Professional Organizations

There are several professional organizations in the Twin Cities for people with an interest in human resource development. Each meets regularly; some have special interest groups. Most have newsletters with information about programs and support services.

Academy for Human Resource Development
This international organization holds an annual meeting and provides a subscription to the Human Resource Development Quarterly, Human Resource Development International, and Advances in Developing Human Resources to all of its members. For more information, contact the Academy at Academy of HRD, P.O.# Box 25113, Baton Rouge, LA 70894-5113, phone: 225-334-1874, e-mail: office@ahrd.org. For further information on conferences and annual meetings, you can also contact any HRD adviser.

Academy of Management
This national organization holds an annual meeting and publishes scholarly journals. The Midwest region also holds an annual meeting.

American Society for Quality Control, Minnesota Section and U of Minnesota Student Chapter
The Minnesota Section numbers 2,700 "quality" professionals concerned with all aspects of manufacturing and service quality. The section's meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month, from September through May. For more information, contact ASQC Minnesota Section. Contact Roger Schroeder at 612-624-9544 about the University of Minnesota's Student Chapter.

American Society for Training and Development, Southern Minnesota Chapter
A quarterly general meeting is held for the full membership; Special Interest Groups (SIGs) have varying schedules. SIGs include International (Greg Steenson, 612-962-4431), Entrepreneurial (Annie Bullert, 612-210-6641), Spirit in Work (Janae Bower and Becki Firm, 612-417-5889 and 763-797-2096), Training (Linda Ruhland, 612-429-1562), and E-Learning (Shelly Robbins, 651-336-4643). The national association sponsors an annual general conference and an annual skills and technical training conference, and sponsors the publication of Training and Development and the Human Resource Development Quarterly. For more information, contact ASTD main office at 1821 University Ave. St. Paul, MN 55108.

International Society for Performance Improvement, Minnesota Chapter
ISPI holds a monthly general meeting. The national organization sponsors an annual conference and publishes Performance Improvement Journal and Performance Improvement Quarterly. For information on meetings e-mail mnisip@pressenter.com. Students may also contact Mary Ann Thompson at 763-551-1344 for additional information on MN ISPI Chapter or contact Kenneth Bartlett, associate professor, at 612-624-4935 or bartlett@umn.edu.

Minnesota Council for Quality
The mission is to make "produced in Minnesota" mean quality second to none. Meetings are held though they are posted and sent via e-mail. To attend meetings and/or request further information, contact Patricia Fryer Billings, president, at 952-851-3181 or mc4quality@aol.com.

Professional Association for Computer Training
Regular meetings are held the second Friday of every month. These meetings are open to the public. Guests are welcome and no pre-registration is necessary to attend a PACT meeting. There is a $20.00 guest fee. The two PACT SIGs are Mainframe and Micro Computer. For more information, contact Ann Reid at 612 836-2063.

Twin Cities Human Resources Association
General meetings are held two to four times per year. Special Interest Councils have varying schedules. Councils include Recruitment and Selection, Compensation, Generalist, Employee and Labor Relations, Benefits, Human Resource Information Systems, Human Resource Development, and International. For more information, contact Peggy Bushee, 7630 W. 145th Street, Suite 202, Apple Valley, MN 55124, 952-432-7755.

Twin City Area Labor Management Council
This member organization provides technical assistance, workshops, quarterly membership meetings, and conferences to promote cooperative partnerships for organized labor and management. For more information, contact Carol Thomalla, executive director, 612-624-5218.

University of Minnesota Human Resource Development Organization
This student organization sponsors monthly programs, career development and networking opportunities for people in or entering the human resource development field.