November 7, 2014
Dear Everyone:
Last February the Mt Diablo Chapter of
ARMA International hosted a
half-day “workshop” for
City Clerks.
Well over a dozen people attended, myself included.
I went because the presentations were all about
Records
Management and that meant I could get Continuing Education Credits
toward my Certificate.
Each Certified Records Manager (CRM) is required to complete 100 hours
of Certificate Maintenance Points (CMP) over a five-year cycle.
If I average 20 points per year, it should be easy.
In fact, over time it has gotten easier.
So many organizations like ARMA now offer “webinars”, some free,
some not-so-free, that I can “attend” on my computer.
Plus, the International Conference, the one I was at a few weeks
ago, automatically counts for 13 points.
And the monthly ARMA Chapter Dinner Meetings, each count for one
point.
While I was at the half-day workshop for the City Clerks, who have their
own Certificate Program and accompanying Continuing Education
requirements, I introduced myself to a couple of people from the
San
Ramon City Clerk’s office. I
even gave them my card, which identifies me as a “Freelance Independent
Records Manager”.
Then, in April, “Rebecca”, the San Ramon City Clerk, contacted me for a
meeting. They were in the
throes of updating their
Retention Schedule and wanted some advice.
I was more than happy to go in to their rented space, Listen To
Their Woes and Dispense Words of Wisdom.
They were working with a Consultant, but said Consultant, not
satisfied with just a Retention Schedule, wanted to give them a Complete
Records Management Program (Because That’s Where The Money Is.)
I assured them that It was OK to just get the Retention Schedule
in place for now, which is what they wanted to hear (for free) and had
the virtue of being true.
Then, in September, “Rebecca” contacted me again.
They had finished updating their Retention Schedule (good for
them!!!) and expected it to be approved shortly.
Would I be willing to come in and give their employees a brief
presentation on Retention (for free, of course)?
Naturally, I replied that I would be delighted.
After all, it was very basic stuff:
What is a “record”?
Is an email a “record”? How
do we know if the “record” is a “municipal record” (or, in the “real
world”, a “business record”)?
It wasn’t until a few weeks later, as I was putting the finishing
touches on the presentation, prior to emailing it to “Rebecca” before
jetting off to San Diego for the ARMA Conference, that I remembered that
I can also get CMP points for
giving training, rather than receiving it.
In fact, for every hour of training that I give, for the first time, I
automatically get three additional points towards my CMP.
The assumption is that it takes a person an average of three
hours of research, or just plain experience, for every hour of training
presented. After the first
time, I only get one point for giving the same training again.
In other words, for giving two presentations last week and this week, I
will get five points. Add
that to the 13 points I get for attending the International Conference
and I’m well on my way to having the average 20 points for this year.
Plus lunch, which “Rebecca” treated me to after this week’s
session.
As one friend pointed out, now that I’m
retired, I won’t work for money.
It messes too much with my
Income Taxes.
But I will work for food.
Love, as always,
Pete
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