Reflections. . .

 

While in the DC area for the SHRM Leadership conference, I had the opportunity to slip away for about 90 minutes to visit the Newseum, relocated to Pennsylvania Avenue after I moved to San Diego.  This was my first visit and I left impressed and committed to returning when I can spend more time and enjoy the rich content of the museum.  One of the items on exhibit is a picture of President Barack Obama, staring at himself in the mirror in the U.S. Capitol moments before he stepped outside to, in front of millions around the world, take the oath of office as President of the United States.

 While my 2012 role as President of San Diego SHRM is not nearly as significant as that of the elected leader of the free world, I can’t help but reflect upon this incredible honor I have been given by SD SHRM members to be your chapter President in 2012.  I am typing this as I am en route home to San Diego and I am reflecting on this significant opportunity you are giving me to contribute to your professional growth and development.  I have spent the past four days learning about leadership from amazing and inspirational people such as Barbara Glanz, a co-author of books with Ken Blanchard (one of my leadership idols); Ryan Estis, an inspirational 21st century thought leader who is rocking the world of work; and Scott Mulligan from the Disney Institute who gave all of us reason to look beyond today’s challenges and to learn from the lessons of wise leaders who have gone before us…  Life wasn’t always easy for Walt Disney but he never gave up!

 Through this conference, SHRM has given chapter leaders from throughout the U.S.the opportunity to share ideas, collaborate, and exchange best practices.  The learning also included content from SHRM’s perspective.  They have shared their priorities for 2012, which are complementary to those that your 2012 Board are already focusing on.  In addition, SHRM shared with us their financial performance, which while revenues were not meeting expectations (like many organizations in today’s economy), the organization is controlling expenses in such a way as to make SHRM an ongoing viable concern.  The HRCI update was inspiring as certification, and recertification are ways that individuals can demonstrate to employees, and prospective employers, our individual commitment to learning, growth, and development.  And, the SHRM Foundation continues to provide scholarships and to fund research that benefits everyone in, and associated with, the field of human resources.

 As I think about what is to come for SD SHRM, I realize there is much work to be done. And, none of it is going to be easy.  Your 2012 Board and I are preparing to deliver excellence in programming and experiences to you, our members.  We will do so with consistent, engaging, relevant, and valuable content.  For now, know that we will be spending the next few weeks getting ready to kick off 2012 with a flourish.  Our Law Day programming will be like nothing we have ever done before, and yet it promises to offer the same, or even greater, value to participants.  After that, on February 29th, we will be sharing the excellent workplace HR practices from our 10 Workplace Excellence award winners with attendees at a dinner that will include keynote speaker Colleen Barrett, President Emeritus, Southwest Airlines.  You should know that she has said that she wants to have a dialog with us and doesn’t want to speak to us in a talking head format…  So, be sure to start preparing your questions about what it is like to found and lead an organization that has significantly outperformed it’s industry, and even market-wide, performance.

 These are just a few of the things we have planned for you, our members.  If you have been taking a break from our programming recently, skipping over our ads like you skip over television commercials while watching the DVRed versions of your favorite TV programs, be forewarned….if you don’t pay careful attention, you might just miss something great in store just for you!  I hope to see you at one of our programs real soon.  And, be sure to say “hi”!