Confessions of a Reluctant Records Officer Linda Bures Department of Fish and Wildlife

1. Confessions of a Reluctant Records Officer Linda Bures Department of Fish and Wildlife

2. Reluctant Regret Resourceful

3. Reluctant • Assumed the Position of Agency Records Officer by Default • Agency was experiencing 2009 riffs and budget cuts. • Inheriting a long history of the passing of the Records Officer torch.

4. Regret • No Policies or Procedures • RCWs, WACs, Penalties

5. OhMyGosh! • “Injury to Public Record: • Class C Felony, Imprisonment, $1,000 Fine; • “Injury to Public Record: Class B Felony, Imprisonment, $5,000 Fine; • “Offering False Instrument for Filing of Records: • Class C Felony, Imprisonment, $5,000 Fine;

6. Resourceful • What Does a Records Officer Do? • Research • Work with State Archives • Online Research • Contact other Agencies • GET MANAGEMENT SUPPORT

7. First Phase of Construction • Create a Plan • Develop Goals and Timelines • Create Proper Tools for Staff • Develop Curriculum for Training/Workshops • Build an Internal Webpage for Records Management • Work With State Archives in Retention Schedule Revision

8. Second Phase of Construction • Build relationships with key program staff. • Team Building • Keep Management Informed. • Involve Management When Bumps In the Road Occur • Communication • Reach out to staff • Make time • Keep promises

9. Final Phase? No Just The Next Level • Just moving to the next level. • What can be improved. • What worked and what didn’t. • Program Feedback

10. Lessons Learned • Consistency • Continue offering training opportunities • Communication • Support • Respond when staff reaches out • Encourage and praise their efforts

11. Pick and choose your battles. • Be open to what works for everyone. • Follow Through • Do what you say you will do • Benefits • Always present the positive side • Don’t Disappear

12. New “Rs” • REASSURED • RELAXED • REFRESHED