Maine SHRM HR Voice Presentation.

1. 2010 Leadership Forum
May 11th, 8 - 11:30 am ~ Samoset Resort ~ Rockport
RSVP to seconroy@gmail.com
HR Voice- Augusta & Beyond
Grassroots Advocacy for Maine HR Professionals
This half day event is for Maine HR Leaders to understand the value With:
of their involvement in SHRM and pending labor & benefits legislation
in Maine and beyond to shape the legal landscape to help carry out Susan Post - SHRM NE Regional Director
the HR mission. The program will offer tools, support and insight into
David Pease - SHRM State Council Director
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 Mary J. Herman -Consultant Strategist; Former
also help HR professionals to attain business goals within their Lobbyist; Former First Lady, State of Maine
organizations beyond “traditional” HR functional areas.
Chris Rector ( R) - Maine State Senator, Knox
Peter Gore- Vice President for Advocacy &
Government Relations: Maine State Chamber of
Commerce
The use of this seal is not an Ken Palmer- Professor Emeritus, Political
endorsement by the HR Certification
Institute of the quality of the activity. It
Science: The University of Maine
means that this activity has met the HR
Certification Institute’s criteria to be pre- Sarah Conroy- SHRM Maine State Government
approved for recertification credit. Affairs Director

2. David Pease
Maine State
SHRM Director

3. Susan Post
Northeast Region
SHRM Director

4. HR Voice-Augusta & Beyond
Grassroots Advocacy for
HR Professionals in Maine

5. HR Professionals Day 2009
What a Fine Looking Bunch!

6. Our Panelists
Ken Palmer
Professor Emeritus, Political Science: The University of Maine
Peter Gore
Vice President for Advocacy & Government Relations: Maine State
Chamber of Commerce
Chris Rector (R)
Maine State Senator, Knox
Mary J. Herman
Consultant Strategist; Former Lobbyist; Former First Lady, State of
Maine
Sarah Conroy
SHRM Maine State Government Affairs Director

7. Today’s Agenda
• Objectives Today’s Session &
SHRM Government Affairs in Maine
Sarah Conroy
• The Political Landscape in Maine
Ken Palmer
• Lobbying in Maine
Peter Gore

8. Today’s Agenda
• The Maine Legislature Today
Chris Rector
• Strategic Consulting in Maine
Mary Herman
(Break)

9. Today’s Agenda
• SHRM HR Voice Overview and 2010
Government Affairs Advocacy Initiative
Sarah Conroy
• Moderated Panel Discussion
• Audience Q & A – don’t be shy!

10. Objectives 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.

11. SHRM Government Affairs in Maine
Your Government Affairs Team (GAT)
CMHRA
Amie Parker
HRASM
Lisa Noonan HRAEM
Celine Frueh NESHRM
Sarah Joy
Greg Fall Robin Beckwith
Johnna Major Ryan Bushey
State Council
Carol Taylor
Sarah Conroy
MSHHRA
KVHRA Chris Riendeau
Cathy DeMerchant
Special Thanks To Bethany Turon (CMHRA), Shannon
Kashinsky (HRASM), Amy Cross Sawyer (HRASM),
Mary Caldwell (Midcoast SHRM) & Director Emeritus,
Bill Saufley!

12. SHRM Government Affairs in Maine

13. SHRM Government Affairs in Maine
Your Government Affairs Team (GAT)
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.

14. SHRM Government Affairs in Maine
Your Government Affairs Team (GAT)
Invite Others to Join Us!
Contact Sarah at seconroy@gmail.com or
Your Chapter Government Affairs Director

15. 124th 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

16. 124th Maine Legislature, Session II Efforts
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

17. 124th Maine Legislature, Session II Efforts
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

18. SHRM Government Affairs in Maine
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.

19. SHRM Government Affairs in Maine
Are We On The Right Track?
• Our survey will ask for:
– Interest level
– Feedback
– Involvement

20. SHRM Government Affairs in Maine
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?

21. SHRM Government Affairs in Maine
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!

22. What Started it All….

23. SHRM Government Affairs in Maine
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!

24. SHRM Government Affairs in Maine
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….

25. SHRM Government Affairs in Maine
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

26. SHRM Government Affairs in Maine
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

27. SHRM Government Affairs in Maine
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!

28. The Political Landscape in Maine
Kenneth T. Palmer, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Political Science

29. Lobbying in Maine
Peter M. Gore
Vice President, Advocacy & Government Relations

30. The Maine Legislature Today
Christopher Rector
Maine State Senator, Knox (R)

31. Strategic Consulting in Maine
Mary J. Herman
Principal

32. Grassroots Advocacy: What Is It & What Role Can You Play?
©SHRM 2007

33. 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

34. The Importance of Advocacy
“America is not governed by the majority, but by the
majority of those who participate.”
- Thomas Jefferson
©SHRM 2007

35. What is HRVoice?
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.
©SHRM 2007

36. SHRM’s Member Advocacy Capabilities To Date
While E-mail Communications to Legislators are Important, We
Need to Put a Face On the HR Profession
©SHRM 2007 36

37. Exercise Your Voice
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.
©SHRM 2007

38. Stay Educated
• 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
©SHRM 2007

39. Educational Resources
Washington, DC & State Insider
www.shrm.org/government/insiders_published
State Pending Legislation Report
www.shrm.org/government/states/pendingleg_published
HR Congressional Monitor
www.shrm.org/government/scoreboard_published
www.shrm.org/government/update
©SHRM 2007

40. Educational Resources
• Public Policy Statements/Fact Sheets
• Public Policy Presentations
• State and Federal Monitoring & Tracking
• Webcasts & Conference Calls
• Toolkits
©SHRM 2007

41. 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

42. 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

43. 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

44. Day Inside the District (DITD)
©SHRM 2007

45. 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

46. Member Advocacy in 2009
HRVoice Letters
©SHRM 2007 46

47. 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

48. SHRM’s Advocacy Website – Get Involved
©SHRM 2007 48

49. SHRM’s NEW ‘HR Voice’ System
©SHRM 2007 49

50. SHRM’s NEW ‘HR Voice’ Action E-list
©SHRM 2007 50

51. SHRM’s NEW HR Voice Action E-list
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 2007 51

52. SHRM NEW Pending Legislation Report
©SHRM 2007 52

53. 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 *
©SHRM 2007 53

54. SHRM Advocacy Website – ‘Issues’
©SHRM 2007 54

55. SHRM Advocacy Website – ‘Legislative Leaders’
©SHRM 2007 55

56. A Preview of SHRM’s Member
Advocacy Focus for 2010
©SHRM 2007 56

57. 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 . . .
©SHRM 2007 57

58. Sharing Some Quality Face Time With HR
Who better to share the HR perspective on an issue than you?
©SHRM 2007 58

59. SHRM’s 2010 ‘SHAPE’ Program for Chapters and
State Councils
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 59

60. Member Advocacy Strategy in 2010
By the end of 2010, identify at
least one key contact
(‘precinct captain’) in the
congressional districts
throughout the 10 target
states and California
©SHRM 2007 60

61. Panel Discussion & Audience Q & A