1. How the Genealogical Community Organizes to Address Threats to the Records We Need NGS Salt Lake City 2010 Frederick E. Moss

2. 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

3. How the Genealogical Community Organizes to Address Threats to the Records We Need Your Name ( Your State ) State Liaison

4. Various Threats Continuous Threats of Destruction Legislative Initiatives Limiting Access Fiscal Crisis

5. About RPAC Joint Committee of FGS, NGS and IAJGS Currently Chaired by David E. Rencher Participation of APG, BCG, ASG and Ancestry.com

6. 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

7. RPAC Mission Advise Community Insure Proper Access Effect Legislation Support Strong Preservation Policies & Practices Coordinate Genealogical Community Efforts

8. 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.orgwww.FGS.org RPAC Mailing List State Liaisons Mailing List

9. 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

10. State Liaisons—How Selected Normally by State Umbrella Society, where one exists Or by Agreement of Local Genealogical or Historical Societies

11. State Liaison Roster

12. 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

13. Liasons Needed (continued) Rhode Island South Dakota Utah Washington West Virginia Wyoming

14. 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

15. 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

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

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

18. RPAC Publications http://www.fgs.org/rpac/ publications/ http://www.fgs.org/rpac/

19. 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)

20. 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

22. Recent RPAC Actions Library of Michigan—More Later Philadelphia Free Libraries California Maine Oklahoma Library Budget NARA Hearing re Archives I PAHR Bill Etc.

23. 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