ASHRM First General Assembly
Published Wednesday, September 20, 2006
On September 19, 2006, ASHRM members were invited to a general assembly at the tent of Saudi Aramco Exhibit, Dhahran. The meeting objectives were to solicit members input on the desired future of ASHRM; understand members’ needs and expectations; identify new opportunities for ASHRM; and involve members in ASHRM activities and future plans.
The meeting was started by opening remark by the president Essam Tawfiq who welcomed the attendees and thanked them for participation. A presentation about ASHRM activities and future plans was presented by the Vice President Abdulrahman Al Tuwaijri. After the presentation, the members were engaged in a group discussion where members’ ideas and thought were captured for review and categorized by ASHRM board. Below are some of the suggested ideas:
Membership
- Stop focusing on Aramco memberships... look to increase outside/local participation
- Diversity Membership
- Increase membership in other countries in the GCC region
- Increase female membership
- Encourage more participation from members
- Develop Orientation program (induction ceremony) for newcomers – along with welcome package
- Diversity membership... encourage knowledge sharing with other groups
- Create online directory for ASHRM members
- Have an office outside Aramco to attract non-Aramco members
- Offer discounts for ASHRM members with local libraries, bookstores, airlines, hotels, etc.
- Support members in participating in Intl. conferences (help subsidize member expenses)
Affiliation and relationship
- Get more involved with educational institutions/ universities in the area of Certification Programs.
- Establish ASHRM as filtering point for training program advertisements throughout the Gulf
- Promote Human Resource education at college levels and with local universities in the region
- Build relationship/affiliation with international organizations (SHRM)
- Sponsor events with technical societies (SPE)
- Link Tesol Arabia with ASHRM
- Partnership with HRM organizations worldwide
- Promote common understanding between different organizations (technical and human resource)
- A = Arab world... ASHRM needs to be represented in the GCC and Arab League... increase presence and participation from other companies in the region.
Monthly Programs
- Conduct more meetings/programs in Arabic
- Bring in more distinguished / internationally recognized speakers
- Publish fixed calendar of ASHRM events
- Rethink meeting programs... should they be quarterly? Need to make them better quality... allow more time
- Conduct Knowledge Sharing cafes monthly with other professionals
- Conduct events in English and Arabic
- Greater focus on HRM programs
- Include prayer breaks in programs
Publications
- Publish hardcopy publications (magazine). They should move to e-Magazines and publications.
- Continue to send hard copy publications... magazines
- Publish newsletter – with training courses, articles, ideas
Marketing
- Change ASHRM Logo
- Develop a new, interactive website – make it more informative
- Conduct better Awareness Campaigns
- Have ASRHM participation/representation in Intl. conferences
- Hold conferences at local universities (KFUPM)... thus providing more awareness to college students
Professional Development Programs
- Conduct training sessions
- Create standardized training/testing package to qualify people
- Develop speakers... provide consultancy to organizations who would like to help improve their people’s speaking ability
- Give credit for attendance to Knowledge Sharing programs
- Establish an HR library and research center
- Introduce HRM certifications
- Establish internet forum to share ideas about topics
- Establish Community of Practice to give more focus to special areas
Other Ideas
- Establish a committee to review annual achievements by ASHRM members
- Hire new/more people to handle administrative duties
- Establish an Award/recognition program for ASHRM contributing members (HR prize for best contribution)
