Annual Report - 1998/1999

Report of the President: Catherine Zongora, National Archives of Canada, September 1998 - June 1999

It has been a very busy year for the RMI and the Executive. My thanks to the Executive and to the members who have contributed so significantly to the RMI over the past year, and have made my two year period as president interesting and rewarding.

The year''s accomplishments and challenges are reflected in the portfolio reports below. The next year will be equally challenging and rewarding as we move the Institute forward and strive to keep it and the members abreast in these changing times. This year''s Executive encourages you to continue to participate at members' meetings and workshops, to bring forward topical issues for discussion and resolution and to contribute items of interest to our monthly notice to members. I know you will give your new Executive the same high level of support and commitment you have given us.

PROGRAM

Thanks to the Past President, Susan Hall, 1998/99 was a very successful program year for the RMI. The program focussed on information management and technology initiatives and featured renowned speakers from the government and private sector. The program meetings featured topics such as Electronic Document Delivery by CGI and the work of the Office of Government Records and the Information Management Forum. Y2k issues were examined, and managing (or not) the object-based document was discussed.

On average there were about forty (40-50) participants at the program meetings. The meetings greatly assist the members of the RMI and the rest of the information management community in keeping current with initiatives that have a significant impact on our work. Congratulations to Susan Hall for the dynamic and exciting learning events. The Records Management Institute looks forward to an equally interesting 1999/2000 program year.

TREASURER

We have a bank balance of approximately $2,000.00 as a direct result of successful RMI Training events and contributions from RMI sponsors such as CGI and CONDAR Consulting. Thanks to the Treasurer, Sylvie Charron for keeping our books in order, to Lark Hodgins for co-ordinating training events and to Susan Hall for obtaining sponsors for the December and June meetings.

TRAINING

We ran two successful records management training workshops this year, thanks to Mike Ferrigan and his super training style. Feedback from the course participants was positive in every way.

This year's training work was spent mainly on planning next fall''s training seminar. This will be a one-day training event which will be informative, educational and fun. Sessions will focus not only on Federal Government requirements but will encompass new technologies and initiatives in the field of recorded information management. Thanks to Lark Hodgins, Director of Training.

MEMBERSHIP

We currently have 12 corporate memberships and 61 individual members. We increased our corporate members, which accounts for the slight decrease in individual members. Since most members have access to email, membership renewal forms are sent electronically each month. Thanks to Beth Knox, our Membership Director.

AWARDS

The Awards Director, Susan Dalati and her committee worked very hard to help organize the 1999 Cardillo Award event and select the winner. Catherine Zongora of the National Archives of Canada won this year''s Cardillo Award for significant contribution to the Records Management profession over the past year. Congratulations!

UPCOMING YEAR

The newly elected RMI Executive is planning an exciting upcoming year, relevant program topics, increased membership and dynamic public relations over the next year and hopes to provide members with very interesting opportunities and successful ventures.

For example, the RMI is participating with ARMA and the National Archives in a Competency Development and Accreditation initiative.

The RMI has a seat on the Information Management Forum, chaired by the National Archives and comprising members from across government, and was a formal part of the consultative process for the recent Approach to Managing Internet and Intranet Information for Long Term Access and Accountability and its supporting Implementation Guide.

As well, members of the RMI were involved in the UCS initiative in the Government of Canada.

Anyone who wishes to assist the Executive on committees or projects should contact the new President. As always, I look forward to meeting you at our monthly program meetings.

My thanks again to the Executive and to members who have contributed so significantly to the RMI over the past year.

Report of the President: Catherine Zongora, National Archives of Canada, September 1997 - June 1998

It has been a very busy year for the RMI and the Executive. My thanks to the Executive and to members who have contributed so significantly to the RMI over the past year.

The year''s accomplishments and challenges are reflected in the portfolio reports below. The next year will be equally challenging and rewarding as we move the Institute forward and strive to keep it and the members abreast in these changing times. The Executive encourages you to participate at members' meetings and workshops, to bring forward topical issues for discussion and resolution and to contribute items of interest to our monthly notice to members.

PROGRAM

Thanks to the Program Director, Susan Hall, 1997/98 was a very successful program year for the RMI. The program focussed on information management and technology initiatives and featured renowned speakers from the government and private sector. The program greatly assists the members of the RMI and the rest of the information management community in keeping current with initiatives that have a significant impact on our work. Congratulations to Susan Hall for the dynamic and exciting learning events.

The program meetings included a presentation by the Chief Information Officer of the Government of Canada, Mr. Paul Rummell, and featured topics such as the impact of electronic commerce on records management; electronic document management systems and initiatives in departments; the Government-on-line initiative; GILS - the Government Information Locator Service; an update on the Treasury Board Information Policy Framework and on the National Archives' Vision on how the new Archives & Preservation Branch will work with its clients. On average there were about forty (40) participants at the program meetings.

The Records Management Institute looks forward to an equally interesting 1998/99 program year.

TREASURER

We have a bank balance of approximately $2,000.00 in the bank, thanks to sponsors such as PSSoftware, ISCAN and CONDAR Consulting. Thanks to the Treasurer, Sylvie Charron.

TRAINING

This year's training program was gravely disrupted by the Ice Storm. Rescheduling planned courses proved to be impossible due to the busy schedules of our volunteer trainers. However, the workshop on Records Scheduling and Disposition was a complete success. Feedback from the course participants was positive in every way. Our special thanks to Roy Medaglia, who facilitated the course and to National Archives of Canada for providing the training facility.

Next year watch for a revitalized training program. Plans are already underway for a Fall series of seminars. Sessions will focus not only on Federal Government requirements but will encompass new technologies and initiatives in the field of recorded information management. Thanks to Lark Hodgins, Director of Training.

MEMBERSHIP

We currently have 9 corporate memberships and 83 individual members. Since

most members have access to email, membership renewal forms are sent

electronically each month. Thanks to Beth Knox, our Membership Director.

AWARDS

Mike Ferrigan, the Awards Director and committee have been working very hard to organize this event and select the honorees today. Sue Dalati of Revenue Canada won the 1998 Cardillo Award for significant contribution to the Records Management profession over the past year. Fay McMullen won an Honorary Lifetime Membership. Congratulations!

UPCOMING YEAR

The RMI Executive is planning an exciting upcoming year, relevant program topics, increased membership and dynamic public relations over the next year and hopes to provide members with very interesting opportunities and successful ventures.

For example, the RMI is participating with ARMA and the National Archives in a Competency Development and Accreditation initiative.

The RMI has a seat on the Information Management Forum, chaired by the National Archives and comprising members from across government.

As well, members of the RMI have been involved in the UCS initiative in the federal Government. We are currently in the process of validating the work descriptions which were written last month in Asticou. The RM Community is participating in the validation of these interdepartmental work descriptions.

Anyone who wishes to assist the Executive on committees or projects should contact me. As always, I look forward to meeting you at our monthly program meetings.

It was a very busy year for the RMI and the Executive. My thanks to the Executive and to members who have contributed so significantly to the RMI over the past year.