National Association of Professional Organizers

The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO, pronounced NAY-poh) is a United States professional association headquartered at Mount Laurel, New Jersey dedicated to the field of organizing.

NAPO has over 4000 members, including members living in Canada, Japan, Australia, and more. NAPO’s current tagline, The Organizing Authority, demonstrates their professionalism, expertise and service to those in the organizing field. Today the mission of NAPO is to “develop, lead, and promote professional organizers and the professional organizing industry.” [1]

NAPO has a strategic alliance with associations in related fields worldwide. NAPO has formed a partnership with National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM), Professional Organizer in Canada (POC), and Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD).

History

In 1983, a group of women in Los Angeles gathered together when realizing they shared a common interest – organizing people’s homes, businesses and time. All of these women shared an entrepreneurial passion for helping others get organized. They started the Association for Professional Organizers (APO) and continued to meet regularly in their homes.

In January 1986, the group had grown to 16 women who formally created a non-profit association that would meet regularly, collect dues, adopt bylaws and be run by a board of directors. The six original officers were Beverly Clower, Stephanie Culp, Ann Gambrell, Maxine Ordesky, and Jeanie Shorr. This was officially the beginning of the National Association of Professional Organizers, (NAPO), (pronounced NAY-poh), as we know today. [2]

Education for professional organizers

NAPO's Professional Organizer Curriculum teaches current and prospective professional organizers skills needed in various levels of expertise. Through training, NAPO members become experts in various facets of professional organizing, including residential,[3] office, business,[4] time management, paper management,[5] bookkeeping, downsizing, and, relocations.

The Certified Professional Organizer

The professional organizing industry has a certification program that is operated under the auspices of the Board of Certification for Professional Organizers (BCPO).[6] The Certified Professional Organizer (CPO) designation is a voluntary, industry-led effort that benefits the public and members of the organizing profession.[7]

To be eligible, candidates must meet specific [eligibility requirements], including completion of 1,500 hours of paid work experience within the last three years.

NAPO’s Get Organized Month SM

NAPO sponsors [Get Organized (GO) Month] every January. GO Month, which began in 2005, is dedicated to raising awareness of the benefits of getting organized and of hiring a NAPO professional organizer. During GO Month, NAPO’s dozens of chapters and thousands of members hold public events, including shred-a-thons, [clear your clutter days], reduce-and-recycle events and volunteer organizing throughout the country.

Each year, NAPO also conducts a GO Month survey with members of the public to gauge their familiarity with professional organizing as well as their perceived need for the services a professional organizer can provide. These surveys are an excellent way for NAPO to collect data regarding public perception of the profession and educate the public about the benefits of professional organizing.

Of 400 adults polled in a November 2008 survey:

• About 85 percent indicated an awareness of what professionals do

• 96 percent said they would save time every day by becoming more organized

• Among those 96 percent, 15 percent felt they could save more than an hour each day—for a total of more than 15 days per year—if they were more organized at home. And 30 percent felt they could save at least 30 minutes each day—or more than an entire week per year—if they were more organized at home

• 65 percent of respondents noted that their household was at least moderately disorganized

• 27 percent said they felt disorganized at work

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.napo.net/who/
  2. ↑ http://www.napo.net/who/history/
  3. ↑ http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/feb/08/1h08clutterm234314-quit-messing-around-get-rid-all/?home
  4. ↑ http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/06/news/companies/kimes_audi.fortune/
  5. ↑ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122049881263298243.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
  6. ↑ http://www.napo.net/our_profession/certified.aspx
  7. ↑ http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/02/11/cb.jobs.certification/

External links

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