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

State Liaison Roster

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

Liasons Needed (continued)

• Rhode Island• South Dakota• Utah

• Washington• West Virginia• Wyoming

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

RPAC Bloghttp://www.fgs.org/

RPAC Blog: http://www.fgs.org/rpac/

RPAC Publicationshttp://www.fgs.org/rpac/

publications/

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