Report from the IPMA Executive Council

Doris Maye

The IPMA Executive Council met on March 7, 1998. Below is a summary of the discussion and actions items from that session. Please let me know if you have questions or would like any additional information on any of these topics. The next meeting of the Council will take place on October 3, 1998, in conjunction with the IPMA International Training Conference in Orlando. I will be happy to hear from you about any issues you wish to be addressed at that time.

Chapter, Region and Section Leadership Conference

The Association will sponsor the second Chapter, Region and Section Leadership Conference on August 15 - 16 in Arlington, Virginia. An officer from each chapter along with the President and President-Elect of the Association's Regions and Sections will be invited. The Association will pay for the hotel expenses of the participants who will be responsible for their travel expenses. Additional details on this Conference will be provided to the chapters, regions and sections.

IPMA International Training Conference

The IPMA International Training Conference will be held from October 4 - 8, at the Hyatt Orlando in Orlando, Florida. The theme for the Conference is "Value Added, Value Centered: Today's HR Function." Speakers at the conference include: David Ulrich, author of Human Resource Champions, Benjamin Schnieder from the University of Maryland who will discuss the topic of "Marketing HR," and a panel including: Janice LaChance, Director of the Office of Personnel Management who will discuss HR reform initiatives. Concurrent session topics during the conference will include: communicating with stakeholders; best practices in technology; which performance organizations; alternative pay practices; the emerging flexible workforce; surviving employee strike actions; tools for evaluating personnel programs; how technology impacts human behavior; and making the Internet a practical tool. A full social program also will be offered as part of the Conference. As in previous years, the chapters, regions and sections will be offered one complimentary registration to the International Training Conference.

IPMA Human Resource Competency Model

The Association piloted the four training modules that have been developed implementing the IPMA Human Resource Competency Model on March 24 - 26, in Seattle, Washington. The Executive Council has formed a Competency Model Marketing Committee and Fagan D. Stackhouse, Director of Human Resources, City of Virginia Beach, Virginia is serving as the chair of this committee. The training modules are being modified and will be finalized by the end of May.

IPMA Benchmarking Taskforce

The IPMA Benchmarking Taskforce met at the end of January and is in the process of finalizing a benchmarking survey that will be sent to IPMA Agency members. The Taskforce has decided to begin with a pilot project in which a database will be developed on the IPMA web site that will contain information focusing on aspects of recruitment and selection and training and development. The database will be available in mid July and will be password protected. The password will be provided to IPMA Agency members. The Association is a partner on this project with the National Association of State Personnel Executives (NASPE).

IPMA/ACA Compensation and Benefits Seminars

The Association has entered into a joint venture with the American Compensation Association for the development of a series of seminars focusing on public sector compensation and benefits issues. The first seminar will be presented at the IPMA Training Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Rebate To Chapters and Sections For Enrolling IPMA Members

The Executive Council voted to establish a program that will provide the chapters and sections with $35 for each new IPMA member recruited by a chapter or section. New members must indicate at the time of enrollment, which chapter or section recruited them. The program only applies to new members and not to membership renewals.

IPMA/CPPMA Exchange Program

The Association has voted to establish a new exchange program with the Canadian Public Personnel Management Association (CPPMA). A total of 15 individuals evenly divided among federal, state and local levels of government will be selected to spend a week at a counterpart agency in Canada and then will host someone from Canada. An article describing the program and an application will be included with the April issue of IPMA News.

International Activities

The Association is a sponsor of the 1999 World Conference on Governance that will be held in the Philippines. The theme of the conference is "From Government to Governance." Other sponsors of the conference include: the Eastern Regional Organization of Public Administration, the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management, the Philippine Civil Service Commission, the United Nations, the World Bank, the Institute on Governance, the Asian Development Bank, and the Asian and Pacific Development Centre. The Association also is finalizing another exchange program with a human resource association in South Africa that will provide IPMA members with the opportunity to attend the conference in South Africa and representatives from South Africa will attend the IPMA Training Conference.

Assessment Services

The Association has computerized the new Clerical Series as a result of a partnership that has been entered into with Presenting Solutions, Inc., a California developer of computerized testing and training. As a result of this agreement, IPMA is now a distributor of Presenting Solutions WinValuate Software Skills Evaluation Modules. Two new clerical examinations have been developed that combined several of the clerical exam modules. The Association also has begun a customized examination development service to accommodate the development of examinations for second-level administrative police and fire positions. This service utilizes the IPMA item bank. This year, the Association is developing an entry level video component police officer examination.

Government Affairs

The Association continues to be actively involved in a number of government affairs issues including: the Fair Labor Standards Act., Family and Medical Leave Act, Affirmative Action, Americans With Disabilities Act, and pension issues.

Doris Maye serves as IPMAAC's Representative to the IPMA Executive Council. Throughout the year she keeps us informed of the Council's activities. Doris is the Assistant Director of Applicant Services for the Georgia State Merit System and may be reached at 200 Piedmont Ave. SE, #420, Floyd West, Atlanta, GA 30334. Phone: (404) 656-5820, Fax: (404) 656-9740, e-mail at dmm@sms.state.ga.us.