Administrative Professionals' Day Is Growing In Popularity

by: Wesley Berry, AAF

Administrative Professionals"(tm) Day, formerly known as Secretary"(tm)s Day, is always on the Wednesday of the last full week in April. This last week in April, Administrative Professionals"(tm) Week, is set aside to recognize the work of clerical employees, such as administrative assistants, receptionists, paralegals, etc. It celebrates the work and growing and diverse contributions these people make in the workplace. This holiday was created in 1952 by the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) and a consortium of office product manufacturers. Mary Barrett, president of the National Secretaries Association (now called the International Association of Administrative Professionals) and C. King Woodbridge, president of Dictaphone Corporation, were serving on a council charged with addressing a national shortage of skilled office workers that existed at that time. Together with Harry Klemfuss, a public relations account executive at Young & Rubicam, they organized the idea for a secretaries week campaign. Klemfuss recognized the importance and value of the "secretary"? to a company or business. U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Charles Sawyer, proclaimed the first National Secretaries Week to be held June 1 - 7, 1952, with Wednesday, june 4th designated National Secretaries Day. Both Mary Barrett and C. King Woodbridge invited to Washington for the official announcement. The event received widespread publicity. In 1955, the National Secretaries Association changed the date of National Secretaries Week to the last full week of April, with Wednesday being designated National Secretaries Day. The name was changed to Professional Secretaries Week in 1981 when the National Secretaries Association became Professional Secretaries International (PSI). In 1998, PSI changed its name to the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), to further reflect the ever changing and growing role of the office staff. In the year 2000, the IAAP - official sponsor of the event - announced that the name would change from "Professional Secretaries Day"? to "Administrative Professionals Day"?. The name change was made to keep in step with the changing job titles and expanding responsibilities of today"(tm)s administrative workforce. In the U.S. it is customary to take an administrative professional out to lunch or to send flowers or other small gifts of appreciation. Sending flowers is always a good idea, but there are lots of different ways to do it, and lots of other equally unique gift ideas that can be incorporated into making your administrative professional feel truly appreciated and special for all they do to keep your business running smoothly and efficiently. Sending a beautiful bouquet or a corsage with a heartfelt message of thanks and an invitation to lunch, will be sure to make your administrative professional feel appreciated and special! If you have several people you would like to honor, a corsage or boutonniere for each of them will make them all feel special and recognized. Depending on how well you know your administrative professional, you may be able to choose something that is very individual and unique. If they like to read, a new novel on the best seller list or a magazine subscription along with a bouquet or gift basket filled with things you know they like will make them realize that you have put time and energy into their gift, just as they put so much time and energy into making your business successful. A good florist will have the ability to deliver not only beautiful flowers, but also great gift baskets of all kinds. Gourmet gift baskets can be all fruit, fruit and snacks, chocolate, or even spa gifts filled with lotions, oils, sponges, soaps and all kinds of soothing goodies. They can design an arrangement with flowers and giant cookies or candy bars mixed in it. Another good idea is a giant junk food basket filled with all kinds of snacks for those late afternoon hunger pains! To keep that feeling of being appreciated going, arrange to send a fresh bouquet once a month for the entire year! Have the first one delivered on April 25th with a note that tells your administrative professional they are valuable to you every week of the year and you intend to remind them every month with a new floral arrangement. When you do this with the same florist each month, they will be sure to send something new and unique to match the season and its"(tm) flowers. Not only does your staff feel good, but your office will look good too! No matter how you choose to show your appreciation this Administrative Professionals Day, your florist can be a big help. Stop in and see what they have to offer this year and place your order early for the best selection and service.