WOW! WOW! What an Inaugural Brainstorming Chat!

Well, goodness! Who could have anticipated the level of excitement in the chat room? Almost 120 people joined us (from more than 40 states plus Canada, Bermuda and Puerto Rico) for our very first inter-chapter brainstorming chat. We discussed impact meetings (which is an internal term IAAP uses for new member drives).

Ideas were flying all about the room! We are in the process of gathering all that information and consolidating it. We'll be emailing the chat transcript to the attendees and posting information about it on the IAAP headquarters bulletin board.

We sure learned a lot and hope to make some improvements in future chats, but we want to thank everyone that participated. What a great time we had!!!

Special Guests for February Meeting

The Two Rivers Chapter is honored to have been contacted by a local college this week. The coordinator of their administrative professional program would like to arrange a field trip for about 10 students to our February meeting. The goal is to expose these future administrative professionals to a professional association and demonstrate how these organizations can help you develop your career. This will be so much fun!

Job Search Bootcamp Exhibitors

Have you been curious about what exhibitors we might have at the free Job Search Bootcamp on January 28? So far, the following have confirmed:

- Adecco
- Naperville Career Center
- OfficeTeam
- Randstad
- Robert Morris College (to showcase Admin Asst programs)
- St. Thomas The Apostle Job Club
- True Nature (personal coaching)

We have asked some additional firms to participate, but they are not yet confirmed.

We'll also have handouts to highlight great resources for job seekers. Sign up soon! The registration deadline is January 20!

Update on Interchapter Networking Chat

WOW! What a response!!!

An email was sent off to all the chapter and division presidents in IAAP advising them of the January 24, 2006 interchapter brainstorming chat.

The feedback has been amazing! It looks like we are going to have a tremendous turnout for this exciting event!

Members Only Networking Lunch

The Two Rivers Chapter strives to provide plenty of networking opportunities through out the year. With our accelerated rate of growth though, we are concerned that our members might not have a chance to get to know one another. To help out in this area, we are offering our first members only networking lunch! We'll be meeting at Connie's Pizza on Iroquois at Ogden in Naperville (across from the K-mart and Dominicks) on February 7, 2006 from 11:45 to 1:15. Cost will be $12 all inclusive (buffet, tax, gratuity, soft drinks included).

We hope to have a great turnout for this special event. RSVP by January 31 if you plan to join us, so we have an idea how large a table to reserve.

Laying The Ground Work for a Fantastic Administrative Professionals Week Event!!!

The Two Rivers Chapter is thrilled to announce that Corner Bakery (www.cornerbakery.com) will be donating the meal for our Administrative Professionals Week Event. This terrific program might just exceed last year's unbelievable night, though that would be hard to imagine.

Motivational speaker Dr. Lucia Murphy will be flying in from Philadelphia to teach us how to Leave Our Footprints in the Sands of Time.

In addition, we'll be having our Vendor Expo and dozens of door prizes, plus a brief informational meeting about IAAP and what all the excitement of Two Rivers Chapter is all about. As if all that weren't enough, we'll be celebrating our chapter's TWO YEAR anniversary!

Last year we had to cap attendance due to space limitations. We may run into the same issues this year, so be sure to register early if you are interested in attending!

Mark your calendars for April 25, 2006 from 5-8 p.m. for a fantastic evening of professional development, fun, and networking!