A.N. Palmer Chapter Meeting Information
The A. N. Palmer Chapter meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month except for July and December. In July, we do not hold a monthly meeting. In December, we typically meet on the 2nd Thursday of the month.
For the 2007-08 chapter year, we will be meeting in various facilities around the Cedar Rapids area, so please check the program information for the upcoming meeting to verify meeting location.
The cost to attend a monthly meeting is:
- Member Meeting Cost: $14.00
- Non-Member Meeting Cost: $20.00
- First Time Guests: Complimentary (one time only)
The dinner, program/speaker and all materials are included in this price. If you RSVP that you will be attending and do not attend, you will be invoiced for the meeting cost.
A. N. Palmer Chapter History
The A. N. Palmer Chapter was granted a charter by the National Secretaries Association in May of 1953. The new chapter was sponsored by the Robert Lucas Chapter of Iowa City (which has since dissolved). There were ten charter members. One of these charter members, Wilma Shadle, is still listed on our chapter roster.
In September, 1953, members of the Cedar Rapids Chapter requested permission from the Austin N. Palmer Estate to use the name A. N. Palmer. Permission was granted and, since that time, the chapter has been known as the A. N. Palmer Chapter.
Who was Mr. A. N. Palmer? He created and provided textbooks for many years in schools worldwide for teaching the Palmer Method of Penmanship. He worked closely with John Robert Gregg to perfect the Gregg method of shorthand. Mr. Palmer was the founder of the Cedar Rapids Business College and he was the organizer and first president of the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce.
By 1956, the chapter had a scholarship fund and held workshops in 1957, 1958, and 1961 and by 1962, membership had reached 38. Today, the chapter has approximately 75 members.
The members of the A. N. Palmer Chapter have accomplished much:
- Iowa Division Annual Meetings have been hosted in 1957, 1970, 1984, 1987, and 1999.
- Members of A. N. Palmer Chapter have served as Iowa Division President: Janet Hawkins CPS in 1958 and 1959; Virginia McCreary CPS in 1987; and Joan Merryman CPS/CAP in 2000. In addition, many from our chapter have also served as other division officers or committee members.
- For many years, the Chapter Secretary of the Year participated in the Iowa Division event. Several from our chapter were named the Iowa SOTY and participated in the International SOTY event. This event has been dropped at all three levels.
- A. N. Palmer Chapter assisted with the chartering of a new chapter, The Mid-Iowa Professionals, at Grinnell, in November, 1982.
- Since 1995, A. N. Palmer Chapter has received an award at the Annual Iowa Division Meeting for the chapter with the greatest percentage of members who are CPS/CAP holders.
- Secretaries Week (currently known as Administrative Professionals' Week) in April each year has been observed in many ways and executives have been honored at special events held at such locations at the Cedar Rapids Country Club, The Roosevelt Hotel, and Collins Plaza.
- At the 2000 International Convention and Education Seminar held in Chicago, Illinois, Rockwell Collins was recipient of the Avery Award for Excellence as the result of a detailed recommendation from the A. N. Palmer Chapter. The award is presented annually to an organization that demonstrates quality support for secretaries, administrative/executive assistants, and related office professionals.
- Continuing education seminars and workshops and CPS/CAP study sessions for which the chapter is dedicated have been held at Mt. Mercy College, Coe College, Kirkwood Community College, and board rooms of law offices.
- With the assistance and persistence of Sister Immaculata at Mt. Mercy College, Sharon Tauke, Shirley Grimes, Shirley Grulke of Kirkwood Community College and others, Cedar Rapids has been a testing site for the CPS/CAP examination.
Using the goals established by the charter members of the A. N. Palmer Chapter, the NSA/PSI/IAAP professional standards, and under the leadership of many capable officers and dedicated committees, many have:
- Attained the Certified Professional Secretary rating which has often led to college degrees
- Developed career skills from chapter sponsored secretarial review courses, seminars and workshops
- Acquired lasting mentors and friendships
The A. N. Palmer Chapter applauds Mr. Palmer for his contribution to the business society and is proud to bear his name. The Chapter continues to grow in membership and successfully prosper. These achievements could not be accomplished without the dedication and commitment of Chapter members. The A. N. Palmer Chapter looks forward to many more years of continued growth and success.
A. N. Palmer Chapter Awards
Fall 2004 International's "Innovation Rewards Program"
A.N. Palmer's Innovation Reaps Rewards!
Because of our innovative approach and the outstanding participation of A.N. Palmer members in the October IMPACT meeting, the chapter treasury is $100.00 richer! A.N. Palmer not only reaped monetary rewards, but 13 new members (plus one transfer from Division-At-Large). The chapter was then entered into International's "Innovation Rewards Program" and qualified as one of the top 3 chapters that recruited the most new members (not transfers or reinstatements) each month in the 2004-05 year and forwarded the completed Membership Applications with payment to IAAP Headquarters. For the month of November, A.N. Palmer joins the Hawthorn Chapter in Springfield, MO (Missouri Division) and The Polar Chapter in Fairbanks, AK (Washington-Alaska Division) as Innovation Rewards Programs winners. Chapters can win in all 12 months so let's keep the momentum going!
May 2002 Iowa Division
- Chapter with greatest % of members who are CPS/CAP holders
- Chapter with greatest number sitting for CPS/CAP exam in 2001/02
- Best of the Best IMPACT meeting award
May 2001 Iowa Division
- Chapter with greatest % of members who are CPS holders
- Chapter having attained the greatest % of net increase in membership between 5/15/00 – 4/15/01 (46+ chapter size)
- Chapter having reached or surpassed their membership goal for the year
- Best of the Best IMPACT meeting award
July 2000 International Convention in Chicago
- Avery Dennison Award of Excellence
May 2000 Iowa Division
- Chapter with greatest % of members who are CPS holders
- Chapter having attained the greatest percentage of net increase in membership between 5/15/99 – 4/15/00 (46+ chapter size)
- Chapter having the greatest % of members subscribing to Iowa Division Networker
May 1999 Iowa Division
- Chapter with greatest % of members who are CPS holders
May 1998 Iowa Division
- Chapter with greatest % of members who are CPS holders
- Chapter with greatest % of members attending 1998 Iowa Division Meeting
May 1997 Iowa Division
- Chapter with greatest % of members who are CPS holders
- Chapter with greatest % of membership sitting for CPS exam in Nov ’95 and May ‘96
May 1996 Iowa Division
- Chapter with greatest % of members who are CPS holders
- Chapter with greatest % of members sitting for CPS exam in Nov ’94 and May ‘95
May 1995 Iowa Division
- Chapter with greatest % of members who are CPS holders