ARMA Utah-Salt Lake Chapter
President’s Message
March 9, 2010
The Importance of Networking in Tough Times
If you are like me (and I know most of you are), one of the things you like about records management is being in the “back office” and out of the limelight. Let’s face it, we like being the expert on a topic that makes everyone else so crazy they just don’t want to think about it. It makes for dull days and going home at a decent hour. We complain that the higher-ups don’t even know we exist, but what are we doing to make sure our message is received by upper management? Probably not nearly as much as we should be, right? We aren’t, as a rule, “glad-handers” who like to meet people and sell them on records management – if we were, we’d be in sales making a whole lot more money!
Now that times are tough, it is even more important to break out of our shell, meet and greet, understand our own organization, create alliances and leverage all available resources. As a records manager, you are in a better position than anyone to understand all the different functions of your organization – really, you probably know more about what makes your organization tick than the CEO or City Manager. Put your knowledge to work internally and build your expertise externally. Get involved in ARMA – we have all kinds of opportunities right here in Utah. Getting involved in chapter leadership will pay dividends you cannot even comprehend until you “just do it”!
You want help and we’ve got it! Start right now by registering for our Spring Seminar – “Records Management Success: Build and Leverage Your Network!”. Then, make a commitment to attend every monthly meeting (they’re free for goodness’ sake!) of the only organization that understands what you go through every day – ARMA Utah-Salt Lake. Make sure you meet someone new at every meeting and learn something about them. If you can’t find a new face, bring one along. Give ideas and get ideas, learn form each other and – oh yeah – have a good time!
See you March 25th!
David Fleming
Chapter President
