Or that you joined us on Wednesday, April 23rd for our ARMA Houston Chapter monthly meeting held during the conference. All of these were opportunities for professional development during the conference this year!

Why not step out of the box and boost your professional development by participating with the two major RIM outreach projects we are sponsoring for the Houston Symphony? Earlier in the year, Linda Williams brought an opportunity to the ARMA Houston Chapter that we wholeheartedly embraced! The Houston Symphony was hit by devastating floods during Alicia and needs experienced volunteers to help process and copy flood-damaged news clippings, press releases, contracts, and artist files. They also need some professional expertise in completing their records retention schedules and related policies to establish a firm foundation for their records and information management program. Do you have a song in your heart or a love of music to volunteer with ARMA Houston and The Houston Symphony with this assignment? The project team is lead by Robin Thompson and she is looking for some great folks to help our Symphony recreate their legacy of music.

Another project that we are looking for assistance with is for the Texas Medical Center. The Texas Medical Center is a pillar institution of medical history and achievement and a shining star for the Greater Houston Area. This not-for-profit organization needs RIM professional volunteers to develop a strategic plan for implementing a solid records and information management program for their electronic records. If you are interested in expanding your professional development by volunteering to work with the experienced team of records managers from the ARMA Houston Chapter – please contact Judy Sitton, CRM.

Be Prepared to Be Successful – Stay involved with the ARMA Houston Chapter! We appreciate the opportunity to provide outstanding opportunities to enhance your professional development.

ARMA Houston Chapter

2007-2008 Board of Directors
Be Prepared To Be Successful!

I will never forget that road trip (keep in mind there are no freeways in the U.P., my freeway driving experience was extremely limited). I hit every major city during rush hour (Minneapolis, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Dallas). When I finally got to Houston, I got lost and ended up on the 610 Loop – after going around the Loop for the SECOND TIME, I finally got off the freeway.

Patti has two sons, both in college. Douglas is at UNT in Denton and Andrew just started Wharton Junior College and will transfer to UNT in the fall. Right now, I am actually looking forward to the “empty nest” but I am sure when it finally gets here, I will not be as welcoming it with open arms.

Patti always knew she wanted to be a legal secretary. While attending Davenport College of Business, she worked two jobs -- as an RA in her dorm and as an entry-level legal secretary for a law firm. When she moved to Houston in 1980, she worked for Shell in their legal department. Missing the law firm environment, she left Shell and went to work for Griggs & Harrison (where she first met Robin Thompson).

Twenty years later, and by this time, tired of trial lawyers, Patti made the move to Baker Hughes. It seemed, however, the need for increased challenges continued. Two promotions later, Patti found herself in her current position as a Record Control Specialist. I have definitely found my niche! I am very fortunate to be in a position to truly make a difference. My stress level has increased, but the rewards and sense of accomplishment are immeasurable! Even though I am a records department of one, I have my PacoTech team right there with me along for the ride and because of Julie and her team, that ride becomes less and less bumpy!

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When not working, Patti is studying and doing school work. My life has definitely changed since I returned to college. Sleep is now a luxury! Patti graduated from West Iron County High School in Iron River, MI and attended Davenport College of Business in Grand Rapids, MI. She recently completed her Bachelor’s in Business Administration, with a concentration in Project Management. Since then, Patti says “I am looking forward to reading a book for pleasure again, cooking, hanging out with my sons, and having a clean house!! But I doubt it will last long because next on the agenda is my goal of obtaining the CRM certification.”

When asked about how Patti feels that she has benefited from ARMA, she says “ARMA provides a roadmap for success. ARMA Houston has equipped me with the tools necessary to achieve that success. “There is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs” (author unknown). I look at ARMA Houston and its members as the stairs. Actively participating allows me to climb those stairs--one step at a time.

In fact, I am not sure that she will remember this, but Gayle Page is the person who told me about ARMA Houston and I attended my first meeting in October 2004. I was immediately certain that this was the organization in which I wanted to actively participate that I joined the next day. The first person I met at that meeting was Brenda Clements – who made me feel right at home! Patti immediately got involved by volunteering to introduce speakers at the Houston Conference. Since then, she has served on several committees, including Seminars, Corporate Outreach, Mock Trial, and the 2007 Conference Arrangements. Patti is presently serving as the Committee Manager of External Seminars (Langemo in June), co-Manager of the Professional, Corporate & Community Outreach Committee, and Registration Committee Manager for the 2008 Conference Committee.

 
Patti has also recently been assumed the responsibilities of Committee Manager of Archives. She also coordinated the ARMA Houston Committee Summary Forms which highlight the skill sets and core competency requirements of the various committees.

There are many ARMA Houston members who have impacted my professional and personal life! Leaders lead by example and several ARMA Houston members have unknowingly mentored me in the area of leadership. But when it comes to records management, PacoTech is my mentor. Whether it’s Gayle offering advice and wisdom, Judy imparting her encyclopedic knowledge, or Julie – one of the most effective, proficient and skilled consultants I have the pleasure to work with and one of the few people who can keep me calm without saying a word (unless we’re driving the mountains of Virginia), I would not be where I am today without them!

"There is no elevator to success.
You have to take the stairs."
(Author Unknown)

Lucky Number Search Each issue of the ARMAdilla features an ARMA Houston member's number. All you need to do is read through the issue and find your member number to become a lucky winner! Winners should contact Nancy Ramirez @ nancy.ramirez@exxonmobil.com to claim their prize. Good luck!

ARMA Houston Board of Director Leadership News

Leadership Lonely?

Submitted by: Jim Dixon, Houston Chapter

Leaders … Where do they come from?

I may be showing my age, but a question in an old Beatles song asks a similar set of questions: Where do they all come from and where do they all belong? You may remember that the subject of these questions was “all the Lonely People.” It has also been said over and over again that “it’s lonely at the top.” So, is it then safe to say that leaders are at the top and by being there; they must be lonely? Not necessarily.

Strong leaders who surround themselves with other strong co-leaders will probably enjoy the comfort that they are not to be counted in “all the lonely people” category. So, where do strong co-leaders come from? Usually they are from the category known as the “movers and the shakers group” and not the “we’ll get to it some day group.” Movers and shakers enjoy getting to the results and will share the limelight with others of the same destiny. The “get to it some day group” usually find that they are in slim company and wonder why they don’t get any assistance in their destiny.

Leaders (our movers and shakers) usually stir up the status quo. They are sometimes referred to as the agitators. The “wait and see crowd” are often agitated by those who do have direction, who can rally supporters, who actually get the job done, who arrive at the top and are in good company.

The moral of this story is that strong leaders belong next to others who share their strength and are not threatened by success, regardless of where the ideas come from. Another truism is that if one is certainly a leader; there will be those who follow and enjoy being in that similar company of leaders and will not be one of those …"all the lonely people."

Submitted by: Linda Williams, Houston Chapter

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• 31% for small companies.
  
• 32% report to Administrative Services,
  
• 27% to General Counsel/Compliance, and
  
• 25% to Information Technology.
  
• 51% of the respondents made at least $90K with the average annual salary in the U.S. to be just under $95K.

If you’re not already, don’t you want to be part of the above numbers the next time the ICRM conducts this survey? Any of our CRM’s would be more than happy to help you achieve this goal.

Question of the Month:

Q. How important is “Declaring a Record” in the overall lifecycle of a record?

A. I’ll probably end up providing you with more questions than answers on this topic. Also, this is a very intense topic; however I’ll try to answer the question in the limited amount of space that I have.

First, in my opinion, declaring a record is a very important stage in the lifecycle of a record. It is the stage after which no changes should be made to the record. It is the record that should be retained and disposed of according to your records retention schedule. I did a fair amount of research on the topic and I was quite surprised however that none of the Record Lifecycle information that I found identified Record Declaration as a major step in the overall lifecycle. I found different versions of the Lifecycle of a Record. Some of them were: 1. Creation, Collaboration, Preservation, and Disposition 2. Creation, Maintenance, Use, and Disposition 3. Create/Capture, Collaborate/Distribute, Output/Print, Archive/Destroy.

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At what stage in the lifecycle of a record do you declare it? After records are declared, they are added to the File Plan and all the formal stages in the Record Lifecycle are applied. I  can see however, that information could become a record at different lifecycle stages. In a few cases, information becomes a record when it is created. In most cases, information becomes a record after there has been collaboration, revisions, etc. So in most cases, declaration of records will be made between the Collaborate and Preservation stages. When should records management programs become involved in the lifecycle of a record? Should they be involved in the entire lifecycle of a record or only after it is declared? In my opinion, they should be involved in the entire lifecycle of a record, from creation to disposition. There are many advantages to this; however one is that the records management program personnel can assist the record creators in determining formats and technology that will make the processes more effective and cost efficient for the remainder of the record lifecycle. Would making “Declaring a Record” a major stage in the lifecycle of a record lead creators of records to think that records management programs should not be involved until the records have been declared? I would love to hear your answer to this question.

In closing, there are probably as many different opinions on the processes that records management programs should follow as there are people who have an opinion. The most important thing however; in my opinion, is that you have records and information management policies and procedures in place and make sure they are followed in the normal course of business.

Please take advantage of all the wonderful educational opportunities that we have in our profession and contribute whatever time you have back to our professional organizations. Also, please continue to send questions or topics of interest to me at allan.heath1@kbr.com  or give them to me at our next records management function.

Behind The Scenes of Chapter Meetings

Submitted By: Robin Thompson, Houston Chapter

We started off this year with the largest chapter luncheon in ARMA Houston’s history with our January 2008 Program. There were 209 in attendance. Our programs would not be as successful without you, our members. You took time to fill out evaluations and feedback forms letting us know what types of programs you were most interested in seeing.

You may not know this, but work for the 2008 speaker season started early in January of 2007 with the evaluation forms we collected for Jan Hargraves. We took your feedback and suggestions for speakers and topics and searched through the records management community to find the best and most interesting speakers possible to meet your requests. A full slate of speakers and workshops was presented in October of 2007 to the Board of Directors for the 2008 season.

We start on the Monday before meetings getting badges made and organized, and working with speakers and presenters to make sure they have the equipment they need and ensure it is photocopied. We arrive at the HESS club usually around 9:15 a.m. to start work on badges, tables, passing out information, so that by the time you arrive, everything is in place for you!

Since we get to see the members on more of a regular basis, we get to know you pretty well. We thought it would be fun to share something about us with you.

Please meet our Social & Hospitality, Programs, and Workshops teams:

JENNIFER WALKER-OSTERTAG, Committee Manager of Social & Hospitality
Jennifer is charged with managing the registration and payment processes for chapter luncheons, ensuring that the HESS Club staff sets the right number of tables for the workshops and programs, and that audio/visual equipment is ready for our presenters. Julie Prochnow, Barrett Walker and Kathleen Fabra work as part of her team.

Passion: Playing with (my daughter) Emma. I love to scrapbook, but rarely have the time.

Favorite Book: Detective Books 

Favorite Movie: A favorite movie that has been on my mind the past few days is Yankee Doodle Dandy. My least favorite movie of all time is The Departed. The ending disturbed me, and I don’t like to see Leonardo DiCaprio in pain.

Career: I am the Manager, Records Information Management at Cardtronics.

What I like about working on my committee: What I love most about working on the Social & Hospitality Committee is that I get to meet so many new people as well as see the “regulars” each month. It keeps me in the networking loop!

JULIE PROCHNOW, Committee Member,
Social & Hospitality
Passion: My kids

Favorite Movie: Any love story; Bridges of Madison County, Note Book to name a few.

Favorite Book: Any murder mystery. There are too many good ones to name just one.

Career : Senior Staff Consultant with PacoTech. I oversee client worksites.

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What I like about working on my committee: Interacting with members. Volunteering at the registration desk actually gives you the opportunity to talk with members, and learn more about them. This is why it is so important to get involved with the chapter; it is worth the time and effort!

BARRETT WALKER,
Committee Member, Social & Hospitality

Passion: Tinkering. I love experimenting with electrical circuits and computers to find new and exciting ways to make them do new and exciting things. If there is something in my house that plugs in or takes batteries, there's a good chance I've disassembled it to see how it works! I got that from my dad.

Favorite Movie: Without a doubt my favorite movie is Gladiator. The action packed scenes throughout coupled with the familial back story dazzles me every time I see it.

What I like about working on my committee: Seeing everyone at the monthly luncheons as they make their way into the meeting and greeting them.

KATHLEEN FABRA,
Committee Member, Social & Hospitality

Passion : My goals and passions would be to be a better person not only in my job, but with my personal life as well. I am toastmaster and have been for about 3 years now. I am a past Secretary and Vice President of Public Relations. By joining Toastmasters I have become more sure and more confident of what I do, not only in my business life, but my personal life as well. I won the Chapter Speech Contest and went on to the next level and came in second then. I have had the backing of my husband and my Manager (Beverly McMahan) and that has helped tremendously. They are both past Toastmasters and have always urged me on. I also mentioned I enjoy doing crafts as well. I have a room in my house dedicated to doing all my crafts.

Favorite Movie: An Affair to Remember is an all-time classic, along with Gone with the Wind. They don't make them like they used to.

Favorite Book: I love to read, especially Light Romance Books. I especially enjoy the books that involve families. They are lighter to read. They are relaxing and take your mind away.

Career: I am a Corporate Records Analyst at EOG Resources. I really love my job. It can be really challenging at times. When I get there in the mornings I am ready to work, and before I know it the day is gone, and I don't know where it went.

What I like about working on my committee: I really enjoy working on the Social & Hospitality Committee as I am getting to know more and more of the members of ARMA. I like to be involved in what is going on. I want to get more involved with ARMA.

REGINA COREY, Committee Manager Programs and Committee Manager Workshops

Regina works with the speakers for both the programs and workshops to ensure that they have everything they need for their speech. She arranges to photocopy their handouts if they need that service. Regina is also responsible to tally evaluation forms for analysis by the Board of Directors. Rhonda Boehm works on Regina’s committee.

Passion: Balancing the best of both worlds between family and work. I love my career because I get to apply my skills to promoting a product I believe in. I have a great work-life balance where I can enjoy life with my 19-month old son, Aidan, (and future prospects) and my husband. Regina also loves yoga, sports and is an avid football fan.

Favorite Movie: This is a hard one because I love movies in general, but if I had to choose today…overall…Pirates of the Caribbean. Favorite Classic – Beaches; Favorite Animation – Monster’s Inc.

(continued on next page)

Favorite Book: Right now, I am reading the Harry Potter collection. Can’t wait to read this to Aidan when he gets older.

What I like about working on my committee: First, I would say meeting new people and learning from the speakers and presenters on what is a benefit to CRMs. I am understanding how to make the CRM/business practice world better and helping a worthwhile organization devoted to records management.

RHONDA BOEHM, Committee Member, Programs

Passion: My passion is singing & working two ministries - Kairos Outside (a Prison Ministry - for women who have loved ones Inside prison) & Walk to Emmaus (a ministry for women in the church).

Favorite Movie: Gone With the Wind

Favorite book: Atlas Shrugged. Both my Favorite Movie and Favorite book changed me, and they are about as opposite a setting/time as one can get. Strong Women who make it through adversity is the theme.

Career: Document Control Specialist - maintain control of all project documents, adherence to the Retention Schedule, interface with contractors and vendors.

What I like about working on my committee: The opportunity to see and hear the best speakers ARMA has to offer and to learn more about their personalities and professions.

And, last, but not least, our VP of Chapter Meetings…

ROBIN THOMPSON, VP Chapter Meetings

Passion: My motto is “live out loud.” No big secret here – my passion is what I do for a living, and my husband and daughter.

Favorite Movie: I am like everyone I think. I don’t have one favorite. Citizen Kane, Presumed Innocent, and Happy Feet. If Seinfeld were a movie, I would have listed it. My husband destroyed Birdcage because I watched it every single night, but I plan to get another copy soon!

Favorite Book: Roots and Illustrated Man

Career: Honestly, I don’t classify what I do as work because I love it so much. I am currently the Managing Director of the Houston Operations for American Legal Search and built this operation from the ground up. I work with law firms and corporations on any type of legal position, RIM or compliance position, and litigation/practice support. I recently received a promotion and will be moving into a combined position of Chief Marketing Officer and National Business Development Director.

What I love about working for ARMA: This is my favorite group of all the groups I belong to. I have enjoyed the honor you gave me when you elected me to serve as a Board Member these past 2 years. I have put on educational programs for most of my career and this, by far, has been the most satisfying set of programs of that time. Thank you for letting us know that we have done a good job for you.

We look forward to seeing you at our next Chapter Meeting and Workshop!

NOTE: Please remember to continue registering separately for both the chapter luncheon and the workshop. Even though the workshop is free, having a tally of attendees has helped us get the proper room size and know how many handouts to bring.

Monthly Chapter Meetings:
January Program Summary
Honorable Judge Ronald Hedges

Submitted By: Robin Thompson, VP Chapter Programs

If you missed our chapter meeting in January, it was a fantastic event! We had 209 in attendance and gave such a great opportunity to hear a fantastic keynote speaker, The Honorable Ronald Hedges.

Not only is Judge Hedges one of the most knowledgeable folks in the field of information management and electronic discovery, but he is one of the nicest folks you would want to meet. He prefers to be called Ron, rather than his earned title of Your Honor.

Judge Hedges graduated from Georgetown University and was appointed a U.S. Magistrate in New Jersey where he served for 21 years. He is a Sedona panel member and expert on the Sedona conference. Additionally, he is a professor.

Judge Hedges updated us on new case law, and gave us tips on preservation of data, production responsibilities and cost-shifting. One of the most interesting things he talked about was ephemeral data such as Voice Over Internet, Instant Messenger and Cell Phone data! Even an insulin pen that keeps track of injections given can be considered a record!

The good news is that if you missed him in January, you had a chance to hear him at our ARMA Houston Chapter Spring Conference.  We hope you didn't miss the chance to hear this wonderful speaker at the Conference!

ARMA Houston Chapter Membership
Service Anniversaries

Congratulations to the following members who are eligible for ARMA Houston Chapter service anniversary pins! If you have not received your pin, please contact the Membership Growth Manager, Trennan Gamble, at TrentGamble@yahoo.com ASAP to make arrangements to pick it up!

5 Year Anniversaries
Alcutt, Gionna L.
Alford, Laura B.
Barr, Laureen M.
Corkern, Sandra P.
Dickehuth, Robin H.
Fancher, Laura J.
Ferrell, Linda
Ford, Dortien
Garrett, Charles H.
Holmes, Erma L.
Matula, Pamela S.
Pruitt, Bessie R
Roberts, Donna J.
Shelby, Kantrease T.
Smith, Angela M.
Taylor, Tad
Thompson, Robin A.

10 Year Anniversaries
Alsup, Michael R
Griffin, Valarie J.
Buzby, Louis W.
Pope, Atsuko F.

15 Year Anniversaries
Winston, AnnMarie C

30 Year Anniversaries
Heath, Allan W. Jr

If there is an error on your join date, please contact the VP of Membership, please contact Louis Buzby, CRM at louis.buzby@shell.com  

ARMA Houston Chapter

KUDOS BOARD

Individual Member Recognitions

Doug Allen, CRM Rhonda Boehm Claire Bresnahan Skip Cain Linda Cainan Susan Casias Brenda Clements Vassie Cook David Culbertson Jim Dixon Kathleen Fabra Christopher Gonzales David Guzman Mica Hanchey Allan Heath Sandra Heyen Lance Hogg Roderick Jackson Victor Lamas, Jr. Ed Lee Frank Lerma Patti Manning Teresa Matlock Laura Matthews Chris McConnell Beverly McMahan, CRM

Marisol Mirsky Everis Mollon Sweta Parekh John Peden Lisa Peterson Julie Prochnow George Ramirez Nancy Ramirez, CRM Linda Richards Denise & Bruce Robertson Pamela Sankey Bill Sexton Judy Sitton, CRM Ed Slayden Bonnie Smith Gloria Stauber Janice Taylor Linda Trimm Hugh Turner Tracy Waggoner Barrett Walker Diane Walker Jennifer Walker-Ostertag Thelma Welch Joe Yoklavich Ann Zdansky

If you would like to recognize a member, company, or vendor name in this column, please contact Nancy Ramirez at nancy.ramirez@exxonmobil.com .

Happy Trails (Cont)

Your admission to the museum also gains you admittance to the stables area and the yard where you see the horses walk through every year on their way to the starting gate. Everywhere you look there are reminders of the race’s history and tradition with the names of past Derby winners painted on the roof line all around the yard.

There is a jockey statue that is repainted every year so that the jockey is wearing the colors and design of the current winner’s stable and a few select thoroughbreds are buried in the yard with marked graves. As part of the tour a resident racer and her miniature horse companion were walked out for us to see and admire. We were then escorted through the paddock, past the stables and out to the racetrack. Our guide described what Derby day is like with all of the crowds, excitement, and drama that such an event evokes. We didn’t have time the morning we were there, but you can choose an even more extensive tour that takes you out to see all of the many horses that call Churchill Downs their year round home.

Other interesting and unique attractions of note in the area that we will try to see on a return trip are the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory where you can see the world's biggest bat that is an amazing six stories tall. A tour includes a walk through of an underground locker room into a full-size dugout and a virtual home plate where guests can test their skill against a fastball. You can also see how the official bats of Major League Baseball are made before being shipped to our hometown Astros. Another must see is the Muhammad Ali Center that is a tribute to one of Louisville’s native sons. There you can shadow box with the champ; watch legendary boxing clips in a model ring, and be inspired by the ideals of one of the world's most celebrated athletes and humanitarians.

Now, back to the hotel where we stayed. .. It was at the historic Seelbach Hilton, a Beaux Arts Baroque showplace. As with many old hotels, it has had its ups and downs over the years and is now on a definite upswing after an extensive renovation in 1995.

When completed in 1905, a five-hour "public inspection" drew more than 25,000 visitors to tour the hotel, billed as "the only fireproof hotel in the city, modern in all respects." The crowd was so thick that women fainted in the crush and it took 15 policemen to help clear the hotel for the official grand-opening preparations. In the owner’s minds, such an obvious success justified expansion.

The new expansion included a Bavarian-style Rathskeller, decorated with rare Rookwood Pottery. The Rathskeller is currently the only surviving ensemble of its kind in the United States and is truly breathtaking. The medieval architecture includes a spectacular, red-tinted, terra cotta ceiling with columns ringed by Rookwood Pottery pelicans – considered a sign of good luck. Tile designs on the Rathskeller's walls depict walled cities in the Rhenish region of Germany, where the Seelbach’s founders were born. In a back corner, the bar has an artistic ceiling made of fine-tooled leather and painted in a heraldic design with the twelve signs of the zodiac.

The hotel has a literary connection, too. F. Scott Fitzgerald stayed at The Seelbach and enjoyed sipping Kentucky bourbon and smoking expensive cigars. His experiences in The Seelbach's elegant rooms inspired him to use the hotel as a model during the writing of "The Great Gatsby." As the premier Louisville hotel, debutantes of upper-class society often "came out" on the top floor ballroom, throwing grand galas, similar to the parties in Fitzgerald's classic 1920’s novel.

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Happy Trails (Cont)

In the 1920’s, Prohibition contributed to the wealth of underworld kingpins who were drawn to the most glamorous spots for cards and leisure. The Seelbach, as the grandest hotel in Louisville and the center of Kentucky's bourbon and whiskey country, attracted some of the most famous gangsters. Notorious figures included Lucky Luciano and Dutch Schultz.

George Remus, a Cincinnati mobster referred to as "King of the Bootleggers," got rich running whiskey northward during Prohibition. As a local gangster, he would spend time at The Seelbach for business and pleasure. Writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, who also visited The Seelbach for bourbon and cigars, was taken with the charismatic Remus. In fact, Remus became the inspiration for the title character Jay Gatsby in "The Great Gatsby."

Al Capone, probably the most legendary gangster of the 1920s, used to visit the hotel frequently for blackjack, poker and bootlegging. Today, you can dine in a small alcove in The kroom dining room where Capone would play cards. Still in the room today is a large mirror he had sent from Chicago so that he could watch his back!

Capone's favorite room also has two hidden doors behind special panels, leading to secret passageways. If the police came on a raid, Capone could slip out the concealed passageways -- one way led down to the street -- another led to tunnels under the hotel.

The room even had spring-loaded doors that would be quickly shut using a pedal by an outside guard, thus warning Capone of a raid. Unfortunately for us, the Oakroom was closed and we weren’t able to see these fascinating early warning devices. Be sure to time your visit for any day but Sunday.

Ok, so far this hotel not only has some beautiful and unique architectural features, it has a connection to a literary classic and is part of the history of one of America’s most notorious criminals. What more could there be? A ghost! Back in 1936, Patricia Wilson fell to her death in a service elevator. It was reported that she was despondent over the tragic death of her husband and that they had been separated for about a year. As recently as 1987, Patricia was seen by two employees in two different parts of the hotel. Both descriptions were the same—long blue dress and long dark hair. Other stories have been told about sightings since then. The hotel has a bar rated as one of the top 50 in the country because of its extensive bourbon selection. Could there be a connection between the bar and the sightings of The Lady in Blue?

The hotel has even made it to the movies – most recently “The Outsider” with Russell Crowe and Al Pacino. Scenes were shot in the former Billiards Room which was Al Capone’s hangout before it was converted to the hotel’s formal dining room in the classic “The Hustler” with Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason.

Our stay in Louisville was short, but memorable in large part to the serendipity of choosing a hotel with such a rich history. I am sorry to say we did not see The Lady In Blue while at the elbach, but there’s always the next time!

Until we meet again… *Much of the Seelbach Hotel’s history is from their website: www.seelbachhilton.com 

#143187

May Monthly Luncheon Meeting / Workshop

Submitted by: Robin Thompson, Houston Chapter

Join us in May for our Chapter Luncheon! We have another great meeting planned for you! Details are as follows….

CHAPTER LUNCHEON
Our chapter luncheon focuses on professional development, and our speaker is Danna Walton, Esq., Principal of Walton Compliance and the Director of Corporate Compliance at South Texas College of Law. Danna is a former 30-year attorney for Shell Oil and was instrumental in forming the U.S. Ethics & Compliance office for Shell. She is an expert in the field of corporate ethics and compliance, a tremendous lady and wonderful speaker. If you have not heard her talk on corporate ethics, don't miss your chance.

MAY WORKSHOP
Our workshop is the 2nd in a 7-part series of "Records Around The Business World" and will focus on Oil & Gas Records. Our own resident expert on the subject, Beverly McMahan, CRM will host our workshop. As we announced, those who attend all 7 of the free workshops in this series will be eligible to win one of two $100 AmEx gift cards to be given away at our November vendor appreciation luncheon.

AWARDS EVENT
Our May meeting is also our Awards meeting where we honor those who have gone above and beyond to make ARMA Houston so successful this year. Our Gold Sponsor this month is InfoCurrent.

Please register early to reserve your space!

• Make a charitable donation to the school, Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School, with a notation of ARMA Houston HLK Campaign 2008. Mail or deliver your donation to Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School, School Library, 5410 Cornish, Houston, TX 77007.
• Volunteer to spend some time with the students between 7 am and 5 pm from now until July 1. Contact Kathleen Burns (KBURNS@houstonisd.org ) to get started.

ARMA Houston
Food Drive

Submitted by Frank Lerma,
Houston Chapter

During the month of May, the ARMA Houston Chapter will be sponsoring a food drive benefiting Target Hunger. Given the current economic conditions, many organizations that assist those in need are struggling to keep their food pantries stocked. Right now, Target Hunger is in great need of the following food items:

Canned Fruits & Vegetables
Canned Meat
Canned Soup or Stew
Canned Juices
Macaroni & Cheese
Dry Beans (2-5 lbs bags only)
Rice (2-5 lbs bags only)
Peanut Butter
Ready to Eat Foods (pop-top soups, Vienna sausages, Roman Noodles, instant breakfast cereal, instant grits, etc.)

If you are interested in assisting with this project, please bring the items that you would like to donate to this month’s luncheon meeting on Wednesday, May 28. If you have any questions or would like to donate before then, contact Frank Lerma at (713) 753-3892.

It was definitely a challenge bringing these two conferences together. However, having worked closely with the Conference Committee staff, it proved to be one of the most successful conferences in the Chapter’s history --- from all indications, the attendees felt like it was one of the best that they had attended due to the quality of the programs, speakers, exhibitors, and of course, the logistics (e.g., location, catering, accommodations, etc).

Many thanks to all of our speakers and exhibitors for supporting our Chapter and helping to raise the level of awareness while providing a top notch educational event for our attendees! Please be sure to take the time to thank them when you see them at our next luncheon meeting. A complete list of our speakers and vendors is in this newsletter and on the Conference website.

Last, but certainly not least, a very special thanks to all of the Conference Committee Managers, Members, and Advisors who assisted (tolerated) me throughout the planning, coordination, and actual execution of this spectacular event! We could not have been successful without them so please join me in thanking them as well next time you see them. The Conference Committee Managers and Members were as follows:

Committee Managers
Doug Allen – Programs Committee
Roderick Jackson – Publicity Committee
Patti Manning – Registration Committee
Gayle Page – Programs Committee
Julie Prochnow – Exhibits Committee
Nancy Ramirez, CRM – Arrangements Committee

Advisors
Jim Dixon
Denise Robertson, CRM

And, if you have questions prior to the webinar, you can email aiimwebinar@aiim.org 

Following is a list of some of the webinar topics coming up in June that you may not want to miss:

Enterprise Report Management
Can't be Overlooked
Date: Wednesday, June 04, 2008

What's Scanning got to do with it?
Date: Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Get Rid of Your Paper! Or not.
Date:Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Got SharePoint? Get Control
Date:Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Making Email the Right Place to Work
Date:Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Digital Signatures for Document Management - What's in it for Me?
Date:Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Documents on Fire:
Automated Document Classification
Date:Wednesday, July 23, 2008

For more information on these webinars, just visit the AIIM website at http://www.aiim.org/webinars.asp!

ARMA International’s RIM Self-Assessment

Finally, there's a roadmap to help you navigate your RIM career! ARMA International's RIM Self-Assessment will help you assess your strengths and identify gaps in your current skills and knowledge so that you can find the resources you need for success at every stage of your career.

Use the RIM Self-Assessment to help achieve your professional development goals. Simply assess your mastery of the skill set. From there, you’ll be presented with a Gap Analysis detailing areas of mastery and areas where further development is needed. Using your Gap Analysis, you can build a personalized continuing education plan and select from available resources to help you manage your professional development.

ARMA International's RIM Core Competencies are the backbone of the RIM Self-Assessment. The competencies are designed to give individuals and organizations insight into the skills needed to successfully manage records and information. The RIM Self-Assessment is only available to ARMA International members. So, if you are a member, start your RIM Self-Assessment by visiting http://www.arma.org/competencies today!

ARMA International News (cont)

Standards and Best Practices

Looking for Records & Information Management Standards, Guidelines, and Best Practices? The ARMA International website maintains a list of standards that create a professional environment of "best practice" procedures. The standards enable organizations to confidently create systems, policies and procedures, maintain autonomy from vested interest groups and assure high operational quality that leads to exceptional records and information management performance.

ISO 15489, the international records management standard, is recognized worldwide as establishing the baseline for excellence in records management programs. Other standards that influence how organizations manage information and records include the U.S. Department of Defense's 5015.2 and MOREQ.

Following is a list of Standards and Guidelines available on the ARMA International website at http://www.arma.org/standards/index.cfm :

• Establishing Alphabetic, Numeric and Subject Filing Systems
  
  
• Glossary of Records and Information Management Terms
  
  
• Guideline for Evaluating Offsite Records Storage Facilities
  
  
• Procedures and Issues for Managing Electronic Messages as Records
  
  
• Records Center Operations, 2nd Edition
  
  
• Records Management Responsibility & Litigation Support
  

• Requirements for Managing Electronic Messages as Records
  
  
• Retention Management for Records and Information
  
  
• Revised Framework for Integration of EDMS & ERMS
  
  
• The Digital Records Conversion Process: Program Planning, Requirements, Procedures
  
  
• Vital Records: Identifying, Managing, and Recovering Business-Critical Records
  
  
• Working Collaboratively in an Electronic World
   
• ISO 15489 – Information and Documentation – Records Management – Part 1: General
  
  
• ISO/TR 15489 – Information and Documentation – Records Management – Part 2
  
  
• ISO/S 23081-1 – Information and Documentation – Records Management Processes

Visit the ARMA International website, review these Standards and Guidelines, and see how they can work for you to assure high operational quality that leads to exceptional records and information management performance in your organization!

ALHEF 2nd Annual Derby Race

Submitted by: H. A. (Nancy) Ramirez, CRM, Houston Chapter

If you attended the ARMA Houston Conference, then you probably witnessed one of the most exciting ALHEF events ever --- the 2nd Annual Derby Race! This event was competitive from the start as all registered drivers were carefully guarding their cars and making last minute adjustments before entering them in the competition.

You could have heard a pin drop as the drivers turned in their cars to Roderick Jackson, our Head Official, and watched anxiously while he measured and weighed their cars to make sure they could enter the competition. Later, our judges Jim Dixon and Patti Manning took their places at the finish line on the race track and focused on the winner of each lap. Barrett Walker, our racing announcer, kept track of each lap’s winner and set the tone for the final lap races that declared our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners!

Needless to say, the event was exciting and competitive, but most of all --- it was a lot of fun for the participants and the race fans that cheered them on. Following is a list of our winners, participants and our Race Track sponsor.

ALHEF 3rd Annual Chili Cook-off

Submitted by: H. A. (Nancy) Ramirez, CRM, Houston Chapter

Did you attend the 3rd Annual ALHEF Chili Cook-off hosted by Iron Mountain this year? This event was guaranteed to provide attendees of all ages a lot of fun and excitement --- and it did just that! The competition was tough, but each Chili Cook-off Team pulled out their very best recipes (even those that just threw things in a pot) and themes to secure the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies in the Chili and Showmanship competitions!

We could not have asked for better weather as each team geared up early in the morning to cook breakfast foods, set-up and decorate their booths, and mingle with the other team members. By mid-morning, the booths were ready to go and you could smell the chili cooking from at least a mile away! It was then that it became obvious to most that the competition was going to be like never before. When the crowds started to arrive soon thereafter, all of the teams stepped it up a notch and welcomed them with open arms. It was like having family and friends over for a great meal, lots of entertainment, and a great time! And, the more, the merrier!

To add to the fun, a Silent Auction was available for those just “burning” to spend some money for a good cause! The Cypress Creek Band also provided plenty of entertainment for those interested in “kicking their heels up” to some good music.

On the sidelines, our Chili and Showmanship judges anxiously awaited the time when they could start tasting (and enjoying) the variety of Chili’s being cooked and checking out all of the booths decked out for the showmanship competition. Then….the competition was on! Each team huddled individually and with their neighboring teams to wish them the best of luck (not really) in the competition! After all, each knew that THEY had the BEST chili!

The time came to announce the winners so Barrett Walker, our official announcer, gathered the crowds and initiated the “drum rolls” to announce the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place winners for the best Chili, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place winners for Showmanship and the People’s Choice Award (a new trophy added this year to recognize the team with the most votes from attendees). Following is a list of our Winners, Participants, and Sponsors.

At the end of the day, everyone walked out winners! All participating team captains and cooks received medals to recognize them for their hard work and to thank them for their support of the Alice L. Haltom Educational Fund. As with all other ALHEF fund-raising events, the proceeds will go towards awarding scholarships to deserving individuals pursuing their dreams to further their education and their careers in the Records & Information Management and associated fields.

A Texas size “Thank You” to our host vendor, Iron Mountain, for making this one of the most successful and well attended events ever! And a very special “Thank You” to all of our event sponsors, participants, and attendees for making it so much fun for all to enjoy!

Take some time to review the photos on the next few pages and see why we encourage you to participate, sponsor, or just come out and have a great time next year --- you’ll be glad you did!

ARMA HOUSTON CHAPTER
NEW / RETURNING FORMER / MULTIPLE CHAPTER MEMBERS

December 7, 2007 – March 21, 2008

Q. How do I update my ARMA International member profile?

A. It's easy! Just follow these easy steps…

STEP 1: Log in to www.arma.org/myarma using your email address and password.

STEP 2: Under the "My Membership" tab, select the link for "Personal Information" and follow the on-screen instructions to make sure the information on file is accurate.

If you have additional questions regarding the process or have any difficulties, please contact ARMA International at hq@arma.org.

Compiled by: Mica Hanchey, Houston Chapter

As a service to the RIM Community ARMA Houston has reviewed recent issues of the Texas Register and have identified the following notices of proposed or adopted changes to the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) as being of special interest. To access excerpts of these notices, please go to the ARMA Houston website at www.armahouston.org

Persons concerned about these regulations can get more information by reading the Texas Administrative Code at http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/readtac$ext.viewtac and the Texas Register at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/i

FROM THE EDITOR

H. A. (Nancy) Ramirez, CRM,
Houston Chapter  

This issue of the ARMAdilla Newsletter highlights our President’s Message, another excellent Leadership News message from Jim Dixon, EVP, an outstanding RIM article titled “ECM & RM Trends 2008” submitted by Mike Alsup, CRM, and another great Ask the CRM article by Alan Heath, CRM!

Also, don’t miss out on reading the Chapter Highlights and stay informed on past activities and events as well as what we have in store for you during the coming months. Of particular interest to most of will be the upcoming educational program luncheon meeting in May and the Dr. Mark Langemo Seminar in June. Read about the successful 2008 ARMA Houston Conference and review the photos! We also have some great Community Service Projects that you might be interested in, including the Highlighting Literacy and Food drive campaigns.

ARMA International News features information about a new ARMA International RIM Self-Assessment to help you achieve your professional development goals and the recently announced Election Results. ALHEF News includes articles and photos from the 3rd Annual Chili Cook-off, Derby Race, and the Houston Conference Silent Auction. And, as always, don't miss out on reading the Happy Trails article!

If you have any questions, comments, or ideas for improving the newsletter that provides its membership with “the best that we can offer on every page…in every issue”, please contact the ARMAdilla Newsletter Editor, Nancy Ramirez, CRM at nancy.ramirez@exxonmobil.com or any of the following committee members:

W. Allan Heath, Jr, CRM (KBR)
J. Victor Lamas, Jr. (ExxonMobil)
John Peden (Access Sciences, Inc)