Kay Schroeder, SPHR 2007 NTSHRM President   WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! Cathy Brigham  (Concordia University) Erica Worley  (Manpower) Michael McGee  (Peerless Mfg. Co) Dianne Wood  (Securitas Security Services) SUBMISSIONS  The Dispatch is published monthly for members of the North Texas Society for Human Resources Management.  Letters to the editor, news releases, articles or items of interest to readers are welcome and can be submitted with your name and telephone number to: Nechelle Harris Harcourt, Inc. 1175 N. Stemmons Freeway Lewisville, TX 75067 Office (972)459-6003 Fax     (972)459-6002 nharris@harcourt.com Please submit articles no later than the first Monday of each month. Be sure to put “DISPATCH Newsletter” in subject line. CALLING ALL SPONSORS  If your company would like to sponsor a luncheon, contact Joye Williams at Jwilliams6@mail.twu.edu.  A mere $200 gets you the audience’s undivided attention for a few moments and table space for your company’s information.

NTSHRM  DISPATCH  July 2, 2007 Message from the President Hello everyone!  The summer is winding down….have you enjoyed it?  I hope you’ve been able to relax by the pool, or even in a tropical destination, and spend time with your families.  As the summer ends, our NTSHRM luncheons pick up again.  I missed you, and look forward to seeing you all again at our August luncheon! We’ve witnessed weather this summer that has astounded, devastated and amazed us.  One particular rain storm in Gainesville forced many out of their homes and businesses, and even claimed three victims.   Because so many people had no place to turn, the VISTO food bank in Gainesville was in dire need of basic pantry necessities.  Your chapter donated $200.  Non-profit organizations are experts at stretching their donation dollars, and I have no doubt that our donation provided warm meals for many families in the area. Back to chapter business, NTSHRM is scheduling mini-seminars for the remainder of the year.  Mark you calendars for Friday, September 7.  Ouida Peterson will do a full-day seminar, revolving around COBRA, HSAs and HRAs. If you attended our annual conference, you know that Ouida is a fantastic speaker.  She is possibly the only person I know that can turn COBRA compliance issues into both an insightful and amusing topic!  Watch your emails for more details. With that said, enjoy the rest of your summer.  I’ll see you soon. Kay Schroeder, PHR President, NTSHRM  NEXT PROGRAM  Join us September 19th Randy Pennington presents "Results Rule"  RSVP to Regina Wright by the Tuesday before HUMAN RESOURCE CERTIFICATION INSTITUTE (HRCI) The HRCI exists to enhance the professionalism of HR practitioners, researchers, and consultants through its certification process. HRCI, an affiliate of SHRM, has a separate board of directors from SHRM and is operated as an independent nonprofit entity.  Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) Website:  http://www.hrci.org/ Reminder, if you also passed either the PHR, SPHR or GPHR Exams, please let us know so that you, too, can be recognized for your accomplishment.  NTSHRM would like to extend a big “thank you” to everyone who volunteered their time to help make this possible.  Check our website soon for the 2007-2008 exam schedule.  GREAT RESOURCES One resource for employers that Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) suggests is 1-800-Workplace (1-800-967-5752), a help line for employees and businesses dealing with problems related to substance abuse.  SAMHSA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services. It released a report July 16, 2007 showing that one in 12 full-time U.S. workers admit to using illegal drugs in the past month. “The helpline provides advice on programs that can make a dramatic difference to everyone in the workplace,” such as substance abuse policy development, supervisor and employee substance abuse education, employee assistance, and drug testing, said Terry Cline, administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in a press release.