International Membership

ARMA International has an average of 10,000 members in more than 30 countries. We are peers, friends, and comrades in our efforts to manage information within our organizations. We strive to support, encourage, challenge, and educate each other in the area of records management. Through our international network, professionals are able to share ideas and skills, and to learn from each other.

How "international" is ARMA?
Approximately 5% ARMA's members reside outside of North America. Our International Region is represented on the board of directors. We have a special International Relations Committee (IRC) that represents the interests of the international members, in addition to five International Ambassadors with regional and local liaisons who serve as a link between our international members, the IRC, and various ARMA communities and staff.

What "international" events take place?
Every year ARMA conducts an international conference. This annual conference usually takes place in North America, but future events and seminars are being considered in various parts of the world. Many of our international members attend each year. In addition to our regular programming, we conduct a special International Day program during conference. This special one-day program is dedicated to issues specific to records and information management professionals outside of North America. Of course, North American members are encouraged to attend so that they can learn more about the issues facing records and information managers in different countries as well as those which affect companies that do business in other countries.

What are the benefits of membership for international professionals?
We asked some of our international members what they thought were the key considerations for joining ARMA and here is what they told us:

• Connection to other international records and information management professionals
  This is one of the primary reasons individuals join ARMA. In the United States, Asia, Australia, United Kingdom, and Europe there are many professional associations for archivists, and information and records managers. But in many countries there are none. For some, joining ARMA is the only way they can contact other professionals. As one member put it, "It gave me immediate contact with a huge network of other people doing jobs similar to mine."
  
  
• Best value for the money
  As one of our international members explained: "My employer would only pay for one membership. I could not afford to join several associations, so I decided to join the largest and most diverse -- ARMA International. With its 10,000 members and global networks, it was the best value for the money."
  
  
• Easy to access to information specific to records and information management
  ARMA has tapped into the power of the Internet to keep all its members up to date. InfoPro Online is a monthly news mailing that keeps members abreast of association activities. Also available online are several educational courses, as well as articles and other publications issued by ARMA. More and more resources are being offered in downloadable formats for ease of access, especially for our international members.
  
  One of the most valued benefits of membership in ARMA is the annual subscription to The Information Management Journal. Published bi-monthly, each issue of the Journal includes numerous articles on business and professional trends and how they are impacting the management of records and information around the world.
  
  
• International connections at all levels
  ARMA International works alongside various other professional associations and volunteer agencies around the world. They provide help and advice through their networks. Over the past few years, ARMA has become very active in the International Council on Archives (ICA).
  
  Several volunteer organizations such as the International Red Cross, the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and the U.N. High Commission for Refugees (The UNHCR) have individuals who are ARMA members and would be happy to offer advice to fellow professionals around the world.
  

Education, information, and connections - these are the strengths ARMA International provides records and information management professionals around the globe. For more information about ARMA International, contact us via e-mail or by calling 913.341.3808.