AHRMA History

Click here to view the list of AHRMA Past-Presidents.

2000's History

Many people thought the Y2K problem would be the end of the world causing computer systems to crash everywhere.
Though the 1999 Melissa virus warned us not to open attachments, we were still unprepared for the ILOVEYOU virus that hit on May 4, 2000.
The 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in NYC were the first foreign attacks made on American soil.
Barack Obama, an African American, became the 44th President of the United States.

Human Resources Legislation

In 2009, President Obama signed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, which allows victims of pay discrimination to file a complaint with the government against their employer within 180 days of their last paycheck.

AHRMA History

The AHRMA website was started in 2000.
2005 marked the 50th Anniversary of AHRMA.
In 2007, AHRMA got a facelift with new branding and an updated website.
The Stepping Stones to Enhanced Leadership Program began in 2008.
First time recipient of the prestigous SHRM Pinnacle Award for the Stepping Stones to Enhanced Leadership Program in 2009.

1990's History

At the beginning of the 1990s, Communism fell and signaled the end of the Cold War. The world rejoiced but also watched and waited to see how those countries would restructure themselves.
Iqbal Masih was a young Pakastani boy who was forced into bonded labor at age four. After being freed at age ten, Iqbal became an activist against bonded child labor. He became a martyr for his cause when he was murdered at age 12.
On November 25, 1999, a little five-year-old boy named Elian Gonzales was found floating in an inner tube in the Atlantic Ocean. The story of this little Cuban boy stirred heated debate - was he a refugee in fear of his life or was he a son who had been torn away from his father?
The Channel Tunnel, often called the Chunnel, is a railway tunnel that lies underneath the water of the English Channel and connects the island of Great Britain with mainland France. The Channel Tunnel, completed in 1994, is considered one of the most amazing engineering feats of the 20th century.

Human Resources Legislation

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) states that a covered entity shall not discriminate against a qualified individual on the basis of a disability as it applies to hiring, advancement, or termination of employment.
The Family & Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) allows ”eligible” employees to take off up to 12 work weeks in any 12 month period for the birth or adoption of a child, to care for a family member, or if the employee themselves has serious health condition.
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time under certain circumstances such as voluntary or involuntary job loss, reduction in the hours worked, transition between jobs, death, divorce, and other life events.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 protects health insurance coverage for workers and their families when they change or lose their jobs.

AHRMA History

The APA became the Austin Human Resource Management Association (AHRMA) in 1990.
The Karl Zimmerman Scholarship was established in 1994.
Certification classes began in 1996.

1980's History

On September 25, 1981, Sandra Day O'Connor officially became the first woman to be a judge on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Several environmental disasters struck this decade, including the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Chernobyl nuclear leak, Bhopal gas leak, and Mount St. Helen's eruption. The 80s also introduced Michael Jackson's "Thriller," Pac-Man, E.T., New Coke, and Cabbage Patch Kids.
The movie E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial was a hit from the day it was released (June 11, 1982) and quickly became one of the most beloved movies of all time.
On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall came down. It was a sudden and surprising end to the Berlin Wall's 28-year history.

Human Resources Legislation

The Employment Act of 1982 increased compensation for those dismissed because of the closed shop and restricted the immunities enjoyed by trade unions.
The Trade Union Act of 1984 required EC elections every five years by secret ballot.

AHRMA History

The APA had its first Annual Conference.
The ASPA became the Society for Human Resource Management.

1970's History

On July 25, 1978, Louise Joy Brown, the world's first successful test-tube baby was born. Though the technology that made her conception possible was heralded as a triumph, it also caused many to consider the possibilities of future ill-use.
The first episode of the extremely popular TV series MASH aired on CBS on September 17, 1972.
On May 4, 1970, Ohio National Guardsmen fired upon an already dispersed crowd of student protesters, killing four and wounding nine others at Kent State University.
The Watergate Scandal brought down a presidency but disco, the Sony walkman, and the Star Wars movie created a vibrant culture.

Human Resources Legislation

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) protects the retirement assets of Americans by implementing rules that qualified plans must follow to ensure that plan fiduciaries do not misuse plan assets.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) heralded a new era in the history of public efforts to protect workers from harm on the job.

AHRMA History

The APA became affiliated with ASPA in 1976.
The APA earned its first Merit Award in 1979.

1960's History

On March 8, 1965, 3,500 U.S. Marines land near Da Nang in South Vietnam; they are the first U.S. troops arrive in Vietnam.
Just past midnight during the night of August 12-13, 1961, East German soldiers and construction workers headed to the border of West and East Berlin. While most Berliners were sleeping, the workers quickly constructed a barrier made of concrete posts and barbed wire along the border.
On December 3, 1967, South African surgeon Christiaan Barnard conducted the first heart transplant on 53-year-old Lewis Washkansky.
The Beatles shaped not only music but also an entire generation. People mimicked all that they did, including haircuts, clothing, and outlook. The music of John, Paul, George, and Ringo began what was to be known as Beatlemania.

Human Resources Legislation

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 USC 2000e, makes it unlawful for an employer to hire or discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his/her compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of employment, because of an individual’s race, color, religion, sex or national origin. This covers hiring, firing, promotions and all workplace conduct.
The Equal Pay Act of 1963 (part of the Fair Labor Standards Act) prohibits wage discrimination by employers and labor organizations based solely on sex.
The enactment of the Amendments to the Social Security Act in 1965 created the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

AHRMA History

The first Executive Director of the American Society for Personnel Administration (ASPA) was hired.
The first automated wage and salary survey was conducted in 1965.
The APA had its first sponsored seminar in 1969.
The APA had its first woman president in 1969.

1950's History

With the building of the hydrogen bomb in the 1950s, new scares challenged societies to find ways to protect themselves. However, not all was doom and gloom: new technology also brought color television and Walt Disney opened Disneyland.
Though the concept of credit has existed longer even than money, it wasn't until 1950 that the modern credit card was invented.
The very first Peanuts comic strip, written by Charles M. Schulz, appeared in seven newspapers on October 2, 1950.
On September 9, 1956, Elvis made his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Although this was not Elvis' first national television appearance, it did help to make Elvis a household name.

Human Resources Legislation

An employer could credit workers for “past service” and thus encourage the retirement of older, less productive workers. As pension funds grew, financial abuses followed.
In 1958, Congress enacted the Welfare and Pension Disclosure Act desperate to “shed light” and stop such abuses.
The legislation, patterned after the securities law, mandated full disclosure of the operations of any private pension plan. Companion legislation – the Labor-Management Reporting and Discipline Act – was passed by Congress in 1959.