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TMHRA Mid-Year Conference - SOLD OUT
Building Sandcastles to Stand the Test of Time

May 21-23, 2008

Sheraton South Padre Island Beach Hotel and Condominiums
310 Padre Boulevard
South Padre Island, Texas

The Texas Municipal Human Resources Association (TMHRA) is an affiliate of the Texas Municipal League.
Come Early and Attend a Pre-Conference Meeting
SurveyNavigator™ for TML:
Salaries and Benefits on the Web
May 21, 2008
(More information...)
TMHRA Mid-Year Conference Agenda
Wednesday, May 21

Noon – 1:00 p.m.

Lifeguards on Duty: Registration Open

1:00 – 1:15 p.m.

Greetings from the Beach Master

Laura Morrow, Director of Human Resources, Allen, and TMHRA President

1:15 – 2:45 p.m.

Building the Foundation for Your Castle: “Building a Better You”

Bryan Dodge, Dodge Development, Inc., Duncanville

Ever wonder how effective managers always seem to accomplish so much and still maintain their stamina? Bryan Dodge delivers insights into that mystery, focusing on three key areas: (1) having your best year ever; (2) creating consistent upward growth in your life; and (3) learning the power of personal energy and where it comes from.

2:45 – 3:00 p.m.

Picnic Time in the Dunes: Break

3:00 – 4:45 p.m.

Sandcastle Team-Building: Compensation Strategies for Rewarding Performance

Panel: Matt Weatherly, President, Public Sector Personnel Consultants, Scottsdale, Arizona; and Melinda Galler, Human Resources Director, City of Lewisville

Compensation allocation includes competing interests of keeping up with the labor market in general yet rewarding those employees who truly excel. Creating the right balance is a continual challenge. Rewarding skill and performance will be addressed by a number of methods: Skill-based pay, competency-based compensation, broad banding, and merit pay, to name a few. This panel will discuss strategies employed with their clients and cities.

5:00 p.m.

Meet and Mingle Reception
Thursday, May 22, 2008

8:00 – 8:30 a.m.

Beach Opens: Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 10:00 a.m.

Tropical Depression: Dealing with Negaholics

Greg Anderson, Associate Executive Director, North Texas Municipal Alliance, Strategic Government Resource, Inc., Keller

Negaholics in the workplace affect morale, teamwork, and productivity. This session will explore ways to deal with negative people and overcome the impact they have on you, your team, and their departments by learning how to constructively address their comments and behaviors.

10:00 – 10:15 a.m.

Filling the Buckets: Break

10:15 – Noon

Erecting the Towers: Affordable Retiree Benefit Alternatives

Panel: Shannon Morgan, Account Executive, Holmes Murphy, Village Mills; Cheryl Dunlop, Director of Administrative Services, City of Rockwall; and Darrell Wells, Director of Risk Management, City of Odessa

In light of increasing costs, especially medical coverage, a number of private employers are choosing to eliminate offering any type of retiree benefits. Chapter 175 of the Local Government Code requires entities over 25,000 in population to offer retirees the right to purchase continued coverage.
In addition, many smaller cities that have subsidized retiree medical premiums are now faced with an explosion of Baby Boomers ready to retire. This panel will explore alternatives that their clients/cities have implemented in this area.

Noon – 1:30 p.m.

Seaside Lunch in the Marlin: Sponsor Recognition and Drawings

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Fortifying the Castle: Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) Update

Eric Henry, Executive Director, Texas Municipal Retirement System

Mr. Henry will update conference attendees on the latest developments at TMRS, including legislative changes that TMRS is considering. A question-and-answer period will be included.

2:30 – 2:45 p.m.

Coastal Break

2:45 – 3:30 p.m.

Raising the Drawbridge: How Cities Are Dealing with TMRS Contribution Increases

Panel: Jim Parrish, Director of Human Resources, City of Amarillo; and George Mones, Director of Human Resources, City of Mesquite

With recent changes in funding methodology, a number of TMRS cities are facing contribution increases that are challenging to their budgets. This panel will discuss not only their own city’s situation, but also how TMHRA members can get involved in collaborative efforts.
Friday, May 23, 2008

8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

TMHRA Business Meeting

9:30 – 11:00 a.m.

Manning the Turret: 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 2009.

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Pre-conference meeting held in conjunction with the TMHRA Mid-Year Conference

SurveyNavigator™ for TML:
Salaries and Benefits on the Web
May 21, 2008
(Space is limited)

The Waters Consulting Group, Inc., will present base compensation trends for various employee groups during this informative session, including police, fire, executive, human resources, information technology, and water/wastewater. Presentation points will include historical data and projections for budget year 2009. In addition, comparison information will be provided regarding historical and projected salary increases to actual/projected consumer price index changes and actual/projected U.S. salary increases for the same periods of time.

There will also be a presentation of the enhancements and updates to the SurveyNavigator™ Web site. Additionally, the Web site’s interface and primary features will be demonstrated, including real-time data, advanced statistics (percentiles, medians), and a contact directory that enables subscribers to reach survey coordinators of the other cities and many other items.

AGENDA
Wednesday, May 21

8:30 – 9:00 a.m.

Continental Breakfast Sponsored by The Waters Consulting Group, Inc.

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

SurveyNavigator™ for TML: Salaries and Benefits on the Web

Dal Anderson, Director and Senior Consultant, The Waters Consulting Group, Inc., Dallas

10:00 – 10:15 a.m.

Break

10:15 – 11:30 a.m.

SurveyNavigator™ for TML: Salaries and Benefits on the Web (continued)

Dal Anderson, Director and Senior Consultant, The Waters Consulting Group, Inc., Dallas

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GENERAL INFORMATION

PROGRAM INFORMATION

The beach is combed and the sun is shining for one of the greatest conferences to hit South Padre Island. So grab your bucket and shovel and gather some rays of knowledge while the supply lasts. This conference 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. This year, we are fortunate to have several well-known experts to address the following:

The program is sponsored by the Texas Municipal Human Resources Association (TMHRA), an affiliate of the Texas Municipal League (TML).

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

REGISTRATION POLICY AND FEES

Registration includes all conference sessions, handout materials, Wednesday reception, Thursday continental breakfast, Thursday lunch, Friday breakfast, and all scheduled refreshment breaks.

TMHRA Members
Registration fee if received by 4/30 $165
Registration fee if received by 4/30 $210
Non-TMHRA Members
Registration fee after 4/30 $195
Registration fee after 4/30 $240
   
Wednesday Reception Guest Ticket $25
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 registration cancellation fee will be assessed if written cancellation is received by April 30, 2008. No telephone cancellations will be accepted. Refunds are available for registration fees only. No refunds will be honored after April 30, 2008.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

The conference will be held at the Sheraton South Padre Island Beach Hotel and Condominiums, located at 310 Padre Boulevard in South Padre Island, Texas. To make reservations, please call the hotel directly at 956-761-6551 or 800-222-4010 and ask for the TMHRA Mid-Year Conference room block. A rate of $129 single/double per night is available until April 30, 2008, or until the block is full. If you would like to make your reservations online, click here.

NEED TO RENT A CAR?

Call AVIS at 800-331-1600, or make reservations online at www.avis.com. The Avis World Wide Discount (AWD) Number is J867208 (Texas Municipal League).

Enterprise Corporate Class discounts are available at www.enterprise.com or by calling 800-736-8222. Your Corporate Class number is Y21222. Enter TEX for the company name.

Shuttle Schedules/Information

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT

Elected officials can earn approximately 12.3 credit hours toward a Texas Municipal League Institute certificate for participation in the TMHRA Mid-Year Conference. CEU forms will be available on site.

CONFIRMATIONS/BADGES

Confirmations and conference badges will be mailed to you in advance.
REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR BADGE TO THE CONFERENCE.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

On the registration form, let us know if you need special assistance of any kind. WE WANT TO HELP! Thank you.

DRESS CODE

This year’s 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:

  1. 512-231-7400
  2. Fax: 512-231-7494
  3. E-mail: tmhra@tml.org
  4. Write to: 1821 Rutherford Lane, Suite 400, Austin, Texas 78754-5128

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Registration Form: Your registration will not be processed until payment is received.