Your organization's employee benefits program can't be everything to everyone, or can it? The economy is changing and so are the needs of your workforce! Before your competitors scoop up your top talent, learn new ways to retain them through customized benefits packages that address their generational needs. This interactive discussion will explore the different groupings of employees from a human resources and benefits perspective.

Thank you to our sponsor for this program: Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

Learn from Leaders... Everyone who ever made it had a mentor. This workshop will profile several leaders via video presentations that show their secrets to success. We will also hear from a panel discussion of leaders and experts in the field. This is a "can't miss" finale to the 2005 Professional Development Series. Presenters: Marty Walsh, SHRM Foundation; Karen Usher, The Personnel Office; Jim Dalton

Thanks to our sponsor for this seminar. Wellness Corporate Solutions is a local DC company that provides health fairs, health risk assessments, nutrition, fitness, and stress management seminars, disease management services, health screenings and comprehensive corporate wellness programs. Our programs are professional, creative and informative. Visit us at www.wellnesscorporatesolutions.com.

Watch for your invitation this month for HRA - NCA's 60th Anniversary Celebration - an evening of jazz entertainment, drinks and hors d'oeuvres, and other festivities to recognize and appreciate our membership, to offer congratulations to the newly- elected board members, and to celebrate the spirit of our volunteers. This special members-only event is free and will be held June 9th at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Pentagon City from 6:00pm - 8:00pm. RSVP required for admittance.

HRA - NCA's 2nd Annual Strategic Business Awards gala held at the City Club of Washington on April 20th was a smashing success. The awards ceremony, MC'd by last year's Effective Workforce Planning winner, Ellen Menard, was energetic and informative - And we heard a rousing message from the keynote speaker, Dr. Robert DeSimone, on becoming strategic business leaders within our own organizations.

The awards program garnered a total of 24 nominees in 3 categories. The 2005 award winners were:

• Effective Workforce Planning US Geological Survey, Pam Marsters and Laure Wallace
• Successful Worklife Strategies George Mason University, The Human Resource and Payroll Department
• Excellence in Community Service, The Home Depot, The Merrifield, Fairfax, Fairfax Circle, Annandale, Falls Church, Manassas and East Manassas Stores

We hope that you will start thinking about who you can nominate for the 3rd Annual Strategic Business Awards program.

HRA-NCA was recognized with an "Appreciation Award" on April 14th at WORC's (Workforce Organizations for Regional Collaboration) Annual Employer Appreciation Breakfast. As a WORCforce Partner, HRA has provided both financial aid and volunteer hours by participating in events to train, develop, and help employ disadvantaged individuals of the Washington, DC area. If you have any suggestions for additional activities that HRA could undertake or if you are interested in volunteering, please email HRA's Workforce Readiness Advocate, Summer Spencer at sspencer@wo rconline.org.

You may look up these and other members' information in the HRA - NCA online membership directory, using various search categories. Log in through the "Member Login" on the HRA - NCA Web site home page. Keep your membership record up-to- date so we don't lose touch!

Welcome to New Members

• Nikial Boston, PHR, Human Resources Manager, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
• Jabaria Jenkins, Human Resources Recruiter, DFI Government Services
• Poniesa Johnson, PHR, Manager of Compensation & Benefits, DFI International
• Joyce Keilen
• Cecilia Matthews
• Judieth Welch

HRA - NCA invites organizations to sponsor our newsletter - or any of the following: monthly speaker presentations, our Web site, special events, etc. Interested? Contact Bob Corlett, HRA-NCA's Vice President, Marketing and Community Relations, or access our information on the Web site. For this issue, sincere thanks to the following sponsors.

The Catholic University of America's Metropolitan College offers the SHRM Learning System and Essentials of HRM, a Certificate in HRM, and the CEBS (employee benefits) program. Evening, weekend, accelerated courses and degree programs - along with a campus located on Metrorail - make CUA's Metropolitan College the ideal choice for HR professionals. Learn more about these educational opportunities.

Smokey Glen Farm is the Washington Area's original, best and most popular casual event facility - conveniently located just 6 miles west of the Rockville / Rt. 28 exit of I-270. We offer 5 beautiful, unique and completely private event sites, world-class customer service, spectacular barbeque specialties and endless entertainment possibilities. Although we specialize in company picnics for groups of 50-7000 people, we also offer facilities & packages for team building events, casual meetings, evening parties, holiday parties, lobsterbakes and even casual weddings & bar or bat mitzvahs.

SSi Consulting is the Mid-Atlantic leader in HR Management Software Consulting. If HR administration tasks keep you from engaging in top- level strategic planning, consider a system like ABRA Suite to support your crucial HR and/or payroll functions. ABRA can reduce HR costs with efficient project and data management and provide more robust reports to management. And, with online Employee Self Service and Benefits Enrollment Workforce Connections, most tedious, manual tasks are eliminated. 1-800-886-3369 x4618 or www.ssiconsulting.com.