About Us
The Greater Ann Arbor Society for Human Resource Management (GAASHRM) is a volunteer-run non-profit association dedicated to the advancement of the Human Resources profession and helping Human Resources professionals in the Ann Arbor area.
Our Mission
To support and advance the HR Profession in the Greater Ann Arbor area through networking, engagement, and professional development activities.
We provide our members with learning & educational programs, networking, and volunteer leadership opportunities - all designed to enhance workplace contributions and stimulate personal and professional growth.
Our Vision
To connect, empower, and elevate the HR community, towards a greater world of work.
We help our members lead, advance and influence the management of human resources and its impact on organizational success.
Our Values
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Innovation: Fostering a culture that champions continuous creativity and prioritizes forward-thinking solutions to drive sustained growth and development.
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Fun: Cultivating a positive and uplifting environment that prioritizes the well-being and happiness of individuals and our community.
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Excellence: An unwavering commitment to achieving expectations, driving continuous improvement, and maintaining the highest standard of quality.
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Inclusivity: Promoting an environment where everyone has a voice and feels valued, respected, and empowered.
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Adaptability: A commitment to navigating change and enabling the chapter to thrive and embrace new workforce trends.
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Social Outreach: A commitment to making a positive impact and giving back to our local community.
GAASHRM is a very active chapter with great participation from its members and volunteers. We live our values by striving to be transparent and honest with our members, providing volunteer services in our community through our Workforce Readiness Committee and Mentoring relationships, and demonstrating our commitment to advancing the HR field through our Legislative Advocacy Campaigns and maintaining our status as a SHRM Learning System Champion.
Our Members
The Chapter was officially founded in 1999 (see History below) and is currently comprised of more than 200 professionals employed in various human resources related functions in more than 100 organizations.
GAASHRM is an affiliate of the national Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the leading voice of the human resource profession. SHRM provides education and information services, government and media representation to more than 325,000 professional and student members worldwide.
GAASHRM supports Student SHRM Chapters at Eastern Michigan University and The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.
Our Meetings
Our meetings are held September through May, typically on the second Tuesday of each month. We rotate between in-person breakfast and lunch meetings and sprinkle in a couple of virtual options throughout the year.
New HR related members are always welcome!
Our Bylaws
To see the bylaws, click here.
Our History
2023 marked GAASHRM's 40th anniversary as a SHRM affiliated chapter. Although our history goes back to the late 1960's, we officially became a SHRM affiliate in 1983.
GAASHRM had humble beginnings - officially beginning as The Ann Arbor Personnel Association (AAPA) sometime in the late 60's and serving Ann Arbor employers. In the early 70's the AAPA started a local wage survey to benchmark nonexempt positions which now covers a comprehensive list of technical, administrative, manufacturing, professional and managerial titles. The AAPA expanded beyond the city limits to include Washtenaw, Livingston, and Western-Wayne counties to become the Ann Arbor Area Personnel Association (AAAPA) in the 80's.
In 1983, our sister organization, the Washtenaw Personnel Management Association (WPMA), the local SHRM affiliate, fell on hard times. The AAAPA stepped in and assumed the SHRM affiliation (including the WPMA Treasury), and, as they say, the rest is history. The name change to GAASHRM became official in 1999.
