Dear Conference Participant:

Welcome to Unleashing the Potential, the annual NYS SHRM Human Resource Conference and Exhibition! Listed in this letter is information to help you make your Conference experience successful and fun!

On behalf of the over 50 CNY SHRM volunteers who have been working over the past 18 months to bring this Conference to you and the NYS Society for Human Resource Management, our premier sponsors The Post Standard and Syracuse.com, we look forward to meeting you and sincerely hope you find your experience rewarding. You will find Conference hosts throughout the venue and at the Guest Relations table in the Welcome Center.

Guest Relations

Our Volunteer Hosts are prepared to answer your questions and make your Conference experience enjoyable. Visit our Guest Relations table in the Welcome Center for assistance, or speak with any Conference volunteer.

Your Conference Package

Your Conference package includes access to our Pre-Conference Workshop, four Keynote Presentations, and 14 concurrent sessions on a variety of current HR topics. Please be sure to stay through the Tuesday lunch and Keynote where we will announce our two $1,000 Grand Prize winners and other prize winners! You must be present to win!

Exclusive Resort Package

As a Conference participant you also receive an exclusive resort package offered by The Turning Stone Resort and Casino. In your packet you will have a $10 Match Play Coupon, a $5 Off Coupon at Selected Resort Restaurants, and a Discount Coupon Off a Spa Treatment. You will also have full access to all Resort amenities.

Twilight Golf Package

Also, as a Conference participant you can golf two of the Resort’s PGA courses, Shenendoah and Kaluhyat after 2 PM for only $70. These courses were designed by renowned designers Rick Smith and Robert Trent Jones. This is a special Twilight Package for Conference participants. Call 877.748.GOLF to reserve your tee times.

Entertainment

Monday, July 24 at 8:00 PM at the Showroom, the Nashville Stars will perform. Tickets are $20, $25, and $35 and can be purchased by calling the Showroom at 877-833-SHOW.

Name Tags & Registration List

Your packet includes your Name Tag and Registration List (list of sessions you’ve registered for). Place your Name Tag in your neck wallet and wear it at all times. Your Name Tag and Registration List is your passport for Conference events. You must show each in order to gain access to those events you’ve registered for. Without them you will be unable to attend a session. If you lose either please visit our Guest Relations area. We’ll be happy to re-print either document with proper ID. 

Your Name Tag is color coded and we would ask that you place it in your neck wallet and wear it at all Conference events. You can identify those participating in the Conference as follows:

Red and Green designations receive full access throughout the Conference; Light Blue and Orange designations are restricted to one day; Yellow designation is meals only for the Conference. On certain Name Tags special designations may be noted. Those special designations are: One Day Attendance, Meals Only, or other categories.

Exposition – Food, Prizes, and Fun Galore!

CNY SHRM and the NYS SHRM greatly appreciate the support of the businesses that are participating in our Exposition. Their involvement and support adds significantly to the success of our Conference. We encourage all participants to become familiar with the products and services designed to assist HR professional in meeting workplace challenges.

We have six opportunities for you to visit the Exposition and win prizes:

Exhibitor prize drawings will be staggered throughout Exposition times, to include Snack and Cocktail Reception times. Bring plenty of business cards and remember you must be present to win and go to the Exhibitor booth to claim your prize.

Grand Prize Drawings - $1,000 and More!

Unleashing the Potential will give away several Grand Prizes . . .

To be eligible for the Grand Prize drawing you must have your Grand Prize Card initialed by at least sixty (60) Exhibitors. Your Grand Prize Card is in your registration packet. You must deposit your completed Grand Prize Card in the Raffle Drum at Guest Relations in the Welcome Center. Grand Prize drawings will take place after the Tuesday lunch Keynote and you must be present to win.

Book Signings

We will have several book signing opportunities. Book signing opportunities include Pre-Conference Workshop presenter Fran Battisti, Rita Bailey and Scott Cawood who are Keynote presenters and have co-authored a book, and Chris Novak who is the Tuesday Keynote presenter. Check the posted Exposition schedule for times.

Meal Selection

Please note that included in your packet is a reminder of your Sunday evening dinner selection. Please bring this with you for dinner. As a suggestion you may want to place it behind your Name Tag in your neck wallet.

Session Selections

Your packet includes your registration information and lists the session selections you made when you had registered. Please keep this handy. Due to space considerations please attend only those sessions for which you have registered. You must show your Name Tag and Registration List in order to gain access to those events you’ve registered for. Without them you will be unable to attend a session. If you lose either please visit our Guest Relations area. We’ll be happy to re-print either document. 

Cocktail Reception Tickets

Two (2) refreshment tickets are in your packet. The tickets may be used for two free beverages at the Exposition Cocktail Receptions scheduled on either Sunday prior to dinner or Monday in the Exposition.

Meals and Additional Meal Tickets

A Conference registration includes meals and yes – snacks!

A continental Breakfast will be served beginning 7:30 am on Monday and Tuesday in the Oneida Room on the lower level.

Lunch will be served beginning 12:45 pm on Monday and then at noon on Tuesday. Lunch will be in the Oneida Room on the lower level.

One Dinner will be served on Sunday beginning at 5:30 pm. Dinner will be in the Oneida Room on the lower level.

Two (2) Cocktail Receptions will be hosted in the Exposition Event Center. On Sunday, the Cocktail Reception begins at 4:00 pm and on Monday the Cocktail Reception begins at 5:30 pm.

Cookies and beverages will be served Monday at 10:00 am and at 3:00 pm in the Exposition Event Center. On Tuesday, cookies and beverages will be served at 9:45 am in the Exposition Event Center.

Additional Meal Tickets: Additional meal tickets may be purchased at Guest Relations. The cost for Sunday dinner is $50. Lunches are $30 and breakfasts are $20. A credit card, check (preferred), or cash is accepted.

CD ROM and Handouts

Your packet includes a CD-ROM that contains information about the NYS Society for Human Resource Management, the various chapters across the state, upcoming State Council events, and Conference presentations.

SHRM Foundation Prize Drawings – Two Drawings!

SHRM Foundation Prize Drawings - Two Drawings! The SHRM Foundation is a 501c(3) non-profit organizational affiliate of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and funds research, and publications on a wide range of educational initiatives to advance the profession and enhance the effectiveness of HR professionals. All contributions are tax deductible. Make a personal donation of $25 and you will be entered into a drawing for the SHRM Foundation Animal. Make a personal donation of $50 and you will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift certificate to the SHRM Store. Donate to the Foundation by completing an order form that can be obtained at the NYS Society for Human Resource Management booth in the Exposition.

SHRM Bookstore

The SHRM Bookstore will be located in the Exposition and offer samples of about 40 titles of the “best selling” and “new” HR books. You can browse the offerings and complete the order form in your packet. All orders will be processed immediately following the Conference and with no additional shipping/handling charges.

Hotel Check-In/Out Times

Guests may check-in any time after 3 PM. The Tower Hotel will provide an area to hold baggage. Guests may check-out before 11 AM. Express check-out is available.

Exhibitor Setup Times

Exhibitors may set up at the Event Center between 11 and 2 PM on Sunday, July 23. Exhibitors must remain available until the Exposition closes on Tuesday, July 25 at noon.

Recertification

Unleashing the Potential has been approved for 13 recertification credit hours toward PHR, SPHR and GPHR recertification through the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI). Recertification credit forms will be available online at www.hrci.org. For breakout sessions and keynote presentations your code is ORG-PROGRAM-1907 and is approved for 11 recertification credits. For the pre-conference workshop your code is ORG-PROGRAM-2628 and has been approved for 2 recertification credits.

Session Evaluation Forms

There are none. You will receive an email after the Conference which will direct you to our online evaluation form. We hope you will find this more convenient.

Smoking Policy

The Turning Stone Resort & Casino allows smoking on premises. In some locations non-smoking areas are provided. Unleashing the Potential will restrict smoking in the Event Center to outside locations. No smoking will be allowed in the Event Center, the Event Center hallways, breakout rooms, general sessions, Exposition foyer areas, or Exposition.

Business Center

You have access to the Resort’s Business Center located in Tower Hotel Board Room area across from the Echo Rotunda. This room offers high speed internet service, copying, faxing, and mail options. There is a charge for some services.

Dress Code

Business casual.

Electronic Devices

Please remember to turn your electronic communication devices on silent during Conference sessions. We appreciate your cooperation.

It is our sincere hope that you find Unleashing the Potential to be a truly exciting and rewarding experience.

Sincerely,

~ The CNY Society for Human Resource Management Planning and Implementation Group and the NYS Society for Human Resource Management

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