Forms Talk

BFMA Celebrates Half a Century: 1958 - 2008

Joyce E. Endres, CFSP - BFMA International President 1999 - 2001
Carl W. Brannon, CFC, CFSP - BFMA International President 1985 - 1987

During the decade following World War II, government agencies and large businesses began to focus on business forms which were proliferating at a rate much greater than inflation. Initially, most activities concentrated on  controlling  forms, but interest soon evolved into the integrated disciplines we know today as forms management.

In late 1957, a group of six individuals in Los Angeles began meeting to exchange ideas and experiences. They were R.A. Brown, Marty Fitzsimmons, John A. Lord, Richard R. Nejman, J.G. Holman, and George Bubnash. The first local elections were held in February, 1959, when George Bubnash was elected our first president. Regular meetings began in March, 1959. (Dinner at that first meeting cost $3.50 per person and dues for that first year were $6.00!) Thus, our association was born.

The success of the Los Angeles organization indicated that such an association would benefit individuals in the forms management profession on an international scale. Indeed, similar groups were forming in several cities, and these later affiliated as chapters of the association. In 1969, Jo Warner chaired a national chapter organization committee. The first new chapters were awarded charters in 1970. Ten years later, the Business Forms Management Association boasted 33 chapters, two of them in Canada, and more than 1,500 members from several countries. By 1988, there were 41 chapters with nearly 2,000 members worldwide.

A non-profit corporation, BFMA is the leading professional society for business forms managers, analysts, designers, technicians, and others in related fields. BFMA’s purpose continues to be the promotion of good management of information resources throughout all industries and governments. Education, professional training, networking, and career advancement are the cornerstones of the association, which still flourishes today as the Association for Forms and Business Process Professionals.

Over the years, our members have watched our industry change (grow up, if you prefer) from a typically minor administrative function buried within our employers’ organizations to an essential corporate-wide function providing not only design and management services, but also valuable business process and workflow improvements, increased forms effectiveness providers through automation and application components, image and marketing promoters, and operational/technical support resources.

Our techniques have evolved from paper hand-drawn forms designs and printing presses to computer-aided design tools, intelligent electronic forms with database connections; and on-line collection, collaboration, processing and dissemination of data. Our attitudes have also matured from a time when we feared being lobbied for print orders by our  vendor associate members  (who had no vote and could not hold elected office) to the realization that it is our vendors (now full-fledged members with full membership rights) who possess much of the knowledge BFMA members so steadfastly and passionately seek.

BFMA’s outreach to other business professionals has grown, as well. Complementing our periodic educational publications, we offer a wide range of training classes (both introductory and advanced), a lively web-based discussion group (FormSpace) and an industry certification program (CFSP - Certified Form Systems Professional), all of which broadcast to the world that we are the leading educational and networking resource in the forms, systems, and process improvement industry.

Ours is a proud heritage. Our longevity (half a century), our international membership, our recognition and awards programs (Member Awards, Chapter Awards, Professional Awards, President’s Award of Excellence, and the prestigious Jo Warner Award), and our multiple training programs (local chapter meetings, a web-based Master Series, various Forms Institutes, virtual CFSP study groups, and the annual Symposium) are all accomplishments for which we are quite proud. And, we are always actively seeking new members and innovative ideas. Happy 50th anniversary, BFMA.

An Opportunity to Excel

By: Ray Killam, CFSP, CFC
President

One of the primary responsibilities of forms professionals is to be the "go-to" source within our organizations for all information about forms. We need to constantly inform management about developments, technologies and best practices for forms management and how those activities can positively impact achieving our organization’s goals and objectives.

There is no better place to keep abreast of all important developments than at Symposium. The combination of classes, sponsor sessions and tutorials, networking with other forms management professionals and the many topics of discussion make Symposium the "can’t miss" event of the year.

Your company or agency needs to send you to this event. The cost is very minor compared to the improvements you will implement as a result of your attendance. The Return-on-Investment (ROI) is usually staggering - just one moderate improvement can provide immediate payback - and you can prove it!

Plan to attend now. You will be glad you did.

More Hot Education News for Las Vegas

By: Margaret Tassin, CFSP, CDC
Program Council, Director of Education

You think the gaming is hot in Las Vegas?  You haven't seen anything!  The education at the 2008 Symposium will be hotter than ever.  More than 70 DIFFERENT classes are scheduled, nothing repeated during the event.  Did you read the March edition of the newsletter for education descriptions?  Here are even more highlights!

The sponsors will demonstrate their products and provide knowledge in related fields. For example, Ben Payami of Cerenade will discuss redaction.  Don't know what that is?  Come to his session and learn.  He will also present "eApplications:  Bridging the Gap" between electronic forms and applications.  If this is new to you, you need to be at Symposium!  Randy Popson of FormSoft Group will discuss "Managing Structured Content."  Franklin Garner of Amgraf has fabulous classes on HTML and XML.  These are very complicated topics, and he does an excellent job of making them understandable.  Mike Hatfield of Kaye-Smith will present "Prepping for Printing" so your camera ready art will be ready - really ready - once the printer receives it.  John Harris of Adobe will discuss eforms and document security while Christy Hubbard reviews Adobe's PDF/Archive.  In addition there are product demos, table top presentations and/or sponsor suites from these companies plus Microsoft, IBM, Texcel, SnapForm, Essociates Group, RR Donnelley and Extream Software. 

BFMA is bringing some incredible consultants to this Symposium.  Dr. Ben Graham and Ben B. Graham are leaders in process mapping and charting.  Between them, they are presenting six classes covering topics from process mapping to professional interviewing skills.  Consultants from Kleimann Communication Group are presenting two sessions on "Literacy in Forms Design" and "Why People make Mistakes on Forms."  Craig Dartnell is presenting a before and after results on a massive forms project that he and Robert Barnett developed.  These men are both from Australia and have come halfway around the world to share this information with you.  I have seen the slides, and it is a compelling case study.  Al Weisner will tell you how one government agency is making the transition to e-forms.

Not what you are looking for?  How about listening to your peers.  There are forms folks at all levels from companies and agencies such as Mayo Clinic, US Department of State, Standard Insurance, Premera Blue Cross, David Thompson Health Region, and on and on who will share their particular forms knowledge with you.

Finally, do you have a problem that needs an expert's advice?  This is the place to see the best people.  There are many networking events (see the last issue of Forms Talk) but for the first time, there will be a consultant's table at the coffee breaks.  Bring a nickel, and the consultant will help you.

Symposium 2008 is the host site for the BFMA 50th anniversary celebration. BFMA is still helping forms professionals after 50 years. Some professional associations have come and gone, but BFMA is still here.  Come see for yourself why this is the best education and best association for forms professionals.

The Latest in Industry Developments

By: Lisa Lee, CEBS, FLMI
VP Administration

Last year, I came to Symposium with fresh exposure to one of the eforms products. During the Special Interest Group meeting, Rob Barnett furnished some information on that topic that helped part of that picture snap into focus for me. It was Sunday, Symposium hadn't swung into full tilt yet, and already I'd picked up information valuable enough to make my attendance worthwhile!

One of my favorite parts of symposium is the opportunity to talk directly with representatives of the sponsors. I can quiz the product managers, the developers, the people who can answer specific questions and really know what's planned for near term development. These folks provide personalized demonstrations and are extremely helpful. This is the straight scoop, not press releases or information that has been filtered or spun. Sponsor reps have told me that they value feedback from BFMA members, because we have direct knowledge of how their products  work in our real worlds.

I always enjoy the eforms panel. Here, leaders of industry products share their perspectives. They bring their knowledge and direct experience in the marketplace. They know what they are hearing from customers, what's happening on the technical front, what their organizations are concentrating on. For thought leadership on where the industry is going, listen to these leaders. It can get a little lively sometimes!

Every year, I catch up on what is going on: new sponsor products, changes to products, acquisitions, changes to product names. When changes occur in my organization, I might investigate a product I wasn't too interested in previously. As a result, when I return to the office I know more about developments and what's expected to happen on this particular front than anyone else in my organization. Symposium recharges my batteries and helps me bring specialized expertise to my organization. Come and talk with these people. See what would be of value for your organization.

Want Extra Training? Attend the Post-Symposium Classes

By: Margaret Tassin, CFSP, CDC
Program Council, Director of Education

If you are a forms developer wrestling with new software, BFMA has just the thing for you.  On Thursday, May 8 there are four after-symposium training classes that are targeted to specific software.

PC1 Beginning LiveCycle
In this introduction to Adobe LiveCycle Designer, the class begins with the basic tools of Designer, exploring the form components in the standard library as well as creating our own components in the custom library. Learn design tips and tricks while avoiding common design problems. Participate in discussion around how static form design compares to dynamic form design. The course also covers best practices when importing forms from Microsoft Word or existing PDF files.  Instructor Angie Okamoto is the Director of Training at Tech Ed Solutions, and she will present PC1 and PC2.

PC2 Advanced LiveCycle
LiveCycle Designer can be used to create basic interactive forms, but why go with basic when you can really make your forms come alive? This session will discuss techniques that enable you to add intelligence to your form and to create dynamic layouts that react to the data or to user interactions.

PC3 Beginning InfoPath
Office InfoPath 2007 comes from a family of familiar and regularly used Office products which make it easy for current Office users to wander over and begin designing. InfoPath will allow you to easily build and distribute electronic forms. You can share forms access web-browsers, through e-mail messages and mobile devices. This course will give you an understanding of template layouts and form controls used to design effective forms. With InfoPath’s click and drag methods you will have your forms ready for distribution in no time. Don’t worry about wasting all of those forms that you started to create in Microsoft Word or Excel, they can be imported into InfoPath and the form controls get added automatically. So many options are available for form development.  Come see why InfoPath may be the right match for you.  Instructor Nicole Sell is a certified Microsoft Office Specialist and full-time software instructor/consultant for Tech Ed Solutions.

PC4 Acrobat 8 and JavaScript - ADVANCED
Acrobat 8 and its updates brought quite a few challenges for the creator of smart forms. The ever increased security restrictions did break a great number of applications. On the other hand, the inclusion of the JavaScript 1.6 Core with its E4X (Escript for XML) implementation brought a big potential for new and ever more interesting applications.

Presenter Max Wyss, the "guru of PDF scripting," will discuss workarounds (as far as there are workarounds) for making existing applications work with Acrobat 8, even with the stricter security-related limitations. He will also cover the new properties and methods Acrobat 8 brought to Acrobat JavaScript, including the latest properties and methods provided by the JavaScript 1.6 Core.

The Acrobat 8 and JavaScript - Advanced class is for developers of PDF forms who use the Acroforms technology.  This is an ADVANCED class for people who have a strong knowledge of JavaScript Core and Acrobat JavaScript.  We don't want to scare anyone away, but if you don't dream in code, this class isn't for you.

Like a Spider in the World Wide Web

By: Theresa Verburg
President, Mid-Michigan Chapter

About five years ago, I was invited to attend a local seminar being held by Mid-Michigan BFMA chapter. The topic was on a Forms Management System that was implemented by the Boeing Corporation. The speaker was none other than Pamm Colbert. I was so impressed with what she had to say, that I started doing more research to find out more about the BFMA organization.

I continued to attend the quarterly meetings for our local group and decided to take the plunge and became a member. When the opportunity presented itself in the Fall of 2004, I hopped on a train to Chicago to attend the 2-day Fall Forms Institute that was being held at The Federal Reserve Bank.

While there, I managed to meet several new contacts including Jim Healy, Ray Killam, Dr. Ben Graham, Judy Lundy, Rob Barnett, and a host of others. It was a bit of a whirlwind event for me to pack in so many topics in such a short amount of time. As if 2 days in Chicago with Jim, Ray, Dr. Ben and Judy wasn’t enough, in the Spring of 2005, I was allowed the great privilege to attend Symposium in Orlando, Florida. Within hours of arriving, I started to run into some of the familiar faces that I had met in Chicago.

One of my favorite memories of my first Symposium was the friendliness and willingness of the seasoned attendees to welcome new people. I remember hoping that some day I would be able to return the favor. During the Icebreaker Reception, I was fortunate enough to have Al Weisner introduce himself to me. If there was ever someone that should be nominated as an ambassador, it would be Al.

Although we are usually taught to fear the IRS, Paul Showalter pretty much debunks that myth. He was everything you could hope for in a presenter and much more. I was also very impressed with Margaret Tassin, Carl Young and Franklin Garner III, as well as several others. They were all very willing to share their knowledge and presented in such a way that even a layperson could understand it.

During a visit to the Vendor Suites, I ran in to my old acquaintance from Chicago, Jim Healy. Jim introduced me to his friend, Thom Parker of WindJack Solutions. Jim and Thom continue to be an endless source of knowledge for me. During that trip, I began to realize that these people were very approachable and more than happy to share their knowledge.

During a very casual conversation before dinner one night, I was introduced to another familiar name to BFMA, Ron Moorhead. After swapping stories for a while, I had the opportunity to introduce Ron to Thom Parker. Both gentlemen had heard of each other and had hoped to get a chance to meet. I feel honored to have been able to facilitate their introductions.

Fast forward to Phoenix, Arizona in 2006. I was relaxing in the pool when I struck up a conversation with one of the other attendees, Kelly Halseth. After she mentioned that she was from Canada, I mentioned the very nice conversation I had the prior year with Ron Moorhead. A big grin grew across her face as she mentioned that Ron was the reason she was there. He asked her to sit on one of the panels with him and she couldn’t bear the thought of disappointing Ron.

When I arrived in Phoenix, and joined the Icebreaker Reception, Jim Healy was waiting at the gate for me with a big hug. Jim then introduced me to Rose Wagner and Alice Ladd, who are both just too adorable for words. They all made me feel very welcome and extremely privileged to be in attendance. They are just the type of people that you wish you could work with every day.

During this time, I had also accepted the responsibility for the Programs Committee for our local Mid-Michigan BFMA chapter. I have been able to successfully invite several of the people that I met through BFMA to visit Michigan and give a presentation for us. I’ve managed to use my time at Symposium to scope out people and get a sense of their willingness to come to Michigan and give a presentation for our local chapter. To date, I’ve managed to have several of the people that I mentioned visit our area including:

Jim Healy
Thom Parker
Carl Young
Dr. Ben Graham
Ray Killam
and several others...

It’s hard to know in advance what the future holds for any of us. The person that you speak to while waiting in line at the store may just be a new untapped resource. Keep your mind and options open. You never know who you might meet next.

I have fond memories of many of the people that I have met through BFMA. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this organization.

And Now A Word From Our Sponsors

Raymond Garner
Amgraf, Incorporated

When I was asked to discuss "Why is it important that our sponsors attend BFMA Symposium?" I was a little shocked. I mean, is this really a topic that needs to be explained to our membership? I hope not, as BFMA members are only "THE premier group of forms professionals on the planet!"

But, to an outsider this industry probably appears to be small, inconsequential and not as "sexy" as some others. It's not as if we are attempting to launch a mission to Mars, or maintain worldwide financial stability, develop an eco-friendly "green" technology, or even create a new life saving drug. Ahh, but collectively, through forms management and the organizations educational efforts, that's exactly what you are doing.

As a BFMA sponsor, when I look at the cross-sector of industries, organizations, and governments who form it's membership, those are the groups who I want to be in contact with. BFMA sponsors will agree their marketing budgets are constantly being stretched thin, so frugality is a must. It’s the high profile membership and superior educational offerings that make BFMA such an attractive organization for our sponsorship dollars.

With Symposium being the most popular event among its members, it has become the annual point of contact with most industry sponsors. Symposium becomes your prime opportunity to see what's new in the market and speak directly with industry leaders. For suppliers, this becomes our prime opportunity to showcase new technologies and features to industry professionals directly within our target market. The feedback and comments we receive during Symposium week becomes an invaluable tool in gauging our development goals, current trends, and the state of the industry.

In short, the Business Forms Management Association is instrumental in shaping the way our world communicates and we are proud to be part of that. As sponsors, we are reliant upon the organization's membership to utilize and help promote our technologies. And as a member, you rely upon us, the sponsors, to provide the organization with knowledge and advanced technologies. Throughout BFMA's 50 year history this has been a win-win situation for all and deserves to continue for another 50 years.

The Drive to Develop Standards

By: Ray Killam, CFSP, CFC
President

Do you have a problem within your organization with gaining respect and management attention for what you do? Is your organization failing to provide proper investment, including staffing, for professional forms management? Do you never get invited to planning meetings regarding strategic direction? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you need to attend Symposium 2008 in Las Vegas to learn about the initiatives underway to change all that.

There is no better place to learn about the future direction of the forms management industry than Symposium. Several classes are offered on Best Practices and industry veterans will discuss developing Standards and Best Practices for the industry. This effort is well underway in Canada and BFMA will lead this effort in the US.

This has profound implications for everyone that works in forms management and development. With form standards, we will take our place with document management and records management as recognized professions, deserving of management respect and proper investment. We have an opportunity to truly elevate our profession and position ourselves for the future.

BFMA is organizing a standards and best practices effort that will build on the work done by the Canadian General Standards Board. The CGSB will soon publish a draft Forms Management standard for public review and comment. This topic will receive considerable attention at Symposium. It will have an impact on your future. You need to be there.

About Johnna Johnson, our keynote speaker

Johnna Johnson & Co. inspires organizations, teams and individuals to Just Jump: from Ordinary to Outstanding! Throughout her keynote, you will experience not only her energetic and interactive methods but most importantly, her essential elements of excellence: Ambition, Attitude & Action!

Whether she was receiving a college scholarship for her distinction of excellence, breaking sales and performance records or starting her own companies, Johnna certainly has first-hand experience and know-how when it comes to taking courageous action and jumping! With an impressive success rate and as an expert in her field, thousands have sought out Johnna’s expertise to assist them with personal, professional and organizational excellence including colleagues, executives, military leaders and Fortune 500 companies.

50 years, WOW, a Golden History

By: Bill Hill, CFSP, CFC
VP Program Council

Yes, a GREAT history. What started out as an organization of professional forms people gathering together to trade information to perform their duties more efficiently, has lasted 50 years.  And it still has the same goal: learning to perform our duties more efficiently.  Yes, our instructors are those who have walked the walk, not instructing from a book.

How many other organizations with similar educational goals have come and gone? Not only has BFMA honed our training programs, but we also have developed a certification program to reward those who are ready for the next step in professional recognition.

Although the goal is the same, our industry has been turned on its ear.  Yes, business still moves on paper, but look at the inroads made by electronic forms in recent years.   We now discuss how we transfer and store information electronically. Yes, Ben Franklin’s discovery has greatly impacted our business.

The forte of the forms expert is to not only analyze how to improve a work process with more efficient forms, but also, provide more efficient electronic forms.   Which electronic format is the best fit?   Will the business process go through a mainframe? Via email? On the Web?  What design criteria must you use?  You are making decisions today that not only were not thought of 50 years ago, but most of the decisions you must consider were possibly not available 5 years ago.

Although the focus has been on electronic forms for many years, we still must address the broader impact of our industry.  To cover the full market, BFMA must address all facets.

Please look through either the booklet (doesn’t it look great?) or our website and review all of the classes.   We address all aspects of our industry, from the new person who comes into an office with no forms program, who must learn the basics of forms management, to forms analysis and design.   We also have those that are deep into electronic forms that need the information to determine if their next step is on the Internet or electronic processing of data.   Also, you will learn how to determine which electronic forms program or storage program fits your needs.

We have two CFSP, CFCs on the Program Council (which establishes the curriculum at all instructional events) that review what has been submitted to determine which classes meet today’s industry needs. Plus, we have a member relatively new to the industry that feeds us information on what the new person is looking for to enhance their knowledge. This has resulted in a symposium schedule with great depth and fresh approaches to our industry.  Yes, the evaluation scores have been shooting through the roof and this year’s class schedule looks even greater.

Please, check the BFMA booklet you received recently or our website, and review the classes and look at their content.  You will find classes that will not only enhance your knowledge, but will allow you to become the “go to” person in your industry/company.   Not only that, you will have great satisfaction in knowing that your input saved money and/or time, be it small or big.

Register now.

See you in Las Vegas, May 4-8, 2008