Many of us are writing to Dave Camp as he is our local.  You can try him.  I don't know if not being a voter will have the same effect but at least they will know people from out of state use it as well.  The is a sample of the letter we are using:  house.mi.gov - Find a Representative   http://www.house.mi.gov/find_a_rep.asp OR http://www.wrhammons.com/michigan-4th-district.htm We are concerned about the future of the Library of Michigan. I understand that budget cuts will need to be made. My hope is that you will do as much as you possibly can to preserve this important asset, which has taken the citizens of Michigan so much effort and money to build. The value of the Library of Michigan is something that can not be replaced at today’s prices. My fear is that once the collections are dispersed they can never be recovered and the information in the collections will be lost to future generations as well as to us who have worked in Michigan and have pride in this great state. I trust that you are as concerned as I am about this issue. I trust that you will make the hard decisions with consideration to preserving as much as possible while meeting the obligations, we the people, have taken on as our responsibilities. Sincerely, Thanks for the response. Brenda -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Fri, 8 May 2009 9:50 am Subject: Re: [M IGEN] Library of Michigan: ENDANGERED SPECIES ............. NEEDS HELP Are you asking people who can't be at the hearings to write, e-mail, or other wise communicate with someone?? I don't live in MI, but do use the library, so I don't have a representative in Lansing, but I could write to the Govenor or someone else.? Who would be the best person to write to? thanks -Liz McGough -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Sent: Thu, 7 May 2009 7:15 pm Subject: [MIGEN] Library of Michigan: ENDANGERED SPECIES ............. NEEDS HELP low Michigan Genealogists: Michigan Genealogical Council meeting is next week, Wednesday, 13th May, at the Library of Michigan. ?I look forward to seeing you all!? We need to take a very unusual step. ?While a message explaining the just issued Executive Order 2009-22 from the State Librarian is shown below, which needs to be carefully read, we must do more. rent budget situation, we've been informed of the possibility that the Library of Michigan may be closed and its collection transferred elsewhere - or put in storage - is extremely strong and may well be addressed in a further Executive Order.? There is a serious high level State budget meeting the 15th of May - after that it is expected that further Executive Orders=2 0may be issued. ?This last one made extremely severe cuts to services all over the state - the next one will be even more stringent. ogical Council has planned a Legislative Lobby Day for the morning of Wednesday 13 May. ?We implore you all to contact your legislators and make appointments AS MUCH AS IS POSSIBLE with either the legislator or a staff person to express to each one how important the Library of Michigan is to everyone, not just genealogists. ?Emphasize its role in education, in preserving our past, in providing services now and in future. ?Emphasize that you fully understand our severe financial State problem - the proposed balancing of the 2009 Budget comes only by using one billion dollars of the stimulus money! - and that you know severe cuts are needful. ?Emphasize that once the Library of Michigan collection is dispersed or displaced it takes Michigan's memory with it - and may never be replaced. ?Emphasize our responsibility to the future - not at all just for genealogy!? ? Eight good people will appear at the 7 May hearing of the House Appropriations Sub-Committee on History, Arts and Libraries, representing the Michigan Genealogical Council and people who earn money for Michigan through the State Library. The Lansing African-American Genealogical Society; the Detroit Society for Genealogical Research and the Irish-American Genealogical Society of Michigan; the Polish Genealogical Society and donors to the Library of Michigan Adult Educators; the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; the Jewish Genealogical Society of Michigan; and IN PERSON, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, presented by a re-enactor will be in attendance. ?These speakers will all be making brief but very pointed remarks to show how important the Library of Michigan is for many of our people and we are deeply grateful to them for their efforts.? ? We each, as Society members, need to let our legislators know as soon as possible and especially on the 13th that we want the Library of Michigan preserved for Michigan's people - doubtless in abbreviated hours and services and personnel, but preserved as the important state service it is for us and posterity and that Michigan's economy will improve again - if we take irrevocable steps now, we will regret them in future.? ? Emphasize, briefly and without heat, that you know your legislator is under extreme pressure in an unbelievably difficult situation, and that you appreciate their stress.? You are grateful for their efforts, and by presenting this information you expect you are helping them make a truly informed decision to help as many people as possible for today and tomorrow.? Best of luck!? ? I'll be phoning you shortly over the weekend to see how many of you are carpooling to Lansing. ?Meet at the Library of Michigan, Lake Erie Room, 10:00 a.m. ?We will20gather and get handouts, then carpool over to the Legislature building. ?If you do not wish to carpool, there is a parking ramp at the intersection of North Capitol Avenue and Shiawassee Street - easy to reach from the Library. ?Leave the Library on Kalamazoo Street, which runs east and west south of the Library. ?Go east to Grand Avenue. ?Turn left or north.? Go to Shiawassee Street, in Lansing Community College area. ?Turn left or so uth on Capitol which is one way south.? The ramp is on that corner.? Leave the ramp and walk south one and a half blocks to the Capitol complex - your legislator's actual office address is on the legislator's web site.? ? It would also work to just drive or walk to the Capitol from the Library, or to have the carpool driver drop people off and return at a chosen time.? Traffic, especially in mid-week, is not heavy in downtown Lansing ? If possible, telephone ahead and make a morning appointment!? We'll return then to the Library for the MGC usual afternoon meeting at 1:00 p.m., with a very strong and helpful program, and a report on the latest legislative budget developments. ? The report/full text of the Governor's current Executive Order has been put on the MGC website, see pages 10 and 11 for the Library of Michigan material. ?Remember, this may well be followed by another more severe budget cut, after the Higher Budget meetin g the 15th of May. See you Thursday - and I'll be talking to some of you before then. ? Your fellow Library of Michigan supporter, ? Joanne Harvey, MGC President ? ? >From Nancy Robertson, State Librarian ? Subject:? May 5, 2009 Executive Order ? While details and implementation plans are still to come in the next days and weeks, here are the basics of the effects of the EO issued today for libraries and the Library of Michigan: ? Library of Michigan operations reduction ($344,500 reduction) State aid to libraries-4% reduction ($400,000) local public libraries) Subregional state aid-4% reduction ($20,200) 6 unpaid days for all staff members by 9/1/09 (This is in addition to the 4% across the board cut, so I don't have the itemized savings for LM from this) ? That's it for now. More later as we determine more details. ? Nancy ? Nancy R. Robertson State Librarian Library of Michigan P.O. Box 30007 702 West Kalamazoo Street Lansing, MI 48909-7507 _______________________________________________ RootsWeb MIGEN Ma iling List http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/USGenWeb/MIGEN.html ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ________________________________________________________________________ Email message sent from CompuServe - visit us today at http://www.cs.com _______________________________________________ RootsWeb MIGEN Mailing List http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/USGenWeb/MIGEN.html ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message