Violet_Beauregard
Well-Known Member
April 21-25, 2008 is "Administrative Professionals Week", with Wednesday the 23rd designated as "Administrative Professionals Day". Yes, this is the week/day formerly known as "Secretaries Day". No, this day of recognition was NOT invented by the candy companies or flower manufacturers just to gain additional business. Here is the true origin of the day:
Administrative Professionals Week Celebrated Since 1952
Since 1952, the International Association of Administrative Professionals has honored office workers by sponsoring Administrative Professionals Week. Today, it is one of the largest workplace observances outside of employee birthdays and major holidays.
The idea began with Mary Barrett, president of the National Secretaries Association, now called IAAP, and C. King Woodbridge, president of Dictaphone Corporation. They served on a council addressing a national shortage of skilled office workers. Together with Harry Klemfuss, public relations account executive at Young & Rubicam, they originated the idea for a National Secretaries Week.
The association successfully campaigned U.S. Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer to proclaim the first National Secretaries Week on June 1-7, 1952. He designated Wednesday, June 4 as National Secretaries Day. Sawyer, Barrett and Woodbridge participated in ceremonies held in Washington, D.C.
IAAP created National Secretaries Week with two objectives in mind: to recognize "the secretary, upon whose skills, loyalty, and efficiency the functions of business and government offices depend," and to call attention "through favorable publicity, to the tremendous potential of the secretarial career."
Named changed to Administrative Professionals Week
In 1955, the observance date of National Secretaries Week was moved to the last full week of April. The observation changed to Professional Secretaries Week in 1981, and became Administrative Professionals Week in 2000 to encompass the expanding responsibilities and wide-ranging job titles of administrative support staff.
Over the years, observances of Administrative Professionals Week have focused on professional development. Today, local chapters of IAAP hold hundreds of seminars and networking events in their communities during the week. Other events include luncheons, corporate recognition activities, and individual observances between managers and office staff.
Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the International Association of Administrative Professionals today remains the sole sponsor of Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day. IAAP continues to believe in the importance of this event to call attention to the increasing value and contributions of administrative professionals in today's workplace.
Courtesy of www.iaap-hq.org
Now, I don't see ANYWHERE in that article, the words "Hallmark, Carlton Cards, FTD, or Teleflora... do you???
How do I know this information about IAAP and Administrative Professionals Week/Day?? I belong to this organization. The organization has over 40,000 members worldwide. I belong to my local chapter. I've been a member for nearly 10 years, and have served as chapter president for three terms. I'm very proud of the organization and am proud of the work we've done to promote professional and personal improvement and advancement, and education. Our chapter raises funds and provides scholarships for local area business students. We support our community by doing volunteering and doing community service work. We sponsor educational seminars and professional certifications. IAAP has been around since 1942, and my chapter has been around since 1946. We are a strong, hardworking chapter and you'll not meet any better people than my fellow chapter members.
I have worked in the clerical field for 23 years. I was hired as a "secretary" and I'll retire as a "secretary"... or die on the job... LOL. Many individuals, most of them younger in age than I, take offense at being referred to as a "secretary". They prefer the term "Administrative Assistant" or "Executive Assistant". Technically, my title is "Office Manager".... but since I'm the only clerical worker in my office, besides my two bosses (one of which is the owner, the other the VP/GM), exactly who am I "managing"? Myself? My two bosses? Well...yes, I do manage them. I manage to make sure they are where they need to be and doing what they need to do and getting done what they need to get done, so I suppose I do "manage" some things. But I don't mind being referred to as a "secretary".
Being a secretary or admin is a noble profession, truly. We are, literally, the back bone of an organization. We are the, at times, back ground workers who keep the organization humming. As I stated above, we are the ones who make sure everyone is where they need to be, doing what needs to be done. No, we don't just make coffee, answer phones, and take letters. We are the ones who know how to work the computers, fix the fax and copier, and get the boss' messages off the voice mail system. We are the ones who remember each co-workers birthdays and anniversaries. We are the ones who remember what the boss likes for lunch. We're the ones who remember the important clients/customers when they call in. We are the ones who know where everyone is and what everyone is doing. We are the first impression people get when they call the business. We are the ones who remember all the little details that keep a successful business thriving. If you really want to get something accomplished when contacting a business, talk to the secretary or administrative assistant. A good secretary or admin will have her (or his!) finger on the pulse of the business. I have a cross-stitch sampler in my office that reads "Behind Every Successful Man... is his Secretary". Truer words were never spoken.
So next week (April 21-25), do all of us admins a favor... don't put down our week/day of recognition. Don't tell us "it's just another day for the candy, card and flower companies" to make money. It is insulting to us to hear that. We deserve it as much as anyone else. Additionally, be sure and wish all the secretaries and administrative assistants you know, a "Happy Administrative Professionals Week/Day".... pick them up a card, take them to lunch. Let them know... you appreciate their hard work and dedication. I guarantee they'll thank you.
Do my bosses recognize the day with me? Absolutely. For 23 years they have given me flowers, which they know I love. They're great guys to work for and I wouldn't trade them for anything.
To my fellow admins: Happy Administrative Professionals Week/Day.... or Happy Secretaries Day... whichever you prefer!! Enjoy the week/day!
Administrative Professionals Week Celebrated Since 1952
Since 1952, the International Association of Administrative Professionals has honored office workers by sponsoring Administrative Professionals Week. Today, it is one of the largest workplace observances outside of employee birthdays and major holidays.
The idea began with Mary Barrett, president of the National Secretaries Association, now called IAAP, and C. King Woodbridge, president of Dictaphone Corporation. They served on a council addressing a national shortage of skilled office workers. Together with Harry Klemfuss, public relations account executive at Young & Rubicam, they originated the idea for a National Secretaries Week.
The association successfully campaigned U.S. Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer to proclaim the first National Secretaries Week on June 1-7, 1952. He designated Wednesday, June 4 as National Secretaries Day. Sawyer, Barrett and Woodbridge participated in ceremonies held in Washington, D.C.
IAAP created National Secretaries Week with two objectives in mind: to recognize "the secretary, upon whose skills, loyalty, and efficiency the functions of business and government offices depend," and to call attention "through favorable publicity, to the tremendous potential of the secretarial career."
Named changed to Administrative Professionals Week
In 1955, the observance date of National Secretaries Week was moved to the last full week of April. The observation changed to Professional Secretaries Week in 1981, and became Administrative Professionals Week in 2000 to encompass the expanding responsibilities and wide-ranging job titles of administrative support staff.
Over the years, observances of Administrative Professionals Week have focused on professional development. Today, local chapters of IAAP hold hundreds of seminars and networking events in their communities during the week. Other events include luncheons, corporate recognition activities, and individual observances between managers and office staff.
Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the International Association of Administrative Professionals today remains the sole sponsor of Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day. IAAP continues to believe in the importance of this event to call attention to the increasing value and contributions of administrative professionals in today's workplace.
Courtesy of www.iaap-hq.org
Now, I don't see ANYWHERE in that article, the words "Hallmark, Carlton Cards, FTD, or Teleflora... do you???
How do I know this information about IAAP and Administrative Professionals Week/Day?? I belong to this organization. The organization has over 40,000 members worldwide. I belong to my local chapter. I've been a member for nearly 10 years, and have served as chapter president for three terms. I'm very proud of the organization and am proud of the work we've done to promote professional and personal improvement and advancement, and education. Our chapter raises funds and provides scholarships for local area business students. We support our community by doing volunteering and doing community service work. We sponsor educational seminars and professional certifications. IAAP has been around since 1942, and my chapter has been around since 1946. We are a strong, hardworking chapter and you'll not meet any better people than my fellow chapter members.
I have worked in the clerical field for 23 years. I was hired as a "secretary" and I'll retire as a "secretary"... or die on the job... LOL. Many individuals, most of them younger in age than I, take offense at being referred to as a "secretary". They prefer the term "Administrative Assistant" or "Executive Assistant". Technically, my title is "Office Manager".... but since I'm the only clerical worker in my office, besides my two bosses (one of which is the owner, the other the VP/GM), exactly who am I "managing"? Myself? My two bosses? Well...yes, I do manage them. I manage to make sure they are where they need to be and doing what they need to do and getting done what they need to get done, so I suppose I do "manage" some things. But I don't mind being referred to as a "secretary".
Being a secretary or admin is a noble profession, truly. We are, literally, the back bone of an organization. We are the, at times, back ground workers who keep the organization humming. As I stated above, we are the ones who make sure everyone is where they need to be, doing what needs to be done. No, we don't just make coffee, answer phones, and take letters. We are the ones who know how to work the computers, fix the fax and copier, and get the boss' messages off the voice mail system. We are the ones who remember each co-workers birthdays and anniversaries. We are the ones who remember what the boss likes for lunch. We're the ones who remember the important clients/customers when they call in. We are the ones who know where everyone is and what everyone is doing. We are the first impression people get when they call the business. We are the ones who remember all the little details that keep a successful business thriving. If you really want to get something accomplished when contacting a business, talk to the secretary or administrative assistant. A good secretary or admin will have her (or his!) finger on the pulse of the business. I have a cross-stitch sampler in my office that reads "Behind Every Successful Man... is his Secretary". Truer words were never spoken.
So next week (April 21-25), do all of us admins a favor... don't put down our week/day of recognition. Don't tell us "it's just another day for the candy, card and flower companies" to make money. It is insulting to us to hear that. We deserve it as much as anyone else. Additionally, be sure and wish all the secretaries and administrative assistants you know, a "Happy Administrative Professionals Week/Day".... pick them up a card, take them to lunch. Let them know... you appreciate their hard work and dedication. I guarantee they'll thank you.
Do my bosses recognize the day with me? Absolutely. For 23 years they have given me flowers, which they know I love. They're great guys to work for and I wouldn't trade them for anything.
To my fellow admins: Happy Administrative Professionals Week/Day.... or Happy Secretaries Day... whichever you prefer!! Enjoy the week/day!
