REPORT OF IAAP INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

Toronto, Canada – July 15-18, 2001

Bethel Banzhaf, Minisa Chapter Delegate

By mid-day Saturday, Delynn Murphy (chapter alternate) and I arrived at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in downtown Toronto in time to register for the convention, pick up our credentials, get our banquet seating assignment and walk around Toronto to do some sightseeing. We started meeting fellow IAAP members at the airport while waiting for the shuttle bus and kept meeting them in various locations during the convention. Members proudly display IAAP logos so are easy to spot!

Attendance: Kansas Division was represented by: Susan Ekstrum CPS, Martha Leek CPS, Betty White CPS, Shirley Carvajal CPS, Karen Skillman CPS, Tamara Mapes CPS, Judith Wilson CPS, Judy Diffley CPS, Joyce Hladky, Frances Scrimsher CPS, Janet Parket, Helen Fotovich, myself and Delynn Murphy. Also attending were members at large from Washburn University: Paula Finson, Jennifer Kahle, Anna Rodriguez and Kristina Strickler. More than 20 different countries were represented and gave the convention a truly international flavor. By the end of the convention there were 1,908 registered, including 14 past International Presidents.

Our work began on Sunday morning at 9:00 am at the Parliamentarian Meeting for the delegates/alternates. Jeff Neurauter, our new parliamentarian, turned out to be a good-looking, knowledgeable, witty young man who made parliamentary procedure fun. He became an expert at avoiding personal questions and was THE topic of the convention. As Anita Reed said, “Jeff had almost 2,000 women panting after him”. As you can imagine, each morning of the business meetings we eagerly looked forward to our parliamentary briefings . . . but I’ll let Delynn fill you in on the fun bits!

The Opening Ceremony of the 56^th Annual International Convention and Education Forum of IAAP began with an introduction of the International Board of Directors/Executive Director. This was followed by the Parade of Nations with each affiliate chapter in the organization being represented by their national flag. This is always an impressive ceremony and was completed by the Presentation of Colors by the Royal Regiment of Canada Colour Party, and an IAAP choir leading the singing of the Canadian and USA national anthems.

The Business Session was called to order by President Candy Daniels CAP with an introduction of the Convention Coordinator and an inspirational message by Kamlu Mehta, the Ontario Division President-elect. After welcomes, introductions and adoption of the convention rules, etc., the candidates for the International Officers were introduced, including the new office of International Affiliate Representative. There were two nominations from the floor. Candidates were given a few minutes each to tell us why we should vote for them.

Thomas Watters CAE gave his Executive Director’s Report. His entire speech is available for anyone wishing to read it. Some highlights: we finished the year with cash reserves of well over $1 million, obtained more than $200,000 in direct corporate contributions and sponsorships, and are especially appreciative of Avery Dennison, OfficeTeam and 3M. We built 24 new chapters, including chapters in Greece and St. Lucia, and picked up 482 new members through direct mailings and nearly 2,100 more online. We now have 6,000 members at large, but they have no direct representation on the Board and only one single vote at the Convention. He stressed that associations must change to meet their members’ needs and realize they have less time available than in the past. He then showed us a short video of the staff at Headquarters and what they do. It was nice to put faces to familiar names.

International President Candy Daniels CAP stated in her address “The Power of TNT: Teamwork, Networking, Training” that we achieved the goal of ending the year with a net gain in membership: with two members more than we started the year. She explained that membership associations normally lose 18-20% of their members each year due to normal attrition, so this year we managed to make up that loss and actually grew slightly. She stated that IAAP’s Web site has become an important resource not only for our members, but other administrative professionals, the media and others interested in our association or profession. This year marks the 50^th anniversary of the first administration of the CPS exam. The first CAP exam was given on May 4, 2001 and of the 345 who registered to take the exam, 279 passed. One thing she said which I would like to pass on is, “If knowledge is power, then the sharing of information through networking is an increasingly important benefit, available in a wide variety of sources, to our members.” Her entire speech is available for anyone to read.

The Awards Recognition Ceremony followed, with the presentation of the “Best of the District” Impact Awards, Retention Awards, and the 3M Chapter Award ($500 cash giveaway). Seventy-three chapter presidents received watches for the Recognition Plus Distinguished Chapter President Awards on behalf of their chapters this year for successful membership growth and retention. Southwest District received 18 of these awards.

That evening the Open House, held at the Hilton Hotel across the street, had a sporting theme and we were encouraged to wear our team colors. It was very crowded but everyone had fun sampling the different foods from various teams/sports and cheering for their District Team in the IAAP Olympics. It got so chaotic that Delynn and I didn’t stay long.

At the Business Session on Monday, President Daniels CAP presented 92 special “Spark” awards for services above and beyond the call of duty in support of the profession and/or IAAP. Due to the change in the fiscal year the Treasurer’s Report was not audited, but will be done by September and posted on the Web site.

The Retirement Centers Trust presented some awards and gave a report to explain the resolution. They would like to expand the activities and services to assist more members (currently there are less than one half of one percent at Vista Grande) and keep the tax exempt status. The Trust as it stands would not allow expansion of services to members. Canadian members cannot live in Vista Grande due to governmental regulations, even though they have supported RCT over the years. Criteria will be established in order to qualify for rent subsidy of members in other locations. The motion carried to dissolve RCT and move to Retirement Trust Fund.

Following the Bylaws and Standing Rules Committee report, we voted on proposed amendments.

Adopted:

§ Amendment #4 – the annual audit by a CPA shall be made available to chapters, divisions and members at large no later than October 31 following the close of the fiscal year.

Failed:

§ Amendment #1 – Proposal that a professional merited member be a member who has been employed as an administrative professional for five years, is currently retired, and . . . .

There was good discussion on this amendment, and the general consensus was to work out an amendment that is cost effective.

§ Amendment #2 – Proposal to expand membership forfeiture if dues are not paid after 60 days.

§ Amendment #3 – Proposal that a candidate for international office shall be a current member of a chapter.

After lunch Delynn and I attended the Office Expo, a time to learn about new office products, get samples and perhaps win a prize. We made the wise choice of attending during the CPS luncheon so avoided the pushy crowds and long queues. After I voted we toured a nearby historical house with some new friends, and then learned a second ballot was required. After standing in line in a crowded hallway for 45 minutes, we were finally allowed into the voting room. Thank goodness there wasn’t a third ballot!

Several of us from Kansas Division walked to the harbor front and had dinner on a boat restaurant, Captain John’s Seafood. It was nice to get to know one another better, and good to burn off some calories on the uphill walk back to the hotel.

Tuesday’s Business Session began with the presentation of the Avery Dennison Chapter Achievement Awards, followed by the Tellers Committee Report, Declaration of Election and Installation of the 2001-2002 International Officers/Trustees:

President Christine Jackel

President-Elect Ollie Jo Bozeman CPS/CAP

Vice President Sheila Brownfield CPS

Secretary Jo Peay

Treasurer Sharon Brown CPS

Director, Great Lakes District Mary Lou Wilton CPS/CAP

Director, Northeast District Barbara Griggs CAP

Director, Northwest District Dianne Hillemeyer CPS/CAP

Director, Southeast District Sandra Chandler CPS

Director, Southwest District Kay Enlow CAP

Director, Canada District Marcia O’Hearn CPS

Affiliate Representative Nilda Campbell FNZSES

Trustees, RCT Arline Bontrager CPS, Dotty Yarbrough CPS, Narressa Lee, Nancy Upchurch CPS

An invitation was extended to attend the 2002 International Convention in Nashville and a video was shown. The country singer who sang throughout the video included lyrics specially written for IAAP. Future IAAP Conventions were announced:

2002: Nashville TN July 21-13

2003: Albuquerque NM July 20-23

2004: Washington DC August 1-4

2005: Denver CO July 17-20

2006: New Orleans LA July 23-26

2007: Tampa FL July 29-August 1

We had two Keynote Speakers. On Monday we had “Yabuts, The Future and You” by Warren Evans CSP. He is a very energetic speaker who used many humorous illustrations to make his points: how to be fast, flexible, responsive and innovative in today’s workplace. Beaurocracy is where precedent becomes policy (a groove becomes a rut). Change can be hard but do not let the “yabuts” destroy it. Yabuts are little monsters that inhabit all associations to make sure that no creative ideas see the light of day. If we don’t learn to recognize and kill the yabuts they inhibit our ability to function. Success comes through training, networking and teamwork. He even taught us how to speak Canadian so we wouldn’t sound like tourists!

Ann Eyerman BA/MES, our keynote speaker on Tuesday, shared her experiences as an administrative professional and told us to value our important contributions to the global business community. Our own set of values is the source of our strength and resources. Her three ingredients for success: you can’t do it alone, you have to be connected to a bigger world, and learning is essential. Turning points in life can come in a minute: you had better be ready. Going down memory lane in secretarial work she reminded us of all the changes we’ve seen and had to master first then teach others: electric typewriters, photocopiers, word processors, then computers, etc. Our experience is our strength, and there is no limit to our ability to influence change.

The Evening of Entertainment on Tuesday night consisted of a hilarious performance by Michel Lauziere, culminating in somehow getting himself inside a huge balloon, followed by a concert by Three Dog Night who sang their golden oldies to the delight of the audience.

Tuesday afternoon and all day Wedsnesday were spent in the educational workshops. I plan to share the information I learned with the chapter during the year.

The grand finale of the convention was the Banquet on Wednesday night. Everyone dressed up and vied for a space on the hotel’s waterfall steps for group photos. The meal was good and the room was decorated according to President Daniels’ theme of TNT. Several awards were given and incoming President Jackel’s boss gave her a glowing introduction. President Jackel announced her theme for the year: “Vision Without Boundaries” and then outlined her vision for IAAP. We need a clear picture of what is possible, and vision allows us to see where we have been, where we are going and where we want to be. She wants others to say at the end of her year, “there was someone who helped us maximize our potential, who had the vision to lay the foundation for our great leap forward.” I encourage everyone to read the entire speech when it is printed in OfficePro.

On Thursday morning I attended the Leadership Workshop with the theme “Succession Planning – A Vision for Moving Members Forward”. As always, Anita Reed gave a very motivational program with good ideas specific to IAAP and how succession planning benefits all members, empowering others to a high level of achievement and providing opportunities. Then the Membership Services Coordinator explained the various awards and contests they have planned for membership recruitment.

The Toronto Chapter and International did a wonderful job of coordinating the convention. Everything was well organized and professional – a good advertisement for our profession.

I sincerely appreciate your support and allowing me the privilege of representing Minisa Chapter at the Convention. It truly was a week of inspiration, motivation and education with many ideas to be sorted out and put into practice. I thank all of you for making this rewarding experience possible for me. I felt much more comfortable this time, having attended last year, and with Elaine Crowe’s coaching. Delynn was a great right hand and I know she will do a good job next year.