Welcome to The University of Southern Mississippi Association of Office Professionals (USM AOP). It is my honor to serve as your president this year. The first time I was president was in the mid80s and I can attest that this organization has helped me grow professionally and accept tasks and challenges that I never dreamed I would do! This professional organization participates in community activities as well as provides workshops to its members and campus community in general. Many of our members serve on university-wide committees and thus have a voice for office professionals. My theme this year is Be a Beacon for Professional Growth with the lighthouse (or torch) as the symbol to be the guiding light for our professional path.
As we grow professionally and become involved in our professional association, our “torch” will be lit and continue to become brighter and brighter. It takes many individual “torches” coming together, holding and supporting each other to produce one large bright, burning flame! As we each carry our torch, others will want to be involved and everyone will see a difference in our professional lives. You will become one of the important beacons needed to help make up the “beacon” of our association. Your commitment and dedication to this association are keys to having a successful year not only within AOP but also in our workplace.
I want to challenge every USM AOP member to get involved with this professional association. Sign up for a committee, volunteer to chair a committee! Being involved can make a world of difference in your professional life as well as your personal life – building of self-confidence, enhancing organization skills, and improving communication skills. Only by working together as a team to maintain and go beyond the ideas and ideals that were laid down in the foundation of this organization can we continue our commitment to excellence to become the best office professionals we can be and “Be a Beacon for Professional Growth.”
Thank you for giving me this honor to again represent you as President of this Association. Please look over our website and find out more about our Association and contact me at 601.266.4886 or email me at pam.posey@usm.edu if you have any questions.