We are within a week of SHRM12, the biggest event for most HR practitioners each year. Whether they make it to Atlanta this year or not, thousands will be watching the stream from the media team for the highlights of great keynoters like Tom Brokaw, Condoleezza Rice and Malcolm Gladwell. On top of that, a ton of great content is expected from concurrent sessions and a legion of exhibitors are waiting to tell us about their products and services in the Expo hall. What could be better?

How about seeing all that and making a difference at the same time?

HR tends to draw those that give of themselves.  Whether it is being the friendly shoulder in the workplace, the trusted confidant of the manager who isn’t sure of themselves, the voice of reason that speaks for all of the employees in a company, or the one wiling to slog through pages of legal briefs to keep executives out of jail, we are givers.  And when the chance came to help out those in Atlanta who really need it, we couldn’t pass it up.  So the crew found a way to make something out of a lazy Sunday afternoon, and are proud to have the chance to do something special.

This year will see a new event added to the schedule, hopefully one that will be repeated in the future. On Sunday afternoon, after we visit the Expo Hall Grand Opening,  Atlanta will be the host of the first #SHRM12Street Hockey game. (OK, we won’t be in the street, but you get the idea.).

Several #SHRM12 bloggers will meet in what is sure to be an entertaining event. But we’ve taken the opportunity to do more than just make a spectacle of ourselves and each other.

With the support of Dovetail Software, we are playing to raise awareness and money for the Atlanta Mission, which provides emergency shelter, residential discipleship, job attainment, and transitional housing to more than 950 homeless men, women and children daily. Our hope is that we can gather a crowd and donations to help make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

Dovetail has already committed $500 to get the ball rolling. In addition, CEO Stephen Lynn has offered to match the next $500 as well. We’d love to blow past that number, but will need help getting there.

So please drop by on Sunday. Take pictures.  Take video.  Watch us flail about, or grab a stick and join in. And please drop a little in the till to help out others.  Jingling is fine, folding is better.  Everyone is welcome to be part of making a difference!  Please sign up here to let us know if you can make it!