Austin ARMA Chapter

We are happy to unveil a new job board feature on our chapter website! This feature is conveniently integrated with the membership/content management system that we use, so we no longer need to have job postings submitted via Google forms or email. The submitted jobs will be reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate and within the realm of the records, information, and data management fields. 

To post on the job board, chapter members and guests will need to log in using the same website username and password that is required for registering for events and accessing members-only content. For now, there is no cost to post on the job board or browse. If we get traction on usage, we can send out emails to highlight new postings.

So check out the postings, share them on social media, and feel free to post jobs you've heard about (public or private sector). This feature will only be as useful as we make it, so let's make it awesome!

Could there be a better pairing of community events? 

The annual e-Records conference - sponsored by TSLAC and DIR, will be held Friday, November 3, 2023. This conference is open to public sector employees only. Find out more information on the TSLAC website.

The next Shred Day - sponsored by our business partners - is scheduled for Saturday, November 4, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Balcones Resources 9301 Johnny Morris Rd, Austin, TX 78724.  Stay tuned for more information and weather advisories as we get closer to the event.

Welcome to the start of the new chapter year for Austin ARMA members. While we continue to plan for an exciting new year, the board met on Saturday, August 26 to set the budget and discuss some changes that we hope will be a great benefit to chapter members. Here are a few initial updates, in advance of more great news to come.

First, our board has been made whole, so we are no longer advertising open board positions. However, there will be ways to get more involved with committee work as the year progresses. The new board is a mix of brand new and veteran members, so we are able to identify tried and true methods of running the  organization, as well as considering new alternatives that might work well for today’s chapter. 

Second, we will be lowering the cost of attendance at regular meetings for both members and guests. We will continue to provide a tasty lunch for regular meetings and other events, so let us know if you have dining recommendations. Also, the board discussed implementing a regular co-working session after meetings, which would allow members to avoid traffic and anyone with the freedom to work remotely could bring a laptop, work together, or work together-but-solo, and we can pretend it’s a coffee shop.

Third, the newsletter has been retired as of the last issue, Volume 70, but that doesn't mean we'll be short on information to share with the chapter. We will continue to offer advertising opportunities for our business partners. We will still use email for all event invitations and reminders, and depending on feedback we can also deliver these blog updates via email on a semi-weekly basis. In place of the traditional periodical, we will be regularly sharing content like photos, memes, member contributions, and event promotions on our various social media platforms, not all of which require an account to view the content. Check out our Linktree to find connections to our Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Youtube, LinkedIn. 

And last but not least, we have more new content coming soon:

• Letter from the President, Laura Tenberg
• Membership points - list of members' accrued points and an outline of all obtainable points.
• Media library - recordings, presentations, and other downloadable resources.
• Newsletter archive - mostly from 2005-2022, but let us know if you have any older publications.
• New Job Board - this is available now, but it’s brand new and we’re still learning how to use it. Use your same Austin ARMA website login information to log in to the new job board.

In case you missed it, after a series of delays due to bad weather, the Austin ARMA Chapter held the semi-annual Shred Day event on Saturday, June 10 at the Balcones Shred facility. 

Third time was the charm, because the weather was sunny and mild thanks to a quick early rain shower keeping the temperature down all morning. We had a steady trickle of cars bringing boxes to the shredders and an appreciable amount of cash donations. As we wrapped up the event, we rehydrated and enjoyed some pizza and conversation. Thanks to Steven for coordinating a great Shred Day! Check out the Shred Day page for more information about the event and photos from past events.

We are currently making plans for the upcoming season of events, so in addition to checking your email, you will soon find updates and photos here on the website, as well as shared across a few social media platforms: https://linktr.ee/austinarma.

As we head into a new chapter year, we are seeking to round out a full board with all Chapter Officer positions filled, which will be mutually beneficial for everyone. We need members to step up for the Programs Chair and President-Elect roles - see the current Chapter Officers page for more information and don't hesitate to inquire about it with other members.

There are a variety of reasons to join the board. For me, there were several reasons. Initially, I was invited by colleagues I have worked with for many years. Erica Rice, the chapter's previous Publicity/Newsletter Chair, handed over the torch in an unofficial virtual ceremony that was unfortunately nothing like the grandeur of the Olympics.

Secondly, I took the role of Publicity/Webmaster because I had the time, energy, experience, and skills to help the chapter grow. It turns out that learning HTML code twenty years ago is way more beneficial than if I had studied Latin. It also helps that I have prior experience and interest in managing blogs and websites, practicing photography, and paying attention to the evolution of social media marketing.

Last but not least, I joined because I could see that, like most organizations, the Austin ARMA Chapter was experiencing major transition and I knew I could help steering the ship in a new direction. Despite being a new chapter member, I've been in the chapter's orbit for nearly a decade due to my station at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Many of the chapter's past board members are also TSLAC alumni, including our chapter's co-founder Dr. Gracy, so I felt compelled to step up and continue his legacy.

I offer all of my reasons to hopefully inspire others to consider their own priorities, ambitions, and development. If you have anything to bring to the table, don't hesitate and reach out to learn more about the Austin ARMA Chapter. Email us at austinarmachapter@gmail.com