Most professionals agree, membership in a professional association can benefit you in many, many ways, especially in uncertain economic times when corporations are forced to cut back on training programs. Your professional association is where you can pursue professional development, skills upgrading and network with your peers, providing you with that all important "edge".
IAAP is a not-for-profit association with over 30,000 members worldwide. The Toronto Chapter is one of 15 chapters in Ontario. We meet on the first Wednesday of each month and offer programs on current topics of interest. We also host various seminars and a yearly education conference each fall.
The very nature of the admin profession means that we work alone, usually at top speed, with little or no opportunity to work as part of a team or to have a leadership role. Members gain experience and skills through participation in chapter activities -- everything from public speaking to project management, strategic planning to event planning. IAAP Chapters are where we learn to work as part of a team and where we develop
leadership and management skills. This is where we learn about negotiation, communication and delegation. And, most importantly, this is where we build our network.
The mandate of the IAAP Toronto Chapter is to provide admins with opportunities to acquire the professional and skills upgrading that employers prefer. IAAP Toronto Chapter members are well prepared, well informed, front-line “ambassadors” for their employers and having knowledgeable professionals on staff reflects well on the image of any company.
The Toronto Chapter has produced a Resource Binder for each member with useful information for administrative professionals, to be used at the office. We believe that this will be an invaluable tool for our members to assist them in their day to day tasks. We have a mentor program, social networking opportunities and we have introduced Toronto Chapter Business Cards to encourage networking because we believe that IAAP should be a place for connecting, not only in the Chapter but across the city and around the world. At the Toronto Chapter we encourage our members to attain their CPS / CAP certification by hosting study groups for members wishing to write their exams each May and November. In today’s every changing business environment, you need every advantage to stay on top. Professional certification shows employers, clients and associates that you are a committed professional.
We would like to invite you to join us at a monthly meeting – come out and see who we are and what we do so you can make an informed decision on membership.
We hope to meet you soon.
IAAP Toronto Chapter