In the business of RIM, continuing education is a challenge.

• Author: Lanter, Amy
• Position: IN FOCUS: A Message from the Editor - Records and Information Management - Conference news - Editorial

The business of RIM involves many aspects--one of the most essential being education. Whether you are new to RIM or are a long-time RIM professional, creating a professional development plan is one step you should take to help you succeed in your career. Reflect on your interests and your job duties, determine your long- and short-term career goals, assess your training needs, create your action plan, and follow through!

Your professional development plan will likely need to be revised over the years, especially if you experience changes in your role and responsibilities. Regularly review and tailor your plan as necessary to ensure it is still on target and achievable.

The quintessence of education events is ARMA International's 54th Annual Conference & Expo to be held October 15-18, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. The official conference brochure accompanies this issue of Information Management and is jam-packed with opportunities to further your education. It provides information you need to select conference sessions that will help you reach your career objectives. Register early!

Also, in this issue:

The article by John Jablonski with Goldberg Segalla LLP, "Focusing on the Big Picture: RIM's Leading Role in Protecting Organizations During Downsizing," will help you take action during a weak economy to protect against legal pitfalls during downsizing and provide practical solutions for an orderly redistribution of records within a shrinking organization.

"Surviving a Records Audit: 6 Steps to Prepare Your Organization" by Neil Simons with Smead reminds RIM professionals that a failure to prepare for external audits can result in serious consequences with significant costs in terms of disruptions to daily operations and penalties associated with any compliance failures. He emphasizes the importance of considering a policy of regular records management audits.

"Clouds on the...