MARCUMS Beginning

 Initial planning for the establishment of The Middle Atlantic Region of College and University Mail Services (MARCUMS) was begun in December 1997 as a result of several phone conversations between Randy J. Rice, York College of Pennsylvania and Jim Buratti, University of Maryland at College Park, Maryland & Martha McClain, University of Massachusetts, at that time President of the Northeastern Region Association of College and University Mail Services (ACUMS), the regional association for New England, was instrumental in urging that such a organization be established because of the large number of institutions located in the Middle Atlantic geographical area. 

These conversations resulted in a letter sent to many of the institutions within the Middle Atlantic area. The positive responses returned indicated that there was sufficient interest among many of the institutions to proceed with the organizing effort. 

An interim Executive Board consisting of volunteer members had organized in the May-June 1998 time frame to begin the drafting of our By-laws, drafting and printing our brochures and related documents and to pursue the organizing effort. The charter members of the Board involved in this organizational effort were: 

• Randy J. Rice, President, York College of Pennsylvania
• Jim Buratti, CMDSM, Vice President, University of Maryland, College Park
• Karen Kaczmarek, Treasurer, Duquesne University
• John P. Golding, Secretary, Northern Virginia Community College
• Barbara Buchanan, Programs Committee  Chairperson, Millersville University
• Nancy Guthrie, Elections Committee Chairperson, Geneva College
• Elaine Rafferty, Elections Committee Chairperson, Rider University
• Glenn Molzer, Professional Development Committee Chairperson, Carnegie-Mellon University

This organizational effort culminated in the first MARCUMS business meeting conducted at York College of Pennsylvania on October 20, 1998.  Membership at that time consisted of 50 individuals representing 40 institutions.  25 members were present at this first business meeting.  The initial elections were held in early 1999 with the results announced in April 1999. The enthusiasm expressed by our initial members, and that of those potential members who we have been in contact with, bodes well for the success of the organization and the attainment of its goals and the success of its members.

MARCUMS is an organization compromised of colleges and universities, located in but not limited to: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, District of Columbia and Ohio.