About A-O

THE ARKANSAS-OKLAHOMA DIVISION, INC.
IS PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE 35 DIVISIONS IN IAAP. 
(OUR DIVISION NUMBER IS 552-000.)

We invite you to click on the links on the left to learn about our Sponsors, our Officers, our Committees, our Chapters, and our History. Contact any of our Division Officers with your questions or comments.

A-O DIVISION'S MISSION STATEMENT:

 The Mission of A-O Division is TO GROW IAAP
by serving our chapters and members throughout Arkansas and Oklahoma,
by increasing awareness of the many benefits available through IAAP,
by emphasizing how personal involvement will enhance the value of membership,
and by providing maximum opportunities to participate in IAAP activities.
We are committed to IAAP, its purpose, its mission, and its vision. 

Why Join IAAP?
Why Belong to the Arkansas-Oklahoma Division of IAAP?
Why Renew Your Membership Each Year?
What's In It For YOU? 
What benefit do you receive in return for your $20 annual division dues?
Maybe you'll find your answer here.

In November 2007, we asked the members of A-O Division to answer our Question of the Month by telling us why they joined IAAP (if they have been members for fewer than two years) or why they continue to renew their membership (if they have been members for longer than two years). We were delighted when 35 of our members chose to answer that question and share their reasons with us. We hope their responses will be an encouragement to everyone. Prospective members may be wondering what benefit they will receive from IAAP. Current members may question from time to time if it’s really worth it. It is always good to reflect on why we do the things we do, and we think you will agree that it IS (worth it).  Check out the document linked below named, "Why A-O Members Joined and Continue to Renew." It is also posted in the Professional Resources Library.
Why A-O Members Joined IAAP and Continue to Renew

WHO BELONGS TO THE A-O DIVISION? 

• Anyone who joins IAAP as a member of one of the nine chapters in our Division does not have a choice. They automatically belong to A-O Division, and we hope that is a good thing.
• It is possible for members to join IAAP as an A-O Division Member at Large without belonging to a chapter.
• We also have Association Members at Large who do not belong to either the Division or to a chapter. They do not pay dues to A-O Division. They are the target audience for the following information.

WHAT DO YOU GET IN RETURN?
A-O Division strives to maintain a website that is chock full of information you need and can use. When you log in as a member, you have instant access to the "business documents" that are intended for A-O members only and to all the information from our International Headquarters that is for IAAP members only. 

The A-O Division Officers send a quarterly Member Message directly to your email in-box to keep you abreast of the latest happenings and to remind you of important upcoming deadlines. We believe it is important to initiate and maintain individual contact with our members throughout the year so that -- when Annual Meeting rolls around -- it won't be your first occasion to see us or hear from us that year.

A-O Division provides a Education Forum in the fall of each year at minimal cost to our members, and we try to alternate between our two states in a location convenient for all our chapters and members. Its purpose is to start our new leaders off on the right foot in the new IAAP fiscal year with beneficial information as to the association's goals and how the Division plans to reach them. We also want to make sure that our Chapters are aware of the expectations and requirements. We also provide educational workshops that qualify for recertification points. It is a day of learning, networking, and information sharing. All members are encouraged to attend. Aspiring IAAP leaders need to expose themselves to all beneficial information and soak up whatever they can learn. Arming one's self with knowledge and becoming "the expert" is a guaranteed way to climb up the ladder of leadership.

The A-O Division Officers always make themselves available to present informative and educational programs to the chapters in our two states free of charge. We are blessed to have some very supportive employers who cover our travel expenses, and this also keeps us from having to expense money from the Division budget. 

A-O Division offers several different awards each year that can be won by chapters and by individuals. At Annual Meeting we present awards to the chapters with the greatest percentage of membership retention, the greatest membership increase, and the greatest percentage of membership growth. We have established our own A-O Division Pathways to Excellence Program to recognize our own Chapters of Excellence and Members of Excellence.

The opportunity to network with other administrative professionals -- like yourself -- is one of the greatest intangible benefits of IAAP membership. You maximize that opportunity by getting involved with your own chapter and becoming active in A-O Division. For example, there may come a time when you are looking for other employment or when your own office is looking for a new employee. Many of our members can attest to the value of receiving a referral, a reference, or a recommendation from another IAAP member. Employers with IAAP members on their payroll already know the value of membership. It is up to YOU to get involved with your fellow members, develop camaraderie, and keep your own mental list of contacts on whom you can rely for help when needed, but A-O Division certainly provides a channel wherein you can operate.

WE MAINTAIN AN ACTIVE SPEAKERS BUREAU LISTING.
DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK OR TEACH?
DO YOU NEED A SPEAKER OR A TEACHER?
A-O Division maintains a Speakers Bureau List of members in our two states who are willing to present educational or informational programs to other chapters or to other organizations. You'll find the Speakers Bureau in our Business Resource Library linked below. Please contact any individual directly if you want to schedule them to speak at your event. If you would like to add your name to the list, please contact one of our Division Officers and let them know.