In case you didn't know it already, IAAP is marking its 70th anniversary this year. To celebrate, the association recently unveiled the 70/70 campaign, a great opportunity to extend the benefits of membership to more of your fellow admins. Please read more below and take some time to spread the word about this exciting new program.

This might have been a warmer-than-usual winter for much of North America, but many of you could likely still use a break from the weather. Consider fleeing winter's clutch by jetting into some top flight professional development and networking at the 2012 Spring Conference March 4–7 in Las Vegas. At the very least, check out the podcasts from this year's speakers to get a taste of what you'll learn if you attend the conference.

Stay well.

Ray Weikal,
Editor

Become A Star At The Spring Conference

In a recent NPR interview, actor and producer Brad Pitt described how it took several years to gather enough support to make his 2011 hit film "Moneyball." Considering he's one of the most respected people in Hollywood, that says a lot about just how tough it is to make movies. It also puts into perspective the remarkable career of film producer Bonnie Curtis, who will open the 2012 Spring Conference Monday morning, March 5 at Harrah's Las Vegas.

Curtis has producer credits on 10 films, according to IMDB.com. She's worked on some of the most expensive and most successful movies of the last 20 years, including Minority Report, Saving Private Ryan and Jurassic Park. She's had a long professional relationship with Steven Spielberg, one of the titans of modern movies.

Anyone with that much success in Hollywood has learned a few things about how to manage projects, harness teams and overcome challenges. Spring Conference attendees will get to benefit from Curtis' wisdom in Las Vegas. Get a sample by listening to her new IAAP podcast, "Becoming A Star In A Supporting Role."

Curtis is just one speaker in a great lineup at this year's Spring Conference. Don't miss this chance to turn your career into a blockbuster. Register today.

Lucky number 70!

In celebration of IAAP reaching its 70th anniversary, we’re offering administrative professionals a special price when they join the association as a new member. From now until Dec. 31, 2012, new members can join IAAP at the chapter, division and international level—all for one $70 price (for participating chapters and divisions only). Don’t put it off. Join today to take advantage of the world’s best networking and education for administrative professionals. To learn more about or participate in the promotion, visit the IAAP website.

Along with the reduced dues rate, current members who recruit at least two new members during this special promotion will receive a 70th anniversary commemorative pin. Chapters that recruit seven new members and divisions that recuit 14 new members will receive recognition at the 2013 EFAM, as well as a choice between a $70 IAAP Web Community credit or a $70 discount on 2013 EFAM registration for a delegate.

A Look Inside IAAP

As you know, the International Association of Administrative Professionals has a lot to offer admins who are serious about cultivating their careers. It can be tough, though, to summarize all those benefits when talking to colleagues or managers about the association. Let IAAP's new association video do the talking instead. In less than 90 seconds, viewers get a comprehensive "tour" of the highlights of IAAP membership. Take a look at this new video yourself by visiting the IAAP website and clicking on the "play" button, then pass it around.

Division Name Change

IAAP headquarters is happy to report a recent change to the name of Canada’s Ontario Division. Effective immediately, the division will be referred to as the Central Canada Division, and will have an adjusted boundary which includes Montreal, Quebec. The Canada District is excited about the new changes, so please feel free to contact Canada District Director Lina M. Veglia with any questions you may have.

Join The New Certification EGroup

Visit the IAAP Web Community and join the conversation on the brand new Certification General Discussion eGroup. This is the place to go if you want to keep up on the latest news, ask questions or chat with fellow admins about certification. In order to subscribe to this group, click "My Subscriptions" from the eGroups menu, locate "Certification General Discussion," and indicate how you want to receive notifications when a new post goes into the group. Then click on the "Save" button at the bottom of the page.

There's Still Time To Apply For May Exams

If you missed the Feb. 15 deadline to apply for the May Certified Administrative Professional exam, late applications will be accepted through close of business on Feb. 29. A $50 late fee must be added to the initial processing and examination fees. If paying with a credit card, complete applications can be scanned and emailed to certification@iaap-hq.org.

New candidates will find the Certification Application and Employer’s Statement/Job Function Forms on the IAAP web site.

Candidates for the Organizational Management specialty exam use the same application; however, an employer’s statement is not needed. Only active CAP holders, and current CAP candidates may apply to take the Organizational Management specialty exam.

Make the smart career move and stand out in the crowd: get certified.

Certification Exam Guides

Be sure to use the authoritative source while studying to get your CAP designation: the CAP Exam Guide. For the OM specialty, use the Organizational Management Specialty Exam Guide.

These guides include examination content outlines, sample questions, a bibliography of recommended study materials and suggestions for exam review. They also include complete regulations on how to apply for the exam.

The college textbooks listed in the guides are actual references used to write the exams. Listed to the right of each textbook are outlines of what that text covers. For example, The Bateman & Snell text, Management: The New Competitive Landscape, shows numbers "1, 2 and 5;" relating that back to the exam outline, it means this particular textbook covers information on "Communication (1)," "Organization and Planning (2)," and "Physical and Information Resources (5)."

Review materials are also available from Metcalf Educational Services. These materials are not used to write the exams, but they do cover a wide range of content based on the exam outlines. Please keep in mind that these materials are intended to help candidates review information they already know. These publications should be used in conjunction with the outline references listed in the guides. The exams are not written from the review materials. Also, please remember that no one source is intended to provide all materials tested.

Compare the exam outline with your own education and experience to help determine what course of study will work best for you. IAAP's Institute for Certification recommends five to 10 hours per week for four to six months, studying each area of the exam. Study well. Study smart. Study on your own or with a group. Just study in the manner that works best for you.

Form your certification exam study plan. Get started today!

Get Connected: Tips to Create a Successful Mentoring Program

By Melissa Tofte
Many organizations struggle with creating mentoring programs. That process becomes easier when one organization offers another its mentoring program — just customize the forms to fit your organization and implement the program. That is exactly what happened for the MN-ND-SD Division when member Devie Hagen shared an award-winning mentoring program she'd already implemented with another non-profit organization. Our experience could become a model for other divisions that want to start similar programs.

The MN-ND-SD Division jumped at the opportunity presented by Hagen's offer and immediately set out to determine if there was interest by members in having a mentoring program. The members responded with a resounding "yes." A committee was formed and got to work. Subcommittees for marketing, pairing and tracking and recognition were created. We only had to make a few minor changes to the forms Hagen had already created for this program. In February 2011, the mentoring program was officially launched as "Career Connections."

Though only a year old, Career Connections is gaining momentum and eliciting positive feedback from members. The program works on several different levels. New IAAP members can ask for a mentor within their chapter to help get them acquainted with the organization. If a member wants to learn what it takes to advance to an executive assistant position, the committee matches him/her with an executive assistant within the division.

Hagen credits the success of the program to keeping it simple. “We know how extraordinarily busy everyone is and wanted to ensure it wasn’t this vast commitment," she said. "We intentionally keep it to three months, with meetings several times a month and only an hour long.”

Mentor Fe Mahler, CAP-OM, and mentee Stephanie Wallin, CAP, recently finished their mentoring period. Both said they had a great experience. “Being a part of this mentoring relationship gave me the confidence to do more," Wallin said. "I've been able to make new approaches and step into territory I never would have before. I've been able to gain the respect of my new employer and gain their attention by showing them what I am truly capable of — something I could not have done without IAAP!”

Here's how to start your own mentoring program at the chapter or division level:

Gather Champions
First, identify one or two people who feel strongly about the program and its benefits. They will be the committee chairs. Then determine if there's interest in the program. Send a survey out asking your members if they're interested in a mentoring program and, in particular, if they would be a mentor or mentee and/or be a part of the mentoring committee. Determine from the survey results if there is sufficient interest to move forward.

Market the Program
The key to the success of the mentoring program is getting the word out about the program and getting the message out in multiple ways. Create a monthly newsletter article to distribute to chapter presidents and newsletter editors. Change the message every month to include benefits of the program and testimonials from mentors and mentees. Use social media. Post benefits of the program on your division Facebook page. Tweet quotes from mentors and mentees on your Twitter account. Purchase mentoring ribbons that program participants can wear at IAAP events. They will spark conversation about the program.

Recognition
As a way to thank those involved and to further market the mentoring program, recognize those who have helped make the program a success. Give a long stem rose, a corsage or a certificate to mentors and mentees at your division annual meeting. Have participants give testimonials in front of the group.

Having a mentor can be one of the best things an admin can do for their career. As our experience demonstrates, IAAP divisions and chapters can play a proactive role in helping their membors find a mentor. For more information on the MN-ND-SD Division mentoring program, please contact melissa.tofte@gmail.com or go to www.iaap-mnndsd-division.org.

(Melissa Tofte is treasurer of IAAP's MN-ND-SD Division.)

Fuel Your Career With OfficeTeam

This is a great time to check out the OfficeTeam Career Center at the IAAP Web Community. OfficeTeam and IAAP have partnered to provide you with a wide range of useful tools to help you advance your career. You’ll find the latest industry news and research, free resources like OfficeTeam's annual salary guide, helpful articles pertaining to job search strategies, advice for getting ahead at work and management tips. If social networking is your thing, the career center will also link you to OfficeTeam's Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter sites.

APW Membership Drive

Administrative Professionals Week is on the horizon, and it is time to make plans for your APW membership drive. You can participate in the membership drive contest by submitting an entry form. Visit the IAAP Web Community for contest details, and start planning your membership drive!

Membership Webinars

IAAP offers a wide range of webinars related to membership, chapters and divisions. None of these webinars are eligible for recertification points. All times are Central.

2012 EFAM Preview, presented by IAAP Conference & Events Specialist Heather Chatlos: 1:00-2:00 p.m. Central Time Thursday, April 5.

What’s the Difference between Delegates Alternates & Proxies?, presented by IAAP Membership Manager Amy House, CAP-OM: 2:00-3:00 p.m. Central Time Wednesday, April 11.

File Organization Webinar, presented by International Secretary Antoinette Smith, CAP-OM: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Central Time Thursday, April 12.

• March 4-7, 2012 — Spring Conference
• April 22-28, 2012 — Administrative Professionals Week
• May 5, 2012 — CAP and OM exams
• July 21-26, 2012 — EFAM

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