Jesse,
I don't think the issue is whether RM understands IT or IT understands
RM. It's really language that causes the problems. RM speak and IT
speak are not quite the same though many of the words and concepts sound
identical. People are sure they understand each other because they are
using the same words - and then find out the words are being used to
mean different things.
I can say that because I've been in both worlds. I was a systems
analyst specializing in databases for years before I ended up in library
school at MD taking the archives and records management track.
I started reading the listserv in 2002 and participated for awhile.
Then job demands took me away. I'm back to it now and find it a very
valuable tool for keeping current, asking questions and seeing what
other people are doing.
Does anyone know what happened to Sonny and the Friday flowers?
Susan Fitch Brown
202-493-6142
-----Original Message-----
From: Records Management Program [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Jesse Wilkins
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2008 1:20 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: OT: Introduction of a not quite as old timer
Appears to be the meme - and not strictly RM related, either, so I have
added OT for off-topic to the subject line. Those of you who don't want
to
read messages directly related to the practice of RIM, feel free to
either
delete unread or set up a rule to do it for you.
Now then, let me accept the baton for introductions. My name is Jesse
Wilkins, I live in Denver or your local airport, and I have been a
member of
the list since about early 2003 I believe. I did a search of the list
archives (http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html) and my first
post is
dated July 2003. I haven't been quite as active recently as in the past
but
I look forward to resuming my posting frequency as my current project
wraps
up.
My background includes a seven-year stint in the United States Marine
Corps,
where I served as a cryptologic linguist (Spanish) and drill instructor,
and
a BA in political science. I formally entered the industry in 1997 when
I
joined Information Management Research (IMR) as a software tester for
their
flagship Alchemy document archival and retrieval software. I worked
there
for seven years, with stints in software quality assurance, technical
support, and training, and informal roles in sales support and
professional
services. As their product developed more functionality, including
document
imaging, document management, records management, and email management,
I
developed more experience with those tools and processes and decided to
make
a career of it. I joined AIIM in September 2001 and ARMA in October 2001
and
went to my first conference for each in 2002. I also served as a subject
matter expert for the CompTIA Certified Document Imaging Architech
program
in 2002 as it was updated to the CDIA+, and as a subject matter expert
for
The Association for Work Process Improvement (TAWPI)'s Information
Capture
Professional certification. (I can admit this now because the CDIA+
program
has since been updated, meaning the questions I wrote are no longer on
the
exam, and I no longer teach the ICP program).
I left IMR shortly before their acquisition by Captaris in 2004 to join
IMERGE Consulting, with a focus on imaging and electronic records
management. During my time there I led our efforts to become training
partners with AIIM for the Electronic Records Management and Enterprise
Content Management Certificate Program and delivered a number of public
and
private workshops for both programs.
I spent almost three years at IMERGE before accepting a position this
year
as a Principal Consultant with Access Sciences, a Houston-based
information
management consulting firm. It's a fantastic company, doing a lot of
really
interesting work in a number of areas. </end of sales pitch>
Since joining AIIM and ARMA in 2001, I have been heavily involved in
both
organizations. I have served in a chapter leadership position for the
AIIM
Rocky Mountain Chapter my entire tenure including two stints as
President. I
served on the AIIM International Board of Directors from 2004-2005 and
am
currently in my first year as a Director for ARMA International. I have
also
served on a number of working committees, program committees, and
standards
efforts for both associations.
I have spoken at every AIIM and ARMA conference since 2003 and am
thankful
to have been selected again this year for AIIM 2008 in Boston and ARMA
2008
in Las Vegas. I also speak at about 20 chapters every year including a
couple of ARMA Spring Seminars; I will unfortunately miss Patrick's
session
with Chris Ryan of SpringCM next week because I will be en route to my
own
presentation for ARMA Tulsa and AIIM Oklahoma on the 16th.
So that's my life story. My industry involvement keeps me off the
streets
and has introduced me to some absolutely brilliant people. I cannot
recommend strongly enough the benefits you can get from getting involved
-
and it doesn't have to be on the ARMA Board of Directors. Every chapter
can
use another set of hands, every committee needs help, and even sharing
with
the list can help you, your peers, and the industry and profession as a
whole.
I tend to post most often in three ways. First, I do a lot of
"horizon-scanning" and when I find things I think are either interesting
or
important to this community I post links to them. For example, I have
posted
links to all the Common Craft videos - "Blogs in Plain English", etc.
Second, too often there is a post to the list along the lines of "IT
doesn't
understand RIM because they're too focused on tech and don't know
anything
about business". Not everyone posts that, or agrees with it, but it
happens
often enough. And when it does, I generally take the original post,
replace
"IT" with "records manager", repost it to the list, and am fascinated by
how
many people are offended by it. So you'll see a lot of those. Finally, I
am
very interested in professional development, certificates,
certifications,
training, etc. and am always willing to join an argument about the
merits of
various programs - particularly when they are slagged by people who
haven't
gone through them. (And of course some of you think the same of me when
I
address the CRM program from my non-CRM point of view. )
Finally, I echo Patrick's comment and blog post - don't expect the list
to
do your work for you. And Peter often responds to posts soliciting easy
solutions with a Google search term, for example
http://www.google.com/search?q=email+archiving+solution. I have always
found
the list to be happy to help, but do your basic due diligence first.
And Lurkers are HAPPILY welcomed; so are vendors and consultants, with
the
caveat that you have to play nicely. That means don't spam the list with
your services. When I was teaching classes I announced them to the list
but
I always tried to both minimize my spamming and sales-pitch-ness and
season
it with something RIM-related. Hugh Smith at Firelock is an excellent
example of how vendors can provide exceptional value to the list;
Peter's an
evil vendor as well but you wouldn't be able to tell from his posts.
Anyway, enough for a Saturday - I have deadlines to meet for client work
as
well as speaker stuff to get done. I am always happy to help - and if
you
want help offline feel free to contact me directly at
[log in to unmask]
Cheers to all on a gorgeous Colorado morning,
Jesse Wilkins
[log in to unmask]
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