Kansas City Star, Kansas City MO

Tue, Apr. 20, 2004

A day for honoring assistants

By SU BACON Special to The Star

Wednesday, businesses and bosses everywhere pay tribute to those who make the workplace run better — administrative assistants.

Administrative Professionals Day recognizes the efficiency and skills of those who work side by side with managers, supervisors, executives and other administrators to achieve the goals of their companies.

“Administrative professionals play a vital role in facilitating the flow of information and communication in today's office,” said Rick Stroud, communications manager for the International Association of Administrative Professionals, based in Kansas City.

Communication is a key component of their contributions to the workplace. Administrative assistants often plan meetings and special events, compose correspondence, compile reports, orient and supervise other employees and write and edit documents.

“They disseminate information that is vital to the office workflow,'' Stroud said.

Patti Howard, an administrative assistant for Tri-County Mental Health Services Inc., in Kansas City, North, is a co-editor for the agency's monthly employee newsletter Tri-County Tidbits.

Howard began her career at the mental health agency seven years ago as a switchboard operator. Today, she divides her time between assisting the human resources manager and the chief financial officer. Her duties include conducting orientation for new employees, performing reference checks, maintaining personnel files, keeping provider contracts current, tracking contract staff credentials, and handling payroll.

Variety is what she likes best about being an administrative assistant along with “the respect given to administrative assistants as valuable members of a team,” she said.

Howard keeps her skills up to date through seminars and training provided by the International Association of Administrative Professionals. She also attends monthly meetings of the Northland chapter of the association.

With 40 administrative assistants from 35 companies, Howard said, Northland members network, support and learn from each other about developing new skills and dealing with workplace challenges. Howard is chapter president.

As secretaries have been given responsibilities once reserved for managers, their title and position have changed. Similarly, the international association has evolved from the National Secretaries Association in 1942 when it was founded to its current name in 1998. The national observance also changed from Professional Secretaries Day, celebrated for decades, to Administrative Professionals Day in 2000.

For information

• International Association of Administrative Professionals

10502 N.W. Ambassador Drive
P.O. Box 20404
Kansas City, MO 64195
(816) 891-6600
www.iaap-hq.org