The evolution of SHRM as a community. See you in Vegas. Yes, really.

I have been blogging for a few years now at Fishdogs.com and TalentnetLive.com, as well as micro-blogging on Twitter and Facebook.  I write primarily about social media for sales, recruiting, HR, and job search – and some silly stuff about my kids.  This has taken me to unique places, new clients, and speaking engagements.  And now I’m even “press coverage” for large events.
I was honored to be asked to cover the last two HR Demo shows in Las Vegas as part of the “blog squad”.  And next week I will be back in Vegas, as press coverage, when over 13,000 HR professionals from around the world attend the SHRM Annual Conference. 
The Society for Human Resource Management has been in existence, in one form or another, since the 1940’s.  But this will be the first SHRM national event that I have ever attended.  Over sixteen years in the recruiting industry I have been a devout SHRM non-participant.  But my job has evolved, and so has SHRM. 

My interest in SHRM has grown over the last year.  I mostly blame Curtis Midkiff.  As SHRM’s social media guy, Curtis has done a great job of reaching out to HR bloggers and social recruiters.  He has been on-hand for many live and online events.  Sometimes he is a featured presenter.  Often he just listens. 
Curtis wants us to know that SHRM is working hard to be more accessible, and to do “social” better.   
SHRM has realized it is a community.  And social media is good for communities.
So now here I am, not only attending the SHRM Annual Conference and promoting it, I’m even considering an annual membership.  What is the world coming to? 
I hope to see you at the SHRM Annual Conference June 26th-29th.  It looks like an amazing event.  I’m very excited to meet representatives from the more than 670 large and small exhibiting companies.  And I can’t wait to see Sir Richard Branson and Michael J. Fox as guest speakers. 
You’ll likely find me in the blogger’s lounge, communing.  Well done Curtis.  Well done SHRM.