I admit it. I have some street cred I’ve got to maintain. I am a rebel like the Fonz. I don’t play by the rules, I wear a leather jacket sometimes, and I can make the jukebox play my favorite songs. So when I decided to rejoin SHRM and try this whole thing again, I was going to play cool and pretend I was still a rebel while hanging out on SHRM Connect.
Why Did I Rejoin?
Everyone will probably guess that China Miner Gorman at SHRM had a lot to do with it. That was helpful sure. There were three mitigating factors that made it worth the cost of joining:
- Easier access to updated information – I am still very much in the HR world yet I am disconnected from colleagues on broader issues coming up through the chain. SHRM will certainly help maintain my knowledge as a generalist. Being able to speak to current issues facing my customers is important to them and to me.
- Access to people I can’t connect with any other way – It is difficult to make connections with many HR people outside of SHRM. At least locally, there are a couple of groups but I miss some bigger companies. If I want the opportunity to touch base with those people, SHRM makes sense.
- Perhaps I can change SHRM easier as a member – It is worth a try but I am skeptical about this one. Look, SHRM is hierarchical to the max. To gain true influence, you have to move up through layers of local, state and regional associations before you can get to the ear of the strategy makers. Perhaps as a member, my blog will be listened to by more at SHRM though.
How Did SHRM Try To Stop Me From Rejoining?
There are three things that killed me that I had to ignore in order to join:
- SHRM Legislative Alerts – I have continued to receive these even though I let my membership lapse because it was important to stay up to date. This continues to be a sore spot to me. The issue advocacy first approach instead of providing education and presenting multiple sides of the argument is entirely wrong for an organization like SHRM. Other associations get away with it because they focus on one industry. SHRM has hundreds of industries in their ranks.
- The local association versus national association disconnect – I want to be a part of my local SHRM chapter so I went to their website to get information and if I want to be a part of them, I am required to be a SHRM member and I am required to mail in my local membership dues as well as my SHRM dues (if I am not current). There needs to be a tighter association between local and national levels and it is time to stop the insanity with separate dues.
- SHRM Connect - I saw a preview of it and knew it was going rough. The good news is that I changed my mind about SHRM making this a public facing product (as of now, only members can access SHRM Connect). Non-members will basically find little use for the product as it lives today. Want to connect with likeminded folks? Go to Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. All of them have better interfaces, more people and a higher rate of conversation going on.
Did I Jump The Shark Like The Fonz?
Probably.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Well, welcome back! We’re awfully glad to have you!
Welcome back and thanks for the concise pro/con list. Well said.
@NoraBurns
Ayyyyy. If they don’t think you’re cool for re-joining SHRM, they can Sit On It!
Well, I’ve always thought you were cool — SHRM member or not. I look forward to your continued honest insider feedback.
Welcome Lance! Glad your back!
Will you be wearing the leather jacket to the next SHRM conference?
If I had to guess, recent (last 12 mo.) interactions with SHRM leadership – namely China – probably had bigger impact on you coming back than the reasons you listed. I don’t buy the information reason – it’s easier to get info today, SHRM member or not, than any other time in history. You connect with the HR people all over the world, SHRM isn’t going to expand your audience that much more – unless you were looking for “blue hairs and HR secretaries” – I had to put that in KD! And, SHRM members have little impact in changing direction, primarily because of it’s size, one voice is lost.
But, it’s hard to walk away from personal relationships and stories, like we’ve gotten from China and her influence in social media and the blogosphere. It’s made SHRM “real” and less corporate. In my estimation, it’s probably closer to the reason you came back to SHRM.
But being a standing member since 2001 – I’m glad to have you on board!
Thanks all.
Tim – Absolutely China had influence on me joining but I am already connected to her and had her ear whenever I could get on her busy schedule. Using your logic, why drop $160 large on a connection I’ve already made?
Legitimately, ease of information gathering is important. I have been gathering information on my own since I ceased my membership. It is tougher to track out of state issues without SHRM’s assistance. Definitely doable but SHRM makes it easier, especially for those of us outside of day-to-day inside HR roles.
Not everyone is socially savvy yet. We can call them blue hairs or secretaries but they are also future social media users. If I can get to them (as a vendor and consultant now) before my competition, I win. One paid contact that I couldn’t have made without SHRM instantly pays for the membership. I am betting that, just like any of the associations I am a part of, I can make that happen.
You’re right about the influence part though.
You definitely did not jump the shark with this post. Your well-written account of your decision is timely and a great read for all who are in SHRM’s sphere of influence. I’m sure you will get your money’s worth and hopefully a lot more from the connections you make.
Welcome back to SHRM Lance! You have a voice, and a platform that SHRM needs to listen to whether you’re a member or not, but I do think it’s easier for an organization’s leadership to take constructive feedback from someone who is within the organization rather than outside of it. It removes the argument of “why don’t you join and be part of the change you’d like to see”. Keep raising your concerns and also giving props where due. It matters!
Chump City, USA.
Population: you and me.
We’re in this together. Did your employer reimburse you for your dues? I need to get someone to pay for mine!
I joined. Although I thought it was the Society for Humus Recycling Mercenaries.
Seriously, I’ve been in the HR marketplace for 10 years now, but on the marcom HR supplier side of the fence. I want to learn more about the professional side of the fence and that’s why I joined. Plus, I really like what China has to say about the profession and where it should be going.
And all you other deadbeats as well.
“Chump City, USA Population: you and me”? LOL Really, Laurie, the way you command even another blogger’s comment section is amazing! I want to write like you when I grow up!
@Laurie – It was my investment alone. That was important to me as I had to decide whether it was actually worth it for me to spend my money on instead of a couple of months of Starbucks Iced Black Coffees.
I do enjoy the fact that everyone is so positive. Who distributed the kool-aid to these folks?
I’m glad you’re back too!
As for Con #2 – the perceived disconnect between local chapters and SHRM – the important thing to remember is that each affiliate chapter establishes its own by-laws and membership criteria. And, of course, processes such as paying dues. It also sounds like your local chapter is a 100% chapter (meaning they require chapter members to also be SHRM members); not all chapters are like this, but for various reasons may either have to be or choose to be. But.. here is your opportunity to ‘change from within!” As a local chapter Past President, I found the most effective way to move things forward was to become involved and drive identified improvements – i.e. changes to the chapter by-laws that USED to exclude rather than include a number of HR practitioners, and operational processes such as dues payments and membership applications.
p.s. I like the blue kool-aid.
Also, I wish there was a more involvement between the collegiate chapter, national chapter and local chapters. We also have separate dues and applications which makes the process even more tedious.
Welcome back, Lance. I have been a member of SHRM for 8 years (I think). Although I criticize them sometimes they are the best option for information and news about our industry. Sometimes I can’t live with them but more often than not, I can’t live without them.
Welcome back and connect with me on SHRM connect. I’m still listed as Jessica Miller. I think I’ll make that my New Year’s resolution to change my name on SHRM to the hyphenation. Did I mention that I’ve been married for over three years? Man, I’m way behind. . .
Jessica Miller-Merrell, SPHR
@blogging4jobs
I SO agree about your comment on local vs national disconnect. And my membership, like Kevin, gives me a window on my customer as well as HR info to apply to my own business. It functions. I’m Richie (in drag) to your Fonz… and when the Fonz comes to the party it makes it cooler.
So welcome aboard again Lance. Beth Carvin (Nobscot Corporation) recently shared with me the SHRM virtual bar called “The Hut” topic that resides under the SHRM website forum section “HR Talk”, sometimes it is known as “The HR Bacon Hut”. People order virtual drinks and bar food on Friday. See what membership can bring?! – @designtwit
When’s the group hug? Holla….
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