Hello -- it will be November before you know it and that means we’ll be in new orleans!

I’ve taken the liberty to come up with a “DRAFT” agenda for discussion items.  Please review and let me know by Monday, November 1, 2010, if there are additional topics you would like to add. 

Sue Bonner

DRAFT AGENDA

Southern Region Meeting

Human Resources Breakout Session

New Orleans, Louisiana

November 3-5, 2010

Welcome and Opening Remarks – arranged by Host State

Suggested HR Breakout Topics for Discussion

Thursday, November 4

10:15 a.m.  – 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.  – 3:15 p.m.

Friday, November 5

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

State Briefing – General update for each state/institution

Salary and Salary Competitiveness Issues

• Update on agent starting salaries by degree
• Innovative compensation programs/strategies
• Managing workforce with little or no salary adjustments

Recruitment and Retention

• Ideas for innovative recruiting tools or strategies – what’s working and what’s not working?
• Retention issues – are we retaining our best employees?  What is being done to retain our best employees?
• Update on on-line application

Civil Rights Reviews

• Which states were most recently reviewed?
• Which states are scheduled for review in the near future?
• What experiences and advice can we offer to states scheduled for review?

Federal Retirement Update

• VERA
• Number of Remaining Federal Employees in Southern Region

Federal Benefits Update – Information Sent from Sonny Barber

Employee Benefit Issues

• Counseling issues for CSRS/FERS participants? 
• Retirement incentive options
• Increasing Health Care Costs

Other Employee Issues?

·       Administering/Tracking FMLA

• Legal, risk management issues you have faced, solved or wondered about this year

Diversity/Inclusion

• Update on what the different universities are doing in this area - Innovations, successes, other experiences?
• Training for agents – reaching a more diverse audience at the county level