In 1949, eight local business systems professionals met to form the Baltimore Chapter of the Systems and Procedures Association. Application was made to the national organization, and a charter was granted on April 1, 1949. The first meetings were held at the University Club on Charles Street. Later that first year, they were moved to the Blackstone Apartments. Typical subjects discussed at monthly meetings were work simplification, flow charting, forms design and control, and selling ideas.
In the late 1950s, EDP equipment began its rapid growth. This created a demand for more knowledgeable business systems professionals. In 1957, the Baltimore Chapter President, C.J. Flynn, was instrumental in establishing a ten session business systems seminar at the University of Baltimore. The immediate success of this seminar resulted in the Baltimore Chapter's making professional education one of the most important purposes for its continuing existance.
The monthly Chapter meetings complement the educational and seminar programs by providing an informal dinner setting for talks by nationally known professionals. The topics at these dinner meetings concern business systems and career growth as they relate to data processing as well as nonautomated business systems careers. Additionally dinner meetings count toward Certified Computing Professional (CCP) continuing education requirements.
The Baltimore Chapter celebrated its 45th anniversary in 1994. Through its educational seminars and monthly speaker programs, the Chapter is continuing its efforts in stimulating the interest of the business management and the business systems professional by providing professional growth through participating in the activities of the Baltimore Chapter of ASM (Association for Systems Management).
The Baltimore Chapter was a member of Division VI of ASM. This Division included Baltimore (the largest chapter in the region), Washington, DC, Northern Virginia (NOVA), Patuxent, Maryland (Rockville, Gaithersburg), and Harrisburg, PA.
On May 31, 1996 ASM International ceased operations and turned all responsibilities over to the chapters. On June 4, 1996 the board of the Baltimore Chapter voted to continue operations as an independant organization. The chapter was renamed Baltimore ASM.
In December 1996 a vote was taken by mailed ballot to join ASM World Wide, an association of former ASM international chapters. The vote was overwhelming in favor of the joining.