Networking in Las Vegas - It Doesn't Get any Better than This!

By: Ray Killam, CFSP, CFC
President

In about two months, forms professionals from all over the world will converge at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas at our annual Symposium. It will be my 19th consecutive Symposium and the 50th anniversary of our Association. It has become the "can't miss" event of the year for me because it gives me the opportunity to see all my friends again and to immerse myself in my chosen profession. It is the only major opportunity available to find out what's new in forms management, attend a wide variety of classes taught by experts in the field, and to have an hands-on experience with the latest forms technology. Why would I want to be anywhere else?

Another significant event is the  the Canadian Forms Institute in Ottawa. This is another great opportunity to meet peers and spend a couple of days with the experts. Our program council put together another solid program and registrations are strong. As I write this article, I am preparing to leave for Ottawa. Perhaps I will have some time to go to "the world's longest skating rink" while I'm there!

Patricia Dolhan of the Canadian General Standards Board will provide us an update on the Forms Management Standard for Canada. This break-through effort will provide forms managers with guidance for establishing a forms management program and will go a long way to helping build credibility for our profession. I think we can all use this standard to help explain the value of what we do and, hopefully, we can use this to promote our profession throughout our organizations. We'll provide you with updates after I return from the meeting.

Your Board continues to meet regularly and is involved with several initiatives to promote our profession. We are a co-sponsor of the inaugural Document Strategy Forum (http://www.documentstrategyforum.com)  in Chicago this September. We are finalizing the Fall Forms Institute location and dates and expect an announcement soon. Look for another round of online chapter meetings soon.

If at all possible, find a way to attend Symposium 2008. Convince your management that this is truly the must-attend event for you and it will be a rewarding and profitable experience for you and the organization you work for. New ideas will flow, important contacts will be made, and tips and tools will be provided that will easily translate to improvements you will make as you position yourself for an increasingly valuable role and more responsibilities and contributions. You will truly be glad you did!

See you in Las Vegas!