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
2008-2009 Charlotte Knowles-Thompson
2009-2010 Monique L. Taylor
2010-2011 Kaye J. Rolle
*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
2008-2009 Mr. James F. Gilbert
2009-2010 Marisa Mason-Smith
*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
2008-2009 The College of The Bahamas
2009-2010 The Central Bank of The Bahamas
2010-2011 The Public Hospitals Authority

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
2008-2009 Yvette Johnson CPS, DCP
2009-2010 Michelle Bain
2010-2011 Sharnett Ferguson CPS/CHRM