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President’s Message

    March 15, 2016

    For those of you who attended our Active Shooter meeting yesterday, thank you!  Active-shooter training for office workers used to be about hiding. Not anymore. In some cases, the “run and/or hide” options won’t work, and the battle back becomes the last best hope.  Denying the danger, and even hiding from it, is the way our brains are essentially programmed, but ducking behind desks or tables can feel just awful.  In a way, we’re sitting ducks – hoping that we won’t be found.  The approach shared in the Active Shooter training is known as Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) – reacting quickly with a plan to survive; disrupting and confusing shooters.  AVHRA thanks our local law enforcement for providing this great insight to AVOID, DENY AND DEFEND, led by Officer Cory Bernaiche and Captain Doug Jones, with special guest, Dick Robert.  

    Across Washington, HR leaders are embracing innovation. On May 3rd, executives and senior leaders from companies like Google, General Plastics, Archbright, Chelan County PUD and T-Mobile will share the new methods they’re creating to hire better candidates, grow more effective employees, and build better organizations. “The Future of HR, Today” is a full-day HR summit, complete with general and strategic HRCI/SHRM credits. Lunch is provided.  Don’t miss this great local opportunity - view the program flyer and register before April 15 for an early bird discount!

    CERTIFICATION REUNION! Calling all members who studied with AVHRA to obtain a PHR/SPHR certification or re-certification.  We’re getting together for a potluck reunion in the park and hope you’ll join us.  We have tentatively scheduled this event for late afternoon on Thursday, May 12th.  There have been many, many people studying with us over the years and most often under the tutelage of Annie Horey and Melissa Grimm, AVHRA Certification Chairpersons and mentors extraordinaire! Mark your calendar and watch the events page on our website for more information.

     The AVHRA Board has identified the following initiatives as areas of focus for 2016.  The benefits of these initiatives are most likely obvious, but please feel free to reach out to us if you have any input, ideas or just want to connect.

    • Membership Initiative – increase active membership by 5% in 2016
    • College Relations – WVC and CWU-SHRM Student Chapter
    • Workforce Readiness – Community Outreach: Tips and Techniques for Resumes and Interviewing (including previous Alcoa employees)
    • Diversity and Inclusion


    Thank you for your support of AVHRA through membership and attendance at our events.

    Did you know you can get HRCI credits and SHRM PDCs by volunteering with AVHRA? Serving as a Board Chairperson can earn 5 credits/pdc per year (up to 10 max) and supporting the board in other committee activities can earn 3 credits/pdc per year (up to 9 max). What a great way to earn recertification credits while having fun and meeting new people!

    Our ideal volunteer leader has a passion for the HR profession; he/she demonstrates leadership abilities and excellent communication and networking skills, and enjoys working collaboratively as part of our team.  Learn more about opportunities at our monthly Board Meetings held at 7:00 am on the 2nd Thursday of each month at the PUD Offices, located at 327 North Wenatchee Avenue.  

    With a number of AVHRA Board position retirements this year, we will be calling for nominations in September with selections for proposed slate of candidates in October.  This early scheduling allows for effective transition before January 2017.