THE AUGUST GROUP NEWSLETTER

April 14, 2008

Volume 2, Number 15

Rochester’s Premier Professional Networking Organization

Newsletter Archives

In this Issue.

Upcoming Events

“Mega” social event @ Johnny’s Irish Pub Wednesday April 16 4:30pm – 7:30pm.

Career Exploration Group or What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up? @ The Bagel Bin Thursday April 17, 11:00am – 12:00pm

Lou Grillo hosts this series. For more info, write NoSoup4U@rochester.rr.com

Lunch, Learn and Link! - LinkedIn 102 – Advanced Mastery – registration required Thursday April 17 11:30am - 1:00pm.

Lunch, Learn and Link! - LinkedIn 101 – Getting Started – Making the 1st 100 Connections - registration required Tuesday April 22, 11:30am - 1:00pm.

Power Networking - Underutilized Tool for Growth By Robert Rotolo & Kathleen Pringle @ Holiday Inn  Airport Wednesday April 30, 5:00pm – 8:00pm

Where: 911 Brooks Ave., Rochester, NY

Event Cost: $15 for IIE members, $10 for Student members, and $20 for Non-members - cash or check, pay at the door. Diner included.

To Register: Contact: Rochester Engineering Society at (585) 254-2350 or res@frontiernet.net By 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 25, 2008

Lunch, Learn and Link! - LinkedIn 101 – Getting Started – Making the 1st 100 Connections - registration required Wednesday May 7, 4:30pm – 6:00pm (evening session).

Flexible Workforce Network (non-TAG) @ the Bagel Bin Tuesday May 13, 11:30am – 1:00pm.

Send calendar additions to calendar@augustgroup.org

Are you willing to assist enhance the content of this section of the newsletter?

We're looking for members to populate the calendar with events of interest.
If so, send an email to newsletter@augustgroup.org.  It gets better with your
input and contributions.

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Words to Ponder

  • “Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it. The man who knows how will always have a job. The man who also knows why will always be his boss.”
    - Ralph Waldo Emerson

  • “The comfort zone takes our greatest aspirations and turns them into excuses for not bothering to aspire.”
    - Peter McWilliams

  • “Pay no attention to what the critics say... Remember, a statue has never been set up in honor of a critic!”
    - Jean Sibelius
     

Got a thought to share?  Send it to newsletter@augustrgroup.org and put
"Words to Ponder" in the Subject Line.

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Member Announcements

 

Have an announcement to share?
 

Here you can share so many things. You're a new member and want share your elevator speech.  You never know who might spot it, perhaps a recruiter or business owner looking for someone just like you.

Perhaps you've landed a new position and wish to share the story and gratitude.

Maybe you are coordinating an event for community or charity and seek support.

This is where we'll post it.  This section reflects our members. Make contributions.

It's all about members for members and more here. Send your email to newsletter@augustgroup.org.

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Feature Articles

Have an article to contribute?  We welcome your contributions.  Make a difference. Share a story.  Submit it to newsletter@augustgroup.org.

Got a story idea?  Submit  it to newsletter@augustgroup.org.

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Job Postings

Hidden jobs are welcomed for sharing at jobs@augustgroup.org.  If the job your neighbor, friend or family shared with you is not right for you, it might be perfect for an August Group colleague.  This is a great place for practicing "give to get." With 1600 members, what can happen here when members own the content?

 

We welcome volunteers to coordinate the job postings on a weekly basis. Employers and members submit jobs that must be readied for inclusion in the newsletter.  A lack of help means fewer jobs get posted in a timely manner. Why not be the first one to see new postings??!!
 

NEW Postings this week

Previously posted jobs

See the August Group Newsletter Archives

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Human Resources Professionals - Things Job Seekers Should Know

We've had many HR professionals visit and contribute to The August Group. Your ongoing contributions are valued and needed by all members.  We know that we'll see great contributions from those who have made their careers about career and organizational development.  If it's not your own writing, perhaps its a link or someone else's, writing that you are sharing and giving credit to the author.  Send your contributions to newsletter@augustgroup.org with HR in the Subject line.
 

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Websites Worth Visiting

Send your contributions to newsletter@augustgroup.org with Website in the Subject line.
 

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Feature Articles

 

Plan for the Future
 Contributed by Darryl Walczak

A few weeks ago, my wife’s aunt had what her doctors are calling a series of mini strokes. While Aunt Anne is 73, she has been in relatively good health, so this came as a bit of a surprise. Over the last few weeks, my wife’s family has taken turns going to visit Aunt Anne, whether it is in the hospital or the assisted living facility she has been in. Sometimes she recognizes her visitors, sometimes she doesn’t. It has been frustrating, because you can see times where Aunt Anne knows what is going on, but just can’t form the words to express herself.

That brings me to the point of this piece. I first want to point out that I have no specific expertise in this area (and would gladly accept the advice of anyone who does). That being said, I am urging everyone, regardless of their age or health, to make arrangements for what they want to happen in the event they become incapacitated or die.

Let’s face it, nobody wants to talk about those options. But what I have found out in paying attention to my wife’s dilemma is that the smallest details need to be considered. From something as small as how to get mail forwarded to the larger issues of choosing care facilities and extent of care, there are numerous decisions to be made.

For that reason, here is a short list of things that should be addressed:

  1. Make sure that you have named someone Power of Attorney. This will allow you to be assured that if you are incapacitated, someone will assume the day-to-day tasks of your life (you know, things like paying the creditors who really don’t give a hoot about your new medical condition).
     

  2. Make sure that you have a health care proxy who is aware of your wishes. I’m not here to tell you if and when you should “pull the plug.” I am here to tell you that you should have an opinion on that topic. More importantly, you should share that with you health care proxy so your wishes are carried out. Everything from the depth of care you wish to have to organ donation should be decide on.
     

  3. Make sure that you have created some sort of will. It can be very detailed (especially if you have a lot to distribute) or extremely simple. Again, this document will insure that your wishes are carried out.
     

Having all of these things in place can make a difficult time for those you love a bit easier. Plus they are reflective of your actual wishes. While I understand that bringing up this topic with a loved one might be difficult (after all, I don’t know many people who are interested in discussing their own death), it can be made a bit easier by suggesting what you would want should you meet an untimely demise.

 

 

POWER Networking Works! JumpStart Accelerates!!
Contributed by John Bayley

From tracking some of the August Group members who landed positions in 2007 we discovered some data and statistics you might be interested in. Below is a list of companies that our members landed in last year (multiples have been removed). Also below are the job titles of the members who landed.

Out of the members that landed, 75% were members of Power Networking Groups. 60% had attended the Jumpstart Program to improve their networking skills.

So…. What are you waiting for?

Sutherland Group
ClearSpeed
Lydall
Emerson Diversified Electronics
U of R Heart Research Follow-up Program
R. Brooks Associates
Rochester Museum and Science Center
Seneca Foods
Technical Consumer Products
Ajilon Consulting (Xerox)
ITT
Hahn Automotive Warehouse
Sentry Safe
Xerox
Greatbatch
Retrotech
VWR International's Science Education
Spectracom
Preferred Care
Tully Hill Chemical Dependency Treatment Center
SUNY Geneseo
Excellerated Performance
Unisys
Countrywide Bank
ACRO
Navint
Element K
Paychex
Veramark Technologies
Gleason Works
CooperVision
Manufacturing Solutions Inc.
Baldwin Richardson Foods
Harris RF
 

 

Outside the Circle – written by Boaz Rauchwerger
Shared by John Bayley, Vistage Chair

When things fall apart in life, and they do from time to time for all of us, the natural tendency is to think about ourselves and to get depressed.

During this particular time, with everything that's happening with home mortgages, many people are facing difficult challenges. For some people, I would imagine that their world is being turned upside down.

Since much of my work is with people's attitudes, I got to thinking the other day about attitude and life challenges.

When we feel barraged by problems, fear can become overwhelming. All kinds of negative thoughts begin to swirl in our minds and we can sometimes feel as if we can't get off the merry-go-round. It seems to be going faster and faster and all we want to do is flip the switch and stop it.

Thus, in challenging moments, let's imagine negative thoughts going round and round in an endless circle of stress and worry. As long as we keep that circle going in our minds, thoughts are turned inwardly.

If you find yourself in such a situation, I have a suggestion. Stop the circle of thought by breaking out of it.

The way to break out of it is by helping someone else. Find someone who is also going through a difficult time and encourage them. That's right, encourage someone else.

When we take the focus off of our problems, by getting out of the circle, we allow the power of the brain to work with less interference. By refocusing, for even a few minutes at a time, the brain can relax and do
its magic.

You have more power in your brain than any computer man could ever create. Let that power work and you may be surprised by the ideas that come to you.

You may actually have some solutions to your problems. But those solutions will have a difficult time showing up if they're surrounded by a circle of fear.

Let's see what can be done to cheer up somebody else, to encourage someone, to tell them that you believe in them. Then watch what happens in your own life.

Perhaps its time to think outside the circle.

A Break-The-Circle Affirmation
When I face difficult challenges, I reach out to other people and encourage them.

Want to supercharge your corporation?
Need a powerful speaker for your event?
Contact us at: Boaz@BoazPower.com or 619-723-3007
 

 

The August Group registers with LinkedIn

LinkedIn Groups add Authentication

LinkedIn has enhanced the value of Groups recently adding an authentication procedure. Previously it was assumed that LinkedIn members would honorably list in their profiles those groups to which they were truly belonged. It’s been observed that this is not the case. LinkedIn refined the Groups function. Now groups can register with LinkedIn and one’s membership in a group must be authenticated. When authenticated your profile will display the group’s logo in your profile.

The Value of LinkedIn Groups

What’s the value of Groups? To connect with other LinkedIn members you must know them well enough to invite them. It is assumed that people you know well, that you’ll know their email address. It’s also assumed that if you are a member of a group that you may share common interests yet not know all members well enough to have their email addresses. The August Group would be a great example. Members from 2002 are not likely to bump into members of 2005 or today, yet all share a common interest in networking.

The Value of Joining The August Group’s LinkedIn Group

When a new member joins The August Group they come seeking connections in general sessions at The Bagel Bin or St. Cecilia’s. The challenge is that they are limited to making connections with only those people they meet in that session. There are now 1000’s who have attended The August Group and who qualify as members. If you take each member and their LinkedIn connections each member would have access to millions of connections and contacts online. The most difficult challenge is finding contacts. LinkedIn enables the finding. The August Group facilitates making the connections real with warm introductions and face to face meetings. All August Group members benefit adding their affiliation to The August Group to their LinkedIn profile. If you’re looking to connect to millions, and that is not an exaggerated claim, then become a LinkedIn member and join The August Group within LinkedIn.

Joining LinkedIn and LinkedIn’s August Group Group (Did I say that correctly?)

Joining LinkedIn is easy. Go to LinkedIn and you can become a member in 2-3 minutes. To learn more about this tool either play with it or visit the Upcoming Events section to learn about upcoming training.

To join the LinkedIn Group for The August Group there are two requirements.

  1. You must demonstrate your networking inclination and abilities. The August Group is all about networking and making connections. The mantra is “Give to get.” Members who practice this will have the 50 connections required to become a member of this group. When you have achieved 50 connections you will have demonstrated that you too are a connector.

    NOTE – you can be a member of The August Group, with less than 50 LinkedIn connections. You WILL NOT be a member of The August Group’s LinkedIn Group until you reach 50 connections.

  2. We will verify your participation in The August Group either past or present.

No one will be initially rejected for failing either of these requirements. After your request is made you will have 30 days to meet both authentication and 50 connections requirements. If these requirements are not met in that time frame your request will be rejected and you will be instructed as to how you might achieve membership in the future. If connecting to millions or simply hundreds matters to you and will assist you, then join LinkedIn, learn the tool and connect with The August Group within LinkedIn.

For the skeptical go to the Media Coverage page where articles from Fortune, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Time and other leading publications regularly feature this game changing online application that is networking for professionals. You'll find the Fortune Magazine article "Why you'll finally use LinkedIn" most interesting.

 

Join TAG Group in LinkedIn by clicking on this link.
 

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Job Postings

New job postings this week


 Assistant Manager and Sales Support - Habitat for Humanity ReStore:

 

Full Time. Retail store assistant manager. Low to mid $30sK.

Duties include traditional retail sales and support, including scheduling and personnel management. Knowledge of building and home improvement materials very helpful.

Must have valid NYS driver's license and clean driving record.

Must work traditional hours plus some Saturdays and (eventually) some evening hours.

Background check and drug test will be required.

Please forward resumes via email to: salesjob@rochester.rr.com. This is the only place to apply. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.

Tell them that you learned about this opportunity through The August Group newsletter.

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Workforce Management Analyst – Paychex

Responsibilities:

  • Continually improving the forecasting and scheduling predictions across all contact centers.

  • Ensuring maximum utilization of existing technologies to support efficient traffic distribution and use of staff.

  • Monitoring real-time queue and adherence reports to ensure service level and response time objectives are met.

  • Developing long-term capacity plans and providing accurate workloads predictions for annual budgeting and planning.

  • Analyzing contact center trends and benchmarks.

  • Planning for business continuity.

  • Developing process enhancements through automation.

  • Tracking system downtime, open IT tickets and the impact to service centers.

  • Generating and analyzing reports.

Requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree (Business or Computer Science preferred) with a minimum of 3 years Human Resource Systems experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

  • Detailed knowledge in MS Excel, Access, IVR and contact center experience or 1 year programming in a computer language (Java, C/C++/C#, Visual Basic or COBOL) is required.

  • Additional experience needed includes modifying processes to improve efficiency, generating and analyzing reports, and translating analyses into actionable steps.

  • Experience with call center technologies such as Private Business eXchange (PBX), automatic call distribution (ACD), IVR, customer relationship management (CRM), and CTI (Computer Telephony Integration), Knowledge Base and Workforce Management is strongly preferred.

To apply please visit our website at www.paychex.com/careers to create a profile and apply for reference code position 08010QO.

Tell them that you learned about this opportunity through The August Group newsletter.

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Retirement Plan Compliance Analyst – Paychex

Responsibilities:

  • Monitor, research, and analyze current or proposed legislation, regulatory developments, and client inquiries affecting the plans to determine the impact on the company or plan sponsors.

  • Ensure that client plans are compliant with all Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and Internal Revenue Code rules and regulations related to plans.

  • Interpret legal documents associated with plan administration (i.e. prototype plans, volume submitter plans, trust documents, IRS/DOL subpoenas).

  • Position emphasizes planning, analysis, insights, and compliance management as opposed to administration.

  • Provide relevant and sound compliance advice to internal groups and clients on compliance issues to ensure regulatory requirements are understood and consistently being followed.

  • Articulate best business practice recommendations and solutions to complex qualified plan issues.

  • Provide the reasoning behind policies and practices.

  • Identify compliance deficiencies and issues requiring resolution and work with business areas to develop compliance controls and processes that are appropriate for the business.

  • Exercise independent decision-making around policies and practices.

  • Monitor administrative systems for accordance with plan documents, administrative requirements, and business practice.

  • Cultivate and maintain a positive working relationship with various internal departments; facilitating timely resolution of plan and contract issues that might jeopardize the tax qualified status of a plan.

  • Review written procedures, training manuals, and client / participant correspondence used within 401(k) Operations, Client Services, and Training departments and provide detailed feedback to assure accurate plan administration.

  • Prepare and maintain a reference “library” of regulations pertaining to the operation of qualified plans, articles of interest obtained from research sites, as well as other reference materials.

  • Prioritize day-to-day retirement plan administration issues.

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree as well as ASPPA designation preferred.

  • A minimum of 5 years of retirement plan compliance experience, including all aspects of plan documents, administration processing, compliance testing, and Form 5500 filings.

  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.

  • Demonstrated understanding of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, Internal Revenue Code relative to retirement plans.

  • Excellent research and analytical skills with strong attention to detail; must be able to mine data effectively and interpret results.

  • Ability to operate independently with little or no management oversight.

  • Ability to effectively manage multiple projects with overlapping priorities concurrently, using resources within and outside direct control.

  • Ability to work effectively as an individual or part of a team in a diverse work group.

  • Ability to exercise sound judgment, flexibility, initiative, and commitment.

To apply please visit our website at www.paychex.com/careers to create a profile and apply for reference code position 08010FT.

 Tell them that you learned about this opportunity through The August Group newsletter.

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Talent Acquisition Specialist – American Red Cross Biomedical Services

 The Talent Acquisition Specialist performs full-lifecycle recruitment for assigned client group(s) in Biomedical Services.

Responsibilities:

Qualifications:

For consideration, please email your resume with salary requirements to: jobs@usa.redcross.org and indicate TA Spec on subject line.

Any questions, contact TAG member Gene Voss at vosse@usa.redcross.org.

Tell them that you learned about this opportunity through The August Group newsletter.

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Design Engineer - Fairport, NY

 The Design Engineer works to design and develop new and innovative components, products, and systems. Additionally, the engineer will make ongoing changes to existing product to improve its functionality or increase efficiency. The Mechanical Design Engineer will review the requirements, specifications, and designs to assure overall quality of the product. He/She will be responsible for value-engineering and cost reduction while delivering the high standards of quality characteristic of Qualitrol and its products.

Specifically, this person will be responsible to:

  1. Innovate product design using new concepts, materials and methods.

  2. Manage a design project from beginning to end properly allocating limited resources throughout the process.

  3. Calculate proposed product costs.

  4. Interface with vendors to accurately estimate product costs and obtain alternate components if necessary.

  5. Interface with other departments to obtain and fulfill product requirements.

  6. Consult Product Managers on new products.

  7. Work closely with other engineering teams to assure system design goals are achieved.

  8. Design in accordance with ISO9001 and company standards.

  9. Review designs and schematics to ensure quality and reliability.

  10. Travel to Sweden to design and make improvements of existing products.

  11. Performs duties in accordance with established quality standards.

  12. Performs such similar, comparable or related duties as may be required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • BSME or MS in Mechanical Engineering or related field.

  • 3-5 years of previous mechanical development in the electronics industry is preferred, but motivated recent graduates with some CO-OP experience are encouraged to apply.

  • Must be able to travel frequently to Sweden.

  • Proven record of innovation in the industry.

  • Ability to organize and prioritize multiple projects at once.

  • Strong analytic and problem solving skills.

  • Detail oriented.

  • Biased towards taking action.

  • Ability to self-motivate in order to remain on task in an unrestrictive environment.

  • Ability to work closely with other associates in the completion of projects.

  • Excellent communication skills.

  • Strong personal computing skills and familiarity with relevant design programs (AutoCAD, Inventor, etc.).

Eligible associates and associates referring others may apply by providing a letter of interest and qualifications to Sue Doemling, Human Resources, sdoemling@qualitrolcorp.com no later than 4/30/08.

Tell them that you learned about this opportunity through The August Group newsletter.

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