HR Pulse - Fall 2008 - (Page 13)

[PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE] Raise Your Voice Dear Colleagues, The ability and willingness to raise your voice is one of ﬁve leadership competencies in the ASHHRA HR Leader Model. The role of advocate falls squarely under that competency, and it is one that I admit to underestimating. Until now. In May, I had the privilege of joining ASHHRA advocacy committee members in Washington, D.C. for their annual two-day visit to Capitol Hill. I went not really knowing what to expect, and I came home enlightened about the importance of advocacy and the power we at ASHHRA have to create change. It was a truly incredible experience I hope every one of you will have at least once in your career. The Hill Visit On our ﬁrst day, a team of experts gave us a refresher course on the legislative process, provided an update on the current political environment, outlined current AHA legislative priorities and offered professional tips on how to be effective advocates. The committee members and I extend special thanks to these AHA staff members for sharing their knowledge: Carla Luggiero, senior associate director; Debbie Weiner, grassroots director; Mindy Hatton, senior vice president and general counsel; and Lawrence Hughes, assistant general counsel advocacy and public policy. On the second day we met with about 40 legislators and their staff members. (Please read the position statements we presented by clicking on the Advocacy button on the ASHHRA Web site.) I expected that we’d be treated courteously but get no more than 5 or 10 minutes of their time. Instead, I was very pleasantly surprised at their level of interest and engagement—they really wanted to understand health care HR issues, and they asked many probing questions. Yes, health care issues are important to legislators because these issues are important to voters. But I discovered that legislators, both Democrat and Republican, have genuine concern for employees, especially those who provide health care. ASHHRA members are the people who take care of the people who take care of patients, and legislators do want to know our views. Make the Commitment Since returning from Washington, D.C., I have made a personal commitment to become a more engaged advocate for our profession. I encourage you to do the same. The more of us who speak up on the issues that affect our organizations and our workforces, the better chance we have of achieving meaningful results in our state and nation’s capitals. (For ideas on what you can do, see page 70.) No matter what happens in the November election, you can bet that health care will continue to rank high on the national agenda. We as a profession have a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to help legislators understand the impact their decisions have on our employees. So, remember to raise your voice early and often! 13 HR Pulse Fall 2008 Best regards, Jeanene Martin, M.Ed., MPH, SPHR ASHHRA 2008 President

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of HR Pulse - Fall 2008

HR Pulse - Fall 2008 Contents Pulse Points Executive Director’s Letter President’s Message HR Leader Profile: Irma Pye Sammy’s House: Making a Difference in Austin Working Mother Magazine’s 100 Best Companies Increasing CEO Engagement Pastoral Care Retaining Scarce, Critical Talent The Engagement Dilemma Diversity Considerations…More than AAP & EEO Quashing the Workplace Bullying Bug How to Become a Strong Human Resources Partner Citizen Lobbyists Descend Upon Capitol Hill Conference Highlights Schedule at a Glance Sponsors Exhibitors Advertisers’ Index

HR Pulse - Fall 2008

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