National Receptionists Association
Sponsor of
National Receptionists Day, May 12, 2010
Newsletter May 2010
Notes from the Director
Hello, hello,
It’s Jennifer Alexander, Executive Director, here with the association newsletter for May
2010. It has been a long time since the last one and I hope this will be the start of a
monthly series.
First of all, congratulations to all who will be celebrating another year in one of the most
challenging, entertaining and rewarding careers in the business world. I don’t need to tell
you that many people do not understand this profession and consider it an entry level
position or a stepping stone to some other position in a company.
But that “grass is greener” mentality has moved many a receptionist on to a position that
was nowhere near as much fun or high profile within a company, or with the public. A
receptionist is the front line personnel to a very demanding public. Presentation, control,
efficiency, and finesse are only some of the qualities required on a minute by minute basis.
A receptionist represents the best of the company, makes the first impression, and
maintains a professional etiquette for the company.
You are the voice and the face that represents the style and personality of the company.
This puts a lot of pressure on you because you are in the spotlight a lot. Essentially, you
are in “show business”. The image that you represent might not always be what you feel
inside but it is what your public needs from you so you must “go on and act it out”.
I want to help make the public aware of what it takes to be a good receptionist and to know
how rewarding it can be. I also hope to make your companies aware of how valuable you
are and how much they need to nurture and support you.
More on this topic to come in future newsletters, the issue at hand is National Receptionists
Day on May 12 this year. Please make as many people as possible are aware of this day of
recognition. If there is anything I can do to help please let me know.
Member News
Please keep me posted on news about you and/or points of interest in your area so I can
let other receptionists know about it. It was great to hear from many of you recently and I
look forward to working with you further and growing the association.
Congratulations to Claudette Armbrister, receptionist with Kubicki Draper LLP in Miami,
Florida, who won the title of Miss American Beauties Plus Queen of Queens at the national
pageant in Roswell, Ga.
Congratulations to Kaylynn in Sioux Falls, SD, who has been a receptionist at The Real
Estate Company for 14 years.
Congratulations to Jeanette Leonetti who is a receptionist at Kirksey in Houston, TX, and
has been a receptionist for 17 years.
Congratulations to Jennifer Nelson at the Merrill in Arlington, WA, who is celebrating 23
years as a receptionist and is excited to hear about our organization.
The best of everything to Shirley Nelms in Downingtown, PA, who is returning to work as a
receptionist after a serious illness. She is happy to have such a great company to work for.
Congratulations to Louise Sileo at Swett and Crawford in San Francisco who is celebrating
26 years as a receptionist and who learned about our organization through an article in
Real Simple Magazine.
Congratulations to Karen Vassal at Goodlette, Coleman & Johnson in Naples, FL, who is
celebrating 10 years as a receptionist.
Very impressive!
I hope you enjoy a wonderful day of recognition and of accomplishment for your efforts all
year.
Happy National Receptionists Day!!
Your fan,
Jennifer Alexander
National Receptionists Association
Our Mission
We are approaching the 20th anniversary of the founding the association. It was founded
in 1991 to recognize the value of a receptionist and to appreciate those receptionists who
demonstrate exceptional qualities in performing this job of front line personnel.
The mission of the association is not only to provide recognition for receptionists. It is also
meant to function as a community for receptionists to share ideas, provide inspiration and
to support other receptionists. By better defining the job and recognizing the traits that
make better performance, we strengthen our image and our worth in the workplace.
Website News
The new website is under construction. Some of the new features for members will be a
member directory and locator, surveys for members to provide insight into trends and
developments in the work place, recognition and certification awards, and educational
teleconference opportunities. These things take time to develop and I gladly accept insight
from you along the way.
Inspiration and Quotations
Winston Churchill, one of the great men and leaders of the last century, always kept a
plaque on his desk that said: “Never, ever, ever, ever, ever give up.”
I think it’s good to know that even the greatest leaders needed reminders and support for
their work.
For Your Health
Drink water! You have heard this often but it can’t be emphasized too much. Drinking water
is so important for good health.
Your body is estimated to be about 60 to 70 percent water. Blood is mostly water, and
your muscles, lungs, and brain all contain a lot of water. Your body needs water to regulate
body temperature and to provide the means for nutrients to travel to all your organs. Water
also transports oxygen to your cells, and removes waste.
It may be difficult to drink enough water on a busy day. Be sure you have water handy at all
times by keeping a bottle for water with you when you are working. If you get bored with
plain water, add a bit of lemon or lime for a touch of flavor. There are some brands of
flavored water available, but watch for extra calories.
Organization Update
Please know that we are actively looking for ways to make the association of more value to
members, sponsors and advertisers. I would like to hear from anyone who would like to
take part in a conference call to brainstorm on this.
I will also soon be sending you surveys to get feedback on issues related to being or
becoming a good receptionist. For example, we want to take an inventory of the many job
functions a receptionist performs, and we want to find out what you want this association to
offer you.
We are working on the website but it seems to always take a back seat to other issues. It is
also an expense and we are watching this carefully until we get more sponsors or funding.
We are pursuing sponsors and advertiser support to help build the member offerings. We
have been receiving more and more media support that I think will help with this.
Until then, keep up the good work on your end!
Feedback
I welcome your feedback and thoughts. Please do let me know what you think. Email me at
Jennifer@nationalreceptionists.com
