Updated: 9/21/09
Harrisburg Chapter History
The Susquehannock Chapter of the National Secretaries Association (NSA) was chartered on September 17, 1946, with 54 members signing the charter. This name was derived from the Native Americans who lived in this area before John Harris established the village of Harrisburg in 1785. Several years later, the members voted to change the name to the Harrisburg Chapter.
In April 1948, the first state NSA meeting was held in Harrisburg. Following the organization of the Pennsylvania Division in 1952, the Harrisburg Chapter hosted the Division Annual Meetings in 1958, 1984, 1994, 2000, and 2006.
The Harrisburg Chapter also hosted the Northeast District Conferences in 1971 and 1977. IAAP administers two certification programs — the Certified Professional Secretary® (CPS®) rating, which was introduced in 1951, and the Certified Administrative Professional® (CAP®) rating, which was introduced in 2001.
The Harrisburg Chapter is one of the first chapters to have a member attain the CPS designation in 1951 and one of the first chapters to have a member attain the CAP designation in 2001. Nearly 50% of the chapter’s members have attained the certification designations.
In an effort to provide continuing education opportunities for our members, the Harrisburg Chapter presents an annual seminar and assists members and non-members with furthering their education and professional development by subsidizing certain expenses. Speakers at our monthly meetings are from local businesses, government agencies, and other areas of interest to our membership.
In addition, the Harrisburg Chapter sponsors activities during Administrative Professionals Week, usually held during the last week in April. We are instrumental in arranging for Proclamation signings by the Governor of Pennsylvania and by the Mayor of Harrisburg.
Each month, Chapter members receive Sketches, the official Harrisburg Chapter newsletter, advising them of the time and place of monthly meetings, any other activities that may have transpired between meetings, and information on future IAAP activities.
About IAAP
The International Association of Administrative Professionals is a not-for-profit professional association for office professionals with approximately 40,000 members and affiliates and nearly 600 chapters worldwide. Our mission is to enhance the success of career-minded administrative professionals by providing opportunities for growth through education, community building and leadership development. The association founded in 1942 as the National Secretaries Association to provide a professional network and educational resources for secretarial staff. The association's name was changed in 1998 to the International Association of Administrative Professionals to encompass the large number of varied administrative job titles and recognize the advancing role of administrative support staff in business and government.
Our core values:
- Integrity: We demonstrate this cornerstone of our profession through honesty, accountability and high ethical standards.
- Respect: We create respect within our profession and association through listening, understanding and acknowledging member feedback.
- Adaptability: We ensure the success of our association by embracing positive change and by nurturing diversity, creativity and visionary thinking.
- Communication: We cultivate and maintain excellence by remaining approachable at all levels, communicating openly and building strong relationships.
- Commitment: We are steadfast in our goals to develop learning opportunities for career-minded administrative professionals and to strengthen efficiency and effectiveness.