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Letter from the President - Second Quarter

    March 26, 2018

    Spring is a beautiful season along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  Those sunny days, warmer temperatures, and blooming azaleas make it hard to be indoors.   The season brings renewal – we can feel it in the air.  Although we can do it at any time during the year, we seem to have extra energy and inspiration to do something new.  

    Everything grows in the Spring...so, let's talk a little more about our growth.

    During the first quarter as President, I began working with your Board and CLA Directors to determine our path for the year ahead.  As a team, we wanted to grow, elevate, and invigorate our Chapter.  We decided we wanted to be “MORE THAN HR”.

    Of course, one of our primary areas of focus is to increase membership.  And while we will always focus on the traditional HR professional, Chapter leaders began considering those who are ‘new’ or ‘emerging’ in our field...and we started working right away.

    First, we developed a branding campaign and created publicity materials to help us better market our mission.

    Then, we joined the Biloxi Bay and Jackson County Chambers of Commerce to become more visible in the community and with Small Business owners (folks who have HR responsibilities, but often have little to no HR experience); and we strengthened our relationships with MGCCC and the USM to offer complimentary student memberships.

    But we haven’t stopped there.

    We offered a Membership Special during the month of March; we developed a prorated fee structure for individuals who join later in the year; and our Board of Directors have been personally reaching out to former GCHRA members.

    That’s not all…our members have been busy promoting, inviting, and encouraging others to join us. 

    And because EVERYONE has played a part, we’ve seen a 14% increase in new membership in just 3 months – we even admitted our very first student member!  WOW! 

    As we begin the second quarter, I challenge each of us to do at least one thing that will help us keep growing.  Just one.

    But growth doesn’t always have to mean bigger.  It can also mean creating, maturing, or evolving.

    Perhaps that means inviting a guest to a meeting; or finding a program topic & speaker (or offer to BE a speaker). Maybe it means offering your time & talents for our outreach events; or using your network to secure a Chapter sponsor. You could volunteer to serve on a Symposium committee; or even write a news article to share with us.  

    I can't wait to find out what it will be!

    Lauren

    Development.  Relationships. Partners.  We’re more than HR.