Forms Talk

We Have Lost a Friend and Mentor: A Personal Note

By: Bill Hill, CFC, CFSP

Even though you know it is coming, there is always an impact when you lose a friend. The ominous email from Trish Barnett with subject line of “Rob” revealed Rob’s passing on October 27th. Rob was a premier educator in the forms industry and awarded the Jo Warner award in 1998, the highest award issued by BFMA.

BFMA had a symposium in San Diego in 1991 and a number of fellow state forms people attended. Upon their return, the name mentioned most often was Rob Barnett. I was informed that if I ever attend a BFMA Symposium, be sure to take his classes.

The BFMA Symposium in Ft Lauderdale the following year offered that opportunity and Rob’s classes were checked on the registration form. He was Australian and my narrow knowledge of Australians were a number of famous racecar drivers and Crocodile Dundee. Refreshingly, what I found was a very refined, dashing person, with the looks of a sophisticated gentleman with pure white hair. ‘Refined’ and my name are never in the same sentence, and Rob was a little intimidating. However, in the first conversation, Rob quickly dispelled any awkwardness, as he was a very warm, compassionate person who had a sincere interest in others.

I was apprehensive in Rob’s first class as his knowledge was in areas I had no concept of. However, his teaching ability was fantastic as he laid the information out in a manner that I could comprehend. It was as if he was talking directly with me, even in a classroom. He was a premier and popular speaker at BFMA symposiums and also presented in Institutes when travels permitted. And let’s not forget his hundreds of inputs and solutions offered on FormSpace… as well as Rob asking for assistance when needed.

Rob was able to transfer his thoughts and words into writing, producing some of the best books on the forms industry, which have become the standard to many. His 2005 book “Forms For People” started out to be an all inclusive book, but upon further consideration, Rob cut it back several hundred pages leaving 500 or so, and it is still very comprehensive. I think it was a secret, but Rob and Trish flew from Australia to Post Falls, Idaho, checked into a hotel and proofed the book for the next week and a half, out of sight from the rest of the world; that pretty well describes Post Falls also. He let the secret out when contacting me for some clarification on some information I had provided.

When Rob was first diagnosed with his illness n early 2008, we discussed his options for treatment. He assured me that he was going to use his recuperative time writing TWO books. Despite being unable to get the upper hand on the disease, Rob remained true and completed both books much to the amazement of his doctors (I believe only minor detail work is left with the second book). You may have noticed many of his recent messages on FormSpace were from his iphone as he was under hospice care in a medical facility. However, as we witnessed on FormSpace, his mind never stopped working. His fortitude and faith kept him going long beyond all expectations.

Rob loved Canberra, the capital of Australia. He sent me books, website info with maps and a history of the city and the country, truly a person proud of his country and willing to promote the relatively new capital city and its modern buildings and beautiful grounds. I have no idea how many government agencies he assisted in their forms programs, but I believe it was considerable. If you live in or traveled to Australia, you probably have completed one of Rob’s forms. In 1996 we had 14 Australians attend the BFMA Symposium in Seattle, many from the Australian government, much to Rob’s efforts.

I put forth all this praise for Rob, which he would find embarrassing, but Rob had probably the greatest assistant anyone could have, his number one student and partner, his wife Trish. The more we visited, plus taking a class from Trish, the more I found out what an integral person she was in Rob’s life. They were a team in every aspect of the word, from forms to being life loves.

Rob had a great (and somewhat subdued) sense of humor. It became routine: our annual greeting, we would stand shoulder to shoulder, I’d look at his feet and say, “I see your feet are still strong as ever, keeping you from falling off the bottom of the earth.” And Rob would always giggle. I don’t know if I ever saw Rob laugh that much, but he sure giggled a lot. A tremendously enjoyable friend and very patient with my lame jokes.

In no way could I capture Rob’s accomplishments and history. He started with an unassuming job and was promoted when his skills were discovered as he moved from company to company, then into his own enterprise. His presentations at BFMA were always popular through his final one at the St. Louis Symposium in 2007. I believe his first BFMA Symposium presentation was in 1988 in Toronto, and his educational reputation grew quickly.

To find out more of Rob’s career and insights, I strongly suggest that you click on his two blogs and website listed below. I have found this information fascinating, even his enjoyment of Groucho Marx.

Click on Rob’s personal BLOG at: http://robbarnett.wordpress.com and Rob’s business BLOG at: http://rbainformationdesign.blogspot.com Don’t forget his website at: http://www.rbainformationdesign.com.au.

Rob was a man of integrity, knowledge, curiosity, humor, compassion and faith. Rob’s messages were always the first I opened on my email, whether a friendly or business exchange, but always enjoyable. Rob was always ready to share his considerable knowledge to anyone who asked. I can’t even imagine how many people call Rob “friend”. Yes Rob, I miss you already.

Condolences to Trish for her loss, as she is in our thoughts and prayers.

BFMA Members Respond to the Loss of Rob Barnett

By: Bill Hill, CFC, CFSP

Below are comments posted to FormSapce after the death of one of the best forms industry educators BFMA has known. The eloquence in these comments for Rob Barnett demonstrates the knowledge and compassion Rob exuded.

from Loyd Means, CFSP:
Wow! I remember taking a class at Rob's first BFMA Symposium at Toronto in 1988. It was built around his work with the Australian IRS and the tax returned forms they developed. The results were stunning. I remember asking him if he had had a chance to meet with BFMA leadership about his findings and his answer was "no". I promised that he would get that chance. This turned out to be totally unnecessary; by the time Symposium ended Rob was a celebrity. From then on I always made it a priority to include at least one class by Rob Barnett at Symposium. He never disappointed.

There has always been a camaraderie at Symposium that is unique to BFMA. Rob had an explanation for that. He said that forms professionals are, of necessity, "people" people.  They are necessarily tuned in to the idiosyncrasies of persons; how else could they design form that persons could deal with? Thus, when you get an assembly of 500 such people, what else can you expect?

Rob, thank you for enriching my personal as well as my professional life.

from Racquel Ellis (nee Baker):
My sincere condolences to the family, friends and co-partners of Rob Barnett.

As a newcomer to BFMA, I found him to be most helpful.  He made himself available to assist whenever he could and he was so prompt in answering a query or addressing an issue. Not to mention the legacy of knowledge for the forms industry. I definitely learned from his work. He was very open with sharing information, which indicated to me that he was a very mature person who was confident in his knowledge base who was willing to pass on what he knew to others.

I will miss him. A person like him must be fondly remembered. I wish I knew him more.

from Carolyn Romero:
I always attended his classes at the Symposiums and learned so much from him. His knowledge and experience as a forms professional will be part of his legacy. I always run to his books when a question pops up – his books are my forms bible. Always read his advice in the FormSpace emails also. He will be missed.

from Marvin Beriss, MB Associates, Inc., Forms Analyst/Policies Coordinator:
I am sorry to hear about Rob Barnett. He has been a great contributor to my knowledge about forms and forms design. He seemed to me to be a person with the most comprehensive knowledge of both forms technology and the user interface. A good author and therefore teacher, and always willing to help.

I, for one, will miss his comments and contributions.

from Jules Stephens:
OH MY GOSH!!! You know I never met him but I did carry on a conversation with him a year ago. And I thought "why is this guy talking with a complete stranger? What's in it for him? Hasn't he got better things to do?" I grew to understand that that's the kind of guy he was - he gave his time to everyone. This is sad and my prayers go to his wife Trish!

from Tami Bevan, CFSP, CFC:
This is sad news for those who knew Rob personally, and for our industry. Thank you for letting me know.

from Alice Ladd:
I am so sad to hear about the passing of a dear friend and BFMA family member. I met Rob in Minnesota 2000 and had no idea that someone who
asked so many questions had so many answers. I have since been impressed by his humbleness, his wisdom, and his passion for this industry. Rob seemed to always have the time to discus various topics; I will definitely miss those wonderful times.

I hope to purchase the last book that he was working on, and once again learn from him, as he did from us.

Peace be with you.

from Mike Bahil, Supervisor, Forms and Stationery Services:
My first symposium was 2000 (Minneapolis). On the shuttle van from the airport to the hotel/convention center, I found myself with others from BFMA. All of us seated in the middle and rear seats were sharing BFMA stories and form career stories. There was a white-haired fellow seated in the front passenger seat. He listened to our conversations and offered a few smiles, but mostly just listened. I had no idea who he was at that time. Next day,  I took a class only to discover he was the presenter and a well-regarded one at that!

I always thought it was so intelligent of him to simply listen to our comments.

Good listening skills are golden... as are Rob's contributions to our craft...

from Bet Morash, Business Systems Analyst  Technology Services Division:
The forms world just shook – we have lost one of our ‘gurus’.  And even though I only met him once, I feel like a good friend has gone.

As many, many others know Rob was always willing to share his knowledge – he was the original ‘open source code’ in the forms industry. FormSpace may never be quite the same, but because of his compassion for all things forms, our world is so much richer.  His knowledge will live on in everyone he taught or just talked with. What a legacy he has left us.

My sincere and deepest condolences to his wife, Trish.

from Laurie J. Arras, Manager, Information Solutions,Publications Dept.:
As a newbie to BFMA for only six months, I did not get the privilege of meeting Rob, but his reputation preceded him and I was made fully aware of Rob's contributions over the years. I was hoping to meet him someday and looking forward to his next book, which I hope someone gets to take to completion for him. He clearly was considered one of the best, if not the best.

from Diane MacGregor:
I had never met Rob, but I have been reading the materials he has shared for years. My own understanding of forms owes much to him and the generosity mentioned.

Later today I will be delivering forms training to a group of government employees in Halifax, Nova Scotia. We used Rob's book "Forms for People" as a key resource when developing that training. His influence continues, ten thousand miles away.

Regarding Rob's funeral
from Jessica Enders, Principal, Formulate Information Design 
It was a beautiful Canberra spring day, warm with clear skies. His brother and a close friend spoke of Rob's many talents, including his musicality (which I was not aware of) and his great contribution to many people's lives. Trish is bearing up - it was heartening to see how many people were there to pay their respects and show their love for them both.

I came away reflecting on how Rob Barnett probably had more integrity, generosity, calm strength of spirit and goodwill than any person I've ever met. His passing is a great loss to us all but as one speaker said, we are so thankful to have had him in our lives. May he rest in peace.

from David Sones
I was deeply saddened to hear of Mr. Barnett's passing. I was fortunate enough to meet him at the 2007 Symposium and attend one of his brilliant teachings. I found him to be a wizard worthy of Merlin's stature, a man of deep intellect, perception, and a sharp sense of humor. I learned so much from him in just a couple of hours, knowledge that I won't forget and that I apply any time I think about how end users interpret forms. He was full of entertaining stories, amazing facts, and he was just a pleasure to know. If there's such a thing as a Forms Legend, he's the poster boy.

BFMA Leader Mourned

By: Margaret Tassin, CFSP, CDC

Carl W. Brannon, CFC, CFSP, two-term association president 1985-1987, passed away on September 3 after a brief illness. Carl was an energetic association activist since he joined BFMA in 1974. In addition to serving as the association’s president, he also held more than a dozen other chapter- and association-level offices. While BFMA President, he personally visited 70% of the association’s North American chapters.

Active with BFMA in so many ways, he was a frequent instructor at the association’s annual International Symposium and presented seminars at various chapters. He served on the accreditation board for both the Certified Forms Consultant (CFC) examination (for DMIA, now PSDA) and on the founding board for the Certified Form Systems Professional (CFSP) examination sponsored by BFMA. He was active with the Past President's Council and the Membership Council.

Carl received the coveted Jo Warner Award in 1994. In discussing his being honored with this award, Carl said, “No matter how much I try to ‘give back’ to this association for all the benefits I’ve enjoyed over my twenty-five-year membership, BFMA continues to enhance those benefits. I can’t keep up. My debt just keeps growing. As only the fifth recipient of the Jo Warner Award in its ten-year history, I am honored and humbled. But that certainly won’t stop me from grinning ear-to-ear every time I think of it.”

Carl worked in many aspects of the forms industry: sales representative, forms manager and consultant. Carl started with Moore Business Forms as a sales representative (1963-1968). He established or managed forms departments in public companies including Singer, Friden Division; Cartridge Television, Inc.; Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corp.; Memorex Corp.; and Lockheed Missiles and Space Company. He participated as a partner in a start-up documentation company, The Paradigm Group, Inc. He joined Data Documents, Inc. (now Corporate Express Document and Print Management) in 1990 and retired from there in 1997. Carl worked as principal consultant with Sasspro (consulting firm) and later as Director of Marketing for Evergreen Data Systems before forming Essociates Group, Inc. (a consulting firm) with Ray H. Killam, CFC, CFSP in 2002.

At Essociates Group, Carl was Vice President, Forms Management/Workflow Solutions. His responsibilities included management and execution of consulting projects for clients, development of training classes, and contributions to the website.

Carl is survived by his wife Carol and his daughter and four grandchildren. BFMA has truly lost a great leader and thinker for the industry. Carl Brannon will be greatly missed.

Board Meeting after Fall Form Institute

By: Nancy Flor-Gawel,
VP, Administration

On Thursday, October 8, 2009 the BFMA Board of Directors will hold its fall board meeting after the Fall Forms Institute. The meeting will be held at the BFMA offices at the Center for Association Resources, 1901 North Roselle Road, Suite 920, in Schaumberg, Illinois. The times are from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. All BFMA members are invited and welcome to attend.

All Members are Invited to the Fall Board Meeting

By: Nancy Flor-Gawel
VP, Administration

The board of directors for the association meets twice per year in person. These meetings are scheduled adjacent to Symposium and the Fall Forms Institute. This Fall, the meeting will be held on Thursday, October 8, following the Fall Forms Institute, at headquarters in Schaumberg, IL, near Chicago.

Board meetings are open to members. If you are planning to be at the Fall Forms Institute, why not add this to your travel plans now? Stay an extra day and see what your board is up to.

All members of this association have an interest in its business. Come, see what's going on, and be a part of it. Please contact any board member or headquarters for details.

Introducing BFMA’s New Staff

By: Lisa Lee, CEBS, FLMI
President

BFMA announced in June 2009 the selection of The Center for Association Resources as BFMA’s new management entity. The Center has a demonstrated history of successfully managing not-for-profit clients and is accredited by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). This honor is given to only a small percent of applying association management companies (AMCs) nationally. The Center’s core purpose and single-minded goal is to deliver its services, whether management or project, with the highest degree of integrity and ethics to BFMA by driving operational efficiency and building sustainable success.

Through a true partnership, The Center becomes a trusted advisor, a reliable extension and integral part of the BFMA organization. The team of senior associates offers more than 100 years of both association management and corporate experience –  and understands the business of membership organizations, from project management to executive management. Please meet the team:

Robert O. Patterson, JD – rpatterson@bfma.org
As Executive Director, Rob Patterson brings 24 years of experience in association and private sector management.  Rob has served as a senior executive within the healthcare, housing, financial, and real estate industries. As the founder and principal of The Center for Association Resources, Inc, he provides the BFMA leadership and members with expertise in governance, strategic planning and organizational development / effectiveness in addition to assuring the consistency of day-to-day operations.

Rob is an active member in several professional association groups, including the American Society of Association Executives, the Association Forum of Chicagoland and the AMC Institute. He received a B.A. in Economics and Political Science in 1979 from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN, and completed his law degree at Chicago-Kent Law School receiving a Juris Doctor Degree.

Michele Anderson – manderson@bfma.org
Michele Anderson is Associate Director and is responsible for all staff support functions including accounting, account support, operations and budgeting.  In serving BFMA, she works closely with the VP of Administration on budget development and financial analysis, carefully manages fiscal and tax matters, and will be instrumental in the development and enhancement of financial policy and procedure across many areas of BFMA’s business operations.

Michele has varied and extensive experience in the areas of management, finance, and administration for Fortune 100 companies. Prior to joining The Center, Michele held senior management positions at Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) for twenty years followed by ten years at Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in the corporate legal department as commercial contract manager for a global account. Michele maintained offices in Chicago, London, and Maynard, MA. At EDS, Michele managed the activities of more than 800 employees in 16 countries in a multi-million dollar outsourcing agreement for Hewlett-Packard.  Overall, Michele has thirty years of experience in Fortune 100 companies.

Michele graduated from Harper College and the University of Illinois, with a double major in Management and Accounting, and is a graduate of the University of Illinois’ Executive Development Program.  She is a Certified Management Accountant.  Michele is currently preparing for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) examinations at Northern Illinois University. She has also received specialized training in the areas of information technology law and information security at John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

Laura Rezek – Lrezek@bfma.org
Laura Rezek, Account Manager, is BFMA’s primary liaison, managing member support, marketing, sponsorships, meeting planning, and a variety of activities in tandem with the various Councils.  Laura brings a diverse, professional background spanning more than 20 years of experience in meetings, association and trade show management.  Areas of concentration include exhibit and sponsorship sales, association management, marketing strategy, copywriting, media relations, operations, registration & housing, staffing, transportation, speaker liaison and audio-visual.  She has crafted and implemented marketing plans, exhibitor and sponsorship programs that have generated significant revenue for the groups she’s represented.

Laura is an honors graduate of Purdue University with a BS in Management, as well as an active member in a multitude of professional association groups including PCMA, IAEE, Association Forum, MPI and The Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau.

Mark Monaco – mmonaco@bfma.org
Mark Monaco serves as Director of Communications for BFMA. He has deep experience in developing various means of association marketing strategies, whether direct mail, print or internet. Mark’s responsibilities on behalf of BFMA include aspects of graphic design, advertising design, brochure development and the numerous other direct marketing tools BFMA will receive.


Erik Anderson – eanderson@bfma.org
Erik Anderson, Accounting Specialist, manages the day-to-day bookkeeping operation for BFMA, including processing registration fees, membership dues, accounts payable and other detailed processes to be certain that all the records are up-to-date and accurate.  Erik has an Associates Degree in liberal arts from Harper College where he is also presently enrolled.

Elizabeth DeWolfe – edewolfe@bfma.org
Elizabeth DeWolfe, Account Coordinator/Programs Administrator supports the CFSP program, membership recruitment and retention, and program development.  She graduated from Western Illinois University (Macomb, IL) with a BA degree in English Literature and a minor in creative writing.

Andrew Eller – aeller@bfma.org
Andrew Eller serves as Member Services Specialist for BFMA, assisting with database management and other technical areas such as Master Series and the BFMA website.  He has earned Associates Degrees in both applied science and arts and is currently pursuing his BA in Communication Studies.  Andrew is a member of the Kappa Beta Delta business honor society.

Veronica Winston/Chris Jez
Veronica Winston and Chris Jez serve as the reception / administrative assistance team, and are the friendly voices on the phone at BFMA. Veronica and Chris provide myriad behind-the-scenes administrative support functions for the team.

There is an outstanding team of professionals to serve you and help take BFMA to new heights.  The team is thrilled to have been selected to manage BFMA and invites you to contact them directly any time with any question, concept, or something new to share.

Please update your contact information. The staff is ready and eager to serve you!

BFMA
1901 North Roselle Road, Suite 920
Schaumburg IL 60195

847-885-1839
847-885-8393 Fax
www.bfma.org
bfma@bfma.org – General Inquiries

New Board Members Installed at Symposium

By: Nancy Flor-Gawel,
VP, Administration

The Alamo, river boat rides, excellent southwestern cuisine, and most importantly, great form education and discussion filled the 2009 BFMA Symposium attendees’ days and nights in San Antonio during the last week in April. In addition, the Association installed new officers at the Symposium.

I expected the usual wide array of quality form-related classes and was pleasantly surprised by the wider selection of discussion forums that were offered this year. Because of the more intimate (aka, smaller) attendance level this year, I was able to meet and network on a deeper level with other attendees that I hadn’t met before.

(L-R: Stacey Sell, Nancy Flor-Gawel, Robin Miller,
Ray Killam, Lisa Lee, D.J. Brown, Beth Curry) 

As an incoming board member, I was also able to meet and get to know the leadership of BFMA. The board of directors for 2009-2010 was installed during Symposium. These members serve the association as volunteers and are your representatives. They welcome your input and involvement any time. The board member’s names, along with their titles and where they work are listed below:

President	Lisa Lee	Manager, Forms Management Standard Insurance Company
President Emeritus	Ray Killam	President Essociates Group
VP, Administration	Nancy Flor-Gawel	Manager, Operations Services, Daimler Financial Services
VP, Membership	D.J. Brown	IT Support St. John Medical Center
Director, Program Operations	Robin Miller	Forms Analyst, Designer Rapid City Regional Hospital
Director, Member Relations	Beth Curry	Visual Communications Manager Ohio Dept of Job/Family Services
Director, Chapter Relations	Stacey Sell	Regional Vice President Easel Solutions

As always, BFMA provides a level of education and networking found nowhere else in our industry. By attending Symposium as well as the upcoming BFMA events, whether it be in person at the Fall and Canadian Institutes or virtually via the various webinars during the year, we will all find ourselves well positioned to help lead our respective businesses forward during the eventual upturn in the business cycle.

Members Welcome

By: Lisa Lee, CEBS, FLMI
VP Administration

Symposium is the time of the greatest congregation of BFMA members, so it is a good time to conduct businesss of the association. Members are welcome to attend three meetings that will be held in San Antonio.

The first is the general business meeting. It will be held on Wednesday, April 29 at 5:15 pm. During this time, a report is made to members and the new board of directors is installed.

Two meetings of the board of directors will be held. The outgoing board will meet on Sunday, April 26. The incoming board will meet on Friday, May 1.

All members of this association have an interest in its business. Come, see what's going on, and be a part of it.

Top 10 Stories of 2008

By: Lisa Lee, CEBS, FLMI
VP Administration

The urge to look back over the last year to see what was accomplished is compelling. Here it is: BFMA's top stories of 2008.

50th anniversary of BFMA – BFMA joyfully celebrated a half century of service to the forms management profession. To read about BFMA’s origins, see the article penned by Joyce Endres and Carl Brannon, past presidents of the association. Please support the association as we carry on into the future. There is nothing else like BFMA in the world!

New BFMA Recognition Program Launched – The new recognition program is focused on member achievements and all BFMA members are eligible. There are 4 levels of recognition, all supported with an online form to make tracking and submission easy.

Industry groups – Meetings were lively in person at symposium, and were rapidly followed by the first online Industry Group meetings. These meetings are free to members and have been getting good feedback. If you haven’t participated yet, you can get in on a good thing. Watch for listings in Forms Talk.

Regional chapters – Group meetings were held online quarterly, giving all members a chance to participate in BFMA.

Symposium 2008 – Delivered great education, and a new feature, too. Attendees could Ask the Expert their sticky questions during the breaks. Each consultant was a forms professional with wide ranging industry experience.

Canadian Forms Institute (CFI) 2008 – Held in Ottawa, the CFI was a huge success with people from Eastern Canada as well as British Columbia and Washington, DC in attendance. It brought together all the things that BFMA is known for: strong education, knowledgeable speakers, excellent networking and leading-edge technology.

Fall Forms Institute – Held at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, this institute was a high energy event, full of great educational sessions and networking. It included speakers from Mayo Clinic who generously shared their expertise. Mayo’s forms program is over 50 years old – even older than BFMA!

New CFSPs – Two people passed the CFSP exam and gained certification as form systems professionals. BFMA is pleased to recognize Gwendolyn Chaffin of Suntrust Bank (Atlanta, Georgia) and Oliver Wischmeyer of MetLife (Somerset, New Jersey).

Forms Talk – BFMA’s online newsletter, achieved its first anniversary. To flash back on some of the usable news in Forms Talk, browse the October issue.

Document Strategy Forum – BFMA co-sponsored this inaugural event. Watch for news on the next one coming in fall 2009.

Association Officer Candidate Statements Due

By: Lisa Lee, CEBS, FLMI
VP Administration

As announced in November, candidate statements for association officers are due this month. Other rewarding opportunities are available with BFMA as well, such as helping to lead a chapter, and working on the marketing, program or membership councils. If you wonder how your talents and interests may match up with BFMA openings, just contact a board member for more information. BFMA is a volunteer association. Just Jump! and get involved!

Serving on the Board of Directors is a very rewarding experience, but it is also a commitment to be made thoughtfully. Participation on BFMA’s Board of Directors requires your employer’s support. You will be required to attend both the Spring and Fall meetings of the Board.

If you are interested in serving as an association officer, please review the position descriptions to see which office best suits your skills and talents. Feel free to contact me or any board member to learn more about a particular office. Candidate statements based on the BFMA Strategic Plan will be posted on the website. For use as samples, last year’s candidate statements can be found here. To register your candidacy, download a Candidate Registration Form. Return the completed registration form with a digital photo in .TIF format by December 15, 2008.

Salary Survey - 2008

By: DJ Brown
VP, Chapter/Member Relations

Are you looking for the most recent information on positions and salaries in your industry? Well, let's find out what that is... please take a moment to complete the 2008 Salary Survey.

This survey will remain open until December 19th, 2008. BFMA will take down the questions at that point and begin compiling the data for your review. All BFMA members will receive an announcement in January when we expect to have the results of this salary survey posted to the BFMA website. If you have any questions, please contact BFMA International at bfma@bfma.org or at (503) 227-3393.

Thank you for your time!

Call for Candidates for BFMA Board of Directors

By: Lisa Lee, CEBS, FLMI
VP Administration

Do you enjoy connecting with other BFMA members? Are you perhaps looking for an opportunity for professional growth, to make a meaningful contribution, or to give back to an organization that you enjoy? These are good reasons to consider pursuing a leadership position within BFMA. A professional association is a great place to get some experience, develop new skills, and have an ongoing reason to interact with other forms professionals.

If you are interested in serving as an association officer, please review the position descriptions to see which office best suits your skills and talents. Feel free to contact me or any board member to learn more about a particular office. Candidate statements based on the BFMA Strategic Plan will be posted on the website. For use as samples, last year’s candidate statements can be found here. To register your candidacy, download a Candidate Registration Form. Return the completed registration form with a digital photo in .TIF format by December 15, 2008.

Serving on the Board of Directors is a very rewarding experience, but it is also a commitment to be made thoughtfully. Participation on BFMA’s Board of Directors requires your employer’s support. You will be required to attend both the Spring and Fall meetings of the Board.

Remember, there are lots of other rewarding opportunities available with BFMA as well, such as helping to make a chapter go, working on the marketing, newsletter or program committees, or serving as a regional or industry group coordinator. If you wonder how your talents and interests may match up with BFMA openings, just contact one of us. BFMA is a volunteer association. Just Jump! and get involved!

You may wonder where you’ll find the time for an additional role. To quote our association president, “There’s always time for the things you want to do.” You might find that you love it and learn a lot at the same time.

Fall Board of Directors Meeting Held

By: Lisa Lee, CEBS, FLMI
VP, Administration

The Fall meeting of the board of directors was held in Rochester, MN on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008.

The Membership Council reported that several region chapters are ready to elect officers. Meetings for industry groups are being held. An electronic submission tool is under development to support the new awards program.

The Program Council reported that 2009 programming has been completed for 2 Canadian forms institutes, symposium, and the Fall Forms Institute to be co-located with the Document Strategy Forum. Programming of the Master Series is still underway.

Preliminary budget plans for 2009 were discussed. The main changes expected from 2008 are to increase the hours of office staff, and the larger event in the Fall.

Meetings of the Board of Directors deal with association business, and members are welcome to attend. The next physical meeting of the board will be held at Symposium in San Antonio in April.

BFMA International Board Meeting on Sept. 21, 2008

By: Lisa Lee, CEBS, FLMI
VP, Administration

The board of directors for the association meets twice a year in person. These meetings are scheduled adjacent to Symposium and the Fall Forms Institute. This Fall, the meeting will be held at 10:30 am on Sunday, Sept. 21, in Rochester, Minnesota.

Did you know that members are entitled - actually, welcomed - to attend board meetings? If you are planning to be at the Fall Forms Institute at Mayo Clinic, why not add this to your travel plans now? Come a day early and see what your board is up to.

Please contact me or headquarters for more information.

Association Leaders Take Office

By: Lisa Lee, CEBS, FLMI
VP, Administration

The board of directors for 2008-2009 was installed during symposium. These members serve the association as volunteers and are your representatives. They welcome your input and involvement any time.

President: Ray Killam

Past president: Karen Albright

VP, Administration: Lisa Lee

VP, Membership: DJ Brown

Director, Member Relations: Beth Curry

VP, Programs: Margaret Tassin

Director, Education: Carol Casper

Director, Program Operations: Robin Miller

 

General business meeting

By: Lisa Lee, CEBS, FLMI
VP, Administration

The annual membership meeting was held during symposium. Finding the location was a wee bit of a hunt, but not overly challenging, as the meeting was well attended with 20 members present.

President Ray Killam presented the state of the association. Vice President of Administration Lisa Lee provided a financial report. Executive Director Andy Palatka provided an update on key association activities. Questions raised by members ranged from plans to promote the new student memberships, to the sponsor program, to the profitability of symposium. This interaction resulted in a more meaningful and longer business meeting than average.

Past President Lea Anne Fuchs conducted the installation of officers. New board members accepted the responsibilities of their positions for 2008-2009.

All BFMA members are welcome to attend the general business meeting. It is held during symposium to make it as accessible to members as possible.

Board of Directors Meeting

By: Lisa Lee, CEBS, FLMI
VP, Administration

Two meetings of the board of directors were held recently. The outgoing board met on Sunday morning, just before the start of symposium. The incoming board met just after symposium, on Friday, May 9.

At the outgoing board meeting, Executive Director Andy Palatka reported on expectations for Symposium 2008, officers reported on their areas of responsibility since last fall, San Antonio was selected as the site for Symposium 2009, approval was given to explore the requirements for BFMA to become an ANSI-certified standards developer, and retiring board members Bill Hill, Al Howick and Alice Ladd were recognized.

At the incoming board meeting, appointments of region coordinators and committee chairpersons were recognized. Acknowledgements were collected from board members in accordance with BFMA's conflict of interest policy. The sponsor program was amended to provide memberships to paid sponsors, to increase active BFMA membership and to add a sponsor benefit. Email accounts were approved in support of board activities. Pricing was approved for the Fall Forms Institute. Plans of action for 2008-2009 were approved for the President’s Council, the Past President’s Council, the Program Council, the Membership Council, and the VP of Administration and the Marketing Council.

Did you know that members may attend board meetings? These meetings deal with association business, and members are welcome to attend. The next physical meeting of the board will be held in conjunction with the Fall Forms Institute in Rochester on Sunday, September 28.

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.

Top 10 Stories of 2007

By: Lisa Lee, CEBS, FLMI
VP Administration

Hey, if the big publications can have a top ten list, so can we. What were BFMA’s top stories for the year?

Plan of Action | In May the board approved a comprehensive plan of action to increase communication and members’ opportunities to participate in BFMA, with specific goals and actions for each council plus headquarters. The plan was affirmed at the Fall board meeting. Members began seeing fruit of the plan in November.

Symposium 2007 | The St. Louis symposium in May was packed with 5 tracks of forms education, 68 sessions, 45 speakers and an optional Advanced Training Session on Thursday. BFMA's signature event included new features based on suggestions from members for 'hot topics' and discussion groups. Class sessions received the highest evaluation scores ever, averaging 4.6 out of 5 possible points. Sponsor sessions provided the latest information on their products and services. There was lots of networking, as we found out others had the same challenges that we have. The new Board of Directors was installed at the General Business Meeting. The hotel was right next to the ballpark – we watched a sea of red as Cardinal fans poured in for games. The excitement was contagious! Some of us took those rare spare times to go up into the Arch and tour the museum or other scenic sights in the area.

Membership Reorganization | All members were invited to participate in online meetings. Regional coordinators were added to build chapter activity so that all members can be involved with BFMA on a regular basis.

Master Series | A record-setting number of webinars – 30 – were offered throughout the year, making quality forms education easily available to members and prospects regardless of location, with no travel expense. Topics ranged from forms basics to special interests.

Newsletter | A new online newsletter was launched in November, using a combination of newsletter and blog services. BFMA has a lot of news, and now we have a fabulous way to share that news every month and to interact right away in the blog. No more waiting for Symposium to connect!

From BC Canada to DC USA | Forms Institutes brought 2-day educational programs to forms professionals on both sides of North America in April and October. Brief, online demos by sponsors were piloted and found to be particularly interesting and effective. The program at both events earned high ratings, and attendees especially appreciated the opportunity to discuss common concerns.

Madison Chapter Celebrates 30th Anniversary | Madison’s milestone meeting led to a proclamation from Gov. Doyle of Forms Management Day in the State of Wisconsin! Alice Ladd teamed up with charter members Jim Bennett, Bob Kaether and Joyce Endres to provide an educational walk down memory lane. Ray Killam described the ever-changing forms industry, from the Industrial Revolution to the present, and the possibilities that the future holds. The forms industry is changing with the times.

New CFSPs | Three people passed the exam and gained certification as form systems professionals. BFMA is pleased to recognize Teri Watanabe of Saber Corporation (Portland, OR, USA),  Ann Balak and Shantelle Boatright both of David Thompson Health Region (Red Deer, Alberta, Canada).

New Membership Categories | Two new categories were approved to make it easy for students and retirees to be part of BFMA. What is that song from my Brownie days... Make new friends, but ke-ep the old, one is silver and the other's gold...

Online Meeting Technology | Use expanded to improve Board, Council and education communication.

Did we miss anything? If you know a story that should have been in the Top 10 for 2007 please comment below to add it. On the flip side, what would you like to see in the Top 10 for BFMA in this new year 2008?

Tis the Season for Giving and Sharing…

By: LeaAnne Fuchs Chairperson, Education Foundation

I wonder how many people know that there is a BFMA Education Foundation. Well, there is, and it’s been around for more than 10 years. I also wonder if people know that since the BFMA Education Foundation began, scholarships have been awarded to folks who were unable to get funding from their employers to attend educational events such as symposium?

Today, the Foundation continues to support educational opportunities to help foster the needs of form systems professionals.

A little bit about the Foundation…
The BFMA Education Foundation is a non-profit organization whose primary mission is to promote and enhance professional competency and growth among form systems professionals. The Foundation is a legally separate organization from the BFMA Association. The Foundation was established to raise funds for a permanent endowment, from which income will be used to promote forms systems education. Now, where else can you go to get this type of assistance, other than a student loan?

Programs the Foundation will consider for funding…
Educational programs, seminars and independent study courses may be funded, as well as the development of materials addressing many aspects of forms and their usage, including: Forms Analysis, Forms Design, Forms Management, Electronic Forms, Systems Analysis, and CFSP Certification. In fact, the foundation played a key role in helping bring BFMA's Master Series to life, to bring online forms training to everyone regardless of geographic location.

How the Foundation is governed…
The Foundation is administered by a Board of Trustees who is appointed to serve staggered three-year terms. The Foundation Board of Trustees exercises fiduciary authority of the endowment, determines and approves investment policy, authorizes expenditures, selects the investment advisor(s) and auditor(s), and evaluates all requests for funds. The Trustees also manage the Foundation’s fund raising efforts.

How the Foundation is funded…
Foundation administration and programs are funded entirely from the income of proceeds derived from contributions. Contributions come from individuals, organizations, sponsors, and companies. So, when you are writing checks to your favorite charitable organizations, please consider adding the BFMA Education Foundation to your list.

Where you can send your contribution or gift…
Your (much appreciated) gift can be sent to the BFMA Education Foundation, 319 S.W. Washington Street, Suite 710, Portland, OR 97204-2604. Contributions to such an organization may be tax deductible, so be sure to check with your favorite tax advisor.

This year Give the Gift of Educational Opportunity that Keeps on Giving during this special season of giving and sharing.