I've been thinking about this topic for months ever since the conference.  I agree with all of the comments and in particular Stimmy's and Sharon's.  

The conference was disappointing with the emphasis on IG.  RM was almost an afterthought which I guess I should have expected. I won't bore everyone with the details except say only a couple of sessions were about records management, the best was given by Tina Torres. Many of the vendors were were selling "IG solutions" - reminded me of the knowledge management phase. Since the conference I can't tell you the number of vendors emailing me about their IG products - fill up my trash box.  

The biggest turn off for me was the luncheon on the last day which was essentially a dog and pony show for the virtues of the IGP.  I got up and headed back to PA very disillusioned.   The organization that has been a big part of my professional life since the early 90's is but a shell of what it use to be.

I believe at the last morning session Bob Baird, who is the new CEO, said that in his mind ARMA represents both the RM and IG communities. In my opinion I just don't see how you can represent two different professions especially when by all counts one is trying to assimilate/ convert the other.  

My membership is up for renewal and for the first since 1993 when I joined I may not send a check or asking one from my employer.  I find this to believe but I just don't see any benefits. ARMA's leadership needs to take a hard look at who it's real constituency is and let the members know. Be honest with us since we are paying some of the bills - that's all I ask.  If you really don't think records management is the future tell me.  I can find another organization to send my money too.

Bruce
Sent from my iPad

> On Mar 3, 2016, at 7:41 AM, Sharon Burnett <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> My disclosure - I am on the board for the Greater Seattle Chapter of ARMA and the Pacific NW Region of AIIM. Long time member of both organizations.
> 
> All organizations are experiencing serious drops in membership. To survive you'd better offer something worth joining. I see serious gaps in ARMA and AIIM. Flame me if you'd like, but it's the truth. In respect to ARMA, at the Chapter level, I think we're doing some great things. National not so much. Having recently attended the national conferences for both associations I did prefer AIIM, but I really could visualize the 2 organizations combining forces.
> 
> I think ARMA is really missing the mark with all this IG stuff. Call it what you will, meat and potatoes RIM stuff is still relevant so long at it moves into the modern world. Technology isn't going away. 
> 
> Professionally I want to network and share. I am finding with my hobbies (dogs & vintage Porsches) that social networking is the more valuable tool. I maintain my national club memberships, but I really don't need to anymore. 

List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance
To unsubscribe from this list, click the below link. If not already present, place UNSUBSCRIBE RECMGMT-L or UNSUB RECMGMT-L in the body of the message.
mailto:[log in to unmask]