AC 15.2012

April 24, 2012

MEMORANDUM TO FEDERAL AGENCY CONTACTS: Nominations for the 2012 Archivist Achievement Awards

At the 24th annual Records Administration Conference (RACO 2012), to be held on September 25, 2012, at the National Archives and Records Administration's (NARA) McGowan Theater in Washington, DC, NARA will recognize outstanding achievements in Federal records management with the Archivist Achievement Awards.  These awards identify exceptional Federal records management programs or activities.

The Archivist of the United States, David S. Ferriero, seeks to recognize Federal agencies that are collaborative and use technology in innovative ways to solve records management challenges. In the Archivist's view, the awards should acknowledge how strong records management supports the goals of the Presidential Memorandum--Managing Government Records (November 28, 2011).  More specifically, award submissions should highlight policies and practices for improving performance and promoting openness and accountability by better documenting agency actions and decisions.

To assist NARA in identifying noteworthy nominees, please submit nominations that relate specifically to these goals.  Examples of submissions might include:

• A successful collaboration among agencies to resolve a significant and complex records management challenge;
  
  
• A specific use of technology or tools to manage electronic records more effectively; or
  
  
• A successful deployment of a records management solution that reforms policies and practices to improve performance and promote openness and accountability.  The solution should effectively incorporate information technology (IT) and records management functionality.

Please submit your nomination directly to NARA via the RACO Archivist Achievement Award 2012 survey http://RACOarchivistsawards2012.questionpro.com. Attached is a Word version of the questions asked in the QuestionPro survey to assist in answer preparation. Optional supporting documentation may be e-mailed to RM.Communications@nara.gov.  Please type "2012 Archivist Achievement Awards" in the e-mail subject line.  We must receive all nomination forms no later than Friday, June 29, 2012. 

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Wilda Logan, Supervisor, Records Management Training Program, at (301) 837-3139, or by e-mail to wilda.logan@nara.gov.

We look forward to seeing you at RACO 2012!

PAUL M. WESTER, JR.
Chief Records Officer for the
U. S. Government