Sue, thank you. You have provided a platform for discussing some very  
significant issues about ARMA and its international activities. I sincerely hope  
you receive some responses. The Task Force report should be read to understand  
what is happening. Forgive me if my answer is a bit lengthy, I am very 
concerned  about the direction being taken. 
What does internationalism mean to you, as North American Members?  
Internationalism to me means a spirit or policy of cooperation and mutual  
understanding with individuals and organizations throughout the world.  Individuals and 
organizations that have a primary interest in records and  information 
management and its related disciplines 
Do you think that increasing international membership will assist you?  For 
the sake of numbers, NO! For the purpose of establishing meaningful contacts  
and resources, Yes!  But it has not  worked that way. Who are our international 
members? What is their involvement in  RIM.  You don’t find significant  
foreign publications (in English) mentioned by ARMA. Like many other ARMA  members 
I have presented seminars worldwide. These have resulted in published  books 
and articles in Japanese, Portuguese, and French. I am certain this is  also 
true of other speakers. When the IRMC published Glossaries in German,  French, 
Spanish, Portuguese, and Japanese, they were never even mentioned by  ARMA. 
Internationalism is not only ARMA generated or marketed publications. The  Task 
Force action plan does not address this issue. 
Do you think that collaboration between the ICA and ARMA is useful? Of  
course! So is collaboration with RMAA (Australasia), BRMS (Great Britain) RSJ  
(Japan). Remember, it was The RMAA that was responsible for the development of  
ISO15489, The ICA has put out some excellent studies on records management and  
electronic records. The Australian government has published some very valuable 
 studies on the application of ISO15489 as has the Records Management Society 
of  Great Britain. Yet, we can’t get a meaningful presentation on the subject 
from  HQ for chapter use. What happens to the presentations made at the ICA 
or the  Conference International Day?. 
Do you think that ARMA should become the international umbrella for the  
records profession? Absolutely not! Why did it withdraw from the IRMC when all  
the other associations supported the concept? “Global thought leader in RIM?  
What does that mean? According to the Beacon report, which makes no mention of  
international RIM, ARMA needs to undertake a major branding effort, it needs 
to  establish better relationships with its chapters, and it needs an IBM 
stature.  Sounds like our international program (with, of course, consultant 
assistance)  is putting the cart before the horse. 
What role do you think ARMA might play in internationalism?  A critical issue 
not addressed by the  task force. Evident by the singular representation on 
the Task Force by an  international member. I would think that the ambassadors 
would be a critical  part of this study. The budgetary aspects of the 
suggested approach have not  been identified. Is there an international relations 
balance sheet?  How is the current $50,000 international  budget with no revenues 
(plus other cost not reflected) explained?  Chapters now underwrite LINC  
memberships. LINC people are now asking for support to attend the conference.  
Will national offer a discount price or share the cost with chapters? Economics  
are a critical part of the international scene. In its sharing role with AIIM, 
 has ARMA discussed with then the AIIM international experience? 
Allocation of fund. I have been a member of ICA for many years. Their  Comma 
publication is excellent. It has multi-lingual articles. Its newsletter is  in 
English and French. I have also purchased materials from Australia and Great  
Britain. I do not advocate an every language approach, or the conversion of 
all  publications. A query of our current international members would have been 
a  valuable guide in many of the issues covered by your questions and in the 
Task  Force study.  
Sue, I guess it would be interesting to ask international members on  their 
reaction to global thought leader. 
Bill Benedon 

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