On Feb 5, 2009, at 12:00 AM, RECMGMT-L automatic digest system wrote:

> Subject: RAINdrop SOX and IT
>
>
> Yesterday I received the following link for an article titled "What  
> is the
> impact of Sarbanes-Oxley on IT operations?". I think all should  
> read the
> article for the misinformation it puts forth
> least among the misinformation is the following statement
>
> "Sarbanes-Oxley regulations require that all of an enterprise's  
> electronic
> records be retained for five years"
>
> http://shrinkster.com/1462


As records have moved to a more electronic platform, the concept of  
protecting them seems to have gone away.

As back up tapes are eliminated at some companies, they fail to  
insert a real back up program. All corporate knowledge is on line at  
all time making it vulnerable.

Old time records managers knew about protecting records and the vault  
was part of the plan.  Vital Records were protected. Those days are  
gone.

All we read about now is 16 different varieties of failure.  This is  
odd since the laws have become so strict about losses.  Don't you  
think this is odd??

Records managers had a voice and could have seized the high ground  
but this did not occur in the majority of corporations because there  
was no trade association support .

Management does not look to the RM as there is no need, there are 100  
free magazine articles floating across their computer screen daily;  
providing all the knowledge they seek......   FREE!!!

ARMA failed to capture the high ground at a critical  
moment..........when Sarbanes Oxley and other legislation such as   
Rule 26, ESI and so on; spoke about protecting records.

ARMA is no longer about promoting the role of the records manager, it  
is about promoting the trade organization, the conference which  
brings in money; and, selling all the books and guidelines in their  
book store.

ARMA should have used its position to promote records management  
outside of its own membership.  If an ARMA President comes in  that  
wants to fix things, ARMA's trade association waits them out and in a  
few months they are gone. I think the time has come for ARMA to put a  
records manager as the head of the organization with a five year paid  
contract.  And that position is renewed based solely on the ability  
of that officer to promote the RM in the business publications. Spend  
your dollars positioning articles in other publications.  Eliminate  
your own magazine as it does not help you.  No one other than RM's  
read it.  Spend this money on Internet articles and PR WEB and  
submitting articles to magazines read by Board Members and CEO's.   
This will advance the industry and raise the value of your position  
in the industry.

Create a strike force to reply to articles like the one above and  
point out the errors and the organization that has the proper  
knowledge on this topic. Polish the image of records management and  
information management.

All your marketing money is spent on attracting exhibitors to the  
annual Conference so the trade organization that ARMA has become will  
continue to raise money.  While their salaries go up, the career RM's  
salary does not keep pace.  There is something wrong there.


Hugh Smith
FIRELOCK Fireproof Modular Vaults
[log in to unmask]
(610)  756-4440    Fax (610)  756-4134
WWW.FIRELOCK.COM

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