Messages from President Karen Haensel

• We provided 10 excellent educational programs in 2011; and, 2012 will bring us even more opportunities for personal and professional development.
• We conducted on on-line member survey utilizing Survey Monkey.  Stay tuned for our survey in January.
• We sponsored an Administrative Professional Day on April 5th.  There was lots of fun for all with door prizes, vendors and additional guests.           
• We held a strategic planning session in June in which we developed our goals and objectives for the 2011-2012 year. 
• We selected Dress for Success as our community project.  Remember to bring your items monthly to be eligible for a prize in June.
• Several of us attended the Illinois Division meeting in June, in which we had two of our Tri-County members sworn in as Illinois Division Board Members:  Diana Hampton, Illinois Division President and Tonda Stewart, Illinois Division Vice President.   Mark your calendars to attend the 2012 Illinois Division meeting June 8-10, in Lisle, Illinois.
• Several of us attended the Illinois Division Leadership Conference in August.
• We have monthly Tri-County Connection newsletters published -- providing us with up-to-date chapter events, education, and Illinois Division news.  A big thanks goes to Jannise Bush for being our newsletter editor and web master.
• We conducted a membership drive in October 2011 with several guests attending.  Kudos to our Membership Committee in updating our membership packets.
• We obtained “Chapter of Excellence” designation for 2010-2011 and we will proudly display our banner!
• We have been honored to have welcomed six new IAAP members into our Tri-County Chapter.
• Our 2011-2012 year is not over yet!!  We have many things to accomplish for the remainder of our IAAP fiscal year.

 I want to thank you for being a member of our IAAP Tri-County Chapter.  I wish you a very joyous Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year. 

MAY 2012

Our next chapter meeting is scheduled Tuesday, June 5^th. I’ve attached the meeting notice as well as the tentative agenda. If you have not had a chance to RSVP yet, please do so. Let’s welcome in our new 2012-2013 Tri-County Board. We will also hold a new member orientation session following the meeting for our new members – however, everyone is welcome to stay if they would like.

We are seeking volunteers for next year to serve in a leadership and/or committee role. This may be the time to challenge yourself and further develop your leadership skills. As administrative professionals we provide leadership in our own offices on a daily basis, without even knowing it! The following positions as committee chairs/co-chairs are available. Also, each committee will need members to help fulfill the goals of the chapter. Please let Rebecca Heisler, our incoming TC President, know if you are interested in a chair position or being on a committee.

• Membership Committee Chair
• Leadership Committee Chair
• Certification Chair
• Ways & Means Chair
• Public Relations/Marketing Chair
• Professional Development Committee members

Our 2012-2013 strategic (business plan) meeting will be held on Saturday, June 23^rd, 8-noon at Midstate College. Please mark your calendars. This is a great opportunity to provide input into our goals for next year.

I have submitted our chapter’s Illinois Division Presidential Award form – let’s cross our fingers that we will win for the 2^nd year in a row! I’ve attached the form I submitted so you can take a peek at what we’ve accomplished over the past year.

Reminder – you are still able to register for IDAM (Illinois Division Annual Meeting) that will be held June 8-10. I won’t be able to attend this year because I am moving my son back to Illinois from North Carolina. However, for those members that have not attended an IDAM in the past, it definitely is a worthwhile experience. You are able to meet admins throughout the state of Illinois plus obtain a lot of education throughout the weekend! However, if you are not able to attend the meeting this year, Illinois Division will be selling raffle tickets for an overnight stay at Hyatt Lisle or Marriott Bloomington. See information below.

IT'S BACK! SUPER RAFFLE!

• Your choice of hotels - Hyatt Lisle or Marriott Bloomington
• Includes an Overnight stay and dinner
• Tickets only $5.00 each!
• Buy your tickets on line now (via credit card) or at IDAM 2012 (cash or check)
• Winners chosen during IDAM 2012. Winner does not need to be present to win.
• (credit card purchasing available until noon Friday June 8)