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President's Message

    June 8, 2020

    Greetings AVHRA Members,

    My last President’s message was written on February 16, 2020.  Our world has turned upside down since then…. as individuals, businesses and HR professionals.  For many, the pace got suddenly slower due to “Stay Home, Stay Healthy”.  But it’s safe to say that for you, as HR professionals, there was no slow down due to COVID-19….it was likely an increased amount of work, a frenzy to help employees work remotely, a difficult decision process of determining who was “essential” and possibly who must be furloughed or laid off, helping those who might be exposed or sick navigate their benefits, a scramble to gather data for the PPP loans, another scramble to implement new safety protocols, and the list continues.  Not to mention the daily task of fielding unanswerable questions and managing through uncertainty.  


    Whew!  You need to stop and appreciate all you have navigated in the past 3 months.  You have been working hard to take care of your employees.  Maybe you’ve even been doubling as a home school teacher.  In all of this, don’t forget to find ways to take care of yourself.  Find joy in little things, find ways to create experiences that give you energy as well as give back to those around you.  And find a way to encourage the HR friends you know.  We are in this together!
    As one way to connect and encourage each other, our AVHRA Board is hosting a virtual Happy Hour on Thursday, June 18th at 5pm.  We’d love to have you join us.  Email us at avhrashrm@gmail.com to receive the zoom link.    

    Check out these resources!
    We postponed our spring line up for Lunch and Learns, so watch for those returning hopefully this Fall.  In the meantime, check out this list of webinars and resources we hope you find helpful:

    1.    Reopening the Workplace Post-COVID  - Free Webinar offered by Ogden Murphy Wallace on June 11, 2020 at 3pm.  Featuring Karen Sutherland and Erin McCool, this webinar will address your questions on reopening and all the issues that might arise.  You can register by clicking here

    2.    Check out this thorough list of local COVID-19 resources available from the Wenatchee Chamber of Commerce, including their Toolkit For Reopening.  

    3.    The Phoenix Method: Don’t Burn Out, Burn Up!  June 16th  12:00pm to 1:00pm.  This webinar is sponsored by the Olympia SHRM chapter and is available to SHRM member for $10 and Non-Members for $15.  Click here for more information and to register. 

    Wishing you all a happy and healthy summer!

    Robin Carey
    AVHRA President