved with the advocacy efforts.  David spoke for about 45 immediately prior to sending the gang off to the Illinois State House.

A group of about 20 walked several block down to the Illinois Capitol with a plan to at least meet and greet their elected representative. What we found out when we arrived was that the Capitol was a busy place.  This week was deadline for bills out of their house of origin.  Some of us met our representatives and senators, while other just took in the process. It is a beginning. We have a long ways to go, but we are on our way.

Thanks to all who attended.

-Dave Ryan Director of Social Media ISC SHRM