WFH with your Board of Directors

Happy April friends,

As we begin our second month of social distancing and working from home, we’re becoming used to this new normal. We’re missing our co-workers, our desk, our stuff and the normalcy of the daily grind.  As admins we are used to wearing many hats – and now we have more.   We are learning to home school, use new technologies to stay in contact with our friends and family (more than before), we’re learning how to make masks, stand in line to get into stores, talking to our neighbors with the appropriate distance and staying inside – and we have time on our hands How many of you have dug out board games and introduced/re-introduced your family to them?  How many of you are having family meals together?  Having more conversations with your family?

We can’t speak to everyone’s personal situations – we are all very similar, but also very unique.  We can speak to the area we all share – we are admins – we are in the hub of helping our employers shift to a remote workforce, procure and deploy the supplies needed and helping everyone adjust.    How are you adjusting?  Leave us a comment, we’d love to hear from you.

Most of your board is working from home too.  A few of us have to go into the office a few days a week, but the rest of us are remote only.   We’ve learned a lot about our selves and our work habits over the last few weeks and thought we’d share a few thoughts with you.

Because many of the things I would normally be working on such as scheduling employee town hall meetings around the country, booking travel, and processing the travel-related expense reports are no longer happening, I'm finding I have to be creative to find ways to fill my time.  This has strengthened our admin team at work as we work together to rotate who will be in the office each weekday to ensure essential in-office tasks are handled. I'm truly looking forward to being able to see my admin coworkers in person and celebrate together when this period has passed.  Ann Dahlke CAP, Director

I currently am splitting my time in the office and WFH. During this time, I try to super organized so that I can be efficient working from "two offices." The quiet time gives me the opportunity critically think and focus on deadlines that I otherwise would not get in the busy office.

Being an essential staff member, it's very important to keep those we are serving in the forefront of all that we do. It's comforting to support the community and partner with regional leaders who are doing the same. Be well! Pamela Bell, CAP, Director

WFH has brought many challenges for all of us. While the introvert in me has embraced the isolation, I have been forced to adapt like everyone else. Add the dynamics of dealing with aging parents that have medical issues increases the stress of dealing with the unknown. Through all of this, I’ve learned the importance of coming together as a community, as a profession and as a world. Helping others can be minimal and takes little time. Take care of family and protect yourself. Stay home, stay strong, stay safe! Phiandra Peck, CAP, Chair-Elect

I appreciate the ability to work from home.  My employer is in healthcare which is considered essential personnel.  I hear how our employees go to work day after day to ensure our dialysis manufacturing plants produce the life-saving products dialysis patients need to sustain life.  These employees can-not social distance or stay home and understand their jobs are extremely important.  We are fortunate enough to be able to dial to work remotely.  In a way, I feel more connected to my co-workers that I ever before.  I'm having weekly calls with other assistants that might have otherwise briefly say hello to in the hallway in the office.   As assistants, we are the glue that holds office together.  This is more important than ever before.  We are all in this together; we are here for each other.  Stay strong and be safe.  No matter what your religion, rely on your faith & Believe! (Blessed Easter). Jean Cocco, CAP, Director

Being isolated alone has taught me the importance of staying tied to family and community in other ways. Before this, I'd be so "busy" that I didn't focus on reaching out and checking on people for no particular reason. Since I started WFH, I have made it a point to send a note, email, text, or phone call to at least one contact every day to see how he or she is doing. It has shown me not to assume that everyone is fine - contact is important and it might make a big difference in someone's day.  I know it does for me!  Have a blessed weekend no matter what you believe.  Embrace the hope that these holidays bring. One of my hopes is that we will all be together again in July! God bless you and keep you healthy & well.  Dierdre Crowl, CAP,Director

I think, like most people, working from home and being isolated has helped shift the focus in terms of what is truly important. Although I miss being able to go out and realize how much I took those things for granted, this whole situation has really magnified how lucky I am. I have a job, my health, my family around me and that’s what’s important. I hope everyone is staying safe and remaining positive during these difficult times.  Barrett Shaw, CAP,Vice Chair

 In general, I don’t mind working remotely.   I am comfortable enough with technology and work for a company who embraces it that my position can be performed from anywhere.  What I do mind is the interaction with my co-workers, not being able to walk on our beautiful campus and see the life that the students bring as we come out of winter into the rebirth of spring.  I find that looking at life from the inside out, has made me slow down and reflect, which makes me thankful for everything I’m blessed with that many, especially right now, don’t have. I’m healthy and so is my family, I am employed, I have enough food, a roof over my head and two wonderful people here with me that equally drive me crazy and make me happy to be alive.   I would be lying if I didn’t say I can’t wait until we can resume normal activities, but let’s now forget the closeness and the good things that we’ve learned from this tragic circumstance.   If not for us, for everyone who has perished and those who loved them.  

We also put together this video with some useful WFH tips.  We hope you find them helpful.

From our homes to yours, Happy Easter, a belated Happy Passover and Happy Spring!    

DIRECTOR DIALOGUES | JUANITA MORT | MARCH 2020

What happened to March?

This post is my personal story.  I’m sharing it because I’m sure most of you asking yourself the same question that I find myself asking, what happened to March? Not because I really don’t know, but seriously….

My month started great!  I would be going to Las Vegas for the first time EVER for my IAAP board meeting and CAPStone. I was looking forward to the opportunity to continue the board work – in person, followed by great education and connecting with members. 

 

As an added bonus, I planned to leave the week before and spend some time with one of my best friends, Deb, catching up and sightseeing on a road trip from Phoenix to Las Vegas with stops at the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. If you are thinking Thelma and Louise, you’re not far off.   My trip started out as planned, with a little more caution because of this virus – but it hadn’t hit us – yet. I flew into Phoenix on March 8^th, got a tattoo on the 9^th (my first), met my friends family, visited the Grand Canyon, went on a great short hike at Toadstool Trailhead , visited Bryce and Zion National Parks, visited Lake Powell and the Hoover Dam before heading into Vegas.  Unfortunately, I was also having daily conversations with IAAP leadership on the Coronavirus/COVID-19 and what impact it would have on our events.  

On Thursday morning, while at Hoover Dam, we made the necessary and unfortunate decision to cancel CAPStone and our board meeting.  At that time, we had no idea the way the virus would impact Vegas during the time our conference was scheduled.  We only knew we needed to do what was right for our members/conference attendees, their safety and their piece of mind.   As your chair, I knew without a doubt that this was the right decision for everyone.    

Personally, my life got pretty interesting pretty quick.  With the help of IAAP staff I was able to get my flight changed to depart the next afternoon. Even though we knew we wouldn’t be there long, we continued on to Vegas and booked a room at the Bellagio for the night.  In a whirlwind, we had drinks at the pool, donated to the casino, had dinner with Barrett (Shaw) and watched the fountains at the Bellagio.   The next day before Deb dropped me at the airport and headed back to Arizona, we found Counts Kustoms (one of my hubby’s favorite shows) and took a tour of the show room.  We took a lot of pictures and found a souvenir or two to take home.   We found a Dunkin’ and headed to the airport.   I was thankful to be on the plane home and more than a little nervous about what was coming and the havoc it could potentially cause – I had no idea!

When I got home the month really went crazy.  I spent the Saturday and Sunday on the phone with my leadership team at work planning for the upcoming week and the shift to working remotely and deploying technology to staff and students to support remote teaching/working.  We held our IAAP board meeting via Zoom on Sunday.  That work week is a blur, I was on site all week, helping with planning and training staff on the technologies they’d need to work remote.   Thursday and Friday were very quiet on campus – way to quiet as there was only a very small group of staff onsite.   Friday, March 20^th was the last day I was physically at work.  The world and our work have changed.  I am confident we’ll weather the storm.

I’m still asking myself, what happened to March because most of it is a blur.  I’m sure most of you can relate.    

I look forward to the time we can connect in person.  Until then, be safe, practice social/safe distancing.  Please keep our essential employees in your hearts and thoughts/prayers as they are on the front lines fighting this virus head on. 

DIRECTOR DIALOGUES | ANN DAHLKE | JANUARY 2020

Happy New Year and welcome to 2020! The year is full of all kinds of possibilities for each of us. Typically, January is viewed as a time of new beginnings and fresh starts. Many of us make New Year’s resolutions to try something new or to embark on a journey of self-improvement. As you consider what new things you will try in 2020, I encourage you to keep the many opportunities IAAP offers for you to grow and learn at the forefront of your mind.

If you’ve not yet earned your Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) designation, maybe this is the year to begin your journey to certification. If you’re already certified, consider adding a specialty by taking the Organizational Management (OM) course or attending CAPstone in March. If those aren’t in your plans this year, you can still commit to earning 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, depending upon the time of the sessions you attend.

If improving your leadership skills is in 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 positions, contact your local Branch Director or Regional Director. You can find the full list of current Branch and Regional leaders and their emails here.

There are also many opportunities to serve on various IAAP work groups and committees throughout the year. I encourage you to complete the Willingness to Serve application so when opportunities come up and positions need to be filled, the IAAP Headquarters staff is aware of your areas of interest.

Don’t forget about IAAP’s Academy for Leadership Development. In the Foundations of Leadership course, you’ll discover your personal leadership identity and learn how to shift to a leadership mindset. Frontline Leadership is designed for those who serve in a supervisory role and Enterprise Leadership is designed exclusively for admins fully engaged at the executive level. Details about each of these leadership opportunities can be found here on the IAAP website.

Last of all don’t forget about IAAP’s signature event, Summit, taking place in Orlando, Florida in July. The early bird registration fee for IAAP Summit ends on January 31. Registration numbers for Summit 2020 are already running ahead of pace for this time of the year! Register early to save money and ensure your spot in the host hotel.

Whatever you choose to do, let 2020 be the year you step out of your comfort zone and make the most of your IAAP membership by taking on a more active role.

DIRECTOR DIALOGUES | BARRETT SHAW | JANUARY 2020

Happy New Year! Now that the craziness of the holidays has settled, it’s time to look ahead at what’s in store for 2020. I love this time of year because it is so full of possibilities. There is a sense of new beginnings and a belief that anything can happen. I have spent a great deal of time during the holidays reflecting on all aspects of my life. One of the areas I reflected on was my involvement with IAAP. 2020 marks my 12th year as a member of this association. It has been a humbling journey. I am so grateful every day to be able to give back to this association that has provided so much for me over the last decade. One of the best things about membership in IAAP is the wealth of volunteer opportunities available to each of us. There is something for every interest and level of experience.


Although not everyone is interested in serving on the board of directors, I’m often asked about what I think makes a good board member. I think it comes down to passion, commitment and a willingness to share your knowledge and experience. Like all of you, I am passionate about this association. Having seen the tremendous benefits I have gained, I feel absolutely compelled to give back. When you’re passionate about something, it comes through in everything you do and every choice you make. Working together with others who share that passion sets the stage for great things to happen. Commitment is also important because taking on a volunteer role is an investment – of time, of energy and of knowledge. We all have something unique to bring to this role. Don’t overthink it! Your perspective, your experience and your ideas are wanted and needed. The best thing you can do is trust what you have to offer and be willing to share it with others.


If you’re interested in any of the volunteer leadership positions, feel free to reach out to myself or any board member. We are willing to answer questions and share our experiences with you. This is our association and we’re all committed to keeping it the premiere resource for administrative professionals. In 2020, why not consider stepping into a volunteer role and taking an active part in shaping our future.