WESTERN BUREAU — As they celebrated Professional Secretaries’ Week, which ended yesterday, the St James chapter of the Jamaica Association of Secretaries and Administrative Professionals kept their eyes firmly fixed on their work in the community.

They will be donating linen to the St James Infirmary and the Women’s Crisis Centre on Monday; and there are also plans to donate a computer to the School of Hope.

These activities fit in with the group’s long-term objectives of having its members engaged in civic activities while they uplift their profession.

But the chapter, which has grown from 65 to 72 members in the past year, has been hampered by a lack of sponsorship to the organization. However, they have still been able to get projects done, by raising funds through events such as walkathons and bake sales.

Meanwhile, according to chapter president, Dieon Fowler, the role of secretaries has evolved over the years and there has been a name change to reflect this more serious role.

The International Association of Professional Secretaries has changed its moniker to the International Association of Administrative Professionals. And locally, there has been a change from the Jamaica Professional Secretaries’ Association to the Jamaican Association of Secretaries and Administrative Professionals.

“You have to have competence… it’s more than serving coffee. You have to do editing and proofreading,” Fowler said in reference to the sometimes-held perception that a secretary’s role is menial.

“A secretary is the first contact in an organisation. She can create loyalty to an organisation’s customers and help that company generate profits,” she added.

The week’s celebrations staged to mark Professional Secretaries’ Week were held under the theme “The Power of Professionalism”.