Monthly Archives: April 2012

Happy Administrative Professionals’ Day

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Did you know that today marks the 60th anniversary of Administrative Professionals’ Day?  Throughout the decades, the roles and responsibilities assigned to administrative professionals have changed drastically, but one thing remains true:  Admins are the heart of the office, ensuring work is done well and in a timely fashion.

Administrative Professionals' Day

Therefore, the theme of this year’s event is “Admins, the pulse of the office.”  According to the International Association of Administrative Professionals, “In a world that demands the accurate and speedy movement of digital information, admins are masters of data. And they do this while maintaining their more traditional role as the gatekeepers for many customers, clients and employees.” Administrative assistants, secretaries, receptionists, and other admin support professionals keep the office pumping.

Administrative Professionals’ Day, which has been celebrated since 1952, has become one of the most popular workplace observances (other than birthdays and big holidays).  It’s celebrated throughout the world and brings together millions of people.   According to ABC News, in the U.S. alone there are 4.1 million secretaries and administrative assistants.

People worldwide are observing the day in many different ways.  Here at Motivators, we’re celebrating with a few Administrative Professionals’ Day gifts:  Employees were treated to a bagel breakfast, and our receptionists were each given a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Administrative Professionals' Day

How will you honor all the hardworking administrative professionals at your office?

As Prevalence of Autism Grows, Awareness is More Important than Ever

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A report released last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that one in 88 children in the U.S. has autism, a statistic that indicates a 23 percent increase in autism diagnoses since 2002.  And yet its causes are still relatively unknown.  That’s what makes autism awareness so important, and that’s why April is Autism Awareness Month.

Autism Awareness Month

According to Discovery News, “The new estimates, based on data from 2008, show a 23 percent increase in autism diagnoses since the last report. In 2002, 1 in 150 kids were estimated to have autism and in 2006 the prevalence increased to 1 in 110.”

Mark Roithmayr, president of Autism Speaks, told Discovery News that the new data points to a need for a national plan to raise funds for research to understand exactly what causes autism.

One step in the right direction is diagnosing kids early.  “Research shows the earlier children are diagnosed with autism and receive autism treatments, the more they benefit,” said Coleen Boyle, director of CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.  But unless we share our knowledge via a number of channels, including autism awareness promotions, parents won’t know when or even how to get their children tested.

Discovery News reports that concerned parents can speak with a doctor, local school systems, or early intervention programs for a proper assessment.

Mathematics and Growing Amounts of Data

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Since 1986, Americans have celebrated the importance of mathematics each April, highlighting how the application of math is indispensable in a variety of fields.  At first, Mathematics Awareness Month was a smaller initiative — Mathematics Awareness Week — and was created by President Ronald Reagan.  But by 1999, the week-long awareness campaign had been expanded to take place over the entire month of April.

Math Awareness

According to MathAware.org, “The American Mathematical Society, the American Statistical Association, the Mathematical Association of America, and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics announce that the theme for Mathematics Awareness Month, April 2012, is Mathematics, Statistics, and the Data Deluge.”  The theme serves as a reminder about the data we collect — including information from Google searches, Facebook activities, and credit card purchases –  each day, and how it needs to be looked at and understood.

Mathematics Awareness Month

MathAware.org offers many ways to spread the word about Mathematics Awareness Month, from Liking its Facebook Page to sharing this year’s theme poster.  You could even pass out Math Awareness Month giveaways at schools and offices to raise awareness about this important initiative.

In 1986, President Ronald Reagan said,

Despite the increasing importance of mathematics to the progress of our economy and society, enrollment in mathematics programs has been declining at all levels of the American educational system. Yet the application of mathematics is indispensable in such diverse fields as medicine, computer sciences, space exploration, the skilled trades, business, defense, and government. To help encourage the study and utilization of mathematics, it is appropriate that all Americans be reminded of the importance of this basic branch of science to our daily lives.

More than 25 years later, his statement is still true.  Please do your part in reminding Americans about the importance of math!

Think Ahead: National Barbecue Month

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Inhale deeply. What do you smell? If you’re in the office, you probably smell nothing out of the ordinary – maybe the remnants of someone’s lunch or the faint burning smell of a copy machine churning out copies. Maybe you smell a mixtures of perfumes, gums/mints or deodorants. If you’re home, you may smell the remnants of dinner from the night before, laundry detergent in your washing machine or even the smell of springtime.

These smells tend to be very typical and almost rarely stir any emotion. But what if you suddenly began to smell barbecue? Ribs, steaks, hamburgers, hotdogs, barbecue sauce – all wafting in the air? It’s hard to concentrate on anything knowing that someone, somewhere is making a very delicious meal. Your mouth begins to water, you feel goosebumps and you start to daydream about food.

May is National Barbecue Month – a month long celebration of all the foods we enjoy – and the pastime of bringing people together to enjoy it all. To best celebrate it, consider hosting a barbecue of your own and handing out custom imprinted picnic & barbecue sets to your clients, customers, family and friends. Then show off your skills on the grill.