Contact: Jennifer Alexander
                                                                                     National Receptionists Association
         jennifer@nationalreceptionists.com
          888-292-5782
NATIONAL RECEPTIONISTS DAY MAY 14, 2008
Washington, CT...National Receptionists Day will be celebrated on May 14, 2008, in recognition of more than 892,000 receptionists nationwide. "Receptionists are worth their weight in gold." says Jennifer Alexander, Executive Director of National Receptionists Day. "Try sitting in at their job for a couple of hours and you will have a whole new appreciation for their job."
National Receptionists Day is celebrated with a "thank you" all day from everyone in the company. We think it is the least a company can do for the person who represents them all day, everyday. "National Receptionists Day" coffee mugs are availabe on the website to show appreciation all year. The website, nationalreceptionists.com, also has screen savers to download for the day of celebration.
Receptionists are the 'front line' personnel in the business setting. They are the first person a client has contact with and that contact very often sets the tone of the business transaction to follow. Their interpersonal skills, telephone etiquette and communication skills are very important elements in greeting clients, responding to inquiries and representing the company. A receptionist fields initial company contact and takes control of the communication channels with each call during the day. A secretary's role is different because their reporting contact is usually within the company. In fact, most times the receptionist even takes the secretary's calls first.
This job function may also fall under other job titles such as Front Desk Clerk, Operator, Host/Hostess, and Information Desk Personnel. According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, the number of receptionists is growing with the advent of voice mail, not decreasing as some may think. In 1990 there were 851,000 and in 2000 the numbers grew to almost 900,000. Whether is is a business inquiry, a crank call, or a bomb threat, the receptionist needs to know how to manage all communications internally as well as externally.
"Since we began National Receptionists Day in 1990, we have received communication from people all over the country who say they appreciate their receptionists and the job they do but they never took the time to give them the individual recognition they deserve," added Ms. Alexander.
National Receptionists Day was officially inaugurated in 1990 to give recognition to two extraordinary receptionists at the offices of Ferguson Communications, now CommonHealth in Parsippany, New Jersey. Jennifer Alexander, the director of National Receptionists Day, inaugurated the day at that time. Companies wishing to recognize the very special role these individual plays in creating and maintaining the company image observe National Receptionists Day nationwide. National Receptionists Day happens during National Employee Week in May and is celebrated in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. Canada, the UK, and Australia have joined in as well.
In prior years the date was celebrated on the second Wednesday of May, but this raised problems for many annual calendars that wanted to have the same date every year. So we decided to keep the day on the second Wednesday in May but it may be celebrated any day within the second week of May.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Alexander at the National Receptionists Association PO Box 1187, Washington, CT 06793, Phone or fax: 888-292-5782, email: jennifer@nationalreceptionists.com . The National Receptionists Association will soon be planning their first annual meeting so stay in touch. More information can be obtained at our home page: www.nationalreceptionists.com.
National Receptionists Day
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National Receptionists Association
Our mission is to gain awareness and appreciation for the position of receptionists in the business setting and provide support to receptionists nationwide.
The National Receptionists Association is an organization comprised of receptionists who have joined together to help gain momentum for this recognition. The organization consists of members who want to help others gain the recognition they deserve and recommend ways to improve their skills.
The National Receptionists Association is non-profit organization funded through dues and corporate sponsorship. Near term plans include an annual meeting, an email newsletter, recognition awards and other exciting recognition ideas which will be available from the home page coming soon.
Contact: Jennifer Alexander, Director National Receptionists Association, PO Box 1187, Washington, CT 06793; Phone: 888-292-5782. Email: Jennifer@nationalreceptionists.com
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