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May 2007 Message From the President
I read a story
on the IAAP message boards sometime last year about a civilian working for the military in Iraq doing what she does best—administrative
work. She would be driven to work under heavy guard, a flak jacket and combat
helmet over her jeans and t-shirt from her little trailer so she could provide administrative support to the commanding officers
in Iraq. She said she would be at her
desk and hear incoming mortar and gun fire, not knowing if it was coming right at her.
At the end of every day, she would climb into an armored escort vehicle to go back to her lonely trailer only to start
another day all over again. She would do this day in and day out because she knew
that without her performing her duties as an administrative professional, tasks simply wouldn’t get done. She knew her
job was important, and her sense of duty, obligation, and purpose makes me think beyond myself and of a larger purpose. When I try to define selflessness and bravery, I think of her. I will be thinking of her on Memorial Day, May 28. As my husband
prepares for his deployment this summer, it reassures me in some small way that what I do for a living is just as vital as
what he does.
Some other holidays to remember: Cinco de Mayo is May 5, Mother’s Day is May 13 and Armed Forces Day is May 19.
The chapter will be holding nominations and elections for the 2007-2008 term
during May. Be on the lookout for a ballot to be sent to you in the near future.
Dina Gonzales CPS
CAC IAAP President
March
2007 Message From the President
Before the first frost fell in the fall of
2006, I must have planted over 100 bulbs in my backyard, and I quickly forgot exactly where I had planted them. We have recently had unseasonably warm weather and I have discovered where they exist! We had such a short-lived winter that it seems we were shorted it this year! I hope the short winter has killed off enough pesky insects so we can all really enjoy spring. But in the event you need some bug repellant, Carolyn Rufus just may have a few cans left from our Avon fund raiser!!
Along with spring time, I am looking
forward to many new things approaching us.
I am so excited about IMPACT and the
opportunity for CAC to share IAAP’s benefits with potential new members. We
are so thrilled to meet new professionals and are hyped about sharing the chapter. We
believe in what our chapter has to offer, so much, so that IMPACT will undoubtedly be successful.
We have had some encouraging progress
on our fund raising efforts with EBay and Avon.
Please continue to donate items to the chapter for sale on EBay, and keep your ears open for our next fund raising
opportunity. Thank you, Carolyn, for your hard work on making the Avon fundraiser such a success.
Don’t forget to roll your clocks
forward one hour on March 11!
Dina Gonzales CPS
CAC IAAP President
February 2007 Message From the President
February is a month of preparations for the
chapter and division. January was a quiet month but we are on the advent
of exciting events in the chapter.
The Arkansas-Oklahoma Division is accepting
nominations for the 2007-2008 division officers. Division bylaw amendment notices
were sent out to all division members that will go under consideration for the 2007 Annual Division Meeting.
Our chapter is steadily preparing for the
Membership Open House scheduled for March 22 and the Administrative Professionals Week ® (APW) events which will follow suit in April. The Open House
is the chapter’s first such event and we are really excited to open our doors to potential new members; the APW events
that are scheduled are also a new event for the Central Arkansas Chapter (CAC). We
are thrilled about what is in store for CAC over the next three months.
We are striving to provide each of you events which
will be beneficial and enjoyable. I hope to see you all there.
Dina Gonzales CPS
CAC IAAP President
January 2007
Has everyone gotten used to writing 2007 on all their checks
and correspondence?
The next several months for the chapter are going to be
chock full of great training classes and networking opportunities. I
hope that some of you will be able to experience and benefit from some of the exciting things we have planned for the chapter
this spring.
In December, three members gained certification. If you are undecided about testing in the upcoming cycles, I highly encourage you to contact any one of
the chapter members that are certified about their testing experience. This month,
Teresa Tidwell, CAP, Certification Committee Chairperson, will be presenting at
the January chapter meeting all you need to know about the process from start to finish.
Everyone has a personal journey about testing and each one is a success within themselves. Remember, the deadline to have your paperwork submitted for the May 4 – 5 testing is February 15.
The chapter is in the process of securing some fundraising
events. We still have our EBay account in which members could make donations
to the chapter with the proceeds going to the chapter. Please contact Trish
Jenkins, Treasurer, if you have any questions about the EBay account or if you
wish to make a donation to the chapter.
Dina Gonzales CPS
CAC President
December 2006
Holiday Greetings!
As we embark on another holiday and New Year’s,
I want to take the opportunity to remind each of you to contribute what you can to the Retirement Trust Fund (RTF). If you individually contribute any amount to the Fund, you will receive a Key to Success Buck from the
Arkansas-Oklahoma Division. Please visit the Division Web site as well as the
IAAP Web site for complete and comprehensive information about RTF. As a chapter
member, I am challenging each of you to contribute to the RTF in an easy and effortless way.
How? Between now and the next
chapter meeting in December, collect your spare pennies and bring them to the meeting.
You will contribute individually and collectively as a chapter to the Retirement Trust Fund!
Between parties, functions, school productions,
traveling, and baking, this is one of the busiest times of the year for most people.
I hope you, your families, and friends have a safe and happy holiday!
Dina Gonzales CPS
CAC IAAP President
Congratulations, Dina (Nichols)
Gonzales!!
November 2006 Update
Thanksgiving is upon us and it’s a time
to gather around the table with family and friends. In all the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving, I try and think of those that are not as fortunate to be with
family during this holiday. I also try to remind myself this holiday was originally
about the Pilgrims celebrating a bountiful harvest and sharing with the American Indians in thanks. My family tries to emulate that by hosting those in our home that cannot be with family during this holiday.
I am grateful for many things, but I think
this year I am most grateful for each of you. I thank each of you for your participation,
your professionalism, your collective contri-butions, your ideas, and your fellowship.
Individually, each of you is strong, skilled, and talented. Together,
we are united, supportive, and empowering.
During the approach of Thanksgiving, I want
to encourage each of you to search within yourselves and be truly grateful for what you offer your family, your workplace,
the chapter, and yourself. We may not receive thanks enough in our daily lives,
but I am thankful for each of you. Without you, CAC would not be as successful
as it is about to become.
Friday, November 3, is the CAP exam, and Saturday,
November 4, is the CPS exam. It fills my heart to see so many of you reaching
this milestone achievement of professional excellence. Our results will come
in around Christmas and I hope it will be positive news for everyone taking the exams.
Good luck to all the CPS and CAP exam takers!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dina (Nichols) Gonzales
October 2006
LETTER
FROM CAC PRESIDENT
Dear
Central Arkansas
Chapter Members,
Football games….sweaters and wooly socks….boots and coats, blustery cool winds….falling leaves….soup
and hearty comfort food….the fellowship and company of family and friends. As
cooler temperatures arrive and the changing leaves signal that fall is upon us, it reminds us that the holidays are soon to
come.
We have had some outstanding responses from our donation requests from local businesses. I encourage everyone to take the time to patronize those businesses that so kindly donated their products
and services to our chapter (see listing below).
I am so overwhelmingly excited to see so many members expressing the desire for mentorship to young adults who are
choosing to enter our chosen profession. I would like to see a student chapter
committee formed to focus on obtaining student members. If you are interested
in reaching out to the community and young adults who are trying to embark in the administrative profession, please do not
hesitate to contact any chairperson or board member. IAAP’s International
theme for 2006-2007 is Shaping The Future. I think this theme is so fitting for such an important goal as mentoring to young adults.
Recently, I attended an Airmen’s Leadership School graduation dinner at Little Rock AFB in which the guest speaker was Chief Master
Sergeant Brooke McLean. His speech highlighted instilling pride and passion in
what you do and who you are. I couldn’t help but think how we, as administrative
professionals, can parallel that same level of pride and passion he spoke of in our chosen careers and lives. I want to encourage each of you to be as proud of yourselves as you might be of another person. Also, I want to challenge each of you to be passionate at
what you do—no matter how big or small it may be!
Dina Nichols
CAC IAAP President
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