Hello SHRM

To those who attended Wednesday night’s Philly SHRM networking event, if I smelled, let me apologize right now.

You see, I ride my bike all around town: to work, to home, etc. Wednesday was no exception since I was going to a part of town that was only vaguely familiar to me.  Plus it was hot and muggy outside. Thus I felt yukky at the event.  But it was worth attending.  Actually I was pleasantly surprised.

Let me explain why.

Before I moved to Philly, five+ years ago, I was moderately involved in the Pittsburgh HR Association.  They were a great bunch to be around: knowledgeable, supportive and fun. Thinking all HR associations were the same, I started my involvement with the Philly SHRM chapter as soon as I moved here. I was quickly disappointed though by the lack of real networking opportunities. What I witnessed were two things:
1) morning lectures where people gathered with people they knew, ate their danishes, listened to someone speak at them and immediately ran off to work
2) a new member committee that only went so far as to sit you at a table with other new members and had no good vision as to how to increase membership. 

So I quietly…slipped…away.

Five years later, most of my networking is with people outside of Philadelphia.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that.  It’s just that I do enjoy networking and it’s really not practical for me to be always running to D.C., Chicago, or wherever to do that.  Plus I’ve become a little envious of my colleagues in other cities that have strong SHRM chapters and hearing that it behooves HR professionals to become more involved locally. It also didn’t hurt that I have had the opportunity to meet SHRM’s former Chief Member Engagement Officer, China Gorman, and that I’m encouraged by the presence of the new Manager, PR and Social Media Relations, Curtis Midkiff (though why he is not following me and similar others on Twitter seems a little odd).

With the past behind me and a willingness to dip my toe into the pool again, I signed up for last Wednesday’s SHRM Social. And I’m glad I did.  With approximately 40 people in attendance, I had the opportunity to chat with some very nice folks. In was in the lobby of the Abramson Research Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. So it was not in a filthy bar and it was well-staged for talking to people. They had a nice spread of food, open bar of beer and wine. Most of the people there were interested in meeting someone new so I didn't feel like I was wasting my time.

If I had one complaint it would be this: the suits. Guys, what is up with the stiff necks and stiff collars? Lighten up; it’s not a job interview. And don’t just talk to other guys in suits. Don’t think I didn’t see you.  Trust me. A suit and tie doesn’t give you special powers.

But then again, showing up in sweat-stretched business casual wear, beat-up shoes and a sweaty scalp, didn’t make me the bell of the ball. So I appreciate that I was not completely ostracized. I also appreciated it enough that I put it out there that I’d be interested in writing for them and/or speaking at a session. More importantly, I’m looking forward to attending the next time around.

Congratulations, Philly SHRM, you got it right this time.