Nonprofit HR Conference

Hello everyone,

Today I volunteered at an NCHRA seminar. It was about working as an HR professional in the nonprofit sector. It was at the San Francisco Marriott, Union Square area conveniently located near the Powell BART station. We had a continental breakfast in the morning where I had my first piece of coffee cake. It tasted great. The hotel was very clean and had a good atmosphere. The staff was friendly and did their part to make sure the event was a success. Lunch was a salad followed by chicken with a mushroom sauce and mashed potatoes with gravy. Many people agreed that it was good for hotel food. Now on to the seminar.

First Bill Coy and Cathy Claggett talked about why they were holding this seminar. Next, Steve Hirschfeld told us about employment law in the nonprofit sector. He went over legal issues regarding unlawful termination, reasonable accommodation, privacy rights, workplace bullying and unions. He also advise us on how to stay out of trouble and avoid or win lawsuits brought up against our companies for the above reasons. I liked his talk because he was organized, clear, funny and he used good examples. Then Dalya Massachi and Kim Coulthurst gave us some tips on improving our communication skills including knowing your audience, thinking about your tone and making sure you proofread or rehearse. Lastly, Marcia Hodges, the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area spoke to us about effectively managing people in a nonprofit context. It has a lot to do with credibility, knowing yourself, building relationships, being a good leader and being optimistic.

Boy, I am learning a lot lately. Has anyone else attended a seminar, conference or another event were they learned something recently?