DIRECTOR DIALOGUES | ANN DAHKLE| JANUARY 2021

Happy New Year and welcome to 2021! 

I think I can state with some certainty that most of us are happy to see 2020 behind us and we are looking forward to 2021 being a very different year. Have you made your  New Year’s resolutions to try something new or to embark on a journey of self-improvement? As you consider the options for the new things you will accomplish in 2021, I encourage you to keep in mind the many opportunities IAAP offers for you to learn and grow.

Maybe this is the year you will earn your Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) designation. If you’re already certified, consider adding a specialty by attending CAPstone in February. If that isn’t in your plans this year, you can still earn the required recertification points to keep your designation active by attending our many branch and regional events listed in Eventbrite. Many of the events are virtual, making it easy for you to participate from the comfort of your own office or home.

If showcasing or improving your leadership skills is part of your plan this year, you can apply to become a Branch Director, a Regional Director, or even for a position on the IAAP Board of Directors. IAAP needs strong leaders at every level. There are also many opportunities to serve locally or regionally as a Membership Chair, Social Media Chair, or Communications Chair. If you are interested in learning more about any of these chair positions within your branch or region, contact your local Branch Director or Regional Director. You can find the full list of current branch and regional leaders and their emails here.

Last of all don’t forget about IAAP’s signature event, Summit, taking place in New York City in July. The early bird registration fee for IAAP Summit ends on February 26. Register early to save money and to secure your spot in the host hotel.

BOARD UPDATE: DECEMBER 24, 2020

 

Welcome to the first edition of the IAAP Board Vlog (video blog).  We are excited to provide updates to you in this format.   

DIRECTOR DIALOGUES | BARRETT SHAW | SEPTEMBER 2020

If you saw the recent IAAP Newsletter, you had a chance to review all of the different ways you can get and stay engaged as a member of this association. Getting involved strengthens the community and links us together in immeasurable ways. I’ve talked about my IAAP leadership journey many times because the value that I continue to receive from my involvement has had a profound effect on my personal and professional growth.

Reading that newsletter took me back to when I first joined IAAP in 2008. I found myself wondering, if I had read that newsletter at that time, would I have jumped on any of those opportunities? I’m not sure I would have. That wasn’t the kind of person I was at the time. Although the desire was there, the confidence and motivation didn’t necessarily match. The way I initially got involved was quite accidentally. I was invited to a meeting within my company, led by some fellow admins who were starting a corporate chapter. I knew nothing about IAAP, but I felt a sense of energy and excitement in that meeting and I wanted to be involved. By the end of that meeting, I had been appointed as the Interim Vice President for my chapter.

What was significant about that? Somebody else believed in and encouraged me. I didn’t take time to think about why I could or couldn’t do it – I just said ‘yes’. That simple action set everything in motion. Did I know what I was doing? Absolutely not. I took it upon myself to learn from my early mentors, learned everything I could about the association and did the best job I could as our chapter Vice President. The connection I felt to the community and within our chapter was strong. That encouraged me to continue on a leadership path. I wanted to continue to be an active part of the community, because having that camaraderie and support fueled me in a very positive way. That’s what I had been missing in my career up to that point. That is the cornerstone of what makes our association so special.

During these challenging times, our community is more important than ever. I am grateful every day for the connections and friendships. We all have something to offer and can learn from one another. If you want to be involved, but haven’t taken that step or are unsure where you would best fit, consider completing the Willingness to Serve. You can also talk to your local Branch or Region Director (or me!) about how you could get involved. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is quiet the voices and simply say ‘yes’. I did back in 2008 and it profoundly changed my life.

 Stay safe! Stay strong! Stay positive! We’re all in this together.
 

IAAP Welcomes 2020-2021 Board Chair, Phiandra Peck, CAP

 

Phiandra Peck, CAP

Trial by Fire: An Interview with Phiandra Peck, CAP

From her very first days as an admin to leading the association in the midst of a global pandemic, 2020-2021 IAAP Board Chair Phiandra Peck hasn’t had it easy.  But she’s the right leader for the job.  “IAAP feeds my hunger for learning and my need to connect with others like me.”

To read the rest of John Naatz’s article from the September issue of Office Pro, click the here. 

 

Watch Phiandra’s incoming Chair’s speech, learn more about her journey, her passion and commitment for our profession and her vision for this year.