I don’t make New Years resolutions any more.  Some years I make lists but mostly I just try and stay disciplined with the decisions already made.  Health for instance.  Maintain weight. Eat more vegetables (it would be so much easier if they came chocolate covered).  Or personal development.  Stay current.  Look for opportunities.  And read (so many books – so little time).

It’s the same approach for turning IAAP into a remarkable association.  Stay disciplined with the decisions made and not get diverted.  We get so excited about the possibilities that it can be easy to lose focus.  But we have a finite number of resources for people, budget and time.  And so we continue to work the plan and report progress.  The board also conducts business regularly and communicates decisions.  So here’s where we are:

1. The results of the Baseline Membership Survey are being evaluated.  The outcomes of this survey will allow us to move forward on other initiatives. Decisions will be based on the data collected from you.

2. The Online Chapter Join Option was officially launched on January 1. We are excited that the option is available but it did come at a price.  Close to 1,900 staff hours were used for implementation to meet the deadline.  This has impacted both the Project plan and other initiatives to increase customer service.  The database changes required for this project have led to changing the monthly reports for leaders and an updated version will be launched before the end of the fiscal year.  Additional information will be provided as the reporting project progresses.

3. Web Development has been completed for the public site (http://www.iaap-hq.org) and improvements to the community site continue.  This is a huge project but will result in significant enhancements and usability. 

4. At the 2008 IAAP Convention and Education Forum, members passed a motion asking the International Board of Directors to compile behavioral guidelines that define “Misconduct” as it applies to any IAAP officer at any level of the Association.  The results of our research and consultation can be found at http://www.iaap-hq.org/eblast/misconductcommunication.pdf.

5. The Policy Manual has been revised and can be viewed at http://www.iaap-hq.org/eblast/iaappolicymanual.pdf.  There are a number of new policies such as promoting Scent-free meetings and more flexibility for recertification that may interest you.

6. Have you ever wondered what the position descriptions for the Board of Directors looks like?  You can check them out at http://www.iaap-hq.org/eblast/positiondescriptions.pdf. And the updated Executive Director Position description is also available at http://www.iaap-hq.org/eblast/edpositiondescription.pdf.

The majority of the First Phase Development activities have been completed.  An evaluation of the Parallel Efforts and Activities is being conducted to determine the resources required to start the Second Phase to Turn IAAP into a Remarkable Association by 2010.  All decisions are measured against our new mission statement “Enhancing the success of career-minded administrative professionals by providing opportunities for growth through education, community building and leadership development.”

Special recognition and appreciation goes to our Headquarters managers and staff for their extraordinary efforts in making chapter online join and new website a reality.  Thank you to this incredibly dedicated group of individuals who make things happen and keep the business running at the same time.  We thank you for your Excellence in Action.