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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