The Election Is Now Open!
On Monday, January 7, you should have received an e-mail invitation from Votenet Solutions to vote for the 2008 ARMA Board of Directors' open positions. Included in the e-mail was a link to the voting site as well as a random user name and password which you will need to cast your ballot. Please note that the user name and password is not your ARMA log-in information used on the ARMA website. Voting online is quick and easy so be sure to cast your vote prior to the deadline of February 15. The ballot also includes biographies and candidate views on posted questions to assist in your decisions. Below is the list of the candidates:

President Elect
Douglas Allen – elected by acclamation

Treasurer
Fred Pulzello – elected by acclamation

Association Director (three positions open)
Charles Booz
George Darnell
Komal Gulich
Susan Lord
Juana Walker
Rich Wilson

Paper ballots were also mailed to those without e-mail addresses or those who have opted out of electronic voting. If you need assistance or have questions regarding the election, please contact Connie Hardy or 888-299-4094.

Learn More about ARMA International's Awards
Have you ever wondered about the awards being announced at the Annual Conference? Want to know how your chapter can participate? Below is a brief description of each of the awards that ARMA International presents at the annual Awards Banquet and the submission deadline. For more details on each award go to www.arma.org/lr, click on the awards section, and select the award you want more information about.

Company of Fellows – AL 700 
Since this award began in 1990, only 40 individuals have been selected for this honor. The Company of Fellows represents ARMA International’s most distinguished lifetime or career achievement. This award honors records and information management professionals who are members of ARMA International and have made outstanding contributions to the profession. It also honors those who are recognized for noteworthy accomplishments in ARMA at all three levels: local chapter, region, and association.
Deadline: April 15

Distinguished Service Award – AL701 
The ARMA International Distinguished Service Award specifically recognizes and focuses on a pattern of significant contribution by an individual to the success, well being, and advancement of ARMA International. Recipients of the ARMA International Distinguished Service Award are long-time Association members who have clearly and substantially given of themselves in the work of the association and to the fulfillment of its goals at the local, regional, and association level. This award should not be confused with the Company of Fellows, which is ARMA International’s most distinguished lifetime or career achievement award. It is not necessary to win the Distinguished Service Award before applying for the Company of Fellows, or vice-versa.
Deadline: April 15

Chapter of the Year -- AL 710 
The Chapter of the Year Award is presented to the chapter that has most effectively demonstrated its support and promotion of ARMA International objectives during the association year as reflected in chapter programs and activities.
Chapter of the Year submissions are evaluated on

• Educational and Professional Development
• Projects
• Public Relations
• Chapter Maintenance
• Outside Activities

Deadline: June 1

Chapter Member of the Year – AL 711
ARMA is about people. Chapters thrive on people working together to help each other understand the ever-changing records and information management world. Each chapter always has that one individual who takes extra steps to make things work in the chapter and among its members. All of ARMA’s chapters have an opportunity to choose and internationally recognize one outstanding member from the past year.
Deadline: August 1

Chapter Newsletter of the Year – 713
The chapter newsletter is the basic medium of communication embracing the transfer of information throughout, and beyond, association membership. A good chapter newsletter leaves readers with a sense that they are privy to a special information source as a benefit of belonging to an association. It should be a publication that members look forward to receiving and enjoy reading.
Deadline: May 1

Christine Zanotti Award – AL 730
The Christine Zanotti Award for Excellence in Non-Serial Publications recognizes exceptional contributions in the field of literature for the records and information management profession. The award is named after the late Christine Zanotti, CRM, who was the ARMA International Director of Publications and Technical Services until her untimely death in July 1995. Types of educational and research publications eligible include, but are not limited to, books, videos, CD-ROMs, CD-Is, CD multimedia, computer-assisted instruction software, etc.
Deadline: April 15

Britt Literary – AL 731
The Britt Literary Award was instituted in 1967 in memory of John F. X. Britt, one of the early pioneers in the modern records and information management profession. The award is given to the author of the best "feature" article that appears in The Information Management Journal (IMJ) during the judging year.
Deadline: All feature articles from the IMJ are automatically considered.

Special Projects Award – AL 750
This award is presented to the region, chapter, or individual that most effectively conducted a service project and advanced the public’s awareness of records and information management.
Deadline: July 1

Upcoming Region Conferences
Make sure that you and your chapter's members keep the following region meetings in mind. They are a great resource for leadership training, updates on the association and profession, and places to network.

• Canada Region: May 31 – June 1, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
• Great Lakes Region: July 18-20, Frankfurt, Kentucky
• Great Northwest Region: June 19-21, Seattle, Washington
• Mid-Atlantic Region: June 15-17, Charleston, South Carolina
• Midwest/Rocky Mountain Region: July 10-12, St. Louis, Missouri
• Northeast Region: June 7-10, Saratoga Springs, New York
• Pacific Region: July 17-19, Riverside, California
• Southeast Region: June 26-30, Seminars at Sea, Tampa, Florida
• Southwest Region: July 24-26, Corpus Christi, Texas

Grants Available to Chapters
ARMA Chapter Speaker Grant
This program provides chapters with funding to assist in acquiring high quality speakers for educational offerings and allows for individual grants of $500 (USD) per chapter. There will be a maximum of 25 speaker grants per fiscal year.

ARMA Region Leadership Training Grant
This program provides chapters with funding to assist in sending chapter leaders to their region leadership training and allows for two grants of $400 (USD) each, per fiscal year, for each of the 10 ARMA regions.

Each grant program will require an application be submitted to the respective region manager. HQ Member Services staff will then make the final decisions on the distribution of the funds. More details and information about the application process is available in the Chapter Tool area of www.arma.org/lr/.

Fact of the Month
Membership in ARMA International is property of the individual member, no matter who actually pays for the membership. If a member leaves the company, and that company has paid the dues for the member, then the company must request that another staff member be redesignated. Here is what happens to both members:

• The original member will continue with their member benefits until their expiration date and at that time choose if they want to renew or not. 
• The new redesignated member will be given a six-month membership at no additional charge. At the end of the six months they will be sent a renewal invoice that, when paid, will be good for one year from that time. Also this member will be assigned a new membership number.

If you have any questions about this procedure, contact the member service department at 1-800-422-2762 or by e-mail at member@arma.org.

ARMA International Event Calendar
Are you interested in activities going on in other chapters? Check out the Event Calendar located at www.arma.org/calendar/. There are many options for viewing the seminars and other events being presented throughout the United States and Canada. You can also promote your chapter events by submitting them to the calendar at the above link. This is another great resource that your chapter members can take advantage of.

You’ll hear visionaries and experts in the legal, RIM, and IT fields discuss what works and how to make it part of your organization's information management foundation. You'll walk away with a plan of action and an understanding of the tools and processes needed to reduce your risk and make your organization more competitive and compliant in the process.

For more information and to register, visit www.arma.org/ediscovery.

This event sponsored by
FTI
IBM
TAB
LexisNexis Applied Discovery
CA

Luncheon sponsor:
Clearwell System

Promote the E-Discovery Seminar on your site!
If you'd like a web banner to place on your site, visit this link:
www.arma.org/ediscovery/images/e-disc.NY.jpg (or the Programming / Important

Download sections of the Leadership Resources site at www.arma.org/lr/ProgramResources/ImpDownloads.cfm)

Be sure to link your banners to www.arma.org/ediscovery

InfoPro Blog
You now have another option when it comes to getting your ARMA International news. Much of the news and information that has been delivered to you in the InfoPro online newsletter is now available as a blog.

The InfoPro Blog will feature regularly updated posts about programs, services, and activities, including our annual conference and expo, the new Cobalt Award, membership benefit updates, and other happenings.

As an ARMA member, you will still receive the InfoPro online newsletter. It will contain additional information intended for members only. We look forward to hearing your feedback so be sure to leave your comments.

We hope you take advantage of this opportunity to receive regular updates of ARMA news.

Subscribe to the InfoPro Blog today at www.blog.arma.org!

The ARMA International education department is pleased to announce another new Web Seminar for February.

Auto-Classification: Is the Silver Bullet Ready?
Facilitated bySusan d'Herbes, this web seminar will be available for viewing February 4, 2008. The web seminar explores several cases in which auto-classification tools have been piloted and implemented. Engage in discussion involving the challenges, successes, and capabilities the tools provide, the importance of taxonomies in auto classification work, how different taxonomies impact auto-classification results, and the pros and cons of using auto-classification technology in an enterprise content and records management program.  Approved for 1.5 Hrs. CRM Maintenance Credit.
  
Web seminars are both an excellent source of information and a convenient method for gaining knowledge (and in most cases CRM maintenance credits). Each web seminar is scheduled for an eight-day viewing period and can be accessed at your convenience, as many times as you’d like, 24 hours a day during that viewing period. Each seminar concludes with a live "Ask the Expert" teleconference during which individuals may speak directly with the facilitator to ask questions or seek advice. Although registration is required, all ARMA web seminars are offered at no charge. Don’t miss your opportunity to view this FREE web seminar. To register, please visit the ARMA online learning center at:  www.arma.org/learningcenter/webseminars/index.cfm.

Additional web seminars are currently in development and will soon be posted on our website. Please visit the website often to view seminar information on other timely topics.

New Staff Member Joins ARMA International Headquarters
Nancy Barnes joined ARMA International in January as the new Standards Development Specialist. She assists Kevin Joerling, Sr. Manager, Standards & Records Management, with all standards-related duties. Her previous employers include Sprint, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the State of Connecticut Department of Education. Nancy earned a PhD in Educational Psychology & Research from the University of Kansas. She may be reached via e-mail at or by phone at (913) 312-5565.

Future Chapter Connections
If you would like to submit an item for the upcoming Chapter Connection, please e-mail details to Trevor Mitchell at no later than noon, Friday, February 8.