First State Chapter – IAAP Dover, DE Chartered 7/28/79

FSC is pleased to announce that among the 1,291 members who achieved IAAP’s International Member of Excellence designations, three are from our chapter.  FSC congratulates Karen Garrison CAP, Patricia Tifft CAP, and Deborah Turner CPS/CAP. 

To achieve this recognition, members were required to attain a minimum of 8 criteria of 11 that include being certified a Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) or Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) and participate in categories such as:  communication, education, and training; leadership development; marketing, research and community outreach; and active in IAAP meetings and events. 

The Pathways to Excellence Recognition Program was started this past IAAP year to raise the member’s value as a career-minded administrative professional.  Three categories make up the program: Member of Excellence, Chapter of Excellence and Division of Excellence. 

Please look at the information provided on the www.iaap-hq.org website about this program.  Click on “Already a Member” and then go to the “Headquarters News” and select the third bullet.  The application is available online.  View results of the 2008-09 program at http://Pathways.iaap-hq.org. 

Way to go Karen, Pat, and Deb!

CONGRATULATIONS TO KATHY KUCEK CPS!

FSC is pleased to announce that Kathy Kucek is our Chapter’s 11^th certified member, receiving her CPS after her first time at taking the exam.  Kathy is an active member of FSC and is serving as Recording Secretary for 2009-10. 

     Kathy was first hired as a Foundation Assistant for Bayhealth Foundation in October 2001.  When she interviewed in June 2008 for her current position of Administrative Coordinator for Bayhealth Medical Center, she knew that a CPS or CAP designation was preferred (although not required).  During the interview, she pledged to seek the CPS designation.  Once selected for the position, Kathy immediately joined FSC and registered for the May 2009 CPS exam.   

     The CPS exam is a three-part exam, and–as Kathy eluded–covered an unbelievable amount of material.  She didn’t have a positive feeling coming away from the test and even started mentally preparing herself to retest.  While waiting for the results, Kathy kept busy organizing ads for the program book for the 55^th DE-MD-DC Annual Meeting that FSC hosted and enjoyed family and work activities. 

     Kathy said she was pleasantly surprised that she had passed all three parts and had done much better than expected.  That surprise quickly was followed by a genuine sense of accomplishment. Those of us who have attained our certification designation can relate to that!  And feeling there always is room for improvement, Kathy made the decision to sit for the CAP exam in the near future. 

     FSC continues to Grow to New Heights as evidenced by 11 of our 33 members possessing either a CPS and/or CAP certification.  Again, we congratulate Kathy on her achievement.

Faye Myers is the 2009 recipient of the First State Chapter Jo Rolison Honorary Scholarship.  Faye currently is enrolled in the General Business Degree Program at Delaware Technical & Community College (Terry Campus) and is employed by the Delaware Department of Labor as a receptionist.        

Faye understands the reality of “service before self.”  She is an honor student and belongs to the Eta Delta Chapter of Alpha Beta Gamma (International Business Honor Society of Community and Junior Colleges).  Faye is active in the First State Chapter and currently serves as Recording Secretary and Annual Meeting Registration Committee Chair.  She recently earned a CPS (Certified Professional Secretary) designation by passing a 3-part exam administered by the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP).  Faye teaches 4^th Grade School Sunday at Grace Presbyterian Church, sings in the Praise Choir, and is a member of the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Survivor Task Force called WEAVER (Women Empowered Against Violence in Every Relationship).     

The Jo Rolison Honorary Scholarship was established in 1980 and is offered annually to a high school senior or current college student who plans a career in the business administrative field.  First State Chapter is one of eighteen chapters making up the Delaware-Maryland-District of Columbia Division of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP).  

In addition to working full time, Faye is a single mother of two sons.  Faye attributes all of her successes to God!  She hopes to pursue an administrative assistant/statistical analysis position once she graduates.