Administrative Professionals Week is April 24-30 with Administrative Professionals Day on Wednesday, April 27. Administrative Professionals Week is always held annually during the last full week in April. Administrative Professionals Day is always held the Wednesday of that week.

The 2011 Administrative Professionals Day theme is “This Year Celebrate All Office Professionals.” This theme is in honor of all office professionals that have pulled together during the economic downturn according the International Association of Administrative Professionals® (IAAP.) “We know everyone in the office has pulled together during the recession, not just administrative professionals. With that in mind, we want to applaud the efforts of all office professionals,” said IAAP President Mary Ramsay-Drow, CPS/CAP. “That’s why in 2011 IAAP and admins around the globe want to include all office professionals for recognition on Administrative Professionals Day.” Join with IAAP on April 27 to celebrate the hard work of all office professionals.

Administrative Professionals Day/Week was originally organized in 1952 as “National Secretaries Week” by the National Secretaries Association (now known as the International Association of Administrative Professionals.) It was established as an effort to recognize secretaries for their contributions in the workplace, and to attract people to secretarial/administrative careers.

IAAP announced a name change from Secretaries Day/Week to Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day in the year 2000 to keep pace with changing job titles and expanding responsibilities of today’s administrative workforce. IAAP defines administrative professionals as “individuals who are responsible for administrative tasks and coordination of information in support of an office-related environment and who are dedicated to furthering their personal and professional growth in their chosen profession.”

Research shows that many workers around the world still hold the “secretary” job title; however, many alternative titles have become more popular, such as administrative assistant, office coordinator, administrative specialists, executive assistant, and office manager.

Members of the Georgia Division IAAP board met with Gov. Nathan Deal to have April 24-30, proclaimed as Administrative Professionals Week in Georgia.

The local Appalachian Chapter of IAAP will be hosting their 18th annual Administrative Professionals Day luncheon on Thursday, April 28, in observance of Administrative Professionals Day/Week. The chapters theme “Celebrate all office professionals with Passion & Purpose” is a combination of the 2011 Administrative Professionals Day theme and the 2010-2011 IAAP theme which is Passion & Purpose. All office professionals are invited to attend the celebration. During the luncheon, the chapter will recognize high school senior scholarship finalists, announce the 2011 Administrative Professional of the Year, hear from guest speaker Donna Mitchell, CPS/CAP, and give away door prizes all in the name of celebrating the office professional. Cost is $20 per person for the meal and pre-registration must be made. For more information contact Sheri Crowe, CPS/CAP at 706-253-2457 or scrowe@pickensprogress.com.

The Appalachian Chapter serves the counties of Cherokee, Dawson, Gilmer, Fannin, Gordon and Pickens.