GLA ARMA Benefits & Services

Within business, governmental and academic communities the Association for Records and Information Management Professionals (ARMA International) is a well known and respected professional organization. Most businesses and institutions are aware of the value of ARMA International’s efforts to enhance management’s control of information through such means as:

• Their highly regarded publication Information Management Journal (formerly Records Management Quarterly)
• Their annual conference's variety of educational sessions and state of the art technological displays
• Hosting regional seminars on topics of current interest
• The aid granted to students pursuing a career in records management and to institutions offering courses in this area of study

Within business, governmental and academic communities the Association for Records and Information Management Professionals (ARMA International) is a well known and respected professional organization. Most businesses and institutions are aware of the value of ARMA International’s efforts to enhance management’s control of information through such means as: Their highly regarded publication Information Management Journal (formerly Records Management Quarterly) Their annual conference's variety of educational sessions and state of the art technological displays Hosting regional seminars on topics of current interest The aid granted to students pursuing a career in records management and to institutions offering courses in this area of study It is not surprising that some have asked:"Isn’t ARMA International providing all the help with records management that we need? What is the purpose of a local ARMA chapter such as Greater Los Angeles (GLA ARMA)? Do we really need to join the local chapter as well as ARMA International?"

If your interest in records and information management is casual or purely academic, membership in ARMA International alone might be sufficient. There may be little point in your reading the rest of this information:

• Unless your interest in records management is practical
• Unless you need to talk with someone about how to best handle the reams of paper that your copiers, printers and fax machines generate
• Unless you need to know how best to convert your paper files to microfilm or optical disk files indexed by computer
• Unless you want to see some of the new records or information management systems in actual operation locally
• Unless you would like some assurance that, should a disaster occur, there will be a local ARMA chapter with members who can provide quick counsel, technical expertise and a willingness to roll up their sleeves and help salvage your endangered records

Education

• Workshops prior to dinner meetings
• Dinner and luncheon meeting speakers
• Records and Information Management Tours
• Half-day, one-day & two-day seminars
• Regional leadership education conferences and seminars
• ARMA International technical publications
• Fast Track Records and Information Management professional training
• Chapter lending library of technical books, meeting videos and member’s professional presentation tools

Monthly meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month, September through June. The Chapter's monthly meetings serve a dual purpose. First, the meetings feature a variety of relevant topics that enlighten our membership in all areas of records and information management, from basic "how-to's" to state of the art technological advances in the industry. At each meeting, guest experts speak (and often provide workshops) on subjects of current interest. Second, the meetings give attendees an opportunity to get to know others in related jobs, to discuss mutual needs and to build the framework for effective networking relationships.

Local Chapter seminars cover a variety of subjects. Basic records management sessions are available for those who have no previous training but who have nevertheless found themselves suddenly responsible for managing an organization's records. Advanced sessions on specialized topics such as managing electronic records, vital records and disaster recovery are available for those who have been in the field longer. Topics of a more general nature, such as office automation and management strategies also are offered.

Networking

Membership in GLA ARMA provides the opportunity to meet others in the same field. Our membership includes industry leaders as well as individuals new to records management. The membership offers quick access to knowledge acquired by other Southern California records managers. GLA ARMA can boast that many of the forerunners of the records management industry are long standing members of our Chapter. The answers to questions about records retention, disaster plans, setting up an automated filing system and even which kind of folder labels to use are no farther away than your Chapter roster and a phone call to a colleague.

• Monthly Chapter publications including our award winning monthly News & Views newsletter
• ARMA International pamphlets and a technical publications listing
• Notices of upcoming meetings
• Extra membership applications to pass along to others interested in joining the Chapter

• Monthly dinner or lunch meetings
• Industry Specific Groups (ISGs) for members of a particular industry to exchange ideas and solve common problems. The eleven major groups are:
  • Consumer Services
  • Contracting
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Entertainment
  • Financial Services
  • Government, Canada
  • Government, United States
  • Health
  • Legal
  • Product and Technical Services
• ISG newsletters and membership rosters
• ISG seminars and conferences

Newsletter
Our Chapter publishes a newsletter covering information of interest to members. It contains jobs listed with our Chapter's job clearinghouse, upcoming events and seminars of interest to records managers, articles from members on current topics and summaries of our monthly meetings. This keeps members abreast of the information available from the board of directors.

Industry Specific Groups
GLA ARMA promotes the participation in Industry Specific Groups (ISGs), which assist members of a particular industry in exchanging ideas and solving common problems. At the international level, these ISGs are coordinated by ARMA International which publishes newsletters and information bulletins with a worldwide readership. The local Chapter ISGs, which often meet monthly, complement these activities and provide a continual and more immediate forum for the exchange of ideas and concerns.

For working records or information managers, GLA ARMA membership provides both valuable networking resources and an indispensable database of information required in day to day operations.

Certification

The Institute of Certified Records Management (ICRM) sets eligibility for obtaining Certified Records Manger (CRM) designation, administers the application and testing of Records Management candidates and administers a continuing 5 year cycle re-certification program.

Professionalism

GLA ARMA members foster the development of professionalism through the ARMA Code of Ethics, the setting of professional standards of business conduct, commitment to helping members and a pledge to continue professional and technical education.

In keeping with our long standing tradition of community involvement, GLA ARMA has been involved in numerous community projects.

GLA ARMA is dedicated to increasing the value of our chapter members to their respective organizations and to sustained leadership in Southern California, ARMA International and the Greater Los Angeles area.