----- Original Message ----- From: "Stephens, Larry V" <stephenl@INDIANA.EDU> To: <GENEALOGY-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU> Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2003 8:24 AM Subject: [GENEALOGY-L] a message from the lists owner > Two things: > > I am once again strongly considering ending most, if not all, of these lists. At one time they served a useful purpose but traffic has completely died on several of them and the remainder are so slow that they have little value. Times have changed. > > > The other is a general concern for our historical and genealogical heritage. Keep your eyes open for problems. Here in southern Indiana I'm working in an effort to determine what is "in the way of" the proposed I-69 extension, hoping to make sure graveyards and other historical places don't disappear. With all the financial problems of our nation right now, genealogy and history may take a back seat to other concerns to such an extent that there will be no recovery. In that light, I include a message from the folks in Florida. > > The Florida State Genealogical Society board has unanimously approved > joining a coalition to oppose Governor Bush's proposed budget regarding > the dismantling of the Florida State Library and Archives. > The coalition currently consists of the following organizations: > · Florida Historical Society > · Florida Archaeological Council > · Florida Anthropological Society > · Florida Trust for Historic Preservation > · Florida Association of Museums > We are asking for help of all genealogists, historians and researchers > throughout the U.S. If this can happen in our state, it can happen in > any state. Please write, email, or fax the Florida legislators. Make our > legislators aware of this serious error that they are about to commit. > We cannot lose Florida's treasures. Send letters, faxes and e-mails to: > Governor Bush, The Capitol, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001, Telephone: (850) > 488-4441, FAX (850) 487-080 > E-mail: jeb.bush@myflorida.com or fl_governor@eog.state.fl.us Emails > and addresses for the House of Representatives and Senators can be found > at <http://www.leg.state.fl.us/>. > Facts > 1. The Governor has proposed for the 2003-4 budget ZERO dollars for the > State Library and Information Services Division. > <http://www.ebudget.state.fl.us/> > 2. It has been proposed that the State Library be eliminated and > holdings transferred to Florida State University in Tallahassee by July 1. > 3. The proposed budget cuts $17.6 million from FSU's state funding and > President T. K. Wetherell said "The way it looks is that someone wants > us to assume a responsibility but with no money (provided)." In > addition, FSU has limited parking, and their own library is lacking so > much space that they use warehouses for some of their holdings. The FSU > library would need to hire more staff to facilitate the book processing > and increased reference questions, and at the same time reduce their > expenditures. > 4. The Florida State Library and Archives Division is now part of the > Department of State, and is responsible for the State Library, the State > Archives, state record keeping and library development services/grants > programs for public libraries throughout the state. > 5. The proposal for the Bureau of Archives and Records Management is for > the Records Management responsibilities to become a part of the > Department of Management, and for the State Archives to fall under the > parks department of the Department of Environmental Protection. > 6. The FloridaMemory.com project will be in jeopardy. This site now > contains the photographic collection (over 90,00 pictures), Florida > Pension Application Files, Spanish Land Grants, Call and Brevard Family > Papers, and many more documents of Florida's early history. > 7. The Governor's budget must not pass the Florida Legislature. Session > will begin March 4. We still have time to change the tide. > For more detailed information go to the Records Preservation & Access > Web Site: > <http://www.fgs.org/rpa/FlCurrent.htm>Thank you. > Pam Cooper > FGS/FSGS 2003 Conference Co-Chair < <http://www.fgs.org/> > > President, Florida State Genealogical Society < > <http://www.rootsweb.com/~flsgs/> > > Chair, Librarians Serving Genealogists < > <http://www.cas.usf.edu/lis/genealib/> > > P. O. Box 7066 > Vero Beach, FL 32961-7066 > > > > > > Larry Stephens > stephenL@indiana.edu > Office of Risk Management > Indiana University >