This is a most interesting stream of discussion, but disappointing as well.  
Our profession has been a growing and accepted concept since records 
management  made its official debut following the Hoover Commission Study. ARMA has now 
been  in operation over 50 years. One would anticipate a greater feeling of  
accomplishment and stature than evidenced by some of the comments. Our  
profession has always been a combination of individual confidence/pride and  
organizational support (both where we work and through our professional  
association). Any position today is one of challenge and "silver spoons" are not  the norm 
in any organization so let's see a bit more individual conviction in  what we 
do and its competitive position and cooperative efforts with other  
disciplines. There is no magic potion coming down the pike. RIM has established  
concepts that have been proven and will continue to be needed by management in  any 
endeavor. Sure, the competencies study will be valuable. Hopefully, they  will 
expand upon previous studies and provide meaningful benchmarks for  
professional definition. But it is still the individual, his/her dedication and  
understanding of RIM that provides the real competitive edge and position in our  
respective organizations. Thanks to the electronic age we have hundreds of  
packages available today that try to tell us how to do our job, but their true  
value is dependent upon our RIM knowledge, our appraisal of their  application, 
and what we want to accomplish for our ourselves and our  employers.
 
There have also been some interesting suggestion made regarding the  
promotion and advance of our profession. I'm certain from responses that the  needed 
ears are attentive.
 
Bill Benedon, CRM, FAI
Founding Member of ARMA

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