JULY 26-29 INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION FORUM AND ANNUAL MEETING DELEGATE’S REPORT
Ruth Sorensen and I flew out of Grand Rapids and arrived in Minneapolis Saturday morning July 25. We took the shuttle to our hotel, registered, put our suitcases in our room, and headed for the Minneapolis Convention Center two blocks away. The weather was beautiful the entire time so it was great walking outside but there were skywalks that connected everything downtown – miles and miles of skywalks – if the weather was bad. We got lots of walking in but it was nice after sitting in meetings for a long time.
We registered for EFAM and found out where all the sessions were going to be held at the convention center, talked to people we knew and met new people, and checked out the Hospitality Room. We went back to our room to unpack and read all the information we received at Registration. Later that afternoon we went to the First Timers Orientation and then walked downtown to explore.
Sunday morning at 8 a.m. I attended a Parliamentarian Meeting since I was Chapter Delegate. Jeff Neurauter, Parliamentarian, went over rules for the business meeting and voting for International Officers and District Directors. The Business Meeting was called to order at 9 a.m. by President Barb Horton CAP. The Parade of Nations was wonderful seeing all the flags of the nations where there is an IAAP Chapter.
The Registration/Credentials Committee gave their report on attendees. If you have gone to MDAM, there are around 100 attendees and 17 delegates eligible to vote. Here there were 1080 attendees and 313 delegates and 114 proxies! WOW!
The 2009-2010 Candidates were introduced:
§ President–Elect – Mary A Ramsay-Drow CPS/CAP, Milwaukee Chapter, Wisconsin Division, Great Lakes District
§ Vice President – Sam W. Gill III CPS, Tri-County Chapter, Michigan Division, Great Lakes District and Tamra L. Goodall CPS/CAP, Charleston Chapter, Virginia-West Virginia Division, Southeast District
§ Secretary – Janine Joy Riemersma CPS/CAP, Sandy Shores Chapter, Michigan Division, Great Lakes District
§ Treasurer – Karlena Rannals CPS/CAP, Palomar Chapter, California Division, Southwest District
§ Director, Canada District – Sharron Buttler CPS/CAP, Ottawa Chapter, Ontario Division
§ Director, Great Lakes District – Connie L. Switts CPS/CAP, CWCA, Dublin Chapter, Ohio Division and Wendy S. Melby CPS/CAP, Waukesha Chapter, Wisconsin Division (nominated from floor)
§ Director, Southeast District – Laurie Cozens CPS/CAP (nominated from floor), Virginia Boyd CPS/CAP (nominated from floor), and Sheila Coggins CPS/CAP (nominated from floor)
§ Affiliate Representative – Jennifer Hinkson CMP, Barbados Association of Office Professionals, Barbados
§ International Trustees, Retirement Trust Foundation (2 openings) – Kathryne Hampton CPS/CAP and Linda Boulay CPS/CAP
The District Directors serve a two-year term so this year Canada, Great Lakes, and Southeast District Directors were running. Next year it will be Southwest, Northeast, and Northwest District Directors turn.
International President Barb Horton CAP gave her State of the Association Address and an Avery Representative gave out the Avery Achievement Awards. A Town Hall Meeting was then held where members went up to the mic and asked questions on the proposed dues increase. This was very interesting.
Ruth and I went to the Great Lakes District Caucus after lunch. Sam Gill III CPS went over the Bylaws and Standing Rules proposals and handed out the Chapter of Excellence and Division of Excellence Banners. All five of the States in the Great Lakes District got their Division of Excellence Rating! He also mentioned that the Great Lakes District raised $13,901.60 for the Retirement Trust Foundation.
The Office Expo was held in the afternoon. Ruth and I passed out lots of business cards and we got some samples from participating vendors. Members mentioned that this Expo was much smaller that past years and the vendors weren’t handing out as much free stuff. This economy affects everyone.
The Evening of Welcome’s theme was “It’s State Fair Time in Minnesota.” All attendees received a beautiful hand-made bag with snacks and water in from Hallmark Inc. There were midway games, a DJ playing music, palm reading, someone making balloon hats, and lots of dancing. We had a great time.
Monday morning the Voting Polls opened for International Officers, Directors, and RTF Trustees. The voting was very interesting. The Delegates get in line and they call five people in from each Division. When they have voted, another five delegates are called in. You go into a room, get your credentials checked, go into another room and vote at a voting machine electronically. Most Delegates only had to vote once. The Southeast District Delegates had to vote three times. There were three candidates running and the winner has to get over half the votes. The candidate with the smallest amount of votes was eliminated and the second vote for the other two candidates didn’t take – the computer wasn’t working, so they had to vote a third time.
Ruth and I explored downtown again after I voted. I had a Delegates Briefing again before the Business Session in the afternoon. The Business Session was called to order at 3:10 p.m. and the Registration/Credentials Committee reported there were 1284 attendees and 336 Delegates eligible to vote!
We then started the marathon session on the Proposed International Bylaws and Standing Rules. Each Proposed Amendment needed a 2/3’s majority to pass.
§ Proposed Amendment 1 (International Dues Increase) failed by a 199 for and 103 against vote. Some Delegates abstained from voting.
§ Proposed Amendment 2 (Making the processing fee for all new members $15) was adopted.
§ Proposed Amendment 3 (Raising annual fee for Affiliate Autonomous Associations by $25) was adopted.
§ Proposed Amendment 4 was adopted. This was just rewording.
§ Proposed Amendment 5 was adopted. This was cleaning up some wording.
§ Proposed Amendment 6 was adopted. This was making the wording for election process for Members at Large Delegate in line with Roberts Rules.
§ Proposed Amendment 7 (changing annual Convention to Annual Meeting) was adopted.
§ Proposed Amendment 8 (adding a new group – Institutional – for government members) failed.
§ Standing Rules Proposed Amendment 1 (changing Convention to Annual Meeting) was adopted.
A very brave Great Lakes District Delegate went to the mic and asked for a revote on Proposed Amendment 1. There was a ton of discussion pro and con. Finally there was a revote and the Amendment was adopted with 240 for and 80 against. There was one change to the Proposed Amendment. The Professional-merited member’s increase will be $21 instead of $25.
The 2009-2010 International Officers/Trustees were introduced and installed:
§ President – Susan Shamali CPS/CAP, Grand Rapids Chapter, Michigan Division
§ President-Elect – Mary A. Ramsay-Drow CPS/CAP
§ Vice President – Tamra L. Goodall CPS/CAP
§ Secretary – Janine Riemersma CPS/CAP
§ Treasurer – Karlena Rannals CPS/CAP
§ Director, Canada District – Sharron Buttler CPS/CAP
§ Director, Great Lakes District – Wendy Melby CPS/CAP
§ Director, Southeast District – Virginia Boyd CPS/CAP
§ Director, Southwest District – Antoinette Smith CPS/CAP
§ Director, Northeast District – Judith Yannarelli CPS/CAP
§ Director, Northwest District – Valerie King CPS/CAP
§ Affiliate Representative – Jennifer Hinkson CMP
§ RTF Trustees – Kathryne Hampton CPS/CAP and Linda Boulay CPS/CAP
The Retirement Trust Foundation Report was given. Future Annual Meeting Sites were announced – July 18-21, 2010 in Boston, MA; July 24-27, 2011 in Montreal, PQ; July 22-25, 2012 in Grapevine, TX; July 28-31, 2013 in Anaheim, CA; July 27-30, 2014 in Milwaukee, WI; and July 26-29, 2015 in Louisville, KY.
The Business Meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.! We set the record for the longest business meeting. We were supposed to be done around 5:30 p.m.
That night all the Michigan Division attendees went to Market Bar-B-Q for supper. The meal was excellent and the company was great. There were 32 of us.
Tuesday morning started out with a workshop – Excellence in Action. We then heard the State of the Profession Address by Don Bretthauer CAE, Executive Director. There was a panel discussion on Administrative Excellence in Today’s Economy with members asking questions. The panel was made up of Rob Hosking, Executive Director, OfficeTeam as leader; IAAP International President Barb Horton; and three corporate leaders. They shared their thoughts about the key trends impacting administrative professionals and how the economy is affecting this essential role.
Ruth and I had workshops in the afternoon. That night was the Evening of Entertainment with “Cirque Voila.” Clowns, contortionists, gymnasts, and high-flying acrobats amazed us with a stunning combination of skill, dexterity and dramatic aerial artistry. It was fantastic!
Wednesday was workshops all day. At night was the Awards Banquet. Winners of the Adecco’s Mentor of the Year Award and Award of Excellence were announced. The Division of Excellence Awards were also announced – there were 1208 Members of Excellence, 160 Chapters of Excellence, and 18 Divisions of Excellence earned this past year. Before Susan Shamali CPS/CAP gave her incoming President’s Address, her husband, Mo, and two daughters, Shawn and Jenine, talked about having Sue as a wife and mother. They were hilarious. The 2009-2010 theme is “The Power of Commitment.” Outgoing President Barb Horton CPS/CAP gave her final message. We saw the Smiling Faces Video. We adjourned at 9:45.
I had a Leadership Workshop on Thursday morning. We got back into Grand Rapids at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday afternoon.
If you have any questions after watching the Smiling Faces Video (Sue and the rhubarb) or checking out all the pictures on the International website, just ask Ruth or me. We’ll be happy to answer any questions. I took some pictures and will have them at the September 16 Chapter meeting.
Mary Doctor CPS
Western Shores Chapter Delegate