Forty-one records management individuals met in December 1975 to organize a Chapter in the Baltimore area.  Woody Benson, CRM, Region 1 Vice President, outlined for those in attendance the benefits of forming an ARMA Chapter.  The Great Baltimore Chapter was formally organized in 1976 and later incorporated in 1979.

Our newsletter, KEYWORDS, displays the emblem of a star shape on its banner.  This star represents the outline of Fort McHenry.  This star guides serves as a symbol of guidance for us to accomplish our goals and is a symbol of the strength of our Chapter.  The wisdom of this design is significant to this Chapter’s leadership.  Just as the points of the star faces all directions, it also points to every member.  It symbolizes a coming together for all within the Chapter to find knowledge, experience, and camaraderie.  The same as our brave soldiers of the past came together to stand for our freedom within the walls of Fort McHenry.

In past years, the Chapter hosted the ARMA International Conference in 1988 and has held numerous seminars to increase the knowledge of its members and guests.  Several of our members have risen to the ranks of ARMA International's corporate level.  We have assisted in chartering three other chapters:  Roanoke, Northern Virginia, and Gaithersburg.  Our current Chapter is a good mixture of Record’s Management professionals.  They represent Federal, State, and Local governments, Law Firms, Private Industry businesses, and Records Vendors.

We are always glad to have guests at our monthly dinner meetings, with the hope that they will become a member of our Chapter.

All of us in the Greater Baltimore Maryland Chapter are looking forward to seeing our friends and fellow members in attendance at the Conference in October.  We welcome you to our city on the Bay and look forward to sharing our time, our seafood, our Harbor, our Orioles, and just being your Host Chapter this year.