Summer 2013 Edition

Calling all HR professionals!

Austin, Dallas, and Houston are seeking...

• Event volunteers,
• Meeting volunteers,
• Meeting leaders,
• Training leaders, 
• Social Media Managers,
• Marketing volunteers, and a
• Volunteership drive team.

Please contact the founder Eric Griesel and share how you would like to help.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR HOUSTON

Effective June 1, Eric Griesel's weekly Strategic Job Search Program moved from Second Baptist Church.  

The program has moved to a new location to be announced later on the LinkedIn Group by Eric Griesel.  Please join Texas HR Pros' Professionals In-Transition Group on LinkedIn to find out where the new location will be and for the new days/times. 
 
Many thanks to Second Baptist Church for hosting the program for 2.5 years!

Thank you for your patience.

MEET TEXAS HR PROS' DALLAS LEADER LIZ D'ALOIA 

            

Liz, an attorney and HR executive will be a moderator at this year's 26th Annual South Texas College of Law Employment Conference in Houston on July 25-26. 

Liz is also the founder of HR Virtuoso, a revolutionary product for HR departments and businesses. 

The conference fee is $300-$325 for HR professionals. 





HOW HR COOLS OFF AT THE BEACH...

 

Can you spot HR at the beach?  Our next mixer will be at Sam’s Boat on July 25, 2013. 

Special thanks to our dedicated sponsor Kathleen Ater Personnel.

Early Bird Register for the 2013 Texas Total Rewards Conference

2013 Texas Total Rewards Conference

September 22 - 24, 2013

Houston, Texas

Registration is now open!

Click here to Register

Early Bird Deadline ends July 31, 2013

√ If you are interested in volunteering for the 2013 Conference, contact Christine Gough This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and Bonnie Griffin This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Conference Co - Chairs.√ If you are interested in exhibiting at or sponsoring the 2013 Conference, contact Christine Gough This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Exhibitor/Sponsor Chair.

Find out about this year's conference from our LinkedIn Group!

Complimentary Live UT-Austin Webinar on HR Strategy on 4/18/13

The Dilemma of HR Strategy: It's Not What You Think!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CDT

Webinar Registration

As the call for companies to develop human resource (HR) strategies has steadily increased over the past ten years, so has confusion surrounding the issue. For many HR professionals, making the shift has meant learning to see themselves in a strategic role without the benefit of a guide. Fortunately, strategy is a mindset that requires only a shift in how we think about what we are doing. By adopting the science of investment, the responsibilities of stewardship, and the art of influence, HR strategists can uncover new resources to leverage and affect their organizations.

Components of the presentation include: * Seeing with an Eye to Growth * Principles of Investment- Learning the Science * The Art of Influence- Managing Changing Environments

Olive Gatling is a passionate writer and business leader who has been the featured speaker for professional HR associations across Texas. Olive teaches a one-day workshop called 'People Matter: Making the Case for HR' at the Professional Development Center at The University of Texas Austin.

Personal Ad for HR Peeps

Seeking stately HR gurus who worship Texas and enjoy mingling with like-minded intelligent peers who are dedicated to their profession and to making a difference in business and the community.

Perhaps, this was more of a Personnel ad. 

Spring is here, and we could use some brilliant and industrious volunteers in Austin, Dallas, and Houston to reach our goals for our growing membership.

Please contact Eric@TexasHRPros.com to find out how you can make a difference by volunteering.

Calling All Austin HR Professionals...



South by Southwest Lounges at SXSW

Did you miss the HR-related seminars at SXSW Interactive last week?  Well, hopefully, you saw Prince perform last night as a finale to the SXSW Music Festival.  We know what employees will be talking about around the water cooler on Monday.

Our social media manager says, "Next year, we will be at South by Southwest representing our Texas-sized LinkedIn Group at SXSW Interactive, so get ready!"

If you'd like to enhance your professional visibility and expand your network of HR professionals, perhaps, getting involved in the Texas HR Pros' networking mixers in Austin is the vehicle you've been looking for!  We have an upcoming networking event and you are invited!  Stay tuned for more details.

Reach out to founder of Texas HR Pros, Eric Griesel, and let him connect you with Vanessa Gonzalez, the group leader in Austin.  She is an employment attorney at Bickerstaff law firm and does many speaking presentations for HR.  You have to meet her! 

Texas HR Pros will be hitting 5,000 members near year's end.  Contact Eric@texashrpros.com be a part of the show now and demonstrate your leadership and networking skills while having fun with a progressive group of like-minded practitioners.

SHRM's Social Engagement Director Was at Austin's SXSW

Curtis Midkiff, Jr.
Twitter Handle:  @SHRMSMG
Director of Social Engagement for #SHRM, world's largest association of #HR pros. Unofficial #DJ for #HR related events around the globe!


If you were at South by Southwest in Austin, you may have hung out with SHRM's Director of Social Media at 605 Sabine St. and listened to him DJ.

He sent us a fun-filled tweet:

Curtis Midkiff‏@SHRMSMG

Hey @txhrpros I'm DJing at Sabine's tonight at 12AM....free chicken and waffles for #SXSW!

 

He travels around the globe promoting HR, so make sure you join him on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter. Check out his video below.

 

 

Blogging4Jobs Covers HR at SXSW in Austin

"Keep Austin Weird" with viral Grumpy Cat at SXSW

HR has hit the streets of our capitol Austin, Texas at South by Southwest Interactive.  If you are there, remember to tweet the following hashtags after your tweets, so your fellow HR professionals can follow you (#HR and #SXSW).


If were not able to go to congregate with your HR peers at or meet SHRM's social media DJ, Curtis Midkiff at SXSW don't be a Grumpy Cat.  We have our Austin Networking Mixer coming up in April.  Our event is headed by employment attorney Vanessa Gonzalez and it will be a great spring gathering.

Below are some SXSW articles featured on Blogging4Jobs.com.  Jessica Miller-Merrell is the founder of Bloging4Jobs.com, a workplace resource for HR professionals and business leaders is in Austin until Wednesday!  Her site was listed as a top 75 career resource by Forbes Magazine in 2012. Jessica is the president and CEO of Xceptional HR, a digital technology and consulting agency, and a published author of Tweet This! Twitter for Business. Jessica is listed as the 7^th most powerful woman on Twitter and the 2^nd most influential recruiter on the Internet. Because of vast industry expertise and knowledge, Jessica’s professional opinions and expertise are sought after and sourced by publications and media including: CIO Magazine, 20/20, ABC, CBS, Entrepreneur Magazine, and SHRM’s HR Magazine. Visit her About Page to learn more.

Top 10 Sessions in the 2013 SXSW Lineup for Workplace, HR, and Recruiting

http://www.blogging4jobs.com/events/top-10-sessions-in-the-2013-sxsw-lineup-for-workplace-hr-and-recruiting/

In our yearly installment of Top 10 Sessions in the 2013 SXSW Lineup for Workplace, HR, and Recruiting we are taking a look at sessions and meetups that you must attend in order to gain valuable insights in the HR, Workplace, and Recruiting industry. While there are 100s of sessions to attend, here is my advice in what panels you should pick to increase your knowledge in these areas.
The Real Problem with Hiring : It’s Way Too Easy (Friday March 8^th, 5 PM) Almost everyone will tell you hiring is a huge challenge. But consider how much we suck at picking people; look at marriage success rates. The real problem is that hiring is actually way too easy to do. It’s as simple as saying, “You’re hired.” View Full Description
Declaring War on IT Turnover (Saturday March 9^th, 12:30 PM) We have become a job-hopping culture. Company ‘lifers’ that maintain a career and knowledge in just one company for most of their working lives are essentially extinct. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers stay with their jobs an average of 4 years. In IT, the trending number is less. View Full Description
Your Desk Job Makes You Fat, Sick & Dead (Saturday March 9^th, 3:30 PM) The productivity of the average worker has skyrocketed thanks to technology, but it comes at the price of a sedentary lifestyle. Mounting research suggests that sitting at your desk for eight hours a day can have a dramatic impact on your health. In the 1960s, nearly half of all jobs required physical activity. Today, less than 20% do. View Full Description
Praise & A’s: Maximizing a Millennial Workforce (Sunday March 10^th, 3:30 PM) By 2014, Millennials (born between 1980-1995) will make up 36% of the workforce. This new group of workers, raised with technology and praise, brings a new set of expectations and demands. They were parented by overachieving Baby Boomers and GenXers who had their children running the rat-race in kindergarten. Primed at an early age to always think about their college application, these kids grew up in an era of grade inflation, extensive participation in extracurricular activities, and minimal free-range play. View Full Description
Millennials Speak Out: How to Manage the GenX Boss (Monday March 11^th, 11 AM) The media is flooded with stories of this new generation of workers, their need for constant praise, and perceived sense of entitlement. Millennials are described as arrogant, needy, and lacking in the work ethic found in the generations that came before. Research shows that Millennials are confident, interested in personal growth & communication, and have a quick ability to learn new technology. View Full Description
Destroy Your Cubicle: Make the World Your Office (Tuesday March 12^th, 11 AM) “The place we choose to live affects every aspect of our being. It can determine the income we earn, the people we meet, the friends we make, the partners we choose, and the options available to our children”. View Full Description
There Is an “I” in T-E-A-M (Monday March 11^th, 11:15 AM) For years, the preferences of individuals, or “I’s”, have largely been ignored in favor of the Team. Organizations have eagerly implemented team-building exercises and trendy collaboration tools to support team effectiveness and productivity; but in doing so, have overlooked individual work styles and preferred tools, leaving individual employees feeling frustrated and unempowered. View Full Description
Ok, Women Can’t Have It All, but Maybe No One Can (Monday March 11^th, 1230 PM) Anne-Marie Slaughter writes an open letter stating she never felt she could manage her job and have a healthy family life. Marissa Mayer becomes CEO of Yahoo! and announces she’s pregnant and working through maternity leave. Sheryl Sandberg gains attention with a somewhat contradictory suggestion that women need to step up, not take no for an answer, and work harder. View Full Description
Culture Is King: An Integrated Life Approach (Tuesday March 12^th, 11 AM) Survey after survey shows that strong organizational culture and philanthropic focus hold an increasing amount of weight for prospective employees when choosing a job. Yet, too often, employees are asked to check the other important aspects of their lives at the door when they come to work each day. View Full Description

11 Cool LinkedIn Tips for Job Seekers at SXSW

http://www.blogging4jobs.com/job-search/11-cool-linkedin-tips-for-job-seekers-at-sxsw/

South By Southwest 2013 is just around the corner and there’s quite a lot of online buzz about it… What started out as a small festival back in 1987 is now a giant mega-conference catering to lovers of music, film and all-things-interactive. More than 30,000 attendees are expected at this year’s event and that’s a lot of opportunity for networking if you are looking for a job or thinking about changing jobs in the near future.
LinkedIn is a must-have for jobseekers in general, but it also has a lot of functionality and features that can enhance your job search / networking at SXSW. Here are 11 key tips you can’t afford to overlook:
1. LinkedIn Profile: First and foremost, be sure to update your LinkedIn profile and optimize it. If you’re planning to network in person, then your online presence should be spit-shined and ready for the spotlight! There won’t be paper resumes passed around at SX; it’s your LinkedIn profile that the people will be checking out! Update your experience, add some skills, grow your network, get recommendations, make it SEO-optimized. Make it shine. Bonus tip: Consider mentioning in your Summary that you’ll be attending SXSW and would love to meet up with recruiters and hiring managers. This profile update will make your profile show up in SXSW search results and get your message out to your target audience!
2. LinkedIn Status: In the days heading up to the event, be sure to update your LinkedIn status daily to talk about SXSW, share articles about it and/or remind people that you’ll be attending. This is a great way to stay at the forefront of people’s minds and potentially set up a time to network “in real life” with your online connections.
3. LinkedIn for Research: Do you already know of specific companies and people that you plan to approach at SXSW? Do your homework beforehand! LinkedIn is the perfect tool for knowing more about someone’s background, experience, education and interests. The perfect icebreaker or key detail could make or break your conversation! Bonus tip: Apply for jobs online and then follow up with the recruiter via LinkedIn. Use SXSW as a perfect lead-in and reason to reach out. Ask if anyone from the company will be attending so that you can connect in person and meet the team.
4. LinkedIn Mobile App: LinkedIn’s mobile app enables you to link up with people you meet at the event and/or quickly research someone you’ve met or are about to introduce yourself to. Be strategic. Having a little insider info can guide you to know what to say, who to meet and where to devote your time.
5. Cardmunch App: How many times have you left a networking event with a handful of business cards that you never acted on? Cardmunch is a handy app that allows you to snap a photo of someone’s business card with your phone and automatically add them to your LinkedIn contacts. You can do it right then and there. Most recruiters will want to connect with you and this makes it easy for both of you to stay in touch down the road.
6. LinkedIn Company Pages / Groups: Engage with your target companies by following their LinkedIn Company Page and joining their LinkedIn Group. Some companies even have a Company Careers Group where their recruiters, hiring managers and employees engage with jobseekers. Gain insights on the company, learn about the company culture, reach out to ask if they’ll be attending SXSW. Find out where they’ll be so you can show up and network with hiring managers, recruiters and other employees. A little proactive legwork can go a long way in helping you network and stand out from the pack!
7. LinkedIn Signal: This often overlooked tool allows you to search status updates on LinkedIn, both inside and outside of your network. Use it to find relevant articles and recruiters, hiring managers and industry peers who are talking about SXSW. Respond to these updates, engage with others, find out who will be there so you can connect in person. A quick search just now turned up several company updates announcing that their recruiters would be attending SXSW (including details such as where and when). You might even discover a great opportunity, event, party or employer that would have otherwise never crossed your mind.
8. LinkedIn Today: This “morning paper” found on your LinkedIn home page highlights the most popular articles shared on LinkedIn and is even customizable based on criteria you select. Find great articles about SXSW, share interesting content with your network, remain relevant and active without having to repeat yourself everyday by saying “Hey, I’m going to SXSW. Who wants to meet up with me?”
9. LinkedIn Groups: Join LinkedIn groups related to SXSW. There’s South By Southwest (SXSW), SXSW Interactive, Unofficial SXSW Guide and even a group dedicated to the 2013 Tech Career Expo. Network within the groups. Let others know you’ll be attending and would love to meet up. The coolest thing? Joining a group means that you can message fellow group members for free. That’s close to 10,000 people, just in those four groups! Also engage in your other groups (job-specific, industry-specific) to see if anyone else is planning to attend SXSW. The hiring managers, industry peers and recruiters in those groups just might take notice and reach out to you!
10. Tech Career Expo: The 2013 Tech Career Expo is a two-day job fair held March 8-9. It’s a free event but if you pre-register, they will share your LinkedIn profile and top three skills with the 47 companies participating in their event. It’s a great way to get a head-start on the competition and get maximum exposure for your newly-updated LinkedIn profile!
11. SXSocial: Last but not least, SXSW has an online networking platform called SXSocial where you can introduce yourself, share your social profiles and mingle online with fellow attendees. Recruiters are sourcing candidates here, so be sure to include a link to your updated and optimized LinkedIn profile. It could lead to meetups, interviews and ultimately, an offer from your dream company!

How are you using Linkedin at SXSW?

Share your personal tips on how you are using Linkedin to land the job of a lifetime!

Burnett Staffing Is Texan Proud

Our premier sponsor for Houston's Networking Event on March 28, in Houston, is Burnett Staffing.  On their website, they are all about Texas which is obvious from their header on their home page.

They also proudly highlight their Texas awards on their Diversity web page in a section all its own...

Texas' 6th Top Woman-Owned Business
Texas' 6th Top Diversity Business
Texas Certified HUB (Historically Underutilized Business)
Texas Certified Small, Minority, Woman Business Enterprise

Other reasons why Texas HR Pros hearts Burnett Staffing...

1. They have a great LinkedIn company page.  http://www.linkedin.com/company/29104?trk=tyah
2. They have a  daily blog.  http://burnettstaffing.com/blog/
3. They are a Nationally Certified Woman-Owned Business and rank as follows--

            United States' 36th Top Woman-Owned Business
            United States' 23rd Top Small Business
            United States' 76th Top Diversity Business

     4.  They have won several diversity awards--

• 2011 - Breakthrough Woman- Women's Chamber of Commerce

• 2011 - Enterprising Woman of the Year Award- Enterprising Women Magazine

• 2010 - Inspiring Texas Woman Award- Sterling Bank - Women's Business Initiative

• 2010 - Enterprising Woman - NAWBO

• 2008 - One of Houston's 50 Most Influential Women- Houston Woman Magazine

• 2002 - Woman Business Entrepreneur of the Year - WBEA

• 2001 - Texas Women’s Hall of Fame Nominee- The Governor's Commission for Women

• 2000 - Woman of Excellence - Women's Enterprise

• 1997 - Outstanding Woman of Business - YWCA

• 1997 - Women on the Move - Houston Chronicle

• 1996 - Houston's Largest Woman-Owned Business- Houston Business Journal

• 1996 - Woman Business Owner of the Year - NAWBO

• 1995 - Houston's Top Woman-Owned Business- Houston Business Journal

 

 

TalentNet Brings HR to South by Southwest on March 8 #SXSW

SXSW Interactive attendees by Arthur Van Rooy

On Friday, March 8, TalentNet Live! returns for its third annual Austin conference, and, in the spirit of South by Southwest Interactive (which kicks off the same day), we’re changing the game with a new (and radically different) kind of recruiting conference.

TalentNet will examine the attraction strategy of 24 Hour Fitness, and learn from real practitioners in highly interactive, collaborative workshops. Some of the things we’ll be focusing on include:

• Building and Executing a Social Recruiting Campaign, Content Marketing, Social Platforms, Cool Tools, and more
• Developing and Marketing Employment Brands
• Social Media Policy Creation, Compliance & Employee Enablement
• Tracking, Analyzing and Reporting Results

More details at www.talentnetinteractive.com - Contact Craig@talentnetlive.com for group rates and sponsorship.

Click here for Registration.  Use 50% discount code for TalentNet Interactive Austin 3/8 Social Talent Conference.  Use the Starr Consiracy discount - starr - to register today for TalentNet Interactive Austin on 3/8 at #SXSW!

Join Craig Fisher, Lars Schmidt, Sarah White, Maren Hogan, James Mayes, Matt Charney, Dwane Lay, Crystal Miller, Carrie Corbin, Teela Jackson, and many more for strategy, learning, fajitas, margaritas, and fun!

Reach 4,200+ HR Professionals When You Sponsor Texas HR Pros' Networking Events

LinkedIn Group Texas HR Pros

 

• Announcement from Founder
•  
• The Benefits of Sponsoring Networking Mixers

Our group should come close to reaching 5,000 members by year’s end and our mixers have seen more and more people attend each time. 

 

If you want to capitalize on that growth and start putting your name out there in front of the growing number of HR professionals in our group, reach out to Eric at texasatty@gmail.com about securing one or more of the mixers in Houston, Dallas, and/or Austin.

 

Here are the four remaining Houston mixers scheduled for 2013:

• Thursday, May 30

• Thursday, July 25

• Thursday, September 26

• Thursday, November 21

 

(Dates for Dallas and Austin mixers TBA) 

 

Our sponsors will receive--

1. Posting mentions on our LinkedIn Groups which are cross posted on other LinkedIn Groups,
2. An advertisement on the home page of our blog,
3. Thank you mentions on Twitter and Facebook,
4. A blog posting feature about your products and services, and 
5. A monthly feature and annual thank you with your company hyperlinked on the Sponsor page of our blog. 

Being featured on our LinkedIn Group reaches a target audience of 4,200 HR and recruitment professionals across Texas.  Our social media mentions on our blog, Twitter, and Facebook also increase your company's website's SEO.  If you have any ideas, promo requests, or questions, please contact me...we can get creative.

 

I would also like to take the time to thank the following sponsors again:

2013 Sponsors and Partners

• Southern Charm Photography
• Personalysis
• Burnett Staffing
• Reddy & Neumann, P.C. 
• Career Connections at Second Baptist Church
• Search4U, Inc.
• Fort Worth Career Search Network
• Several Job Ministries  

 

Thank you in advance for your support and for providing networking opportunities for HR and Recruitment to connect and form professional and community-centric relationships.

Please contact:

Eric Griesel

Founder of Texas HR Pros

texasatty@gmail.com

713.459.1045

 

Personalysis Prizes on March 28 at Our Houston Networking Event

On March 28, at the Texas HR Pros' mixer at Sam's Place in Houston, attendees will get a chance to win an assessment compliments of Personalysis. Angela Stauder, a VP of Personalysis, has donated two assessments with consultation meetings.  The will enlighten you how to best work with and engage teams by better knowing your communication preferences and instinctual characteristics.

I recently had the honor of participating in one of Personalysis'  "train-the-trainer" programs with other Texas HR Pros, CEOs, authors, thought leaders, and professional coaches (CPCs)...and we all saw transformational results.  Wait until you see what you will discover about yourself on different levels!

The winners will love their session...because the report is all about you! The assessment includes a coaching session by Stauder, who is also a Texas HR Pros leader.  She will assist you in discovering how to use your strengths to your advantage and how to influence teams. The coaching session also can give you insight to manage your personal relationships as well.

Personalysis is a proprietary personality assessment tool that provides you with insights into how people think, feel, deal with others, and cope under stress. Today’s corporate environment requires you to work closely with others to achieve organizational goals, yet the shortened time frames and greater geographical distances no longer allow you the luxury of “hit or miss” relationship building. This creates road blocks to productivity by making it difficult to understand and accommodate personality differences within the workplace.

You can take the guesswork out of understanding people and why they do what they do. The simple, 15-minute online questionnaire results in the Personalysis Report, a written personality interpretation, and the Personalysis Colorgraph, an easy-to-use graphical personality snapshot. The data—depicted as colors, shapes, and numbers—enables you to understand differences, grow, and manage others. The Colorgraph images displayed in your workplace serve as visual clues to help you and others stay on target.

By using our personality assessment tool, you can employ real-world solutions to overcome obstacles, accelerate teamwork, and create productive working relationships throughout your organization. By depicting behavior objectively and graphically, road blocks caused by style and personality differences are eliminated, and people are able to stay focused on achieving goals.

Join Personalysis on Facebook, Linked In, Twitter, YouTube or our Blog to receive valuable information on a variety of topics. Texas HR Pros thanks them for being a devoted sponsor!

Network with the Texas Recruiters Association in Austin

LinkedIn Groups

Group: Texas Recruiters Association Subject: Announcement from Texas Recruiters Association Join us at Texas Land & Cattle for great food, a great speaker and great people to network with. Date: February 19, 2013 Time: 11 AM – 1 PM Location: Texas Land & Cattle Address: 6007 N Interstate 35, Austin, TX 78723 Register at: http://texastra.jobing.com/ Don't forget your business cards to enter for the book drawing. The price of the luncheon is $25.00. Payments can be made the day of the event. We will accept cash or checks ONLY. Please make checks payable to "Texas Recruiters Association". See you there! Posted By C. Michele Robinson Gregory, SPHR

Network at the Greater Houston Day Reception in Austin on February 13

The Greater Houston Partnership is pleased to host the 83rd Legislature at the Greater Houston Day Reception in Austin, Texas, to celebrate the greater Houston region and its contributions to our state.

REGISTER ONLINE

WHEN

Wednesday, February 13, 2013 | 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

COST

GHP Members: $65
(Please respond by February 8, 2013. No refunds or cancellations after February 8, 2013.)

HAVE QUESTIONS? Contact Linae Acquisto

lacquisto@houston.org |

713-844-3631

Want to Reach 4,100 HR Folks? Be a Sponsor for Texas HR Pros Networking Events

Every quarter, Texas HR Pros organizes networking events in Dallas, Austin, and Houston.  These are perfect opportunities for companies, whose clients are HR professionals, to reach a targeted audience of 4,100 members.

According to an article by Susan Friedman, sponsorship is the fastest growing form of marketing in the U.S. With this in mind, you can find unlimited opportunities to broaden your competitive advantage by increasing your credibility, image and prestige in sponsoring events attracting your target market.

Sponsorship offers the possibility of achieving several goals at once. According to Schmader and Jackson, in their book, Special Events: Inside and Out, a company can benefit from sponsorship in many ways, such as:

Enhancing Image/Shaping Consumer Attitudes
Often companies are looking to improve how they are perceived by their target audience. Sponsoring events that appeal to their market are likely to shape buying attitudes and help generate a positive reaction. Coca Cola, for example is always looking to generate a positive influence of their products in the minds of their consumers and as such regularly support events they feel can influence consumer opinions.

Driving Sales
Sponsorship geared to driving sales can be an extremely potent promotional tool. This objective allows sponsors to showcase their product attributes. Food and beverage companies often use sponsorship to encourage samplings and sales.IEG’s Complete Guide to Sponsorship cites Visa’s fund-raising effort around its sponsorship of the Olympic Games and the U.S. Olympic Team. They promoted their association by offering to make a donation to the team each time consumers charge a purchase to their card. American Express used a similar strategy by donating to needy causes with their "Charge Against Hunger" campaign. As a result, both companies experienced a significant rise in sales volume.

Creating positive publicity/heightening visibility
Every sponsor is seeking wide exposure in both electronic and print media. Positive publicity helps create heightened visibility of products/services. Various media covering the event may include sponsors names and/or photos. In addition, the kind of media coverage a sponsor may get is often unaffordable if the company were to think of purchasing it, and if it were available. To maximize this objective, it is important for the sponsoring company to have a comprehensive media campaign to augment the regular media coverage promoted by the organizers. Sponsorship can often generate media coverage that might otherwise not have been available.

Differentiating from competitors
The mere act of sponsoring an event, especially an exclusive sponsorship, is a significant way to create competitor differentiation. Your company name has the opportunity to stand out head and shoulders above the competition. This is particularly helpful if your company wants to combat a competitor with a larger ad budget. Sponsorship allows smaller companies to compete with their industry giants. Target audiences often perceive sponsorship in a positive way. They see you as making a greater effort to support the event, often allowing more or better activities to take place as a result of your sponsorship.

Helping with good "Corporate Citizen" role
Another powerful sponsorship objective allows companies to be viewed as a "good neighbor." To be seen supporting the community and contributing to its economic development is extremely powerful and creates enormous goodwill.

Enhancing business, consumer and VIP relations
Learn more and read rest of Friedman's article here:  http://marketing.about.com/od/eventandseminarmarketing/a/sponsorship_2.htm

We hope your company will participate.  If you have any questions about how we can highlight your company for sponsorship, please feel free to contact founder Eric Griesel at texasatty@gmail.com.

Make Plans for the Texas Legistlative HRound Up

Home Agenda Register Become a Sponsor Sponsors Hotel APRIL 4, 2013  Austin, TX  Crowne Plaza Hotel The Texas Legislative HR Round Up is a premier conference sponsored by the SHRM Texas State Council in partnership with the Texas Association of Business (TAB) and the Texas Industry Liaison Groups (ILG). This one of a kind event in Texas gives you the opportunity to stay on top of the latest legislative issues at the federal and state levels AND the opportunity to speak with your elected Texas officials. Healthcare regulations, EEOC issues, OFCCP compliance, social media and privacy issues, immigration and National Labor Relations Board activity are just a few of the complex issues we face today. The 2013 Texas Legislative HR Round Up will be packed with speakers and concurrent sessions that will bring you up-to-date on the most recent legislative changes to ensure that you stay in compliance with the law. You will learn how Human Resource Professionals in Texas can have an impact for their companies, employees, and communities at large! You Can and Should Make a Difference! _________________________________________________________ Keynote Speakers: Mike Aitken Tommy Simmons ________________________________________________________ Sponsored By: ________________________________________________________________________ In Partnership with: Create a web page at CityMax.com

Red Cross Has a Helpful Blog Covering FrankenStorm

Did you know that American Red Cross has a resourceful blog?  Check it out here:   http://redcrosschat.org/.

If you and your employees can donate funds, blood (their blood drives were cancelled in the NE for obvious reasons), or items, contact your local chapter here.

The American Red Cross has a phone app that also notifies family members on several social media sites that you are okay.

Hurricane App

Be ready for severe weather with Hurricane by American Red Cross. Monitor conditions in your area or throughout the storm track, prepare your family and home, find help and let others know you are safe even if the power is out – a must have for anyone who lives in an area where a hurricane may strike or has loved ones who do.

From your mobile phone, call "**REDCROSS" (**73327677) and we will send you a link to download the app to your phone or you can download them directly from the iTunes or Google Play app stores.

Features

• One touch “I’m safe” messaging that allows users to broadcast reassurance to family and friends via social media outlets that they are out of harm’s way
• Location-based NOAA weather alerts for the United States and its territories users can share on social networks
• Remote monitoring of personalized weather alerts where family and friends reside
• Locations of open Red Cross shelters
• Simple steps and checklists people can use to create a family emergency plan
• Preloaded content that gives users instant access to critical action steps even without mobile connectivity
• Toolkit with flashlight, strobe light and audible alarm
• Badges users can earn through interactive quizzes and share on social networks