Inside This Issue

4 Barrie/Simcoe Branch Update

4 Are You Certified?

7 Calgary Branch Update

8 Edmonton Branch Update

10 Hamilton Branch Update

11 Members-At-Large Update

Features

3 Important Skills You Learn By Being Active In Your Professional Associations

8 6 Tips For Decorating Your Office To Improve Your Mood

9 Your Standing Desk Is No Healthier Than Your Regular Desk Study Finds

www.aaa.ca November 2015

Communique

Hello Association Members,

This is the time of year when it’s traditional to thank the people we care about, as well as those who’ve helped us throughout the year. It’s a wonderful tradition, and one I embrace. So with that in mind, let me say a big “Thank you” to you all. Thanks for being members of the Association. Thanks for making our Association the success it is. Thanks for referring us to your friends and colleagues. Thanks for being there to offer assistance and support to other members through networking. Some people are surprised to learn that our Association is staffed and run purely by volunteers. To those members who serve on executive committees, thanks for all the work you do and the time you spend away from your loved ones. To my fellow national board members, I cannot thank you enough. You make my job so much easier and I want you to know how much I appreciate your support and assistance. I could not do without you.

It’s been a busy summer for many of us; I had two boys get married so the months seem to have flown by. In October the National Board gathered in Toronto for two days of meetings. Continues on page 2

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S PEN...

DID YOU KNOW? As an association member, you can attend any branch meeting at any chapter.

To read more about branch chapter meetings, please visit www.aaa.ca.

PAMELA’S TOP 5 SUPER FANTASTIC ADMINISTRATIVE MAGIC TRICKS

BRANCH MEETINGS 2015-2016BARRIE/SIMCOE CALGARY EDMONTON HAMILTON TORONTOFebruary 3, 2016 January 18, 2016 January 11, 2016 December 17, 2015 - Social December 10, 2015April 19, 2016 - AGM February 15, 2016 February 8, 2016 January 21, 2016 - Webinar January 20, 2016April 20, 2016 - PDD March 21, 2016 March 7, 2016 February 18, 2016 February 24, 2016

April 4, 2016 March 23, 2016 - PDD March 23, 2016June 9, 2016 April 21, 2016 - AGM April 20, 2016

May 19, 2016 May 4, 2016June 16, 2016 - Social June 15, 2016

AGM = Annual General Meeting | PDD = Professional Development Daybmitted by Pamela Armstrong

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As always, part of our agenda included discussion around how to increase the value in your membership. Program Chairs work hard to bring in high quality speakers and it is disappointing to hear that meetings are not always as well attended as we would like. I know it is not always easy to get to the location of the meeting, and we all have other commitments and demands on our time. But I urge you to take advantage of the learning opportunities at these meetings. “Professionalism Through Education” doesn’t happen without your participation, and these meetings are an educational component.

Speaking of education, plans are already well underway for the annual workshop and annual general meeting to be held next June in Vancouver. The committee is contacting speakers and narrowing down venue choices. Please make plans to join us. Talk to your superiors about the value that your attendance brings back to your company. As an administrative staff member, you have a highly demanding and visible role that makes it important that you have the knowledge and understanding of a broad range of business fundamentals. Attending our meetings and workshops enables you to better equip yourself with the skills and knowledge needed to meet the increasingly demanding roles that are expected in today’s corporate environment. Administrative Assistants need both recognition and development in order for them to be able to support business growth in the best possible way. We can help you to increase your business expertise, learn new skills and hone the attributes that make an outstanding assistant. We want to inspire you to go back to your businesses and use what you have learned to add new dimensions to your role, but to do that we require your participation.

I’m delighted to note that so far this year we have 52 new members across the country. Welcome! Please don’t hesitate to contact me at contact@aaa.ca if I can be of assistance to you. I hope to meet each of you at some point in the future. Meanwhile, I wish all members a joyous holiday season; however you choose to celebrate it, followed by a successful and prosperous new year.

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S PEN...continued

Jackie PontinNational Director - President

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NATIONAL BOARD2015-2016

PRESIDENTJackie Pontin

VICE-PRESIDENT/MEMBER-AT-LARGELIAiSONArlene Stone, QAA

SECRETARYPamela Armstrong

TREASURERKatherine Vaillancourt

REGISTRARGale Belcourt, QAA

BRANCH PRESIDENTS

BARRIE/SIMCOE COUNTYChantalle Freeborough, QAA

CALGARYEvelyn Serbout

EDMONTONChrisy Burton, QAA

FORT MCMURRAYBridget Cochrane

HAMILTONCharlene Hands-Lourie, QAA

TORONTOErika Giesl, QAA

VANCOUVERArlene Stone, QAA

COMMUNIQUE EDITOR

Christina Walters

Our MOttOProfessionalism Through Education

Our VisiOnThe Association envisages itself being widely recognized, both by its professional peers and by the

broader business community. Its members will demonstrate, through consistently excellent performance in the work place, the value of the professional designation Qualified Administrative Assistant. This

designation will become important criteria in the hiring and promotion of key personnel.

Our MissiOnThe Association’s mission is to assist members in the continuing development of administrative

skills, underlying knowledge and professional growth, thus enhancing employment opportunities and contributions to both workplace and community.

On October 20th, Ruthanne Krant facilitated a lively and interactive session titled, “What It Takes To Be The Best Administrative Professional”, which was well attended by members and guests, including some Georgian College, Office Administration students.

Our panel consisted of four Administrative Assistants: Deborah Welna (left), a seasoned Executive Assistant who works in the Department of National Defense; Elayne Whitfield (second from left), who is a successful Virtual Assistant, who co-founded the Canadian Virtual Assistant Connection; Katherine Vaillancourt (second from right), who is a member of the Association of Administrative Assistants and has experience in government, non-profit and corporate sectors; and Leslie Hajicostis (right), who has been working as a Senior Administrative Assistant at Royal Victoria Hospital since 2012.

The panelists offered feedback and advice on some of the following issues: the greatest obstacle you have had to overcome; important advice for those entering the field; how to keep on top of emerging trends; tips for dealing with multiple demands, deadlines and heavy workload; how to keep “jazzed up” when the demands of the job tend to bring you down.

The advice from the panelists was insightful, valuable and applicable to many different roles. Some of their suggestions were to tailor your skills to who you work for; master change management; be adaptable; be friends with "IT"; ensure you are two steps ahead of the people you work for; be able to prioritize and problem-solve; never stop learning; and above all, keep your sense of humor.

Membership in a professional association (like ours!) was reinforced and validated, because of the networking, professional development opportunities and the ability to share challenges and solutions, and just knowing "you are not alone” with many of the issues facing administrative professionals today.

If you are a member reading this, you can pat yourself on the back for being proactive in belonging to a top-rated Association!

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Published by Jared Brox on August 20, 2015

An important part of building a successful career is developing relationships with other professionals within your industry. According to the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), which supports a broad range of trade and professional associations, there are more than 92,000 recognized trade and professional associations in the United States alone, a number that has grown by 3.4% since 2001. So, no matter what industry you’re in, there’s likely to be an organization to support it.

Professional organizations are a great resource for developing leadership skills, and although it’s easy to just show up at monthly meetings from time to time, read the newsletter, or simply pay dues to maintain your membership, you may be short changing if yourself you’re not actively working to get more involved.

Leadership skillsProfessional organizations provide opportunities to build your leadership skills and experience. Most organizations will have some kind of leadership council, which is typically elected by the membership. So, if you work in a finance field, for example, and you’re interested in advancing to a leadership position in your company, serving as the treasurer of your professional organization can help give you experience you can tout during your next review. This can be especially beneficial to young

professionals who may not have the tenure or experience necessary to take a leadership role in their companies.

Networking and communication skillsMost professionals know how important strong networking and communication skills are in the business world. However, not everyone knows how to do it effectively. Professional organizations provide the perfect training ground for developing your networking prowess. Professionals from businesses throughout the community typically come together for monthly meetings to build relationships and discuss industry trends and challenges. In this environment, it’s easier to approach people you don’t know because there’s already some common ground. In fact, that’s the whole point of most of these organizations—to connect with other professionals in your field. Once you’ve built up some networking experience among your peers, the same skills can help build networks in other parts of your career and personal life. Professional organization meetings also present an opportunity to find great talent for an open job position in your company or receive some valuable face-to-face time with decision makers from other businesses you’re interested in working with in a familiar, neutral environment.

Mentorship skillsRecent grads and young professionals often get involved in professional organizations to get a foot in the door as they work to build their careers. Mentorships are an important part of the business world, and taking time to guide a young up and comer not only helps them develop as a future leader, but it can help you sharpen your own leadership skills. You’ll also be able to keep in touch with the talent and expertise the next generation will bring to the workplace, as well as learn how to better lead the younger generations in your company. Or, if you’re the one looking for a mentor, professional organizations are a great place to foster those relationships with like-minded thinkers who understand your industry and are equipped to help offer some guidance.

Refresh Leadership offers quick, fresh, practical advice for today’s business leaders, from executives to emerging leadership. Powered by Express Employment Professionals.

Source: http://www.refreshleadership.com/index.php/2015/08/3-important-skills-learn-active-professional-organizations/

3 IMPORTANT SKILLS YOU LEARN BY BEING ACTIVE IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

BARRIE/SIMCOE BRANCH UPDATE

Maureen ArmstrongVice President - Barrie/Simcoe Branch

ARE YOU CERTIFIED?The Qualified Administrative Assistant (Q.A.A.) Program, sponsored by the Association, is one of the vehicles available to those interested in advancing their professional development. This program is available through distance, correspondence, and lecture courses from Universities and Colleges across Canada.

WHAT IS THE QAA CERTIFICATION?

Certification is a statement of the skills you have and take with you from role to role. The credentialing process reinforces the value of the courses you’ve taken, the administrative excellence and core workcompetencies you have demonstrated, and your commitment to life-long learning.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

• Employers recognize the value of hiring an employee with a professional designation. They also recognize individuals who have worked to complete a personal goal and fully support those who constantly upgrade their skills.

• This accreditation, recognized in the professional environment, can lead to greater challenges, opportunities, and financial remuneration to those who have achieved the Qualified Administrative Assistant (QAA) designation.

For more information on how to become certified, please visit http://www.aaa.ca/qaa_enrollment_e.php.

“perfect training ground for developing

your networking

prowess.”

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Advanced Microsoft Word - December 3 Intro to Project Management for Admins - December 10

Time & Workload Management - January 14 Confrontation Skills - January 28

I am happy to share that our branch was once again given the golden opportunity to participate in this year’s Calgary Travel Trade Canada Expo on September 11, 2015. This is now our 3rd year in a row participating in this popular event specifically coordinated for Administrative Assistants.

This year, we received a lot of inquiries at our booth and gave away a free one year membership as a prize draw, and the lucky winner was Linda Trainor of TransCanada.

Our branch reconvened with our monthly dinner meeting on September 21st. Our opening topic was “Enabling High Performance Organizations Through Mindfulness”, brought to us by the beautiful and talented Dorota Ulkowska, a Senior Consultant and Trainer from Potential Project and Founder of Mindful Intermission. Her presentation taught us how to better understand what is required to:

• Improve focus, attention and awareness• Increase capacity to deal with stress and work related pressure • Increase personal efficiency and productivity

In October we had the fun toastmaster guru Joanne Smith from the City of Calgary. Joanne taught us the importance of "The Power of 3" of public speaking. Her visualization activity on how we can get those 3 important points was exceptional!

1. Knowing yourself2. Knowing your subject3. Knowing your audience

November is our “Community Involvement” month. Our branch has been connecting with various non-profit organizations in Calgary. It is very important that as a group, we connect and get our name out to these organizations. We raised funds for them.

This year, we are delighted to report that we are partnering with Dreams Take Flight. They are a national volunteer charitable organization dedicated to providing memorable trips to medically, mentally, physically, socially and emotionally challenged children for one day to Disneyland, giving them a lifetime experience to remember! Volunteer Treasurer Julien DeSchutter is attending our dinner meeting to receive the cheque in the amount of $570 on Monday, October 23, 2015. AAA is proud to be part of our Calgary community.

We have lined up more interesting and informative topics next year but for now, on behalf of Calgary branch, I wish each and every one of you happiness, peace, health and prosperity during the holiday season. Take care of each other, be safe and stay warm.

Evelyn SerboutPresident - Calgary Branch

CALGARY BRANCH UPDATE

YOUR STANDING DESK IS NO HEALTHIER THAN A REGULAR OLD SITTING DESK, STUDY FINDS

Published by Jen Hubley Luckwaldt on October 17, 2015

Bad news, standing-desk fans: according to a study from Exeter University and University College London, you're getting sore feet for nothing. After following 5,000 people over the course of 16 years, researchers determined that standing desks are no better for your health than standard ones. Being still, they contend, whether standing or sitting, is bad for your health.

"Any stationary posture where energy expenditure is low may be detrimental to health, be it sitting or standing," Melvyn Hillsdon of Exeter's sport and health sciences department told The Guardian. "The results cast doubt on the benefits of sit-stand work stations, which employers are increasingly providing to promote healthy working environments."

The study found that sitting, whether at home or at work, did not correlate with an increased risk of dying sooner.

Down With Standing Desks

Even people who love the standing desk admit that it's not without its problems. A few years ago, Sydney Trent of The Washington Post wrote about her experiences with her standing desk, which included leg pain, foot numbness, and fatigue. Her doctor's diagnosis?

"I was standing too much at work," she said. "Those uncomfortable sensations were probably a result of hyperextending my knee, which could put too much pressure on the fibular nerve, a branch of the sciatic nerve, which starts behind the knee and runs alongside the fibula, or calf bone. Ironically, this can also occur when you cross your legs a lot while sitting."

Experts caution that using standing desks incorrectly – standing all day without a break, using poor posture or bad ergonomics, etc. – can also diminish benefits.

"If what you're doing is replacing sitting with standing, you're not actually doing your body any favors," says Alan Hedge, a professor in the Department of Design and Environment Analysis at Cornell University, in U.S. News. "In fact, you're introducing a whole variety of new risk factors," including lower back problems and cardiovascular problems, due to the heart working against gravity.

Up With ... Sitting?

The bad news, of course, is that sitting is still pretty much universally acknowledged to be terrible for you. The best advice is to move as much as you can (or as much as your boss and your job responsibilities will let you). If you can't switch to a treadmill or bike desk, or take your meetings while walking, breaking up your day with activity is your best bet.

Source: http://www.payscale.com/career-news/2015/10/your-standing-desk-is-no-healthier-than-a-regular-old-sitting-desk-study-finds

We had our QAA celebration on October 5th where we honoured our four Edmonton Branch QAA grads Carman Christie, Erica Hussey, Mary Currie-Pfeffer, and Hilda Opoku. Congratulations to Hilda Opoku who was the recipient of the Edmonton Branch QAA bursary award for the highest grade point average.

Our December Christmas celebration will be held on Monday, December 7th at the Chateau Louis Hotel & Conference Centre with Bare ‘n Von Hair – a Customized Musical Humour duo. The duo consists of Canadian musicians Matt Day on piano and Gord Graber on drums. As a giveback to our members for their continued support, we are able to subsidize this event.

Plans are well underway for our 2016 full day workshop being held on Thursday, May 5, 2016 at the Chateau Louis Hotel & Conference Centre, our facilitators will be Daryl Johnson and Sandra Kordyback from Johnson and Associates. Further details will be available as soon as we have finalized our topics and brochure.

Upcoming Branch Meetings

• January 11 – Who are You? Really? – Kelly Kloss, City Manager, City of Fort Saskatchewan• February 8 – Improve Performance Through Positive Mental Programming – Wayne Lee, Peak Performance

Expert & Author• March 7 – Plan Ahead (Estate Planning) – Soraya Smith, Family Services Director, Evergreen Memorial

Gardens & Funeral Home• April 4 – Creating Authentic Confidence – Renee Paul, HR Consultant• May – No branch meeting will be held in May as we will be hosting our Annual Professional Development

Workshop on May 5, 2016.• June 9 – Paint Nite – Details to follow

Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year!

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Chrisy Burton, QAA President - Edmonton Branch

EDMONTON BRANCH UPDATE

6 TIPS FOR DECORATING YOUR OFFICE TO IMPROVE YOUR MOODThe workday is often long and hard, and sometimes we don’t have as much control as we’d like over the difficulties we’re forced to shoulder in our jobs. It’s easy to get run

down, and it’s tough to be optimistic on days when so much feels out of our hands. Sometimes, all we can control are the little things. The good news is, these little things could make a bigger difference than you’d think. If you’re feeling like your attitude could use a little re-calibrating, try one or more of these quick tips for decorating your office to improve your mood. They really might help.

1. Try some color. 2. Clean up. 3. Buy some flowers. 4. Let in some light. 5. Add some things you love. 6. Make a change.

Source: http://www.payscale.com/career-news/2015/10/6-tips-for-decorating-your-office-to-improve-your-mood

“sitting, whether at home or at work, did not correlate

with an increased risk of

dying sooner.”

TO SAVE AN ADDITIONAL 5% USE PROMO CODE: EM3

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As Administrative Assistants, we all know that the one thing we need to deal with is change. Change is the one thing in our life, both professionally and personally, that is constant. This year, the Hamilton Branch is embracing change.

We kicked off the year with a new meeting format and are rotating our meetings to other locations as a result of a survey of our members. They asked to be given more variety, so as a result, we will try it out for 2015/16. This year we will be hosting two of our meetings at Mohawk College. Our goal is to reach out to the students in the Office Administration program, and introduce them to the Association of Administrative Assistants. This is a great opportunity for our Association and future Administrative Assistants to come together and expose the art of possibility to them, networking with members that are already in various positions in various disciplines.

The Hamilton Branch will be moving our Professional Development Day from April to March 23, 2016. This will provide the Administrative Assistants the opportunity to attend a great day learning new things and the opportunity to celebrate Administrative Assistants Day on April 27, 2016 with those they work with each day.

Change gives us a good opportunity to grow as a person.

January 21, 2016

Free webinar – can be done from home – participants’ logins are muted so no need to be in a quiet room!

Rhonda Scharf Certified Speaking Professional, Trainer & Author

Your job requires you to influence people just about all of the time. Whether you are in a supervisory position or not, you need to gain support, inspire others, work well with others, get things done without support and improve your relationships.

This event is open to all AAA Members and Invited Guests. Login information will be shared with registered participants when available.

February 18, 2016

Mohawk College Meeting Room i131

135 Fennell Ave West, Hamilton ON L8N 3T2

Sharon Murphy Business Development Consultant – Tourism Sales ~ City of Hamilton

Provide an overview of the services that Tourism Hamilton can offer Administrative Assistants when planning meetings, workshops and/or conferences.

“When life steers you in a new direction. Just hold on tight and enjoy the...Ride.” Quote by Joseph David

It is great to see steady interest in our Association. I’ve had the pleasure of welcoming Elizabeth from London, Ontario, Christel from Pinawa, Manitoba and Melissa from Prince George, BC. How’s that for spreading new MALs across the country?

As well, I’ve had numerous communications with a Business/Office Admin faculty from the College of the North Atlantic in New Foundland and in addition

to getting the college on board to offer QAA courses, we are hoping to form a partnership allowing Office Admin students to be part of our Association and form special local branches. How wonderful it would be to be able to provide mentorship and experience in the role of office professionals to upcoming students and in turn get their input on latest trends and issues like social media. Stay tuned on updates as work progresses on this initiative.

And as I am sure will be mentioned elsewhere in this newsletter – mark your calendars now for upcoming national/annual events June 1-4 in Vancouver - 2016! National Board will be hosting the events and we look forward to meeting up with new and familiar faces in Vancouver and hopefully lots of members from across Canada!

Arlene Stone. QAAPresident - Vancouver Branch

Member-At-Large Liaison

HAMILTON BRANCH UPDATE

MEMBERS-AT-LARGEUPDATE

Charlene Hands-Lourie, QAAPresident - Hamilton Branch

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!2016 Annual General Meeting and

Professional Development Workshop

JUNE 1-4, 2016 | VANCOUVER, BC

Belonging to our professional association means our members have access to a multitude of resources, services, discounts and information!

Our sponsorship program is a cost effective way to give you maximum exposure to administrative professionals both locally and across the country. The various levels of sponsorship represent excellent opportunities to promote your business to appropriate contacts in industries and businesses. Your company will stand out as a supporter of life-long learning and professional development among office professionals.

As a not-for-profit Association, our National Board of Directors is comprised of volunteers who donate time and expertise to maintain current, professional services and activities for our members. By partnering with our Sponsors, we can offer a higher level of speakers at national events and meetings, as well as increased services and promotions to our members.

For more information, please visit http://www.aaa.ca/sponsorship_e.php

BECOME A SPONSOR

www.aaa.ca

SPONSORS

PARTNERS