I recently read some comments from the acceptance speech of William Rosenzweig, co-founder and managing director of Physic Ventures, of his winning the Oslo Business for Peace Award. He is often inspired by his garden and he states, "A gardener sees the world as a system of interdependent parts – where healthy, sustaining relationships are essential to the vitality of the whole."¹ This statement reminded me of ASHHRA – where healthy, sustaining relationships make ASHHRA what it is today; an organization that advances the human side of health care, leading the way for highly effective, valued, and credible leaders. Just like our gardens, these relationships are firmly anchored with the help of our very own gardeners – the volunteers that make up the Regional, Chapter, and Member Services Committee.

The chairs of this committee are two wonderful board members, Karmen Reid and Tom McCawley. Karmen and Tom work all year alongside their ASHHRA staff colleagues, Emily Meskill and Sharon Allen, to keep us all interconnected. They reach out to regional consultants, chapter presidents, chapter members, and other individuals who need their assistance and provide the foundation for the relationships that makes ASHHRA so special. They do this with the help of the Regional Consultants. Our Regional Consultants are: Lisa D. Pratt, James Papp, Lynette Walker, RN, Ph.D., Teresa Threlkeld, Dianne Potter, SPHR, Annette Suppes, Eileen Brown, MPPM, Alisa L. Rathbun, SPHR, and Steven J. Stahl. They each work directly with your chapter presidents and other chapter officers. Together, this group of individuals leads the way and models our values: people, integrity, leadership, diversity, collaboration, excellence, and innovation.

By now I hope you have made plans to attend the ASHHRA 48th Annual Conference and Exposition from September 22-25, in Denver, Colorado. When you are there, please watch for these folks and say hello to them. Stop and thank them for volunteering to serve and be there to support all of us. They want to get to know you and learn about your experiences and needs. Who knows? You may want to volunteer in one of these roles in the future and help continue the ASHHRA legacy.

So, let’s get together in beautiful Denver. It’s not too late to sign up. We have educational tracks for everyone: new to the profession, mid-level practitioners, senior executives, and practitioners from non-hospital facilities. Topics include sessions on accountable care, health care reform, physician and employee engagement, culture of wellness, and many other areas that will help you.

Leading People Through Change,

Irma L. Pye, SPHR
ASHHRA 2012 President
Senior Vice President & CHRO
Valley Baptist Health System
Harlingen, Texas

¹Source: www.dailygood.org/view.php?qid=5161

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