Every Spring, BC HRMA asks for feedback in the form of an annual member value survey. In response, we receive both accolades and criticisms. These ideas, suggestions and comments help us to continuously shape the activities and services we offer.  This year, BC HRMA is proud to hear that satisfaction with overall service value is high and growing.

As one survey participant responded: “BC HRMA is doing a good job. Although there are always opportunities for improvement, there has been continuous positive growth. Each year the association seems to be getting better and better.” And the numbers reflect that.

This year, 873 of our 5,500 members participated in the survey and rated the overall value of a BC HRMA membership 7.8 out of 10. This is very close to the association’s 2014 strategic goal of 8 out of 10 and is up slightly from 2011 which had a rating of 7.6 out of 10.

Membership Has Many Privileges
Generally respondents said that they continue their membership with association:

1. To have and maintain the CHRP designation
BC HRMA continues to promote awareness and value of the CHRP designation to the business community and is also working closely with CCHRA to improve the value and benefits of the CHRP. A recent study found that CHRPs are promoted faster, hired by larger organizations and earn more than their counterparts without a CHRP.

2. Network
Staff and volunteers work hard to evolve networking opportunities. There are now more than 35 different roundtables currently running throughout the province. Events such as the HR Café have grown to include over a dozen participating educational institutions while peer-to-peer opportunities such as the annual conference continue to break attendance projections and satisfaction levels.

3. Have access to job postings
The People Portal continues to serve as a valuable resource for employers and job seekers alike.

4. Get insight into best practices and HR data
The HR Metrics Service has experienced 50 per cent year-over-year growth adding to the value and depth of information available to members of  BC HRMA. The introduction of Research Briefings and continued improvements to both PeopleTalk and HRVoice.org offer practitioners a variety of literature and best practices in the areas of human resources and organizational development.

We Are Listening
In response to the question, “What one thing could BC HRMA do to increase the value of your membership?”  three areas emerged:

1. Increase the value of membership
Increasing value of membership has been a key focus of BC HRMA Board and staff in recent years. Member benefits such as the Career Path Tool, Professional Mentoring Program and the Career Advancement Network provide members with options to support their careers at no additional costs, while the Government Relations Forum is an effort to raise the profile of the importance of our discipline in the eyes of the decision makers in Victoria.

Membership dues have remained unchanged for the past eight years and are competitive when compared against other like professional associations while 100% of professional dues are reinvested back to the development and growth of the CHRP designation.

2. Increase member offerings available outside the Lower Mainland
BC HRMA is committed to engaging our full membership and continues to explore services and offerings that are accessible throughout the province. Webinars, offered live or on demand, have increased as the association has partnered to provide more online options. This year, BC HRMA partnered with the Canadian Working Group for HIV & Rehabilitation to provide two courses at a special price. Also, for the first time ever, BC HRMA recorded three sessions from the annual conference and offered them as a webinar series to those unable to attend the event in-person.

3. Continue to build the value of HR and the CHRP designation in the business community
The association issued more than a dozen press releases and had more than 50 print, electronic, radio and TV media appearances. In February, BC HRMA launched its first radio campaign promoting the value of the CHRP designation with the business community as the target audience. Notably, a recent survey of general business leaders and their awareness of both BC HRMA and the CHRP designation found that 53 per cent could correctly identify the association and 45 per cent could correctly identify the designation. This is a substantial increase from survey results in 2007 which showed only 10 per cent of this group were aware of BC HRMA and only 20 per cent had heard of the CHRP designation.

Thank You
BC HRMA values the opinions of its membership and wishes to thank all who took part in our annual member value survey.  We continue to learn from feedback and invite all members to participate in this annual opportunity or other channels to join the conversation to make membership more valuable and engaging.

For more information on BC HRMA’s success over the past year, please review our AGM Report.