Ways and Means

For information on purchasing the Dignity and Poise print or notecards please contact me at  maggieliz@newwavecomm.net

Dignity and Poise

In 1968, as an artist spoke at a regular meeting of the Hopkinsville Chapter, National Secretaries Association, International, one of the Chapter members conceived an idea.  If artists had captured so much of past eras, beauty of wildlife, and symbolic ideals of other professions, why then could NSA not also show the world what the secretarial profession wanted most to exemplify.

That idea kept rekindling through the years until it became a real mind's image.  From the beginning it was labeled "Dignity and Poise."  In the spring of 1978, the membership granted approval for the artist search to begin.  The time was right for an artist, primarily noted for his religious paintings, agreed to think and pray about accepting the commission.  At the end of two weeks he agreed to accept the challenge, and two months later unveiled the finished canvas.

Through the years of dreaming, the items to be used had been found.  Of prominent position should be a typewriter.  The one to be used had quite a story to tell.  Thirty years ago the Methodist Assembly in Louisville decided to establish a training school for Methodist women.  When the school was opened, the Methodist congregations refused to let their young ladies attend saying it was "unladylike!"  The new equipment was sold.  A ministerial student, despite much objection from his bride, purchased this typewriter for $5.  The young student years later was sent as pastor of the Hopkinsville Methodist Circuit.  He served as pastor to several members of the Hopkinsville Chapter.  Now deceased, he left the typewriter to his son, Samuel Henninger, who uses it in his funeral home today.

The telephone was and still is a very important part of a secretary's job.  Although we consider the touch-tone one of the newest models today, it was actually first used in 1892.  However, the candlestick model of 1919 (and yes, they did have dials then) best portrays Dignity and Poise.  The Hopkinsville Chapter deeply appreciates the cooperation of Mr. Les Bloom of South Central Bell who obtained the phone for us.

The ink well has been in the family of one of our members for many years and I'm sure has furnished ink for words of love and heartbreak, success and failure, profits and losses.

The rose, long the NSA flower, is the love of one member whose dreams include a fresh rose on her desk every day.  This red silk rose was sent as a Valentine gift from a daughter in pre-medicine with a promissory note of one fresh red rose every day when her medical practice is established.

The lead crystal paper clip holder was used in the old Kentucky-Tennessee Utility Company and it holds 51 paper clips.  The number represents the membership of the Hopkinsville Chapter.  Each member was given one of the clips when the painting was finished.  The two clips on the side were presented to our Kentucky Division and International Presidents.  The clips also are representative of our Chapter Bulletin logo "The Link" which depicts the clips linking together the structure of NSA.

The shorthand pad and pencil have always been an intrinsic part of every secretary's life.  The pencil was used by the artist to sign the print.

The eraser has been used by all people, but the Hopkinsville Chapter thinks of it as a symbol of all mistakes we can erase by continuing our education throughout life.

The NSA pin belongs to our 1977-78 Chapter President.  It is our interpretation of the secretary's Good Housekeeping stamp of approval.

Inasmuch as the Webster dictionary was the first dictionary approved by the secretarial profession, we chose to have it nearby.

Inscribed on the pad is the quotation of Samuel Johnson, "Excellence in any profession can be attained only by the work of a lifetime."  Not only do we wish to achieve excellence in our profession, but we hope to achieve professional recognition for all secretaries with Dignity and Poise.