History
The Central Wisconsin SHRM Chapter 2008/2009 Enterprising Leadership Initiative is to partner with the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce to expand awareness of CWSHRM and SHRM services/benefits to local small businesses.  We began this initiative in late 2007, and in October 2008 received a $5000 grant from the WI-SHRM State Council to assist us with continuing our small business outreach and development efforts.

Since October 2008, the following activities have occurred:

 Beginning in January 2008, CWSHRM Past Presidents [Robin Hegg (2008) and Jayne Luce (2009)] represent CWSHRM as a member of the Chamber’s Small Business Committee and attend monthly meetings.

 In April 2008, CWSHRM sponsored an exhibitor booth at the Business EXPO 2008.  Over 280 businesses were in attendance at this event.

 In October 2008, CWSHRM sponsored a community lunch & learn session entitled Diversity in the Workplace. 48 participants representing 33 businesses were in attendance at this event.  Three participants were given a voucher to attend a CWSHRM monthly meeting at no cost.

 In October 2008, representatives from CWSHRM Board presented a program to business representatives entitled: Quality Employees, Here Today.  Here Tomorrow?  Creating a Human Resource Strategy to Keep Quality Employees. 46 participants representing 25 different businesses were in attendance at this event. Two participants were given a voucher to attend a CWSHRM monthly meeting at no cost.

 On November 11th and November 20th, 2008, representatives from the CWSHRM chapter, presented half-day workshops on the following topics: Legal Requirements of Being an Employer, Recruitment and Employee Development, Strategic Planning, and Succession Planning. 19 participants representing 16 small businesses were in attendance at these workshops. Two participants were given vouchers to attend a membership meeting at no cost; two participants were given vouchers to join the chapter/national SHRM at reduced rates; and one participant was given a book by Margaret Morford, entitled “Management Courage”.

 On February 2, 2009, the CWSHRM Marketing/Communications Director was present as a community resource at a region wide  forum for area businesses. Over 100 businesses were in attendance at this event.

 On March 4, 2009, representatives from CWSHRM Board/Leadership Committee presented a program to business representatives entitled: First Impressions Faux Pas.  31 participants representing 25 businesses were in attendance at this event. We gave away vouchers to 3 participants to attend an upcoming CWSHRM monthly meeting at no cost.

 On March 19, 2009,CWSHRM sponsored a community lunch & learn session entitled:   Growing Your Business in Tough Times. We gave away vouchers to 2 participants to attend an upcoming CWSHRM monthly meeting at no cost. ( 8 of the 10 complimentary tickets to the Customer Service Training seminar (noted below) were given away at this meeting.)

 On April 21, 2009, CWSHRM is a co-sponsor for a Customer Service Training seminar as part of Small Business Week. As part of our sponsorship, we gave away complimentary tickets to 10 businesses to attend this seminar.

 On April 23, 2009, CWSHRM will be staffing a booth at the annual Business EXPO 2009. We will be talking to small businesses about services/resources that CWSHRM and SHRM can offer to them. We plan to give away 8 vouchers for reduced annual memberships to CWSHRM and SHRM as well as an additional 10 vouchers to attend one monthly CWSHRM membership meeting at no cost.

 Beginning in March 2009, CWSHRM members will be writing/submitting articles for a monthly feature column in the Central Wisconsin Business News publication. The articles will focus on current human resource topics of interest and importance to area businesses.