Our Organization

International Association of Administrative Professionals®

Origins

Founded in 1942 and incorporated in Missouri as the National Secretaries Association, members voted in February, 1981 for the name of Professional Secretaries International, the world's first and foremost association for secretaries, and added The Association for Office ProfessionalsTM to its insignia. In August 1998, the name was changed to International Association of Administrative Professionals, and is known as IAAP.

Purpose

IAAP is a non-profit professional association, uniting its members to upgrade the standard of secretarial performance by means of continuing education programs.

Mission

Enhancing the success of career-minded administrative professionals by providing opportunities for growth through education, community building and leadership development.

Our Core Values

Integrity - We demonstrate this cornerstone of our profession through honesty, accountability and high ethical standards. We will conduct our professional activities in a manner that will reflect well upon the profession.

Respect - We create respect within our profession and association through listening, understanding and acknowledging member feedback. We will encourage the diversity of views, with compassion and respect for the rights of others to hold values, attitudes, and opinions that may differ from our own.

Adaptability - We ensure the success of our association by embracing positive change and by nurturing diversity, creativity and visionary thinking. We will encourage others to operate outside of their comfort zones, facing ambiguity with a spirit of innovation and forward thinking.

Communication - We cultivate and maintain excellence by remaining approachable at all levels, communicating openly and building strong relationships. It is readily accepted that information given and assessed must be based on truth, fairness and accountability. We will obey the law, perform in good faith, and seek fair outcomes.

Commitment - We are steadfast in our goals to develop learning opportunities for career-minded administrative professionals and to strengthen efficiency and effectiveness. IAAP has a responsibility to the people it serves and shall not practice, condone, facilitate or collaborate in any form of discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, language, disability or socioeconomic status.

Membership

IAAP is a not-for-profit professional association with 40,000 members and affiliates and 700 chapters worldwide.

Administrative Professionals Week & Day

Initiated in 1952, Administrative Professionals Week is sponsored annually by IAAP. It is observed the last full week in April with Wednesday set aside as Administrative Professionals Day.

Publications

OfficePRO magazine, the leading publication in its field, is published by IAAP nine times each year. IAAP members receive a subscription as part of their dues. Additionally, the magazine has 17,000 nonmember subscribers, including many schools and libraries. IAAP Connections and OfficePRO Express is published monthly and delivered electronically to members via e-mail and shares tips and advice and newsworthy items for our interest.

Social Networking

IAAP also has a member's community website, www.iaap-hq.org, offering service and support from IAAP International Headquarters, updates on IAAP events, information on special membership benefits and the opportunity to connect with your fellow IAAP members based on location or special interests.