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History

Local Chapter History
Past APOTYS
Past BOTYS
Past Corporate Excellence Winners
Past Presidents

LOCAL CHAPTER HISTORY

In March 1966, the following Senior Secretaries in New Providence met to discuss plans for forming an association for all Secretaries in The Bahamas:

Mrs. Anne Lowe;
Mrs. Mickey Kimberk;
Mrs. Gwen Reid;
Mrs. Barbara Pierre; and,
Miss Norma Barker.


An invitation was extended through the media, inviting all secretaries to attend a general meeting in the New Providence Room at the British Colonial Hotel on April 20, 1966, at 8:00 p.m.

The Bahamas Secretaries Association (BSA) was formed after the third meeting and the following members were elected to serve as officers:

Anne Lowe, President; Mickey Kimberk, Vice President; Judy Soloshy, Treasurer; Katherine Granger, Recording Secretary; and Norma Barker, Corresponding Secretary.

An application was made to the National Secretaries Association (International) in Kansas City, Missouri, for affiliation, giving secretaries in The Bahamas the prestige and benefits of membership in the largest Secretaries Association in the world.

To launch this Association, a banquet was held on Saturday, September 24, 1966, when the first installation of officers and thirty-eight Charter members were installed by the Coral Gables Florida, Chapter of N.S.A. (International) at the Montague Beach Hotel, on the Eastern foreshore of New Providence, in a very impressive candlelight ceremony.  The affiliation certificate of acceptance with N.S.A. was signed on September 26, 1966.

In July 1980, the N.S.A. Convention, the International Organization, decided to change the name from N.S.A. to Professional Secretaries International with a new Code of Ethics.  B.S.A., being an affiliate, also changed the name from B.S.A. to Professional Secretaries of The Bahamas in 1981.

On March 23, 1995, Professionals Secretaries of The Bahamas dropped its affiliate status and became a Chapter of Professional Secretaries International®, thereby changing our name to Bahamas Chapter of Professional Secretaries International® - The Association for Office Professionals™ which gave our members the right to vote for the first time at the International Convention.

We joined as a Chapter on March 23, 1998, when Sandra Chandler CPS, President of the Florida Division, Southeast District, arrived in The Bahamas to officially install our members in the Florida Division of Professional Secretaries International®.   Our name changed to the International Association of Administrative Professionals® in 1998.
 
The Bahamas Chapter continues to have a growing membership, which gains personal visibility and recognition while strengthening the image of the profession in our local community as well as network with colleagues who are experts in a variety of fields.

We observe, Administrative Professionals Week® the last full week in April and Administrative Professionals Day®, on Wednesday.  The highlight for this day is a special Luncheon for Bosses and their administrative support staff, also the naming of the Boss and Administrative Professional of the Year, who are chosen by a panel of judges for each contest.

Each year, an Annual International Convention is held during the third full week in July, and a delegation from The Bahamas usually attends this event.  This annual conference is the Administrative Professional’s ticket to excellence, and the education forum offers a wide array of educational workshops and international networking. A wealth of information is usually brought back to the local Association and as a result, administrative professionals are better informed and up-dated as to new methods and ideas in their profession.  Attending this conference gives you practical, in-depth knowledge to increase your effectiveness on the job.

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ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS OF THE YEAR (APOTY)

1967-1968                Gwen Reid
1968-1969                Judy Higgs
1969-1970                Judy Richardson
1970-1971                Louise Haven*
1971-1972                Iris Knowles
1972-1973                Betty Cambridge
1973-1974                Irene Russell
1974-1975                Rosemary Hanna
1975-1976                Laurel Darville
1976-1977                Ethlyn Wallace
1977-1978                Jacqueline Mycklewhyte
1978-1979                Lolamae Rolle
1979-1980                Elva Russell
1980-1981                Vernie Rolle
1981-1982                Cheryl Bain
1982-1983                Gloria Brown, CPS
1983-1984                Theresa Haven-Edwards
1984-1985                Shirlene T. Watson
1985-1986                Frances Turnquest
1986-1987                Shirley Evans
1987-1988                Majorie Adderley*
1988-1989                Rose Pratt, CPS
1989-1990                Malvese Pinder, CPS
1990-1991                Juanita Grant
1991-1992                Dorcas Williams, CPS
1992-1993                Delora Moncur
1993-1994                Melissa Miller, CPS
1994-1995                Rachel Miller
1995-1996                Esther Gibson
1996-1997                Yvette Miller, CPS
1997-1998                Elma Storr
1998-1999                Elizabeth Munnings
1999-2000                Stephanie Ferguson, CPS
2000-2001                Sylvia Mitchell, CPS
2001-2002                Ida Burrows
2002-2003                Paulette Kelly
2003-2004                Gaynell Evans, CPS
2004-2005                Michelle Bain
2005-2006                Daphne Styles
2006-2007                Debbie Smith
2007-2008                Portia Johnson           
*Deceased

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BOSSES OF THE YEAR (BOTY)

1967                  John Hall
1971-1972        Dennis Bunyan
1972-1973        Edmund Granger
1973-1974        Oakley Bidwell
1974-1975        Rev. Edwin L. Taylor*
1975-1976        Kendal G. Isaacs*
1976-1977        John Forsythe-Smith
1977-1978        Graham Garner
1978-1979        Kenez Russell
1979-1980        Gail Saunders
1980-1981        Rubie Nottage
1981-1982        Frank Crothers
1982-1983        Tommy Thompson
1983-1984        Paul Clarke
1984-1985        Barrett A. Russell
1985-1986        Earl Cash
1986-1987        George Rodgers
1987-1988        Franklyn R. Wilson
1988-1989        Cedric Farquharson
1989-1990        Wayde Christie
1990-1991        Peter Graham
1991-1992        George Moss
1992-1993        Dereck Sweeting
1993-1994        Paul Knowles
1994-1995        Olvin Reese
1995-1996        Pauline Stephen-Petty
1996-1997        Bradley S. Roberts
1997-1998        Gary Williams
1998-1999        Ishmael Lightbourne
1999-2000        Nathaniel Adams
2000-2001        Glen F. Laville
2001-2002        Ian Jennings
2002-2003        Cyril G. Thompson, Jr.
2003-2004        Ruth Bowe-Darville
2004-2005        Antonio Stubbs
2005-2006        Patrick Ward
2006-2007        Raymond Winder
2007-2008        Nickola P. Dawkins
*Deceased

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PAST CORPORATE EXCELLENCE AWARDS

2002-2003        Bahamas Electricity Corporation
2003-2004        Commonwealth Brewery
2004-2005        Bank of the Bahamas International 
2005-2006       Commonwealth Bank
2006-2007        Bahamas First General Insurance Company Limited   
2007-2008        Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited      

PAST PRESIDENTS

1966-1968      Anne Lowe
1968-1969      Norma Barker
1969-1971      Judy Soloshy-Richardson
1971-1972      Louise B. Haven*
1972-1973      Gwen Reid
1973-1975      Lorraine Fraser*
1975-1977      Sandra Albury
1977-1979      Brenda Archer
1979-1981      Angela Haven
1981-1982      Mercelita O’Brien CPS
1982-1984      Sandra Gibson CPS*
1984-1986      Annamae Delaney
1986-1988      Deyanne Russell
1988-1989      Gloria Brown CPS
1989-1991      Barbara Knowles CPS
1991-1993      Stephanie Ferguson CPS
1993-1995      Delora Moncur
1995-1997      Perky O’Brien CPS, DCP
1997-1998      Cheryl Fountain, DCP
1998-2000      Debbe Mott-Albury, DCP
2000-2001      Marian Sturrup CPS
2001-2003      Janiece G. Henfield CPS, DCP
2003-2005      Taynia Farquharson, CPS, DCP
2005-2006      Brendalee Bannister
2007-2008      Elma Storr

*Deceased

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