www.iaap-hq.org
International Association of Administrative Professionals
World Headquarters, Kansas City, Missouri
E-mail: prcommunications@iaap-hq.org
Phone: 816.891.6600 ext. 2239

NEWS RELEASE
Administrative Professionals Weekâ –  April 23-29, 2006
Administrative Professionals Dayâ –  Wednesday, April 26, 2006 

Administrative Professionals Week Celebrated Since 1952

Administrative Professionals Week began in 1952 as an effort to honor administrative staff for their day to day work efforts and to attract more people to consider office and administrative careers.  Today, it is one of the largest workplace observances outside of employee birthdays and major holidays.

The idea began with Mary Barrett, president of the National Secretaries Association (NSA) and C. King Woodbridge, president of Dictaphone Corporation.  They were serving on a council addressing a national shortage of skilled office workers. Together with Harry Klemfuss, public relations account executive at Young & Rubicam, they originated the idea for a National Secretaries Week. 

The association successfully campaigned U.S. Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer to proclaim the first National Secretaries Week on June 1-7, 1952.  Wednesday, June 4 was designated National Secretaries Day.  Sawyer, Barrett and Woodbridge participated in ceremonies held in Washington, D.C.

National Secretaries Week was created with two objectives in mind:  to recognize "the secretary, upon whose skills, loyalty, and efficiency the functions of business and government offices depend," and to call attention "through favorable publicity, to the tremendous potential of the secretarial career."

In 1955, the observance date of National Secretaries Week was moved to the last full week of April.  The name was changed to Professional Secretaries Week in 1981, and became Administrative Professionals Week in 2000 to encompass the expanding responsibilities and wide-ranging job titles of administrative support staff.

Over the years, observances of Administrative Professionals Week have become more focused on professional development.  Today, local chapters of IAAP hold hundreds of seminars and networking events in their communities during the week.  Other events include luncheons, corporate recognition activities, and individual observances between managers and office staff.

Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) today remains the sole sponsor of Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day.  IAAP continues to believe in the importance of this event to call attention to the increasing value and contributions of administrative professionals in today's workplace.

Administrative Professionals Week will be observed April 23-29, 2006.  Administrative Professionals Day is Wednesday, April 26, 2006.  The 2006 theme is “Creating Excellence."           

# # #

For more information on Administrative Professionals Week, visit: http://www.iaap-hq.org/APW/apwindex.htm or contact:

Communications Manager
 International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP)
10502 N.W. Ambassador Drive, PO Box 20404
Kansas City, Missouri 64195-0404
Phone (816) 891-6600 extension 2239
Fax: (816) 891-9118
E-mail: prcommunications@iaap-hq.org
IAAP Web site: www.iaap-hq.org