how the genealogical community organizes to address threats to the records we need ngs salt lake...
TRANSCRIPT
How the Genealogical Community Organizes to Address Threats to the
Records We Need
NGS Salt Lake City2010
Frederick E. Moss
Today’s Agenda
• Intro RPAC Members• State Liaison’s Presentation—David Rencher• The Toolkit—Jan Meisels Allen• Survey RPAC Recent Actions• Case Study—Library of Michigan• Discussion—Questions & Answer• Summary
How the Genealogical Community Organizes to Address Threats to the
Records We Need
Your Name( Your State ) State Liaison
Various Threats
• Continuous Threats of Destruction• Legislative Initiatives Limiting Access• Fiscal Crisis
About RPAC
• Joint Committee of FGS, NGS and IAJGS• Currently Chaired by David E. Rencher• Participation of APG, BCG, ASG and
Ancestry.com
RPAC Members
• David E. Rencher, Chair• Pat Oxley• Jan Alpert• Jan Meisels Allen• Kim Harrison• Linda McCleary• Joy Reisinger
• Frederick E. Moss• Alvie Davidson• Sandra Clunies• Donn Devine• Jean Foster Kelly• Lou Szucs• Melinde Lutz Sanborn
RPAC Mission
• Advise Community• Insure Proper Access• Effect Legislation• Support Strong Preservation Policies &
Practices
• Coordinate Genealogical Community Efforts
How RPAC Works
• Formal Meetings—FGS & NGS Conferences, January in SLC• Monthly Conference call—First Thursday
Evenings• Lexis/Nexis Monitoring• RPAC Blog at www.FGS.org• RPAC Mailing List• State Liaisons Mailing List
How We Hear
• State Liaisons are Key!• Opportunity to hear about legislation first• Monitor changes as legislation progresses• Individual Genealogists Experience• RPAC Monitors Legislation & News• Allies
State Liaisons—How Selected
• Normally by State Umbrella Society, where one exists• Or by Agreement of Local Genealogical or
Historical Societies
Liaisons Needed
• Alabama• District of Columbia• Georgia• Hawaii• Iowa• Kansas• Kentucky• Maine• Maryland
• Massachusetts• Minnesota• Mississippi• Nebraska• New Hampshire• New Mexico• New York• North Dakota• Oklahoma
State Liaison Responsibilities (with help!)
• Build State Communications Network• Monitor State & Local Legislative, Regulatory
& Administrative Activities• Primary Link Between State Genealogical
Community & RPAC• Timely Alert to RPAC• Assemble State Data Re Available Records &
Retention Schedules for Posting to RPAC Web Pages• Organize/Promote Coordinated Responses
Resources for State Liaisons
• This Presentation• RPAC Publications• RPAC Brochure• Executive Summary RPAC White Paper• RPAC White Paper
• Legislative Tool Box• Strategy Papers• RPAC Blog• FGS Forum – Quarterly Column on Records
Preservation
Community Response Options
• Organizations’ Position Letters• Letter/E-Mail Writing Campaigns• Petitions• Rallies• Personal visits to legislators• Open Channels to Decision Makers• Witnesses and Statements Before Legislative &
Administrative Hearings• Developing Options (at the table)
What YOU Can Do!
• Keep Informed• Suggest Liaisons in uncovered jurisdictions• Proactive more successful than reactive• Know Your Legislators & Local Officials• Build relationships with them and their staffs• Share the Fun!• Share Your Concerns• Coordinate with Local Societies & State
Liaison
Recent RPAC Actions
• Library of Michigan—More Later• Philadelphia Free Libraries• California • Maine• Oklahoma Library Budget• NARA Hearing re Archives I• PAHR Bill• Etc.
State Liaison Potential Roles
Focus of Reports of Local Issues• Education of Community Members• Interface with Legislators & Staff• Coalition Building• Coordinate Development of Reference Set