It was great to drop in to the Brisbane Forum this morning to chat with 10 Queensland-based AAPO members.  And I did it from the comfort (although it is bitterly cold here in Melbourne) of my own home office.  It was a great opportunity to speak to our members and find out how AAPO can help them more.  Here are a few of the things we talked about -

• business and client triumphs and trials
• the upcoming AAPO AGM and elections
• AAPO's social media advancements
• National Organising Week
• an upcoming article in Cleo magazine
• new member benefits to be announced soon
• AAPO's potential sponsors
• the benefits of volunteering in AAPO

This evening, all going well with technology, I'll be visiting the Northern Beaches (Sydney) Forum.  I wonder what we'll be talking about?  If you'd like to have me visit your Forum, just drop me a line at president@aapo.org.au

:) Angela Esnouf, AAPO President

What a week it's been for AAPO!  First off, let me say a big thank you to the committee for their dedication and commitment.  Our latest meeting was a marathon, a record length.  We achieved lots of worthwhile forward planning and revision.

Here are just some of the topics covered - the upcoming election, the future of our newsletter/s, the 2010 survey, an exciting new member benefit, next year's conference location and AAPO's Facebook presence.  As well, we covered some nitty gritty behind the scenes but necessary topics, like accounting software, membership numbers and an update on our Forums.

Besides the committee meeting, there were many other AAPO happenings.  We've had good registrations, taking advantage of the Early Bird rate.  The Forum leaders met for their usual planning and development session.  The PR subcommittee is working hard on media releases and planning for National Organising Week.  The website subcommittee worked on AAPO's social media presence and tweaks to the website.  And of course, Debra is always busy with many enquiries, accounting, administrative responsibilities and welcoming our new members.

Again, a big thank you to all who contribute to making AAPO the peak body for Professional Organisers in Australasia.

AAPO launched its Facebook presence today and we'd love for you to come connect with us there.

Visit us here and hopefully you will "like" what you see.

One of the best things about going to industry conferences is meeting and hanging out with colleagues from around the world.  One of those colleagues is the opening keynote speaker for the AAPO conference in Christchurch in September, Dorothy Breininger.  Dorothy is an industry leader and contributor, an author, 2005 United States Small Business Association Award Winner and most recently, producer and expert organizer on the TV show, Hoarders.  For all that, Dorothy still has plenty of time to connect with all those at the NAPO conference, leaders and newbies alike.  A thoroughly delightful woman, who is genuinely excited to be coming to share her experiences with her AAPO colleagues.

Julie Bestry gives a great review of the NAPO Conference on Janet Barclay's Organized Assistant blog.  If you want to know what goes on, the ins and outs, the fun and learning of a NAPO conference, read on.

And if you're in two minds about whether or not to commit to the AAPO conference, take it from me - someone who has attended a few conferences lately - AAPO's annual conference stacks up!  Apart from the numbers in attendance there is very little difference between AAPO and NAPO as far as conferences go.  Both are quality all the way.  Catch the conference fever and book before Early Bird registrations close on May 31st.  Click here to find out more.

AAPO is only as strong as its members.  We are an internationally-recognised not-for-profit industry association, run solely by and for its members.  We are ably assisted by just one Virtual Administrator, who takes care of the day to day administrative tasks related to the running of AAPO.  The rest of our many functions - policy, PR, accreditation, conference organisation, budgeting and finance, sponsorship, newsletters, corporate alliances, marketing, member benefits, National Organising Week, professional development and more - involve dedicated members, giving their time and expertise.  Thank you members!

There are always positions available for short- and long-term positions within AAPO.  One of the great things about organisers is that if they see something that needs doing, they get in and do it.

And you don't have to be a volunteer to contribute to AAPO's growth, development and prosperity.  From time to time we conduct surveys to enable us to make decisions based on our members' wishes.  The most recent of these has been about the location of the 2011 AAPO conference.  Even 3 minutes of a member's time can make a difference.

All this is just one of the reasons I am such a big fan of our industry association.

The NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) Annual Conference will take place later this month, and AAPO will be represented there.  I'll be travelling to Columbus, Ohio, for the event, attended by around 800 other Professional Organisers.  While there, I'll be meeting with other heads of Professional Organising associations, as well as reporting back to our AAPO members on emerging trends, new thinking and products, and the organising scene in the US.

Want to attend the NAPO conference yourself? It's not too late to register.  Click here to reserve your place.

The April edition of the AAPO Newsletter is out now.  Don't get it but would love keep up with news in the organising world?  Simply sign up here.

I'd like to thank Kat Tate, our dedicated newsletter editor, who is handing in her "red pen" and hanging up her Editor-in-Chief hat.  Thanks for the energy and ideas you've brought to the position.  All AAPO members and other subscribers have benefitted from your work.

Next month we'll have a new editor and I look forward to having Leslee Stroud on the AAPO team.

AAPO has today taken another big step.  Today was the first meeting of the Virtual Forum, ably led by Narelle Todd.  It's another way AAPO delivers for its members.  AAPO members come from far and wide and not all can make it to the large cities for a face-to-face Forum meeting.  The Virtual Forum now meets their needs, offering connectedness and education on a regular basis.  Thank you Narelle for your time and Congratulations to those who attended the first meeting of the Virtual Forum.  It's an historic moment.

Last week was another productive and busy week behind the scenes at AAPO. 

• Registrations opened for the annual conference, and bookings are already being received
• The PR sub-committee met, created a great media release, developed some ideas for National Organising Week and more
• The AAPO Executive Committee met
• We started reviewing the member survey results
• The Chapter Leaders met (and that’s the last time we’ll call them that)
• The website sub-committee met to discuss fine-tuning to the new website
• New links were added to AAPO News on the website
• Our newsletter editor started assembling the March issue
• And lots more

Not bad for just one week.  I hope yours is as productive.