VOL. XXXVIII NO. 3           PITTSBURGH CHAPTER OF ARMA        January/February 2006

Message from the Editor

        Our Holiday Party this past December was a great one!   For those of you who missed it, we held it at Crawford Grill on the Square which is located at Station Square.  Our party was seated on the balcony section.  It was a great place to have dinner and visit with friends.  We had a great view of the rest of the place from up there, too.  The holiday decorations were very beautiful and the food was very good.  Dinner was served buffet style.  Twenty-one people attended – some chapter members and some as guests.  Each one of us got a door prize at the end of the evening.  The door prizes were sponsored by Business Records Management, Bradys Bend, and our chapter.  We thank Business Records Management and Bradys Bend for their gracious donations!   I hope that, next year, more of you will attend our Holiday Party.  We missed all of you who did not attend.

        We have wonderful chapter program meetings planned for the winter and spring seasons.  The attendance for this 2005-2006 year has been really great so far.  Please make every effort to continue attending our program meetings.  Your support is very much appreciated.  The speakers are, of course, very knowledgeable and there have also been great handouts/slide presentations.  For newcomers to the records and information management profession, the presentations will give you a great foundation on which to build further studies.  For those of us who have experience in the field, the question and answer session and discussions at the end of each presentation are thought provoking and extend the boundaries of our thinking.  The dinners are always delicious and the Engineers’ Society is a wonderful place to hold our meetings.  All of these things are a winning combination for anyone who attends.  And, please don’t forget to bring a guest!  We always welcome anyone new who is visiting the chapter and encourage them to become a member.  

        I hope to see all of you this winter and spring.  While it is true that every program meeting is a special one, it is important to keep in mind that it is not just because of the topic being presented, but because seeing all of you - no matter what topic is being presented - makes the time spent there very special!

                                                              Sincerely,

                                                                    Chris Nettrour  

Newsletter Contents

1.      Message from the Editor

2.      ARMAGRAM advertising rates

3.      Board Members

4.      Jumping into the World of DVDs

5.      BRM advertisement

6.      ARMA International Educational Foundation

7.      Records Management Study and Discussion

8.      Iron Mountain advertisement

9.      Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference 2006

10.    University of Pittsburgh, School of Information Science advertisement

11.    Become a CRM (Certified Records Manager)

12.    RIM Home Study Course

13.    Pittsburgh Chapter Certification Program

14.    Program Calendar for 2005 - 2006

ARMAGRAM

ARMAGRAM is published bi-monthly by the ARMA Pittsburgh Chapter.  Submission of articles, art work, and photography are encouraged and welcomed, and are submitted at the sender's risk.  Material to be returned must be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope.  The ARMA Pittsburgh Chapter reserves the right to edit material submitted for publication.  Unsigned letters will not be published.  The publisher and editors of this publication do not accept responsibility for statements made by the advertisers herein or for the opinions expressed by authors of by-lined articles.  Copyright 1992 by ARMAGRAM Pittsburgh Chapter.  All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without written permission to the publisher.

ADVERTISING RATES

Business card........$25.00/Issue; $100.00/Full Year + Web page

Quarter page.........$50.00/Issue; $200.00/Full Year + Web page

Half page...............$100.00/Issue; $400.00/Full Year + Web page

Full page................$200.00/Issue; $800.00/Full Year & Web page

ARMAGRAM SCHEDULE

A new ARMAGRAM will be posted on our web site six times each year.  If you wish to contribute to your newsletter, contact Chris Nettrour at chrisnettrour@earthlink.net, or mail your article (or advertisement) to Chris at:  Chris Nettrour, 206 Haugh Drive, Pittsburgh, PA  15237.

Board Members

President:             Autumn Gollob; 412 - 321 - 0600; amcginnis@businessrecords.com

Vice President:    Glenn Vasbinder; 412 - 454 - 7597; vasbinderga@upmc.com

Secretary:             Matthew Iezzi; 724 - 526 - 3353; matt@bradysbend.com

Treasurer:            Chris Nettrour, MS, CGA; 412 - 288 - 1971; chrisnettrour@earthlink.net

Director:               Jane Siefers; 724 - 772 - 8307; siefersj@amerinetcentral.org

Director:               Mark Maskarinec; 412 - 392 - 2170; msmaskarinec@klettrooney.com

Past President:     Joe Gross; 412 - 321 - 0600; jgross@businessrecords.com

Committees

Editor:                   Chris Nettrour, MS, CGA; 412 - 288 - 1971; chrisnettrour@earthlink.com

Reservations:       Jane Siefers; 724 - 772 - 8307; seifersj@amerinetcentral.org

Parlementarian:    Jamie Sawa; 412 - 338 - 3523; jpsawa@hillmanco.com

Programs:             Christian Savine; 412 - 490 - 4289; savinej@novachem.com

Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager

Tammy Wheeler; 919 - 875 - 3133; Tammy.Wheeler@NCEMCS.com

Mid-Atlantic Region Coordinator

George Darnell, CRM; 703 - 902 - 5929; darnellgd@comcast.net

________________________________________________________________________________

Jumping into the World of DVDs!

by Chris Nettrour

During December, as I was shopping for my usual overwhelming list of gifts to buy for family and friends, I sometimes saw gifts I would like for myself.  I had received a gift certificate from a friend to go shopping at "Best Buy."  While I was looking around while in "Best Buy," I had thought I would buy myself some CDs to listen to or maybe a movie to watch on our DVD player at home.  But while looking around, I never thought I would end up buying what turned out to be the most enjoyable gift of all - a portable DVD player!  I used the gift certificate and some money of my own to buy it and it has been such a joy to have!  As a result, I have been buying documentary movies about a variety of things - several about the The Da Vinci Code and even one about The Three Stooges.  I also have ones about the Titanic and also Anastasia, and even Crop Circles.  But what really got me thinking as I was handling all of these DVDs, is how to take care of them so they will last a long time.  As I started my DVD collection, - a mini library of many varied topics, I began to do some research on the Internet about DVDs and CDs.

My research led me to a very good document entitled "Care and Handling of CDs and DVDs - A Guide for Librarians and Archivists" by Fred R. Byers.  It is a NIST Special Publication 500-252.  NIST stands for National Institute of Standards and Technology.  The document is also associated with the Council on Library and Information Resources.  The website address is:  http://www.itl.nist.gov/div895/carefordisc/CDandDVDCareandHandlingGuide.pdf

I hope you will take some time to read the document.  I found the information to be well written and very helpful.  In the future, I will continue to research this topic and I will let you know what I find.

ARMA International Educational Foundation

        Please be sure to visit the Educational Foundation's website.  One of our chapter members, Dr. Richard J. Cox, Ph.D., has written a wonderful research report entitled, "A Minor Nuisance Spread Across the Organization."  Dr. Cox is Professor in Library and Information Science at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Information Sciences.  He is responsible for the archives concentration in the Master's in Library Science degree and the Ph.D. degree.  Please follow these steps to find his research report:

                1.    internet address:  http://www.armaedfoundation.org

                2.    Click on "Research"

                3.    Click on "Research Projects"

                4.    Click on "2005 Research Projects"

                5.    Scroll down to the bottom of the screen to find Dr. Cox's report.

        The Educational Foundation is a project which is very active in doing research regarding current trends and concerns in the profession of records and information management.  If you would like to make a donation, there is also information about this on on its web site.  Any support to this project is much appreciated!

Records Management Study and Discussion

The quest for study is still on!  Any chapter members who are interested and can contribute to studying for the CRM exam are welcomed.  Currently, Chris is interested in studying the topics of business management and microfilm.  We will also be studying topics pertaining to Part 1 of the examination.

Book List

Please order the book called:  Information and Image Management by Ricks, Swafford, and Gow.  It can be ordered on the website address:  http://www.amazon.com/

Also order the book called:  Information and Records Management by Robek, Brown, and Stephens.  It can be ordered from the ARMA International Bookstore:  http://www.arma.org

Plans for Study and Discussion

We will first study about microfilm and its uses by reading Chapter 8 in Information and Image Management.  Answer questions 1 through 23.  We are also reading and answering "Concluding Cases:  A. H&M Insurance Company and B. Maxwell Schools."  Submit answers to Chris Nettrour's e-mail address:  chrisnettrour@earthlink.net.  Chris will then e-mail the answers to those members who are interested in reviewing and comparing notes.

Where We Will Meet

Hopefully, for any of us who want to, we can meet once a month at the new Carnegie Business Library which is located in downtown Pittsburgh on Smithfield Street across from the Barnes & Noble book store.  If anyone is interested, please contact Chris at this email address:  chrisnettrour@earthlink.net

ARMA Mid-Atlantic Region Leadership Conference 2006

        Just to update you on Regional news! -- This is the information we have so far:

        The Mid-Atlantic Region Leadership Conference is scheduled for June 8 - 10, 2006.  The meetings will take place at the Holiday Inn Historic District in Philadelphia.  The Liberty Bell Chapter will be hosting the conference.  A reception will be held that Thursday evening.  Sessions will be held all day on Friday and Saturday.  An agenda is in the process of being planned.  For those of you who have an interest, please keep tuned.  When more information about the conference is known, it will be posted on our chapter web site!

Become a CRM (Certified Records Manager)!

            If you are interested in taking the six part test to become a certified records manager, please take a look at the ICRM ( Institute of Certified Records Managers ) website located at:  http://www.icrm.org.

                            Next Exam:  May 4 & 5, 2006

                            Original exam applications must be postmarked by January 1, 2006.

                            Supplemental exam applications must be postmarked by March 1, 2006.

                            Upcoming Exam:  November 2 & 3, 2006

                            Original exam applications must be postmarked by July 1, 2006 .

                            Examination Applications must be postmarked by September 1, 2006 .

RIM Home Study Course  

ARMA International offers an introductory and advanced home study course for the self-directed professional.  Successful completion of the courses – which include case study assignments and four examinations and a final, proctored exam – earns the student a certificate of completion.

(Both courses are available for audit only as well.)

Visit the ARMA Bookstore at www.arma.org/bookstore/default.cfm for more information about:

            An Introduction to Records and Information Management

            Advanced Records and Information Management

For more information about the home study courses offered by ARMA International contact:

            ARMA International, Inc.

            4200 Somerset Drive, Suite 215

            Prairie Village, KS  66208

            Phone:  (913) 341-3808 or (800) 422-2762  (US and Canada )

Pittsburgh Chapter Certificate Program

Christian Savine, CRM, Programs Chair

  Professional development is an on-going process of learning and education. As Records Management professionals we have an obligation to continually increase and update our knowledge of the field. This year the chapter is offering a variety of records and information management courses as part of a attendance certificate program. The offerings are designed to provide a broad understanding of both traditional and current records and information management issues. Chapter members who attend seven of the eight programs will receive a certificate of attendance in recognition of their dedication to professional development.

  The professional development courses will be held during our monthly program meetings. The first program will be held in October. (Date to be announced, but generally, they will be the third Wednesday of each month.)

  If you have experience in records management and would like to volunteer to make a presentation on a records and information topic, please contact Christian Savine (savinej@deloitte.com  or 412 - 338 - 7312.

    This Chapter Certificate Attendance Program is not accredited or certified by ARMA, the ICRM or any other professional body, but Certified Records Managers should be able to receive credit hours for attending these sessions.  

Pittsburgh Chapter of ARMA

2005 – 2006 Programs Calendar

All programs are $25.00 for chapter members; $30.00 for guests. Contact Christian Savine if you have a recommendation for a topic or speaker.