Welcome to the Tri-State Society for Human Resource Management web site.  It is intended to be a source for information of vital importance to the HR industry.  It will become a readily accessible source for current events affecting the operating principles implemented by all HR professionals.  Perhaps even more importantly these pages will represent what is best and finest about the local HR networking possibilities.  Any of our members would welcome the opportunity to answer questions or to simply have a conversation to hopefully arrive at a well thought out solution to any HR situation which you might be experiencing.  Contact us and see for yourself. 

           Welcome to the Tri-State Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management, and thanks for visiting our site! Our chapter’s mission is to improve the professional competence & standards of performance of its members in all phases of personnel administration, to encourage & facilitate the exchange of ideas & information among members, to actively support or oppose legislation of other matters based on employer needs & professional goals, and to support the goals & purpose of the Society for Human Resource Management. We are continually striving to meet these goals.

            In the last year, our chapter has taken on various initiatives, and we are very proud to share those with our community of professionals. Here are a few recent highlights from our more than 10 years of growth and accomplishment:

          Human Resource Certification Initiative: With the help of our VP of Membership and various chapter members, we established and completed the first PHR/SPHR preparation and study course on the campus of Texas A&M University – Texarkana. More than 20 participants from the greater Texarkana area participated in a series of Saturday sessions, going through the SHRM Test Prep Modules in preparation for the PHR/SPHR Certification exam. Upon successful completion of the course, several scholarships were awarded from the chapter.

           Workforce Readiness Initiative: Tri-State SHRM continues to partner with the Northeast Texas and Arkansas Workforce Centers to provide solutions to our community of unemployed and displaced workers. As a sponsor, Tri-state SHRM provided support for one of the largest job fairs in the history of the Ark-la-tex, at the Four States Fairgrounds, in February of 2010. Tri-state SHRM also continues to partner annually with the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce to volunteer public speakers and chaperones for the largest annual College and Career Fair in the region.

           Governmental Affairs & Education Initiative: Tri-State SHRM has produced and implemented annual Employment Law Seminars, hosted EEOC workshops and provided learning opportunities to its members and the greater business community over the years.

            The 2010 Health Care Summit (co-presented by Tri-State SHRM) provides an opportunity for Chief Financial Officers, Business Owners, Comptrollers, and Human Resource Professionals to gain insight from Seyfarth & Shaw (a leading international employment law group). In years past, Atchley, Russell, Waldrop & Hlavinka LLP of Texarkana, Littler Employment & Labor Law Worldwide, and a host of other professionals, from the Dallas and Little Rock Division of EEOC, to OSHA, to other individual consultants in the field, have provided excellent opportunities for our professionals to gain knowledge and best practices for the success of their organizations.

            In the process of highlighting recent accomplishments, I would be doing our Chapter a disservice if I did not mention those who envisioned the need for a Human Resource organization in the community and their continued commitment and dedication to the Tri-State Chapter over the past years. Those founding members are: Aggie Butler, Debbie Butler, Dwayne Butler, Julie Collins, George DeLoach, Joey Martin, Dianne Johnson, Robert Johnson, Diane Leverett, Denny Peterson, and Bob Smith. The organization has grown over the years to more than 100 members strong, with HR professionals from all walks of life. Our extended family in the community is comprised of representation from Banking institutions, Chamber of Commerce representatives, Hospitals, Insurance specialists, Law firms, Manufacturing plants, Non-profit organizations, Private employment firms, Realtors, Training specialists, Staffing & HR Consultants, and Workforce center representatives.

             Another landmark for our Chapter was the establishment of our Scholarship Foundation in 2006. The objective of the Scholarship Foundation is to provide some financial support for those members within the organization that are in the process of completing their education. We maintain this goal by producing quality seminars each year for the community to participate in at a minimal cost. This combination is a win-win situation for those continuing their education as well as those in the HR profession wanting to stay abreast of pressing issues and trends in today’s market. In 2010, Tri-state SHRM also awarded $1,925 in scholarships for the PHR/SPHR Certification Course. I invite you to join us at our upcoming events. Our general membership meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., at the Texarkana Public Library located downtown @ 600 W. 3rd St. Texarkana, TX, in the Meeting Room. If you are a Business Owner/Operator, HR Professional, Consultant to Human Resources, Business Field Educator, and/or National Member of SHRM, you are encouraged to join us and enjoy the benefits of professional development that Tri-State SHRM offers. Not only will you find a warm, friendly atmosphere and a great meal menu, you will also find a networking community eager to assist with your professional needs. Tri-state SHRM is a great resource for building and sustaining your professional career. You can contact me if you have any questions or would like more information about our Chapter at 903-735-3000 (ext. 3168).

My Best Regards,                      

LaTonya D. McElroy, PHR