Local Virtual Assistant Celebrates Inaugural
International Virtual Assistants Day: May 19, 2006
Ten years ago if any one had told Toronto resident, Maria
Thompson, that the nascent industry that she has been working so
hard to promote would finally receive its own day of
recognition, she probably would not have believed it. Thompson
is a virtual assistant, and she along with more than 5,000 other
virtual professionals working worldwide will celebrate the first
International Virtual Assistants Day (IVAD) on May 19, 2006.
Toronto, ON (PRWEB) April 30, 2006 -- Ten years ago if
any one had told Toronto resident, Maria Thompson, that the
emerging industry that she has been working so hard to promote
would finally receive its own day of recognition, she probably
would not have believed it. Thompson is a virtual assistant, and
she along with more than 5,000 other virtual professionals
working worldwide will celebrate the first International Virtual
Assistants Day (IVAD) on May 19, 2006.
Proposed by the online advocacy group, Alliance for Virtual
Businesses (A4VB), IVAD is now officially registered with Chases
Calendar of Events, the recognized authority of special days,
weeks and months. IVAD will appear in the 2007 edition and will
be held annually on the third Friday of May. The inaugural
celebration of International Virtual Assistants Day coincides
with a three-day assembly sponsored by the Online International
Virtual Assistants Convention (OIVAC) running from May 18 –20,
2006. Virtual Assistants worldwide will display the free IVAD
logo and creed on their websites.
“This day of observance not only allows us to celebrate
individual accomplishments, but also affords us the chance to
pat the backs of our colleagues as well,” says Thompson, whose
company specializes in Executive and Administrative Assistance,
Office Assistance, Project Assistance and Desktop Publishing.
Thompson, a former Business Analyst for the Workplace Safety &
Insurance Board of Ontario, originally conceived the idea for
her business in January of 2005. She started a new career in
order to balance both professional and personal goals.
Virtual Assistants or VAs are independent entrepreneurs who work
remotely and use the latest technology to deliver professional
administrative, creative, managerial, technical, business
back-office and/or personal support services to busy
professionals. Clients only pay for the time actually spent
working on projects and often retain a fixed amount of hours per
month for service. Typical services could include everything
from general secretarial and word processing services to desktop
publishing, website creation and marketing. Projects are often
handled over the phone, by fax, e-mail and even instant
messaging. Most attractive is the fact that VAs are also
responsible for their own taxes, training, healthcare, insurance
- overhead costs that make hiring an employee expensive.
Since 1996 more than 5,000 professionals around the world have
become VAs. More than 90 percent of them are highly-skilled
working mothers who choose to start their own businesses in
order to achieve a better work/life balance. According to a
study conducted by Brenner Books in conjunction with A4VB in
2004, the United States accounts for the largest number of VAs
followed by Canada, Australia and Great Britain.
“This will be a very special day for everyone involved in the VA
industry because it will allow us to bring together all VA
organizations and their memberships under one umbrella,” says
Alliance for Virtual Businesses founder Sharon Williams. “VAs
are making important contributions to the growth and stability
of small businesses everywhere, and the establishment of IVAD
simply acknowledges all of those virtual professionals who work
so hard to honor our creed: Dedication, Experience, Expertise
and Determination to Succeed (DEEDS).”
About Office Help To Go
Launched in 2005, Office Help To Go specializes in
Executive/Administrative Assistance, Office Assistance, Desktop
Publishing and Project Assistance. Her clients are located in
Canada and the United states and include Business Writers,
Consultants, Local Small Business Owners, and Business Coaches.
Visit her website at www.OfficeHelpToGo.com.
About Alliance for Virtual Businesses
Established in June 2003 the Alliance for Virtual Businesses™ is
a volunteer-directed organization, whose primary mission is to
promote the growth of free enterprise between virtual
assistants, entrepreneurs, small businesses, corporations,
associations and other business entities. Client-related case
studies, industry-related demographics, and a wealth of other
types of information are available at their web site to
facilitate learning about our industry. Visit the website at
www.allianceforvirtualbiz.com.
About Online International Virtual Assistants Convention
The OIVAC is an online, interactive, "live" yet virtual
environment convention of Virtual Assistants traveling Pathways
to Successful VA Practices. Visit the website at www.oivac.com.
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