Edition One
February 2012 HELLO IAAP MEMBERS
Contents
Welcome to the New Year!
IAAP Turns 70
Page 2
Pathways to excellence
Page 3
Dates to diarise for 2012
Page 4
Becoming the Person You choose to be Dealing with Stress …. A natural solution
Page 5-6
Page 6
“The shortest distance between two people is a smile.”
The IAAP Johannesburg Chapter have already had their first Chapter meeting of the year. There will be a lot of networking opportunities. For all the dates of Chapter meetings, Fundraising and Networking events, please turn to page 4 and put all the dates in your calendar to remind you. Our first networking event will be on the 23 February 2012. The topic for the evening will be the Legal Implications of Filing and BANTEX will take us through on what NEW products are available for the office to assist us with filing and keeping your office tidy. Please note that Nominations for the Board positions will be opening soon. If you are interested in being a member of the IAAP Board, please
send which position you are interested in (Secretary, Treasurer, VicePresident) and a short CV to info@iaap-johannesburg.org PLEASE NOTE: If you would like to Advertise in the Talk SA Newsletter or would like to advertise on the IAAP Website - please contact Kelly for the affordable rates which are available! If you would like to see an article published in the TalkSA, or would like to write an article for the TalkSA please let me know and I will source the article/publish your article. For more information about the event, please contact Kelly on 011 432 6841 or info@iaap-johannesburg.org
Kelly Williams CAP-OM, Secretary
HAVE YOU BOOKED YET?
~Victor Borge~ (3 January 1909 – 23 December 2000),born Børge Rosenbaum, was a Danish comedian, conductor and pianist, affectionately known as The Clown Prince of Denmark
Reserve your room now for the 2012 Education Forum and Annual Meeting July 21-25 at the Gaylord Texan Hotel and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas.
Board Members: Esmé van der Merwe CAP-OM (President) Lee Chapman CAP (Vice President) Dawn Williams CAP-OM (Treasurer) Kelly Williams CAP-OM (Secretary)
For over 70 years, the International Association of Gift of Membership Administrative Professionals has been helping office professionals reach their career goals through education, Do you have a special co-worker or friend who is also an community building and leadership development. administrative professional? If you’d like to do something special for him or her we have the perfect idea: The Gift of Our certification programs are recognized as the industry Membership. It’s a great way to introduce your friends and standard of proficiency. Our educational programs, including co-workers to IAAP. OPTIONS Training, help admins advance their careers without putting their life on hold. Maybe it’s a way to help that admin that just got laid off, or as a special gift for your son or daughter who is now a part With three annual conferences a year, members have of the profession. numerous opportunities to learn and grow, not just at their job but in their life. We produce three different publications It’s easy to give the Gift of Membership. You can either that go out to our members, which impart cutting-edge mail/fax in the Gift of Membership form or call information about today's office. Headquarters with your information, including payment, and the name and contact information of the recipient. If you've been searching for a community to help you thrive in today's office culture, you've come to the right place. After the membership department gets the information, Come join us as we create a better workplace, one admin at they will send out an e-mail informing the recipient of his or a time her Gift of Membership. It only takes a few minutes but gives a gift that lasts an entire year.
Help Us Celebrate 70 Years! Don’t let another day go by. Give the perfect gift, the Gift of In celebration of IAAP reaching its 70th anniversary, we’re Membership. offering administrative professionals a special price when they join the association as a new member. From now until December 31, 2012, new members can join IAAP at the chapter, division and international level—all for one $70 price. Don’t put it off. Join today to take advantage of the world’s best networking and education for administrative professionals.
Member discount on purchases through IAAP on education and professional development resource materials Discounts on registration of any IAAP sponsored international level training workshops, seminars, conferences and conventions. Discounts on registration for the Certified Administrative Professional or the Certified Professional Secretary exams Subscription to: OfficePro magazine, OfficePro Express, an e-newsletter full of research, trends and technology information; IAAP Connections, the association’s monthly e-newsletter Full access to the IAAP Web Community, an online social network for IAAP members. Local chapters, which hold training and networking events and have opportunities for leadership
Pathways to excellence The IAAP Pathways to Excellence Recognition Program is designed to raise your value as a career-minded administrative professional by becoming a Member of Excellence, a Chapter of Excellence or a Division of Excellence. The program has a set of guiding principles; learn more under the "Principles" tab. You can learn more about these distinctions under their individual tabs, or you can consult our Pathways to Excellence FAQ for more information. The Pathways to Excellence year coincides with the IAAP fiscal year of July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012 Revised to take effect for 2011-2012 IAAP Year Beginning July 2011, the wording of criterion 6 has changed, waiving the mandatory requirement for new members who joined in the current fiscal year. The criterion is still mandatory for renewing members. Revisions and clarifications to the 2010-2011 criteria are identified by bold/underlined text. IAAP Headquarters Membership Department reserves the right to request original documentation of criteria earned. Revised Criteria as of July 1, 2011 A Member of Excellence will receive a certificate (first four years), Pathways to Excellence certificate cover, and Member of Excellence pin (the fifth year). A Member of Excellence will attain a minimum of 8 of the following 11 criteria:
1. 2. 3. 4.
5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
Hold a current IAAP Certification (i.e. CAP as prescribed by the new curriculum.) Download the Member of Excellence Commitment form; sign and date the form Actively participate in the IAAP web community forum discussions or write an article (minimum 200 words),and have it published in an IAAP publication (chapter, division, or international level.) Recommending another author’s article does not qualify. Attend at least one professional educational workshop, seminar or conference (at least 60 minutes in length) and provide a short paragraph on how the training relates to your job or your role in IAAP. It can be an IAAP or nonIAAP workshop, seminar, or conference; however, it cannot be included in your calculations to meet the requirement of criterion #9. Hold a degree, certificate or equivalent (a minimum of one year in length) from an accredited college or university or hold a Microsoft certification Pay membership dues on or before anniversary date. This criterion is a mandatory requirement. This mandatory requirement will be waived in the case of new members joining IAAP in the current IAAP fiscal year who want to work towards becoming a Member of Excellence. Serve as a chapter, division, or international officer, committee chair, or committee member; or serve as an RTF Trustee; or serve on a student chapter advisory board or the school’s advisory board for the office administration program. Conduct a public presentation, program or training at least 60 minutes in length. (Note that the presentation does not need to qualify for recertification points). Attend a minimum of eight (8) IAAP chapter, division or international sponsored meetings, programs or events (any combination.) These meetings, programs, or events cannot include an event used to meet the requirement of criterion #4. Recruit at least one new member. Integrate IAAP membership and involvement into annual performance plan or review.
Dates to diarise for 2012 23 February 2012 29 March 2012 19 April 2012 16-17 May 2012
Networking event Chapter meeting – Nominations for Board positions Networking event Networking event - ICAP Indaba – Chapter Exhibition
31 May 2012
Annual General Meeting
7 June 2012
Networking event
28 June 2012
Chapter meeting – Installation of new Board members
30 June 2012
Board Strategy Meeting Chapter meeting - New Member Installation
12 July 2012
(all members that joined our Chapter since the previous member installation and all other members that have not been installed in 2011)
16 August 2012
Networking event
24 August 2012
Fundraising: Murder Mystery Dinner
5 September 2012
Fundraising: Secretaries Day Celebration
27 September 2012
Chapter meeting
25 October 2012
Fundraising event: Year End Dinner
15 November 2012
Chapter meeting
7 December 2012
Networking event
“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something. So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life. Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it. Make your mistakes, next year and forever.” ~Neil Gaiman~ Neil Richard Gaiman is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films.
Becoming the Person You choose to be By Priscilla Bouwer, National Office Professional of the year 2011 possibility of enjoying what already is.
Well we have all experienced a curve ball thrown at us at some stage in our lives, I suppose the only difference is the speed and the depth of the curve ball/experience is all that differs.
Do you recognise what you have been missing In The Now by living in the past or the future? – Makes you think doesn’t it!
So what did we do, or what are we doing about it right now? Most important, what was your attitude towards this occurrence? Life has a funny way of flinging unexpected challenges our way at time we least expect it, and our attitude towards these challenges has much to do with what we learn and who we become. We are all going to experience those hiccups and upsets in our lives, and we need to have an optimistic attitude to get through those difficult times in our lives. We need to have our éscape’ plan ready for us, in order for us to retreat and rethink our feelings and emotions. Let’s talk a little about practical tools we can use to develop the attitude we want and, by extension, the life we want. Our first step is to decide that we WANT to develop a CAN. You may ask – What is a CAN? – No it is not a coke can, it is a CAN Attitude.
C A N
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CHANGE ATTITUDE NOW
Take a minute and think about the three most important things in your life right now – are they ‘Objects, Memories or People’?. Write them down on a sheet of paper. Some advice, the next time you are feeling that you can’t take another hiccup/upset in your life, it would be a great time to think about whatever the problem is you’re facing in a new way. Ask yourself if dealing with that
When I become a mother at a very young age, I could have easily have given up and been “realistic” about my “bleak and uncertain” future.
problem is as bad as losing one of your three most important things? The answer is always a resounding NO? – Do you agree? This will give you the push you need to Change your Attitude Now! “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing, the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
Sometimes it is much easier for us to fall into that pit of doom. Because then we don’t have to try anymore. We can just sit back and feel sorry for ourselves and not set goals and not have dreams and live in a perpetual ‘self-pity lane that moves at a very slow pace, or no pace at all”. I am sure you can identify with what I mean.
I decided that was not the life I wanted to lead. My life was my destiny; it is my journey to fulfil. I had to switch paths, because my journey was suddenly in an entirely different direction. I was now a young mother BE IN THE NOW with a beautiful little girl to take care So we have decided to develop a CAN, of and provide for, there was no time selfishness, mistakes or so we ask ourselves – What would our for uncertainties – I had to progress next step be? forward. Here is another tool that has been suggested we use in our lives to No my journey was not easy, I had remain on our chosen path and not get some real hard times, I struggled with flummoxed when the path deviates a much confusion and doubt at any little. Being In The Now means to quit given time, but I was persistent to dwelling in the past and worrying pursue only the best for me and my daughter. Today when I look back at about the future. my life, I have achieved so much, I am I read the following quote in a book ‘As married to the best man in the world, an old Buddhist axiom puts it – have three wonderful children and Yesterday always is, and tomorrow have countless blessings that I can’t never comes.’ We only have today, the even keep record of. I have worked very hard to get to where I am now in present, the now. my career as an Executive PA, I One obstacle to being In The Now is reached my goal, yes it took 20 years, playing the “What if?” game. Oh yes, but I made it, and still going strong! aren’t we the masters of that: Here goes – What if they don’t like me? I am thankful that I was on the right What if I don’t succeed? What if I don’t path, and made the right decisions, get the job? Playing this game only mostly thankful for all the people stresses us out and destroys any around me both in my personal life
Becoming the Person You choose to be and my work colleagues, that helped me achieve all this. This might sound strange, but yes I am thankful to myself as well, for taking the initiative and interest in realising that my life is my destiny, my family and working colleagues and Higher Powers make my goal so worth living.
anything that caused you hurt, anger, or embarrassment. Relive it a little, think about it, then write down every negative feeling you experience. Take two minutes, Ready for it? Go!
many have been jammed into the “could of” or “should of” or “I don’t have time to“ file cabinets of our lives. Pull them out!
Hope you enjoyed reading on Now, let’s look at that same ‘Becoming the Person you Choose to Be’ experience, but from a different and the steps to take to ensure you perspective. For the next two are successful on your journey! minutes, write down all of the Enjoy your week! positive things that came out of that Best Wishes negative experience you just wrote Priscilla Bouwer about. Ready for it? Go!
Don’t give up on Yourself, don’t stall, don’t let others tell you that you can’t, you will never, you will not cope. Remember determination, persistence, self-discipline will get you to where you want to be – it’s Yours – Before I asked you to write the Be In The Now and make your life positive things down, had you ever even thought about that negative happen! experience in any positive way?
CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE Changing our perspective is looking at experiences that happen to us in a new way. Gail Cohen, the author of How to Reach Your Personal Best, shares the following technique:
Perspective. What an amazing difference it can make in our lives if we simply change it! Do this exercise every time your perspective is stopping you from becoming the person you choose to be. You will be amazed at the results.
What is stopping you from becoming First, think about a time in your life the person you choose to be? As when you had a negative experience, women, we all have choices, but too
DEALING WITH STRESS …. A NATURAL SOLUTION Stress is a well known friend or foe for the modern Office Professional. To be free of stress is something we all long for – free of anxiety or sleepless nights or uncomfortable digestion. Stress manifests itself in different ways for different people but one thing it does to everyone – it affects their general sense of wellness and wellbeing. Furthermore, experiencing stress in your daily life over a long period of time can lead to health problems that become difficult to resolve. Herbs play a critical role in improving the general state of wellness in the body by fine-tuning the various body functions and assisting in emotional, mental and personal well-being. Through the stimulation and invigoration of digestion and the nervous system, herbs also play an important role in supporting the assimilation of nutrients and the elimination of waste.
The wonder of Aloe Vera Since the earliest recordings of medicinal use, Aloe Vera has featured as a wonder item by herbalists – in what is considered to be the first book of medicine ever written, ancient Greek herbalist Dioscorides recommended Aloe Vera for wound healing, constipation, insomnia, stomach disorders, haemorrhoids, itching, headache, sunburn and skin care. Today, consuming Aloe Vera internally has become a popular and effective solution to the many stresses of modern life. GNLD’s Aloe Vera Plus is a delicious-tasting, crisp and refreshing herbal blend energy drink which is your fast-relief solution to stress-related discomfort or pain. This nutritional aloe drink constitutes the highest standards of purity, safety and consistency. GNLD’s Aloe Vera Plus contains only natural flavours and is fortified with chamomile and ginseng. One small glass of nutrient-rich and naturally soothing Aloe Vera Plus balances your body and boosts your sense of wellbeing, helping your body cope with stress by refreshing, re-energizing and restoring natural vitality and health. To order Aloe Vera Plus or any other GNLD product, contact Esmé van der Merwe on 083 609 1334 or vdmerwe.esme@lantic.net