This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------030809010706070202070000 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Please consider commenting. It is not easy, but you can find your way around the website to do so. Mary Ellen -- Primary e-mail:Me@WexOnline.net Alternate e-mail: MewexlerA@netscape.net Sponsor: Okaloosa County FLGenWeb page: http://www.rootsweb.com/~flokaloo/Okaloosa.htm EDGE/HARVEY family page: http://www.WexOnline.net/welcome.htm --------------030809010706070202070000 Content-Type: message/rfc822; name="(null).eml" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline; filename="(null).eml" Return-Path: <FSGS-L-request@rootsweb.com> Received: from rly-yg06.mx.aol.com (rly-yg06.mail.aol.com [172.18.180.84]) by air-yg03.mail.aol.com (v111.7) with ESMTP id MAILINYG32-78344e08e76263; Mon, 14 Aug 2006 10:54:00 -0400 Received: from lists2.rootsweb.com (lists2.rootsweb.com [66.43.27.39]) by rly-yg06.mx.aol.com (v111.7) with ESMTP id MAILRELAYINYG61-78344e08e76263; Mon, 14 Aug 2006 10:53:46 -0400 Received: (from slist@localhost) by lists2.rootsweb.com (8.12.10/8.12.8) id k7EEr4lE025819; Mon, 14 Aug 2006 08:53:04 -0600 Resent-Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 08:53:04 -0600 X-Original-Sender: deannaramsey@comcast.net Mon Aug 14 08:53:04 2006 From: "Deanna Ramsey" <deannaramsey@comcast.net> Old-To: <fsgs-l@rootsweb.com> Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 10:53:51 -0400 Message-ID: <002201c6bfb1$7c2935f0$6526a8c0@stallion.local> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 1 (Highest) X-MSMail-Priority: High X-Mailer: Microsoft Office Outlook 11 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2962 Thread-Index: Aca9VRVIP8kEUxg9RNqP74tt4kxevQCWJImw Importance: High X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.52 on 192.168.65.34 Resent-Message-ID: <DP3acD.A.xSG.Q5I4EB@lists2.rootsweb.com> To: FSGS-L@rootsweb.com Resent-From: FSGS-L@rootsweb.com X-Mailing-List: <FSGS-L@rootsweb.com> archive/latest/62 X-Loop: FSGS-L@rootsweb.com Precedence: list Resent-Sender: FSGS-L-request@rootsweb.com Subject: [FSGS] SPECIAL MESSAGE from the FSGS Public Relations Chair X-AOL-IP: 66.43.27.39 I received the message below from the National Genealogical Society. VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE READ and forward to all genealogist! Be sure to visit the link http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2006/nr06-125.html and comment! Deanna D. Ramsey Public Relations Chair Florida State Genealogical Society www.flsgs.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ National Archives Hearing A public meeting was held on Thursday, 3 August 2006 to discuss the proposed cuts in research hours at the National Archives. Allen Weinstein, Archivist of the United States, moderated the meeting which was held at 1:00 p.m. in the Jefferson Room of the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. He began by introducing a panel of the following NARA staff: Michael J. Kurtz, Assistant Archivist, Office of Records Services, Washington, D.C. Greg Pomicer, Office of Regional Record Services Marvin Pinkert, Center for the National Archives Experience Nancy Allard, Policy and Planning Staff Professor Weinstein stated that because of the unexpected budget cut of approximately eight million dollars to NARA's operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year, it will be necessary to reduce the number of hours of operation available for researchers. Although the press release indicated the proposed reduction in hours would be at the D.C. and the College Park locations, the Archivist stated that the NARA Regional facilities will also have cuts in hours and services. The proposal is to eliminate evening and Saturday hours and have access limited to Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This meeting was held to elicit comments from the public. Nancy Allard stated that a final decision would be made by Professor Weinstein by 29 September 2006. After the brief introduction, the meeting was opened for questions and comments from the audience. There were approximately 60 in attendance consisting of archivists, contractors, genealogists, historians, lawyers, librarians, researchers, and NARA volunteers. There was general consensus among those speaking that the reduction in hours would severely hurt researchers who work during the week. They pointed out that many researchers only use the NARA facilities on evenings or on Saturdays. A college professor from Chicago stated that the evening hours were imperative to maximize a research trip for someone from out-of-town. Several questioned the statistics used to determine the percentages of researcher use in the evening hours and on Saturdays. From the figures printed in the "Federal Register" (Vol. 71, No. 142, Tuesday, July 25, 2006), it appears that between 20% to 25% of all researchers use the evening and Saturday hours in the downtown facility. This may be an underestimation since the figures were derived from the sign-in sheets in the research room at the National Archives Building in 2005. If a researcher arrives at 4:45 p.m. and stays until 9 p.m., he or she would not be included in the evening count. Only those who sign in after 5:30 p.m. are considered as researching in the evening. It was recommended that the sheet that is maintained by the security guards at the entrance to the building be used since it keeps track of the researcher's arrival and departure times which would include those who are using the Library services. Following the comments that lasted an hour and 45 minutes, Professor Weinstein closed the meeting with the following three points: 1. That NARA was surprised by the passion shown by those who use the National Archives. 2. That they will reevaluate the numbers and the decision would be made on precise numbers. 3. That this decision would not be made lightly and that other decisions will rest upon this base decision. The comment period for the public on this ruling closes on 8 September 2006 - less than 30 days from now. For comments on the final interim rule, go to: http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2006/nr06-125.html On this page under Agency, select the "National Archives and Records Administration*" link and click on the pdf icon to get a copy of the final interim ruling. There is also a link here for comments which request your name, postal code and email address. Comments can be submitted directly on the page or by attachment using either PDF or text files. Mail, Courier, or Hand Delivery: Submit comments to Regulations Comments Desk (NPOL), Room 4100, Policy and Planning Staff, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001. Fax: Submit comments by facsimile transmission to 301-837-0319. Although it was not mentioned by the Archivist at the hearing, I think it would be useful for researchers to call their Congressional representatives and ask that the NARA's budget be restored. Reported by Patricia O'Brien Shawker, CG Treasurer, National Genealogical Society ==== FSGS Mailing List ==== The purpose of the FSGS Florida Genealogy Projects Registry is to document planned, ongoing, or completed projects relating to genealogy in Florida, at both the state and local levels. ============================== New! Family Tree Maker 2005. Build your tree and search for your ancestors at the same time. Share your tree with family and friends. Learn more: http://landing.ancestry.com/familytreemaker/2005/tour.aspx?sourceid=14599&targetid=5429 --------------030809010706070202070000--