This conference, sponsored by TMHRA, will provide timely information to address the growing needs of human resources professionals, as well as any other professional charged with the task of providing guidance for a human resources department. As the need to optimize productivity while decreasing liability becomes more important, the types of information delivered through these seminars become increasingly more useful to those who are serious about maintaining effective organizations.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
city managers
assistant city managers
compensation managers
human resource managers
risk managers
personnel professionals
police chiefs
attorneys
city secretaries
fire chiefs
any person dealing with employee relations
YOU!
Tentative Agenda
Noon — 1:00 p.m.
Registration
1:00 — 1:15 p.m.
Welcome Colleagues
TMHRA President Janie Mehrens, Director of Human Resources, City of Brenham
1:15 — 2:15 p.m.
Keynote Speaker
High Tech or Human Touch? Choosing the Best Communication Channel
Amy P. Castro, President, Innovative Communication and Training Solutions, Friendswood
Do you send an e-mail, a text, or make a phone call? With more avenues of communication available nowadays, which form of communication is appropriate to use with our employees? Ms. Castro will discuss methods of communication, along with what you should consider when determining how to communicate with an individual staff member or a group of employees.
2:15 — 2:30 p.m.
Break
2:30 — 3:45 p.m.
Managing Costs Amid Health Care Reform!
Julian Fontana, Sr. Account Executive, TML Intergovernmental Employee Benefits Pool, Austin
Julian will provide a brief update on the status of health care reform. In addition, he will discuss techniques to help manage health care costs amid the expansion of benefits through health care reform.
3:45 — 5:00 p.m.
The Changing World of Ethics
Ron Holifield, CEO, Strategic Government Resources, Keller
Dramatic changes in technology, generational values, sexual mores, and political dynamics are affecting standards of ethics and integrity. No longer can we assume everyone knows that certain behaviors are inappropriate. This session will help you assess and evaluate the changing dynamics and better equip you to create a high integrity organization despite the changing landscape.
5:00 p.m.
Meet and Mingle
Extra tickets may be purchased for guest who want to attend the receptions (see Registration Form).
8:00 — 8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
8:30 — 10:30 a.m.
TMRS 2011 Update
David Gavia, Executive Director, TMRS, Austin
10:30 — 10:45 a.m.
Break
10:45 a.m. — Noon
Fair Labor Standards Act: Are You Paying Your Employees Correctly?
Meghan Riley, Assistant City Attorney, City of Austin; and Laura Maloy, Compensation Manager, City of Austin
Meghan and Laura will help us navigate through the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Noon — 1:30 p.m.
Lunch and TMHRA Awards Ceremony
1:30 — 2:45 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
- An Overview of Social Security: Programs, Benefits, and Services
Shelly J. Robinson, Public Affairs Specialist, Social Security Administration, Houston
Shelly will discuss the organization's programs, benefits, and services. Do you have questions about the Government
Pension Offset or the Windfall Elimination Provision? This program will help answer those questions and more.
- Can a Tweet Land you in the Street?
Sheila Gladstone, Principal Attorney, Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C., Austin
Facebook, MySpace, Google, Twitter, blogs, and other social media and search engines have the potential to provide a wealth of information on employees and applicants, but they are also a source of potential liability for employers. Ms. Gladstone will discuss current best practices, privacy limits, and other employment law issues that have been popping up recently on this constantly changing hot topic.
2:45 — 3:00 p.m.
Break
3:00 — 4:15 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
- What to Do When Someone Reports Harassment
George Hyde, Attorney, Denton, Navarro, Rocha and Bernal, P.C., San Antonio
George will discuss techniques to use when investigating a harassment claim.
- Compensation Trends
Ruth Ann Eledge, Vice President and Senior Consultant, Waters Consulting Group, Dallas
Want to know what's transpired with wages during the recent economic downturn and how the recovery is affecting earnings? Ms. Eledge will discuss current compensation trends within the public sector.
8:00 — Midnight
TMHRA Luau Party Sponsored by Holmes Murphy, Extend Health, and ICMA-RC
Come to the Moody Gardens Poolside Terrace to join TMHRA
and sponsors Holmes Murphy, Extend Health, ICMA-RC, and
friends for entertainment, music, desserts, and cocktails!
8:30 — 9:00 a.m.
TMHRA Business Meeting
9:00 — 10:15 a.m.
Health Insurance Cost Reduction: It Is Possible!
Darrell Wells, Director of Risk Management, City of Odessa: and George Mones, Director of Human Resources, City of Mesquite
Representatives from two cities will explain their strategies to reduce health insurance costs.
10:15 — 10:30 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m. — Noon
Legal Update—State and National
Bettye Lynn, Partner, Lynn Pham & Ross, LLP, Fort Worth
The ever-changing world of employment law will be reviewed, along with a look toward emerging issues for 2011.
General Information
REGISTRATION POLICY
The registration fee includes all conference sessions, Wednesday and Thursday receptions, Thursday continental breakfast, Thursday lunch, Friday continental breakfast, and all scheduled refreshment breaks.
CANCELLATION AND SUBSTITUTION POLICY
If you are registered and cannot attend, we encourage you to send a substitute. If you cannot send a substitute, a $45 cancellation fee will be assessed if written cancellation is received by May 10, 2011. No telephone cancellations will be accepted. Refunds are available for registration fees only, and no refunds will be honored after May 10.
HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS
The seminar will be held at the Moody Gardens Hotel, located at Seven Hope Boulevard in Galveston. To make reservations, please call the hotel toll free at 888-388-8484 and ask for the TMHRA Annual Conference room block. A rate of $139 single/double per night is available until MAY 4 or until the block is full. The hotel has graciously extended the group rate two days prior (Monday and Tuesday) and after (Friday and Saturday) the event, based on availability.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT
Elected officials can earn approximately 14.7 credit hours toward a Texas Municipal League Institute certificate for participation in the TMHRA Annual Conference. CEU forms will be available on site.
SPEAKER MATERIALS
TMHRA no longer provides handouts for speaker papers or printed materials of any kind. Instead, TMHRA will put all speaker papers on the TMHRA Web site at www.tmhra.org (under "Speaker Materials") for attendees to download in advance, if they so desire. No written materials will be provided at the seminar.
CONFIRMATION/BADGE
Your confirmation and conference badge will be mailed to you in advance. PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR BADGE TO THE CONFERENCE.
SPECIAL ACCOMODATIONS:
On the registration form, let us know if you need special assistance of any kind. WE WANT TO HELP! Thank you.
DRESS CODE:
The conference dress code is CASUAL. Remember, the weather will be hot outside, so dress for comfort. Be sure to bring a sweater or jacket to the meeting room, in the event it is cool.
QUESTIONS:
You may contact the TML Program Development Department in the following ways:
- Phone: 512-231-7400
- Fax: 512-231-7494
- E-mail: tmhra@tml.org
- Write to: 1821 Rutherford Lane, Suite 400, Austin, Texas 78754-5128
REGISTER NOW
- Register online for the TMHRA Annual Conference now.
- Download and mail a .pdf version of the registration form to:
TML Administrative Services
1821 Rutherford Lane, Suite 400
Austin, TX 78754-5128
