OGuru -- to answer your question, in my case, it's not easy at all.  I'm actually taking a risk by attempting to "break ranks" like this.  In most cases, the career path for admins is to remain in a support position for higher level managers.  But around here, that doesn't necessarily include more involvement in decision-making or planning.  

It's a mindset thing.  It's difficult to get The Powers That Be to see the support staff in this organization as anything other than the person who answers the phone and does the filing, even though the overwhelming majority of us do FAR more than that.  

The job I'm interested in is an "Assistant Director", which sounds like a big jump, but is really only one salary step above my current level.  (go figure) So it's not unreasonable from that standpoint.  As I said earlier, I'm hoping TPTB will look at the details of my resume and not just the AA title (which I'm forced to use, because it's internal so I can't NOT put down what my official title is.)

If it's the right thing, it will happen.  If not, I'm happy where I am -- except for the benefits debacle.....