How many of you looked at the calendar and could not believe it was October? I know I was certainly in that boat. As the temperatures cool and the leaves change, October is a perfect time to reflect on the year’s progress and look ahead to the final months of 2024.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Please make sure to join us on October 15th. Emily Shuman from RMADAC will be presenting on Minimizing Implicit Bias. Emily is RMADAC's public spokesperson and works directly with regional and national media to ensure the public understands their rights and responsibilities under the ADA.

Although it’s a busy time for most, please consider nominating a peer for the HR Professional of the Year awards and/or an organization that has taken an intentional approach to encourage diversity, community involvement or their culture for the Workplace Excellence awards. Watch for upcoming information. The nomination period closes on November 8th, 2024.

October kicks off our membership renewal season! Renew your membership by 12/31/2024 to be eligible to attend the January Half Day Workshop for FREE!

The SESHRM Chapter is committed to fostering community involvement and supporting HR Professionals in their pursuit of knowledge and excellence. As part of this commitment, we are pleased to announce that we will offer (2) memberships exclusively for non-profit organizations in 2025. These scholarships are designed to provide valuable resources and education to HR professionals within non-profit organizations, empowering them to support their organizations and employees better. To apply for one of the scholarships, complete the scholarship application on the SESHRM website. The application period closes on October 11, 2024.

If you are interested in one of the SESHRM Board vacancies for next year, please reach out to me or one of our SESHRM board members. This is a phenomenal opportunity for self-development and networking. We are still looking to fill the following positions: President-Elect, Communications Director, Conference Director, Marketing Director, Programs Co-Chair.

Planning for the 2025 SoDak SHRM State Conference, So Much HR, So Little Time, is in full swing. The team from Black Hills SHRM needs your help! We are looking for volunteers to help us with the Vendors & Sponsors Committee and assist us with reaching out to individuals who may be interested in being a Vendor or Sponsor for the upcoming event! If you have some free time available and would be willing to help, please reach out to Mary Drumm mdrumm@petelien.com or Tye Kuyper, tkuyper@monument.health.

Lastly, be sure to watch for more announcements coming soon for our December Social Event! The December Social will be held on December 17th from 3pm-6pm!

Thank you for all you do!

Monique Vanden Heuvel