   Advancing the Profession...Serving the Professional
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NOARK Human Resources Association, Inc. is pleased to have provided over 30 years of service to the Human Resource community in Northwest Arkansas. The mission as an organization is to provide an avenue for the advancement of human resource management in NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. To that end, NOARK is dedicated to offering the members opportunities and resources to improve their ability to perform in the human resource industry, the community, and - through the affiliation with the Society for Human Resource Management - the nation. Come explore NOARK.
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NOARK Thursday, August 12th Meeting 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Springdale Holiday Inn Speaker: Tammy McCutchen Topic: Department of Labor Updates on Activities
As a frequent speaker before trade associations, business organizations, and human resource groups. She has lectured about wage and hour issues before national and local chapter meetings of the American Bar Association, the Society for Human Resource Management, the Association of Corporate Counsel, the National Restaurant Association, the National Retail Federation, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the International Paralegal Management Association, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Ms. McCutchen will be giving an update of the Department of Labor’s activity. Click to register on line or call 479-903-5995 or e:mail: info@noark.org
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THANKS to our August Sponsors:
Draw on our years of experience in human resources, recruiting, consulting and career coaching to ensure that your layoffs and terminations are managed effectively. Learn more about CSA Outplacement.
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To appreciate means to grow.O.C. Tanner believes appreciating people reveals talents, builds confidence, and encourages contribution. And the most influential way to appreciate people is to provide a fertile environment where they can grow. We live this philosophy day in and day out inside our own family of 1,600 employees, and we turn this expertise outward to teach companies all over the world how to do the same. Because once you understand that business growth is a direct result of personal growth, you want to help people grow as fast as they can. In short: Appreciation is our discipline, our art, our muse, and our practice. We are in the business of inspiring the best in each other. We are specialists in appreciateology. Learn more about O.C. Tanner
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About the NOARK WAGE and BENEFITS SURVEY The NOARK Wage and Benefits Survey is a comprehensive report of Compensation and Benefits data on over 150 positions from over 100 Northwest Arkansas businesses. We are really excited about the 2010 NOARK Wage and Benefit’s survey! We have updated the survey to capture more details on company benefits plans, company responses to the recession, and added more position breakouts. The NOARK survey is one of the best values around to assist your company in staying competitive in the marketplace. The survey results will be published in mid-August. Survey Pricing Member Participant Pricing $99 Member Non-Participant $199 Non-Member Participant $199 ** Non-Member Non Participant $299 If you are interested in purchasing this valuable survey, please contact Elizabeth Farmer, NOARK Wage and Benefits Chair at (479) 290-8450 or Elizabeth.Farmer@tyson.com. For participants who are not NOARK members, the survey cost will be $199. ** However, you are eligible to receive the NOARK survey at the member price of just $99 if you join NOARK by August 1st. NOARK Annual Membership dues are $65. By joining NOARK and participating in the survey, your company can realize a cost savings of $35. Department of Labor Issues New Guidance on FMLA Coverage
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Federal Legislative Action Alert YOUR ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED! Urge your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 5600, the Employee Educational Assistance Act of 2010, which would make permanent the tax free status of employer provided education assistance. Background Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code allows an employee to exclude from income up to $5,250 per year in assistance provided by their employer for any type of educational course at the associate, undergraduate and graduate level. Employers are not required to provide education assistance to their employees, however, if an employer chooses to do so, the benefit must be offered to all employees on a nondiscriminatory basis that does not favor highly compensated employees. Congress has extended Section 127 eight times since it was first established in 1978, most recently in 2001. Section 127 will expire at the end of this year unless Congress acts to renew it or make it permanent. Issue Providing tax-free educational assistance is an important tool for employers. Section 127 helps to build and maintain an increasingly skilled workforce, and positions the United States to remain competitive in the global economy. Almost 20 percent of Section 127 recipients are pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degrees. More than 35 percent of all degrees pursued by Section 127 beneficiaries are master’s degrees and, according to the National Postsecondary Student Aid study of the most recent data on the use of this benefit, utilization of Section 127 has doubled since 1994. Today, more than 1 million employees use Section 127 benefits. Status On June 24, 2010, Representative Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) and Representative Sam Johnson (R-TX) introduced H.R. 5600, the Employee Educational Assistance Act of 2010. This bill would also make Section 127 a permanent part of the U.S. tax code.
SHRM Position SHRM chairs the Coalition to Preserve Employer Provided Education Assistance, a broad-based collection of groups representing business, labor and education. SHRM strongly supports the permanent extension of Section 127 for associate, undergraduate and graduate degrees. We believe that providing tax-free educational assistance is an important tool for employers to attract and retain the best employees, build a skilled workforce, and position the U.S. economy to compete globally. Furthermore, with the current economic downturn, both employees and employers benefit from this tax provision. Through re-skilling and professional development, organizations invest in their most precious resource – their employees. Action Needed Please write your Member of Congress and urge them to cosponsor H.R. 5600, the Employee Educational Assistance Act of 2010. To write your elected official using HRVoice, follow these steps:
If you encounter problems, please contact David Lusk, SHRM’s Senior Associate, Member Advocacy, at david.lusk@shrm.org.
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The NOARK Membership committee will be hosting a new member orientation on August 18, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. at the Lowell Chamber of Commerce Building. This meeting is open to any new member who has not been able to attend a previously held orientation. In attendance will be your Board of Directors for NOARK and the various committee chairs, who will each spend a few moments talking about their committees, the goals for the rest of the year and give you the chance join the various committees. This is a great chance for your NOARK leadership team to meet and hear from you regarding your needs and how NOARK can better serve the Human Resources community in Northwest Arkansas. If you plan to attend, or have any questions, please email Denise Cate, Membership Chair - dcate@arvest.com or Brent Carroll - bcarroll@complete-employment.com
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From NOARK's President Darrin Coon, SPHR:
Thank you for visiting our website.
NOARK’s primary objective is to serve the HR professional by providing opportunities for professional development. By serving in this way, our hope is that we are also making an important investment within the community of employers throughout NW Arkansas.
In addition to holding monthly meetings where we learn from business, legal, and HR leaders, NOARK also has developed a committee structure that focuses upon areas of special interest. In fact, many of our committees are known within the region for their ability to identify and carry out acts of education and service.
We welcome any interest you may have in serving on one of these committees. To learn more just contact the relevant committee chair directly. Click Here for Committee Contact Information.
As your NOARK President I welcome your candid feedback about ways that we can improve service to you. If you have something you want to share, just send it to my attention at: Dcoon@jbu.edu, or feel free to call me at 479-524-7123.
I sincerely hope that NOARK will be a place where you meet new people, grow professionally, and feel supported by your professional peers.
Take Care, Darrin Coon, SPHR
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Make the commitment. Take your HR career to the next level and earn your HR certification.
NOARK Committe Members - Become ONE!
Be A NOARK Sponsor and Reach YOUR Target Audience
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NOARK members have articles that have been published as effort to serve the business and HR community in various publications. Check out HR Advisor. Are you interested in submitting an article from your area of expertise; please send your text to the attention of Darrin Coon, Editor at: Dcoon@jbu.edu.
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Save the Date for ARSHRM ELLA- Employment Law and Legislative Affairs Conference Embassy Suites, Little Rock AR
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NOARK is a tax exempt 501 (c) (6) organization
