FROM THE PRESIDENT. Motto: We turn jobs into careers by providing networking and educational opportunities for office administrative professionals.

Transcription

1 RIVER BEND CHAPTER Chartered 1946 PO Box 224 South Bend, IN JUNE, 2009 Motto: We turn jobs into careers by providing networking and educational opportunities for office administrative professionals. FROM THE PRESIDENT INSIDE THIS ISSUE: President s Message 1 MAY Mtg. How to Prepare for Performance Evaluations Committee Reports Chapter Member birthdays Pathways to Excellence - Member of Excellence Membership Renewals New Chapter Officers Pictures from 2009 Indiana Division Annual Meeting Greetings Chapter Members, Over the last few months I have concentrated on the word Excellence. I ve chosen action words for us to consider when we think about being excellent in everything we say and do. Our chapter has strived for excellence in everything we set out to do. Here is a short recap on the things we have done. We awarded a $ scholarship to a student at Ivy Tech College. Three () new members joined the organization. All of our chapter meetings were well attended by members and guests. Our executive night was a huge success; the executives are still talking about it. Our chapter made a charitable donation to Sister Maura Brannick clinic during the holiday season. Just to name a few. This month I am concentrating on the last two letters in Excellence which is CE. These words should be the center of our thinking. Here are some words to consider putting into action for this month. Center a point, area, person, or thing that is most important or pivotal in relation to an indicated activity, interest, or condition. Cell a one-room dwelling occupied by a solitary person (as a hermit) Certification the state of being certified For the upcoming year, let step out of our cell and do things we have not done before. One of the things we can do is take the Certified Professional Secretary and/or the Certified Administrative Professional test. This certification will open doors for you that you wouldn t imagine. This certification will let your employer know that you are serious about your profession. Thank you for being the best of the best. Keep up the good work! Sincerely, Mia Gutridge Mia Gutridge River Bend Chapter IAAP President

2 FLOWING THOUGHTS Page 2 MAY CHAPTER MEETING HOW TO PREPARE FOR PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS Our May 19 chapter meeting featured Mr. Jim Szekendi, Director of Human Resources at Sisters of Holy Cross. He spoke briefly on how to prepare for performance evaluations. He shared that a performance evaluation is a key opportunity to identify your strengths, areas that need improvement and plans for your future. He compared it to when we were in school and we received report cards. He stated that performance evaluations can determine whether or not you advance in your career, how much money you earn and how you are regarded by your superiors at work. Preparation for an evaluation should begin long before you actually sit down with your boss. Listed below are a few of his tips: 1. Throughout the year, make it a habit to document any assignments you are responsible for and note how the completion of these positively impacted the company and update this information regularly. Create a folder and save any thank you notes, etc. that you ve received throughout the year. Also note any areas where you ve come under critique and work on those areas you can do better on 2. Be familiar with your performance evaluation form. Make a copy and retain it. Make sure you have a copy of your job description and as new things are added to your job make note of it.. Seek from your Supervisor how you re doing all year round, not just at appraisal time. It's in your favor to open up discussion about performance during the year, even if the manager does not initiate it. The sooner you know where you are at, and what you need to change (or keep doing), the sooner problems can be fixed. In fact many problems can be prevented if they are caught early enough. 4. Do a self-evaluation of your performance. A month or two weeks prior to your scheduled performance review. Don t shortchange yourself. 5. During actual review it might be difficult to maintain your composure if review is not favorable. If that occurs, maintain your composure and ask if you can schedule some time in the future to allow you time to think about it and discuss it more calmly. 6. Always remember that your performance evaluation should be a learning opportunity. Meeting presenter: Jim Szekendi Director Human Resources Sisters of the Holy Cross

3 Page COMMITTEE REPORTS Membership/Communications: Shelly Schaller We currently have a total of 22 members. Members are encouraged to go online and sign up to become a member of excellence. So far we have one member officially signed up: Anne Arthus. Nominating: Ida Mincy-Williams Elections were held at the May 19 meeting. New officers were installed and will begin their new term July 1, CPS/CAP Committee: Judy Lehner CPS Following are the dates and deadlines for future CPS and CAP exams. If you have any questions, please contact Judy Lehner CPS. Exam Dates Registration Deadline November 6-7, 2009 August 15, 2009 Mia Gutridge - June 2 Shelly Schaller - June 10 Debra Notestine CPS - July 11 Gwen Thomas - June 15 Signup no later than June 0! Tammy Fry - August 26 Cheryl Badagnani - August 1 To Sign up go to: PATHWAYS TO EXCELLENCE THE IAAP PATHWAYS TO EXCELLENCE RECOGNITION PROGRAM is designed to raise your value as a careerminded administrative professional by becoming a Member of Excellence. The program has a set of guiding principles: 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. Be a current CPS and/or CAP holder 2. Sign the online Member of Excellence Commitment agreement. Actively participate in the IAAP web community forum discussions or submit an article for an IAAP publication (chapter, division, or international level) 4. Attend non-iaap professional educational workshops, seminars and conferences 5. Hold a degree, certificate or equivalent (a minimum one year in length) from an accredited college or earn a Microsoft certification 6. Pay membership dues on or before anniversary date 7. 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 8. Conduct a public presentation, program or training 9. Attend a minimum of eight chapter, division or international sponsored meetings, programs or events (any combination) 10. Recruit at least one new member 11. Integrate IAAP membership and involvement into annual performance plan or review Completed criteria will be submitted through an online process at the above listed website.

4 FLOWING THOUGHTS Page 4 May 2009 Meeting Renewals L to R: Judy Lehner CPS, President Mia Gutridge, Kristol Mroczkiewicz, Suzanne Alfrey and Membership Chair Shelly Schaller L to R: Suzanne Alfrey - Vice-President, Anne Arthus - Secretary, Joyce McCoy - President, Tammy Fry - Treasurer, Judy Lehner CPS - Director, and not pictured Ida Mincy-Williams - Director CONGRATULATIONS to our newly elected River Bend Chapter Board of Directors! The new officers will begin their term effective July 1, According to the International Bylaws and Standing Rules, our chapter board of directors is responsible for the development and growth of our chapter within the scope of the International Bylaws and Standing Rules. It is the obligation of the Board to keep chapter members well informed of all association matters; and to contact the Division officers and the Director of the respective District for information and assistance. So please remember, our officers are here to serve you, so If you have any questions, concerns or just want to share some ideas; please contact any of your chapter officers.

5 Page 5 IDAM Swan Lake Resort & Conference Center May 15-17, Plymouth, IN