In this issue, don't miss the second installment of the membership series. This month Rhonda Strong shares excellent tips on how to treat a visitor to your chapter meeting.

We also have an inspirational article from national speaker and author Sandy Geroux about how to focus on where you're going not on where you've been.

You can now register for IAAP's Professional Education Conference. You won't want to miss out on this excellent opportunity to spend time with executive coaches that will help you in your career. More information is below.

Happy reading!

Membership Process Excellence
The Visitor

Can you remember the first chapter meeting you went to? If you didn't attend with a co-worker or friend, you most likely walked into the room alone, not knowing anyone. That can be daunting.

Rhonda Strong, vice president of the Tennessee Division, reminds us the way to treat a visitor to your chapter is the same way you wish to be treated when you're a visitor-- an IAAP twist on the Golden Rule. Read "Be The Guest," which includes a checklist to help make your meeting stand-out to potential members.

Where's Your Focus?

With the new year rapidly approaching, we must use this critical time -- the remainder of 2008 -- to review and analyze our activities, make an effective plan and then take decisive action to create the 2009 we desire. Sandy Geroux's article, "Where's Your Focus" will help you put in place a course of action so you can begin planning now to have a stellar and productive new year.

Impression Management for Admins
Theme For Spring PEC

The 2009 Spring Professional Education Conference will be held March 9-11 in Nashville, Tenn., at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. The theme is Impression Management for Admins – Fitting In, Standing Out. You'll learn how to fit in with business executives and upper-echelon clients you work with, yet stand out by enhancing your personal performance and visibility.

You’ll learn how to develop a distinct professional presence while establishing a personal brand. You’ll work with three executive coaches, often hired by Fortune 500 companies, who have the inside track on leadership strategies and taking you from efficient to extraordinary. Click here for more details about what you'll gain by attending PEC.

Hotel reservations are now open. Please call the main reservations line at 615-883-2211. Reference the group name -- International Association of Administrative Professionals or the group code, X-IAAP9, to receive the contracted group rate of $189 single/double occupancy plus taxes/service charges.

Don’t miss this exciting one-of-a-kind event. It could completely transform your personal life and professional career. Click here to register.

Convention T-shirts for Sale
Only $10

Relive the New Orleans Convention experience with your very own 2008 Forward Moving Convention T-shirt. A limited supply is available and the cost is only $10 per shirt.  Click here to download the order form and send it in with your payment to IAAP Headquarters via mail or fax. Contact Susan Whitaker at swhitaker@iaap-hq.org if you have any questions or need additional information.

2009 Avery Great Results Chapter and Division Achievement Awards

Avery Dennison and IAAP are excited to announce the call for entries in the 2009 Avery Great Results Chapter and Division Achievement Awards Program. Great prizes and international recognition for this program will be awarded to chapters and a division that display excellence in specific areas of operations such as outstanding educational programs, promotion of professional certifications, and membership recruitment and retention. If your chapter and division exhibit excellence in these areas, then your chapter and division should apply.

Deadline submission for the applications is February 1, 2009. Applications must be received at IAAP Headquarters by February 1, 2009.  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

Certification News

It is not too early to register for the May 2009 CPS and CAP exams.
Dates are May 1 for Part 4 of the CAP exam and May 2 for Parts 1-3 of the CPS and CAP exams. Deadline for applying is Feb. 15; international candidates, please apply by Feb. 1. New candidates should apply using the forms in the certification application packet, which can be found on the IAAP website. Eligible retake candidates will receive personalized registration forms in late January.

What is The Academy?
The Academy is similar to an alumni association. Membership in The Academy is open to anyone with an active CPS or CAP rating.  Annual dues are $15 for IAAP members, $30 for nonmembers.  Members of The Academy receive the Academy News, an electronic newsletter issued four  times yearly in the spring, summer, fall, winter. Current Academy members who have not yet provided their e-mail address please send that to certification@iaap-hq.org, with a subject line of Academy News.  Academy enrollment forms are available on the website under Professional Certification— Academy.

2009 Certification Conference
We hope to see many of you at the 2009 Certification Conference in Portland, Ore.  Mark your calendars for October 18-21, 2009.  Complete conference details will be available in the spring of 2009 and conference registration will open June 1 for those who hold an active CPS or CAP rating. Watch the main IAAP website for details.

Hotel reservations are open now at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront; room rate $189 single or double occupancy plus applicable taxes. For online reservations, click the link above. You will be directed to the property's home page with the code already entered in the appropriate field on the right hand side of the website for reservations. To book hotel reservations over the phone, contact the worldwide reservations line at 800-228-9290. When calling, be sure to mention IAAP and the name and dates of the group.

If you have a question on certification matters, contact the Certification Department at certification@iaap-hq.org.

Staff Spotlight
Meet Sara McDonnell

For nine years Sara McDonnell has been working with the systems at IAAP Headquarters. More specifically, Sara is information systems administrator. She is the database administrator for IAAP's membership database. She also supports IAAP’s network hardware and software along with her co-worker, Creig Cooper. She is currently working on the new on-line chapter join project and is pleased to say that it is progressing very nicely.

Sara is a single mother to her wonderful 7-year-old son.

"He and I like to be outside as much as possible and look forward to winter so we can have many fun times sleigh riding together," Sara said. "We also like to attend the MU Tigers basketball and football games when time permits." 

Up until three years ago she played competitive softball. "I knew it was
time to quit after the 3rd knee surgery," she said.

To contact Sara her phone is 816-801-1315 and e-mail: smcdonnell@iaap-hq.org

Annual Briefing for Administrative Professionals

SkillSoft Corporation’s Annual Briefing for Administrative Professionals is the only global event – delivered via satellite and the web – devoted to recognizing, developing and celebrating the contributions of administrative professionals to the workplace.

The two-hour program, delivered in association with IAAP and OfficeTeam, is now in its 22nd year. This year, the briefing will be broadcast live on April 21, 2009 from 1 to 3 p.m. ET. The program comes complete with a participant and facilitator’s guide and is an ideal on-site learning experience.

For more information on the briefing, visit the website.