My name is Sarah Leigh Jones. In January 1982, I joined IAAP at which time it was known as Professional Secretaries International (PSI). When we chartered as the Southside Chapter there were professional ladies from Suffolk, Smithfield and Franklin with many different professions.

My profession has changed many times which has been most interesting. I have been a professional secretary in the public and private schools for 25 years and for the past 22 years I have been an administrative assistant with politicians in the Senate of Virginia during General Assembly in Richmond. My jobs have included working with many people. In school you learned how to respond to your principal, the students, the teachers, the parents, and answering the phone--all at one time. In the political world, your senator, the lobbyists, and the visitors that come to your desk in groups of ten while the telephone is ringing. They call that multi-tasking today. At the present time I am having fun being a commentator at fashion shows. Each one of these areas requires professional etiquette which is a very important quality to have and is at the top of my list. Being a member of IAAP, you learn that good manners, a good attitude and good social skills have to be one of your goals. "A smile a day puts wrinkles in the right places."