We're Here for You (from 5/19/20 IAAP Newsletter)

\ Greetings, fellow admins!   Your board is committed to ensure that we are connecting with members during this time of change and uncertainty. We are here for you and continue to advocate on your behalf. If you want or need to reach out to any of us, you can find our information here. We are excited to share the following information on what we’ve been doing, upcoming events, leadership opportunities and more.   BoD Blog Have you checked out the IAAP Board of Director’s Blog recently? Each month one of the members of the board of directors writes an article addressing current and relevant topics of interest to our members. The most recent article included our favorite tips for working from home. Keep scrolling down through the blog and you can also read about the outcomes of the board’s fall board meeting held in October or watch Juanita Mort’s incoming Chair speech from Summit 2019 in National Harbor, Maryland. If you haven’t looked at the blog recently, be sure to check it out; you can find it here.   BoD and BoD & Staff C&Cs #WeLeadTogether #alonetogether In these days of Covid-19, how does IAAP stay together as a community when quarantine and teleworking are our new reality? The board gathered on a Friday evening Zoom in late March to connect and relax together. Someone said, “We should do this with the members!” Everyone on the board was excited to move the idea forward, and we could not wait to connect with more members in this way.   The following week, we gathered again, this time to test breakout rooms. We knew that if a lot of members took us up on the opportunity to connect, we’d want to give them the opportunity to break out from the full group for more personalized connection. The rooms were successful! We were ready to advertise our C&C.   April 1, 2020—no joke, we had 100+ members signed up for our Zoom C&C! The board got on the call a little early to gather our thoughts and prepare for our guests. Everything went smoothly, having everyone together then going to breakout rooms at 10-minute intervals. What an awesome experience, to see familiar and new faces - outside Summit or CAPstone for the first time! The feedback was warm and encouraging for us to continue these events on a regular basis. In response, IAAP has scheduled virtual C&C events biweekly for the foreseeable future. Some will be just for fun and connection with the board of directors. Some will be for sharing information, integrating the board and staff with members.   No matter what happens with in-person IAAP events in our new reality, these virtual C&Cs will remain as an innovative and exciting way for members to connect with one another, the IAAP board, and headquarters staff. Please join us—we can’t wait to see you soon!   Board Applications and Branch Director Vacancies Are you ready to enhance your relationship building and leadership competence? Maybe you would like to learn more about governance and strategy or succession planning. Are you an advocate of the profession? If you answered yes to any of those questions now is a perfect time to step forward for an IAAP leadership position. Applications are currently being accepted for the IAAP Board of Directors (two-year term) and also IAAP Branch Director (one-year term).   Board of Directors applications are open until May 22, 2020. The term runs July to July. The Board of Directors is the governing body of IAAP and sets strategy, oversees fiscal decisions, and mentors volunteer leadership. Contact Danielle Scott with questions. Branch Director applications are available throughout the year. The term runs August 1 through July 31. Branch Directors are the local leaders of the IAAP leadership team. As a Branch Director you will coordinate networking events and education workshops, lead community engagement, and recruit volunteers at the local level. Contact Kelli Nelson with questions.   If you are not ready yet to pursue one of these opportunities officially; please consider reaching out to inquire on how you can volunteer to help support our association leaders. There are numerous opportunities available to chair committees, give time, and support IAAP.   Learn@IAAP When was the last time you explored the wealth of resources available in Learn@IAAP? Whether you’re preparing to take the CAP exam, looking to brush up on a software program or in search of a webinar to earn some recertification points, there is a lot of great material available. Learn@IAAP is accessed from the Learn tab on the home page. After logging in, you’ll see a left-side menu with several options and ways of finding information. You can search by delivery method, topic area, or CAP domain.   One of the menu options you should become familiar with is "free resources." Not everything in Learn@IAAP is free, but there are some amazing free resources, which change periodically. Currently, the free offerings include the recording of last month’s APD live webinar (wasn’t it great?). If you missed it, you can still watch it and earn recertification points. If you participated in the live event, but want to watch it again, you can! Additional free resources include a working from home care package, featuring content from one of our Summit speakers, James Spellos and an on-demand webinar. There’s never been a better time to familiarize yourself with the offerings inside Learn@IAAP.   Events (Virtual) In this critical time during COVID-19, we must practice and implement social distancing responsibly and respectfully. One must be mindful of larger elements outside of our control. Recent changes have modified our traditional office space into a Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet environment. As administrators, we are here to support change and sustain growth through virtual outlets. IAAP has many offerings for distance learning through Eventbrite. This event calendar has many virtual (some free) happenings such as professional development and social connections. As your IAAP board, we are here to assist you mindfully and professionally during this time with resources. Please consider the virtual events the association has to offer. I invite you to join the IAAP Board of Directors (Virtual) Connections & Cocktails on Sunday, May 17 or Thursday, May 21.   SocialLink Have you ever wondered how to feel more connected to IAAP members especially now while we working through this global pandemic? One way is to actively participate in SocialLink. SocialLink works like other social media channels but within IAAP’s membership portal. We are always checking out the SocialLink feed to learn about upcoming IAAP events, view important IAAP information, get new ideas, connect with members, and enjoy lighthearted topics.   There are various forums within SocialLink; IAAP has recently created several new discussion forums which include: COVID-19, Challenges to Solve, Success to Share, and Industry-Specific Discussions, in addition to other forums already out there. As assistants, we are often the go-to person. SocialLink offers a great opportunity to research the question your boss asked and connect with fellow IAAP members all at the same time. By joining SocialLink, you will be able to expand your global network, learn, research and be the hub of information for your offices. How about taking SocialLink for a test drive? Look forward to connecting with you soon.   Summit 2020 We know many of you have questions about Summit 2020 and whether it’s “a go” or not? The short answer—It’s a GO! Summit 2020 is going to be offered, for the first time ever, in a 100 percent virtual environment. The Summit experience—which is always full of excitement, inspiration, learning, and connection—is now coming to you. You can learn more on the Summit website and this FAQ document.   We are thrilled that Summit is accessible to so many more in our community and we hope you can join us. The education will be meaningful and relevant (especially some great technology training!), and the connections will be invaluable. Many of you attended our Summit Sneak Peek on Administrative Professionals Day. For those who missed it, here is a short snippet. The full recording can be viewed here.   We look forward to connecting with you at Summit!   IAAP Board of Directors

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.