Link:
http://www.gazetteextra.com/iaap041904.asp
Local chapter joins others in celebration of administrative professionals
(Published Monday, April 19, 2004
By Janesville Gazette Staff
The days of secretaries brewing coffee, ordering calendars and picking up the
boss' dry cleaning are long gone.
And nowhere is that more evident than in the Janesville area, where the local
chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals is
getting stronger by the year.
The Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois Chapter of IAAP draws 42 members
from the region, said Gloria Huschka, the local chapter's president and
membership director at the Janesville Country Club.
The SWANI Chapter joins others around the country in celebration of
Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day, which is
Wednesday.
The annual event was originally organized in 1952 as "National Secretaries Week"
by the National Secretaries Association, which is now known as IAAP. Over the
years, the names have changed to better reflect the changing job titles and
expanding responsibilities of today's administrative workforce.
Today, there are more than 4.1 million secretaries and administrative assistants
working in the United States, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics,
and 8.9 million people working in various administrative support roles.
The SWANI Chapter will gather Tuesday at the country club, where a
representative from Avery Dennison will offer tips on office organization and
demonstrate latest office products.
Huschka said the group's purpose is essentially two-fold. While promoting the
importance of the industry, it also provides educational and networking
opportunities for members.
"The networking part of it is really important," Huschka said. "Members are
always e-mailing each other with solutions to common problems, job openings in
the area and other information."
The local chapter meets at different locations about 10 times each year.
Membership and meetings, which are generally on the third Tuesday of the month,
are open to anyone who works in an office setting, Huschka said.
"That can be anyone from the receptionist to the executive secretary," she said.
The theme of this year's celebration is "Ambassadors of Excellence" which
signifies that administrative professionals are key front-line representatives
for their employers, their profession, and organizations such as IAAP. The theme
also signifies the importance of being an effective communicator, and suggests
that administrative professionals have a responsibility to serve as mentors for
entry-level administrative support staff and students, according to IAAP.
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