----- Original Message ----- From: <Smurfing3@cs.com> To: <LEWIS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2000 10:08 PM Subject: [LEWIS] Iowa Birth Certificate Information > I got this in an e-mail from a friend. > > IOWA PUBLIC RECORDS AND OTHER RECORD PRESERVATION AND ACCESS ISSUES: SUGGESTED > STEPS FOR ACTION > <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> > ============================================================ > In the past week or two, word has been circulating regarding the possible > closure of Iowa birth records. You may have also seen some conflicting > information on the subject, some of which may or may not be completely > accurate. > While it has been confirmed that there is some legislation pending, the status > of that legislation and exactly what it will mean for family historians is > still > under investigation by the Records Preservation and Access Committee (RP&A). > The > RP&A is a joint effort of the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and > the > National Genealogical Society (NGS). The Committee is currently working with > the > Iowa Genealogical Society to gather the necessary information and determine > the > best course of action. The Ancestry Daily News will keep you informed of any > recommendations that they make as soon as the details are available. > > The FGS/NGS Records Preservation and Access Committee is intended "to advise > the > genealogical community on ensuring proper access to vital records, on means to > affect legislation, and on supporting strong records preservation policies and > practices." It serves as a central information point and helps coordinate the > efforts of individuals and societies who can have a tremendous impact on these > problems. > > Having this central point of contact is very important in allowing the > genealogical community to become involved in a well-organized and effective > effort. These organizations represent societies and individual genealogists > across the country and the numbers of people represented carry a great deal of > weight. This central point of contact, allows information to be gathered and > disseminated in an accurate and effective way. > > The Committee suggests the following "Suggested Steps for Action on Records > Preservation and Access Issues" (reprinted with permission). > ____________________________________________________________________ > > SUGGESTED STEPS FOR ACTION ON RECORDS PRESERVATION AND ACCESS ISSUES > > The destruction, deterioration, restricted access, disposal, or disappearance > of > records is an increasing problem. What can you do if you become aware of a > situation that threatens a record collection or access to records? One > individual acting in a timely manner is usually the key first step in > preventing > a records disaster from happening. You can be that individual, but don't > panic--an excited, emotional response is not likely to get you very far. Get > the facts and formulate a rational, effective plan of action. The suggestions > below will keep you on track and help you inform and involve others in working > on the problem. > > 1. Obtain as much specific and accurate information as you can about the > problem > and its causes. > > 2. If necessary, do a little quick research so you understand the laws or > regulations that may govern the collection or records involved. > > 3. Explain the situation, as you understand it, to others in your area who may > be knowledgeable and concerned. This should include your local genealogical > society, historical society, and possibly elected officials. Discuss the > situation and possible options, solicit their opinions, and urge them to act > also. Ask your local genealogical society to take further steps, as > appropriate, and also to make the state genealogical organization aware of the > situation. > > 4. Share the information you have found in a clear, factual, non-threatening > manner. You can be courteous while remaining firm and persistent in your > concern. > > 5. Compose a notice summarizing the situation for your society's newsletter or > quarterly, if there is time to wait for that. Indicate the options and > suggested action for the society members. Make an announcement of the same > information at your society's next meeting. Ask permission to post the > information at libraries, historical societies, and other appropriate > locations. > Print that notice on brightly colored paper. > > 6. If there is not a society meeting or publication, ask your society board to > consider a special informational mailing, if the situation is serious and > urgent > enough to justify that action. > > 7. Marshall your fellow individual genealogists. Your voices will be better > heard in large numbers. Urge them to be firm but reasonable in their letters > and phone calls, and to indicate their long-term concern in this and other > records issues. Genealogical computer bulletin boards are a quick way to > contact people. > > 8. Contact others within your society and beyond who might have some influence > in the process or the outcome of the issue. This includes not only community > movers and shakers, and the media, but the average taxpayers as well. > > 9. Notify the FGS/NGS Records Preservation and Access Committee of the > situation, and keep the Committee advised of developments and outcome. Send > your notifications to: > > FGS-RP&A > P.O. Box 200940 > Austin, TX 78720-0940 > Tel: 1-888-FGS-1500 > Email: mailto:fgs-access@fgs.org > > 10. Indicate to all involved the desire to resolve this issue, and then stay > involved and cooperate to develop, in advance, plans that will help prevent > and > resolve issues regarding records in the future. > > If you are willing to volunteer your suggestions or assistance to the FGS/NGS > Records Preservation and Access Committee, please contact the committee at the > above mentioned address. > > ======================================================== > > ______________________________