Dear CIC SHRM members,

Spring is a season of renewal—and it’s been energizing to see that same momentum across our Central Illinois SHRM community.

We kicked things off in March with our first in-person membership meeting of the year, hosted at Horace Mann. It was a great opportunity to reconnect, and we were fortunate to hear from our own DEI Director, Marlene Allen, Founder and Principal Consultant of Visions HR Consulting, who shared thoughtful insights on the intersection of AI + HI and what it means for the future of our work. It sparked meaningful conversation and reflection—exactly what these gatherings are all about.

We also had the chance to come together for an after-hours event in partnership with LRS. They were incredible hosts—welcoming us into their space, sharing more about their global reach, and offering a behind-the-scenes tour of their facility. We’re grateful for their partnership and for the opportunity to continue building connections within our local business community.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to try something new with our next membership meeting on May 21 at 7:30 a.m. This will be a breakfast meeting—an opportunity to connect, learn, and still get a jump start on your workday. We hope this format offers a bit more flexibility while still delivering the valuable content and networking you expect from CIC SHRM.

And for a little fun—we’d love for you to join us for a family night at the ballpark! The Springfield Lucky Horseshoes will be taking on the Kokomo Creek Chubs, and it’s a great chance to bring family, friends, and colleagues together outside of the office. For $6.70 per person, you can enjoy the game from Satchel’s Seats (premium seat-back seating). If you’d like to sit with fellow CIC SHRM members, look for tickets in Section NN around Row 10. Stay tuned for registration details—we hope to see you there!

Thank you, as always, for being part of this community. Your engagement, connection, and energy are what make this chapter so special. I look forward to seeing many of you in the weeks ahead.

Best regards,

Angela