The Conference Shouldn't End at the Conference Hall Door!

“I’m Brad and I’m an HR conference addict” - Please respond in unison “Hi Brad!"

The reality is that yes, I do enjoy state HR conferences and the reasons really do go beyond what one might ordinarily expect.  There are certainly great speakers to be heard, HRCI credits to earn (I’m not taking the SPHR exam again!) and enthusiastic vendors to meet.  I think it is my parental duty to bring back at least one souvenir to each of my children and my professional duty to have at least one new idea that can improve my workplace (or the workplaces of my clients!)

Beyond those obvious things, I cherish the opportunity to meet and talk to new people.  There are so many interesting stories to be learned and be shared.  I've been to multiple state conferences now of all sizes and times of year.  No matter where or when, I always come away knowing more about someone and getting the chance to see people who love what they do.  This satisfies one of my core beliefs in looking for the best in everybody. 

It bears remembering though that this requires some effort, and often, a little extra time.  Although sessions and time in exhibit halls can bring these moments, they are much more apt to occur after the conference’s official hours are over and attendees are gathered in more informal settings.  

I think back fondly to Louisiana SHRM and my conversation with Laurie Ruettimann and Lizzie Maldonado.  Although I know Laurie, I still learned more about her experience and life beyond HR and her cats.  Liz I hadn’t really known before and now I not only follow her on social media, but know and see firsthand the great vivacious person behind her twitter handle and her work at The Starr Conspiracy.  Moments like these happen everywhere from sitting down with John Jorgensen and Dave Ryan (both from Illinois) while in Ohio to meeting Travis Sinquefield from Michigan while at HREvolution in Chicago.  All great people who are so much more than their Twitter bio can describe!

So, if you’re attending one of the many great state HR conferences coming in the next few months, please take a little time and go out on a limb to meet some new people.  I guarantee that you will benefit from doing so!  I know I intend to meet new folks and gain insight from those I am fortunate enough to get to know during my time at Illinois SHRM from August 18-20 and at my own HR Indiana August 27-30, 2013.

About the Author:

Bradley D. Galin, SPHR,  is an executive coach and HR Leadership Consultant based in Portage, Michigan. In addition to his day job, Brad is also a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources, a 2006 graduate of Leadership Bloomington Monroe County, currently serves as the Director-at-Large for the Indiana State Council of SHRM, recently completed his MBA. Brad spent ten years as the Senior Director of Human Resources and Corporate Compliance Officer for Stone Belt Arc, Inc., a non profit organization with over 500 employees fulfilling its mission to prepare, empower, and support people with disabilities and their families throughout south central Indiana.You can usually find him talking over at RollerCoasterHR. We're happy to have him as part of our ILSHRM13 Social Press Team! 

Going to SHRM National and Traveling By Yourself

SHRM Leadership Conference 2010

The conference season is upon us.  With the SHRM BIG SHOW coming up at the end of June, and many of State conferences (like  ours on August 22 & 23) on the horizon, this got me to thinking about conferences the other day.  I have been fortunate to get to attend a number of events.   I was recounting these in my mind and trying to think what was the most memorable conference/event that I have attended. Of course, many people would think the best stories from an HR conference might be those of drunken debauchery – in the vein of Hangover or Cedar Rapids. And I could go that way but it would embarrass good friends, and me as well, so I will take my post another direction.

I attended a SHRM Leadership Conference last year in the D.C. area. I had planned to go for a while and my travel and accommodations were being funded through my SHRM affiliation and position.   I was staying at the conference hotel and planning on having a good time, meeting up with some old friends and making some new ones. 

After signing up for the conference,  it had come to my attention that a younger colleague of mine was interested in attending but his chapter could not finance the entire trip.  Well, since I already had a room – paid for- with the caveat that “I snore” I offered up a bed and shared shower and toilet.   So to make a long story short here – if you have complimentary accommodations (especially the $200+ a night rooms) and are attending a conference, it might be a most enjoyable experience to offer up free room to a younger HR pro who might not otherwise be afforded the opportunity to attend.)   It was in fact for me, one of the most enjoyable conferences I attended.

And if you are in the giving mode too – you might want to buy them a meal or two or a drink – depending upon their fancy.   Keep in mind that if you got there for free, and staying for free; doubling up on a couple meals won’t break you.

At many conferences, hotel rooms are usually nothing more than a bed and a shower, so for $200 a night you are getting double the value if you use two beds and take two showers.  You might also make a new friend for life, while you enjoy some communal living and share stories of the other conference happenings.

For the record I made the same offer to another colleague to attend HREvolution with me as I had committed to going and paying for a hotel room. Sadly he declined.

Moving forward, as these events continue to cost more and more to attend – it is a way more of us can enjoy and share the experience.   I hope others can at least think about this and maybe put it into action a time or two in the upcoming conference season.

HR Florida 2010 - If You Can't Go - Follow the Conference via On line Resources

The SHRM State conferences continue and the HR Florida extravaganza is looming on the horizon, beginning on August 30. While everyone is welcome to read this post, consider this for all of the non-Florida residents, and those that are relatively new to the social media scene. If you have an HR Twitter friend who is new to social media, twitter, blogs, ect. send them a link to this post.

With the leadership of John Jorgensen  the Illinois State Council brought social media to the forefront, of state conferences this year, coming on the heels of the SHRM National Conference in San Diego. While Illinois did a great job, the upcoming Florida event is something I would encourage all of you to follow, this year and even consider attending next year (that is this blogger’s plan). They will be using the Hashtag #HRFL10 to catalogue tweets. So if you search for that hashtag (#) you will be able to see most of the tweets coming from the event.

There are many reasons that you should look at this event. First, they have more than 1200 attendees already signed up (the number is probably greater before it is all said and done). According to Florida State Council’s Social media director Steve MG Harrison he has said that they have several hundred active twitter users, which means there will be a lot of tweeting coming from the event.

Florida is home to blogger Mike VanDervort . Mike will be in attendance and giving his insight into the events. Mike was in attendance at the Illinois State Council’s state conference (and did an excellent job covering the event). He recently told me that he has made nearly 1000 blog posts to his site.

Our home state blogger Trish McFarlane  will be attendance too and will be tweeting and blogging. Trish too was in attendance at the Illinois State Council’s state conference (and did an excellent job covering the event).

Florida will be hosting a MONSTER tweet up on Monday evening. Monster’s main man Eric Winegardner  will be there and coordinating the tweet up. – Sorry I am missing this event and the tweet stream should be “interesting.”

SHRM National’s Social Media director Curtiss Midkiff  will be in Florida helping to promote and cover the event. Curtiss was at ILSHRM and provided us with some great assistance and entertainment.

The Recently launched Voice of HR  a new business venture of Mark Stelzner and Laurie Ruettimann  will be on-site and helping to promote the event via social media. This will be their inaugural event under this banner, and it should be most interesting.

China Miner Gorman  former COO of SHRM will be in attendance and one of the Keynote presenters at the event. No doubt she will be tweeting and blogging  about the event as well. China was NOT at ILSHRM10, but we will soon get her committed to attend in 2011.

Another one of this sites blogger favorites is Jessica Miller-Merrell. She is the author of http://www.blogggin4jobs.com/. She will be at HR Florida. Jessica will be presenting at the event. Her program is entitled HR is the new PR.  I am sure Jessica will generate some great blog posts and a multitude of tweets, just like she did at SHRM National this year.

Host of HRHappy Hour  and internet radio sensation Steve Boese will be at HR Florida and I believe I heard him say there will be two live broadcast coming from the event. Check the HR Happy Hour site to confirm live broadcast dates and times.

If you follow the HR stream on twitter there is another name you might recognize – Bill Boorman  – the founder of TruEvents. Bill is from the U,K, and he too will be in attendance at HR Florida and probably posting on his blog.

UPDATE 8/23 Now add to your blogger roster... Jennifer Mc Clure http://twitter.com/CincyRecruiter/. Jennifer is in the people business and blogs at another one of ILSHRM blog favorites Unbridled Talent.

It is not my intention to slight anyone, I am sure I have left out others who will be at HRFL10, so I will apologize here. There are going to be a lot of the leaders in social media there, lots of tweeting and blogging going on so if you are not going to get to go, you can still participate actively via cyberspace. I would encourage all of you to check in this event. It will be a behemoth

Enjoy and good luck to all of our SHRM Friends in Florida!