The new millennium has brought changes in many areas, including the workplace. In conjunction with some of these changes, the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), official sponsor of Professional Secretaries Week since 1952, has renamed this observance.
"The new name, Administrative Professionals Week, will keep us in step with the changing job titles and expanding responsibilities of today's administrative workforce," said Cynthia A. Lively, CPS, international IAAP president. "We want the observance to encompass all administrative professionals, and the term 'secretary' today only covers a minority of those in administrative support occupations."
The tradition of recognizing the nation's 3.4 million administrative professionals during the last week of April continues with the highlight being Administrative Professionals Day.
The Clarksburg Chapter of IAAP annually honors a local member with the distinction of Secretary of the Year, the title of which has changed to Administrative Professional of the Year beginning with the April 2000 observance.
This year's winner is Gloria Dye, CPS, an employee of Steptoe & Johnson Law Firm in Clarksburg.
She has worked at the firm for the past five years and works not only as a legal secretary, but is also administration secretary for the Clarksburg office.
"The name change encompasses more of what I do," said Dye. "I work with Bob Rhoades, systems support manager, on whatever comes through the door and I am also legal secretary for Jackson Anderson, doing real estate work and estate administration."
In addition to being a legal secretary, she has worked as a medical transcriptionist at United Hospital Center Inc., and, for about four years, helped her husband, Bob, run a restaurant and sporting goods business.
Dye completed a 10-month study program and sat for the Certified Professional Secretary's test in 1997, earning a CPS rating.
In addition to her four-year IAAP membership, Dye has two sons and one daughter, and has served as director of music at Lumberport Baptist Church for 15 years.
"Gloria Dye is one of the best selections we could have made. A committee of members made the selection based on points. I'm sure she had very high marks," said Linda Ott, president of the local chapter.
Mary Barrett, president of the then-National Secretaries Association (now IAAP), came up with the idea of Professional Secretaries Week in 1952 in an effort to recognize secretaries and attract young people to secretarial careers.
Professional Secretaries Week has become one of the largest workplace observances, with events ranging from community luncheons and educational seminars to gifts of appreciation.
The Clarksburg Chapter held its luncheon meeting on Tuesday, honoring Dye and welcoming prospective members to the session held at Washington Square.
Staff writer Darlene Taylor can be reached at 626-1445.
