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Annual Report to the Membership
for the year ending December 31, 1998

Table of Contents

Message From the Chair
Mission Statement
Organization and Membership Description

IPMA Committees
Board of Directors
Schedule of Events
Committee Reports

Financial Reports

Membership Roster
Corporate Sponsors

Message From the Chair: Jim Albert

The Information Processing Management Association (IPMA) exists to positively influence Washington State government's information technology (IT) environment by providing:

• Professional networking opportunities for state government IT managers.
• Professional development activities and forums for cultivating new IT initiatives.
• Positive influence over the State's IT agenda.
• Resources for services to the state information technology community.

I accepted the Chair of the IPMA because I believed that the IPMA offered an excellent opportunity to promote the IT community within Washington State government. Communities are formed by people who have common interests and needs. The state's IT community has many venues for sharing its business interests within the existing organizational structures of state government, but there are some large voids that IPMA fills, particularly when it comes to the inter-networking between people.

When the above mission was reviewed and reaffirmed in our 1998 Board Retreat held last February at Skamania Lodge, I knew that we were headed for some serious community building. This year's annual Executive Seminar and Fall Forum were even greater successes then they've been in the past. Attendance was up and seminar quality was outstanding. Contracted management of this year's Forum allowed board members to offer a high quality trade show that met the expectations of the vendors and attending IT community alike. A re-developed web presence, on-going excellence in our newsletter, and a whole new series of well attended professional development seminars also continued to serve the membership well.

Perhaps the highlight of the year for me personally was IPMA's ability to foster closer links with Saint Martin's College and South Puget Sound Community College. Through two pledges totaling $50,000, IPMA was able to support the installation of an Information Services desk in the new Saint Martin's Library and support LAN and work station installations for the Associated Students of SPSCC in their new student union building. These investments in the future of our local educational institutions serve to strongly illustrate IPMA's continuing commitment to support our community.

As we start a new year, I'm sure that the IPMA will continue to serve and be a strong advocate for the state IT community. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve this association.

IPMA Mission Statement

Improve the State information technology (IT) environment through:

• Professional networking with other state government IT managers and positive influencing of the State's IT agenda.
• Professional development and cultivation of new IT initiatives.
• Financing of activities through money-making activities.
• Leveraging IPMA's corporate structure and resources to provide services to the state IT community.

Organization and Membership Description

Organization

The Information Processing Management Association is organized as a Washington State Corporation. There are no stockholders. Currently there are 11 members of the IPMA Board of Directors. Directors are elected by the IPMA membership. There are four corporate officers who serve on the Board of Directors: the Board Chair, the Vice-Chair, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. No compensation is paid to any member of the Board of Directors for services as a member of the Board.

Statement of Membership

Membership in the IPMA is open to all current or retired state employees who are interested in information technology and who support the mission of the organization. Members support the mission of the IPMA by serving on any one of the five standing committees and participating in activities sponsored by the Association. Membership dues are $15.00 annually. There is only one class of membership.

IPMA Committees

IPMA Board of Directors

Schedule of Events

Board of Directors meetings - second Thursday of each month

Deadline for Newsletter articles - third Thursday of each month

1999 Events

Board of Directors Annual Planning Retreat - February 11-12

IPMA professional development events - January 8, March 5, May 7, September 3

Executive Seminar - September 15-17

Fall Forum - October 19-20

See the IPMA website at: http://www/ipma-wa/com/

Committee Reports

Business Planning

Committee Chair: Judy Schneider (902-3603)

Purpose:

The purpose of the Business Planning Committee is to build and foster the long-term business interests of the Association in order to provide the IPMA every possible advantage to pursue its mission.

Accomplishments for 1998:

The Business Planning committee began an IPMA investment program in several fund accounts with Merrill Lynch that seeks to accomplish the following objectives:

• Preserve the ability to be flexible with assets by investing in a fund that allows for instant liquidity while at the same providing a maximized rate of return.

• Preserve the capital assets of the IPMA by investing in funds that protects assets from inflation with a high guaranteed dividend rate of return.

• Increase the capital assets of the IPMA by investing in funds that show potential for capital growth.

The Business Planning committee has pursued this strategy in order to have the opportunity to potentially enlarge the IPMA's mission and provide a broader range of services in the future as opportunities present themselves.

In addition, the Business Planning Committee has produced the IPMA Annual Budget and the IPMA Annual Report. These financial statements were switched from a July-June reporting period to a January-December reporting period in order to align with the timing of the major IPMA events and to simplify budgeting and accounting.

Objectives for 1999:

For the next year, Business Planning Committee has the following objectives:

• Closely monitor and report on the Merrill Lynch Investment Program.
• Pursue other opportunities for providing IPMA sponsored events.
• Negotiate and manage contracts with private vendors to provide services for IPMA sponsored events.
• Continue supporting capital improvement programs for area institutions of higher education that advance information technology in State Government.

Executive Seminar

Committee Co-Chairs: Phil Grigg and Darrel Riffe

Purpose:

The purpose of the Executive Seminar Committee is to provide an annual seminar that facilitates communication, networking and the promotion of information technology ideas amongst senior state government information systems managers.

Accomplishments for 1998-1999:

The 1998 IPMA Executive Seminar was held in September at the Skamania Lodge. The following presentations were made:

Sheila Anderson, Senior Vice President and CIO, Novell, Inc.- Managing the Enterprise

Sheila oversees Novell's worldwide information systems. Her message was that her job at Novell was very much like the job of any IT manager including those in state government. She shared her experiences on managing the enterprise. As she stated "It can be done and it can be fun".

Bob Hahn, Department of Personnel -The IT staffing Dilemma

Bob leads a team of 15 employees who make up a general government personnel service team responsible for recruitment, classification and pay, affirmative action, test development and consulting / problem solving for agencies throughout state government. He has been working with IT managers on IT staff and retention issues.

Bob's committee has made the following recommendations:

1. Provide 10% raises for IT staff using SB 6767 monies.
2. Modify classification criteria.
3. Streamline the process to hire new community college graduates into entry-level jobs; implemented in April.
4. Keep IT registers open year-round.
5. Abbreviate the exam process.
6. Revise and update IT job classes to enhance flexibility.
7. Provide technical training courses.

Representative Cathy Wolf, [D] 22^nd Legislative District, House of Representatives - The Legislative Update

Cathy also serves as an ISB Board Member and has been very interested in IT issues. She stressed that she wants to work with state IT employees.  Her top issues are:

1. State employee salary raises.
2. 6767 funding for IT classes;
3. Governance of the pension system to add accountability; and
4. Higher education issues.

Denise Demers, Government and Education Programs, Dell Computer - Asset Management - Leasing / Financial & Asset Recovery Options

Denise is the manager of Government and Education Programs for Dell Financial Systems. Her particular emphasis is on technology leasing and financing programs for government and education.

Steve Kolodney, Director, Department of Information Services

Steve shared that Washington has won Digital State award for the second year in a row. This is an award given by the Progress and Freedom Foundation. All states were ranked in eight categories. Washington scored 82.2 out of 100.

Steve recommended that we adopt the rules of the road. Portfolio management will give us guidelines for review and oversight. We need to strengthen the IT community of interest to further the use of technology and we need to spend our political capital because we cannot bank it or save it.

Chang Mook Sohn, Executive Director of State Economic Forecast Council - State Economic Forecast

Chang stated that he has adjusted the state June Forecast. Washington state economy is dependent on the world economy and for Washington that means the economy cannot get any better than it is right now. He is predicting an increase in the 1997-1999 biennium and a decrease in 1999-2001 biennium.

Senator Scott Howell, IBM - Trends and Directions in e-Government

Scott Howell has been a Utah State Senator since 1990. He is co-chairman of the Utah State Internet Committee and a trustee for the Utah Information Technology Association. He is currently IBM's Western Global Government Policy Executive.

Scott told the conference attendees that technology offers easier, quicker ways to get information. Governments are using it to improve service and effectiveness and lead us to a digital democracy. State and Local IT growth will be 5.5% for the next few years.

Objectives for 1999:

The IPMA will again offer an Executive Seminar in September, 1999 that will build on the messages of managing information technology into the next millenium. We expect the seminar will be as successful and well attended as last year's.

Fall Forum

Committee Chair: Dennis Laine (438-3255)

The IPMA held its 19^th annual Fall Forum, October 20-21 at the Tyee Hotel. Fifteen corporate sponsors and twenty-nine vendors displayed their products and services at the Forum.

Joe Dear, Chief of Staff to Governor Locke, was Tuesday's keynote speaker and highlighted the service delivery challenges facing state government in the near future and how information technology can play a major role in addressing those challenges.

Attendance at the eighteen breakout sessions was strong with over 100 people in some sessions. Interest in Web technology, network management, data marts and IT personnel issues was especially high.

Communications

Committee Chair: Mary Ellen Bradley

Purpose:

The purpose of this committee will be to provide a monthly newsletter that will give members information about actions taken by the Board of Directors, special events, seminars, other committee activities, and other items of interest to members. The committee will also manage and maintain the IPMA Internet web site as another means of keeping membership informed on IPMA activities.

This committee also is responsible for promoting membership in the IPMA and will maintain the membership roster.

Objectives for 1999:

1. Provide monthly articles in the newsletter by Board members and the general membership addressing issues of current interest;
2. Continue to provide the minutes of the IPMA Board in the newsletter so that the membership is informed about the direction of the IPMA;
3. Include in the newsletter information about technology meetings and seminars for training opportunities.
4. Continue to improve the IPMA web site which provides members with timely information about the IPMA;
5. Provide members with links to other Internet sites of interest.
6. To redefine the role and responsibilities of membership;
7. To provide new opportunities for membership networking;
8. Improve marketing communications around IPMA events;
9. Work on more effective means of communicating with both our members and the vendor community.

Professional Development

Committee Chair: Bob Monn 360-407-6585

Purpose:

The purpose of the Professional Development Committee is to provide educational and networking programs for the membership and the IT community. The Committee works with IT vendors and state agencies to provide programs at no cost or minimal cost to the IT community. The Committee also sponsors selected formal training events to be provided on a fee basis.

Accomplishments for 1998:

The Professional Development Committee continued the series of bi-monthly events started in 1997. These two-hour seminars are conducted in cooperation with IPMA's Corporate Sponsors. The 1998 program was as follows:

In September the format of these seminars was modified to include state agencies as presenters to provide agency IT staff an opportunity to showcase their projects and share their successes, challenges, and lessons learned.

Objectives for 1999:

The Professional Development Committee has the following objectives for 1999:

1.   To provide educational and networking programs for the IT community including bi-monthly events for the mutual benefit of the membership, corporate sponsors, and others in the IT community.

2.   To provide formal training opportunities that address unmet needs of the IT community.

Financial Reports

Membership Roster

Corporate Sponsors

IPMA wishes to thank the following Corporate Sponsors for their support: