The new year also brought the launch of IAAP's new online chapter join option. We designed both of these upgrades to better serve our members and to make it easier for potential members to join the ranks of IAAP.

In this month's IAAP Connections, we are beginning a new monthly column, Tech Bits from author Gregg Marshall, CPMR, CSP. It's a concise column with suggestions on using technology to make your job easier.

Also, in this issue of IAAP Connections read the article about executive presence from Roz Usheroff, one of the speakers coming to PEC, and the fourth installment in the Membership Process Excellence series.

Those of us at Headquarters wish all of you a secure and happy 2009.

Win Prizes!!!
Register Early for your Chance

For the first time in IAAP history we are offering our members “early” early bird registration to secure your spot for the 2009 Education Forum & Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, MN scheduled for July 26 – 29, 2009.

PLUS the chance to win fabulous prizes if you register by Jan. 31.

Each registration received by Jan. 31 will be eligible for the chance to win a $100 American Express gift card, two cards to be awarded –OR- one of two fully paid membership renewal dues (to include International, Division and Chapter dues as applicable). A total of 4 prizes will be awarded.

The drawing will take place on Feb. 2, 2009, and the lucky winners will be announced on IAAP’s website.

The early bird member fee is $495. Please complete the credit card form provided in the link below and either e-mail or fax the form to IAAP Headquarters with credit card information. It is due back at the IAAP headquarters office on or before Jan. 31 to be eligible for the drawing.

This is our way of saying thank you to our loyal members.

Also if you register by Jan. 31 the IAAP meetings department will contact you in March to provide you with the listing of the educational workshops so that you can be assured to get your first choice.

Please note that this offer is for full registration fee packages only, received by Jan. 31 and is not eligible for online registration. Single event and/or guest event tickets can be added to your registration in early April.

This form is a PDF form which can be filled-in using Adobe Acrobat Reader. You will need to print the form out and sign it in two places after which you can fax the form to 816-891-9118 or scan it and e-mail to meetings@iaap-hq.org.

"Early" Early Contest

Message from International President
Barb Horton CAP

Get an update on where we are in our quest to make IAAP a remarkable association by 2010. Barb gives a rundown on what's going on including the baseline membership survey, online chapter join, web updates, behavioral guidelines and the policy manual.

Read more about what's happening now and what's ahead in this month's president's message.

Conference Registrations Quickly Filling

Hurry! Get your registration in before the early bird cut off date of January 30 to get the best deal. Registrations are quickly filling for the 2009 IAAP Conference Impression Management: Fitting In, Standing Out, to be held March 9-11 in Nashville, Tenn. at the Gaylord Opryland Resort.

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a personal and professional make over. Attendees will meet with three internationally recognized career coaches to hone skills in:
• mastering the art of conversation – with strangers, professional networks, working up, down, across the organization and beyond
• sizing up every situation and responding appropriately
• creating empathy and synchronicity with everyone you deal with
• developing a professional image that builds on the likeability factor but allows your own uniqueness to shine though
• identifying triggers that provoke negative responses and replacing them with positive cues that stimulate buy in
• learning how to work and thrive in political environments while maintaining integrity and credibility
• devising a career path that maximizes your strengths and alleviates your weaknesses
• achieving total congruency in appearance, words, and actions

Take advantage of the special year-long networking bulletin board for attendees only, where you can interact with colleagues you’ve met at the conference and stay in touch with the presenters through monthly articles that extend your personal learning well beyond the Nashville experience.

Don’t miss it! Get on the fast track to be noticed, recognized, and promoted. Now is your chance to sharpen your professional image as the ultimate admin.

NOTE: Due to the cancellation of another event at Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn., IAAP has been given additional space for conference. Because of this, the early-bird registration date will be extended from January 18 to January 30. This gives you more time to get your exec’s approval and send in your registration information.

Register Now!

Don't Miss This Chance
Time is running out to enter the 2009 Avery Great Results Chapter and Division Achievement Awards Program.

Deadline submission for the applications is February 1, 2009. Applications must be received at IAAP Headquarters by February 1, 2009 to be considered.  Submit only one application per chapter/division.  Applications can be submitted via e-mail (jjohnston@iaap-hq.org), fax (816-801-1374), postal mail (PO Box 20404, Kansas City MO 64195-0404) or overnight carrier (10502 NW Ambassador Drive, Kansas City MO 64153). 

Applications and additional information can be found in the IAAP Online Community (www.iaapnet.org) under Intl. Members’ Place – Division/Chapter Resources – 2009 Avery Awards Program or click below to download the appropriate application:

Avery Great Results Chapter Achievement Award Application

Avery Great Results Division Achievement Award Application

Questions concerning the 2009 Avery Great Results Chapter and Division Achievement Awards Program can be directed to Joy Johnston, membership and distribution manager, at jjohnston@iaap-hq.org.

Certificate Program or Professional Certification: What's the difference?

Many times the terminology “certificate” and “certification” are misused. The other day I saw a brochure the other day for an Administrative Management Certification. To gain this “certification” you needed to attend a variety of seminars. There are no prerequisites and no follow-up. In truth, this is a certificate program, not a certification.

Now take the CPS and CAP programs. There are exams associated with these programs. There are specific education and experience prerequisites to be approved to take the exams. Following certification there is a recertification process to maintain the rating. This is a professional certification program.

So the next time you receive a brochure about a “certification” program, read further. It may in fact be a certificate program.

We Have To Stop Meeting Like This

Want to cut down on travel costs and hassles? Virtual workshops are a great way to attend excellent events without busting the budget. You can choose from a selection of dates and a variety of times that are most convenient for you and your coworkers. IAAP is partnering with several outstanding training providers to bring learning to your desktop. Use the live sessions for independent learning or gather a group and make it a team venture…all for the same price. IAAP members receive a special discount. And, if you can’t make the live event, you can purchase the CD (available for most events) now to learn later at your convenience. You’ll also receive recertification credit.

Click here to see what’s on the schedule.

New Training Program Available for Chapter/Member Use
Succession Planning Author: Mary Ramsay-Drow CPS/CAP

Every day of our lives, in some way or another, we experience the opportunity to lead or to follow. In order for each of us to be successful in our professional and personal lives, it is essential that we are able to recognize the qualities of a good leader, to be an active contributing member of the team, and to know when to lead and when to follow.

Succession planning is a process to help define who our future leaders are and how to help them reach their fullest potential, through leadership training, succession planning and mentoring, which will help us establish a solid leadership foundation for the future.

This session will:
• Provide an overview of the indispensable qualities of leaders and what individuals can do to cultivate those qualities.
• Analyze succession planning steps to lay the foundation for the future of your chapter or division.
• Discuss mentoring as a tool for leaders to use as part of the succession planning process.

This training program is available to members at no charge in electronic format for you or a chapter member to facilitate. The one-hour presentation may be used as an IAAP chapter activity or adapted to present by IAAP members at their companies. You’ll receive: program description, step-by-step instructions, equipment requirements, a complete script, PowerPoint slides, and handout master.

Send an e-mail request for the presentation to education@iaap-hq.org.

Staff Spotlight
Meet Patrick Kennedy

Patrick has been working at Headquarters for four and a half years. He started in the distribution department and moved to membership about a year ago. Currently Patrick works as a processing coordinator. He processes payments, e-mails, and phone calls. He's also on four committees: the snag-it group, staff activities, staff relations and the Web 2.0 action team. He is also going to present for IAAP at IDPC in April and at the 2009 Education Forum and Annual Meeting. He says that moving to membership has opened him up as a young, growing individual.

Outside of work, Patrick spends his time bodybuilding. "Fitness is very important to me and it opens my mind up to be more creative," he says. He also enjoys reading and taking part in activities that help him expand his knowledge and awareness.

"I work with a wonderful group of people in the membership department," says Patrick. "I appreciate my manager Joy Johnston. She allows me the freedom to do my job and gives me opportunities to expand in other areas."

Patrick can be reached at pkennedy@iaap-hq.org or by phone at 816-891-6600 ext. 2256.