Instead of trying to think about EGMs etc could we be more practical and think constructively about this situation. Could we not just work as a combined set of volunteers (OK we are all SOG members otherwise we would not be on this list) who agree that we and perhaps other family historians from other lists, FHS, other organisations etc do something before time disappears. First of all, I am wondering whether we have a couple of volunteers who could be detailed to look into the problem and make a report so that an informed decision could then be made. I am assuming that these volunteers would be able to get access to these records, and could see for themselves the scale of the problem. It seems to me that however much we want to preserve the original cards that because of their vast size it just may not be practical. Therefore should we be concentrating on trying to make sure that we have a record of all the data found on the cards. The front has been dealt with, it is the information on the back that we need to think about. Some of the issues that I feel should be in the report are as follows (I am assuming that we accept the fact that we cannot keep them and just want to preserve the info) 1) have all the fronts been filmed and are we happy that as good a job has been done as we could expect (perhaps not 100% but 99.9%) 2) could we find enough volunteers to extract those cards that need extra filming 3) could we find enough storage for those extracted cards before we could get them filmed 4) would the NA be prepared to grant extra time for their storage until we could get this extraction process in mind 5) what about filming (the BerksFHS now has a book scanner that I am sure could be used, I think there are now quite a few other FHSs with this sort of equipment). I leave it at that for now and look forward to receiving feedback via the list. (Please don't shoot me, if you disagree with my viewpoint I don't mind, I am just trying to help). Gillian Stevens Member of SOG, Events co-ordinator for BerksFHS Data administrator for www.familyhistoryonline.net

an eminently practical approach and worth considering. We must remember that paper is heavy and so any potential storage must either be ground floor or strong enough. For instance - in the short term I would take one cabinet and undertake to protect it. I would fetch it providing there was help to put it in the back of an estate car and would manage somehow with help from neighbours at the other end. Immediate issue is protection 140 filing cabinets is 140 people with some space - actually I don't have much but could find a corner temporarily - not ideal I grant you but would give us a breathing space to consider alternatives Ros ----- Original Message ----- From: "GSS" <gss@beeb.net> To: <SOG-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 10:09 AM Subject: Re: [SoG] WWI Medals reply from National Archives - Now a suggestion of what we could do > Instead of trying to think about EGMs etc could we be more practical and > think constructively about this situation. Could we not just work as a > combined set of volunteers (OK we are all SOG members otherwise we would not > be on this list) who agree that we and perhaps other family historians from > other lists, FHS, other organisations etc do something before time > disappears. > > First of all, I am wondering whether we have a couple of volunteers who > could be detailed to look into the problem and make a report so that an > informed decision could then be made. I am assuming that these volunteers > would be able to get access to these records, and could see for themselves > the scale of the problem. > > It seems to me that however much we want to preserve the original cards that > because of their vast size it just may not be practical. Therefore should > we be concentrating on trying to make sure that we have a record of all the > data found on the cards. The front has been dealt with, it is the > information on the back that we need to think about. > > Some of the issues that I feel should be in the report are as follows (I am > assuming that we accept the fact that we cannot keep them and just want to > preserve the info) > 1) have all the fronts been filmed and are we happy that as good a job has > been done as we could expect (perhaps not 100% but 99.9%) > 2) could we find enough volunteers to extract those cards that need extra > filming > 3) could we find enough storage for those extracted cards before we could > get them filmed > 4) would the NA be prepared to grant extra time for their storage until we > could get this extraction process in mind > 5) what about filming (the BerksFHS now has a book scanner that I am sure > could be used, I think there are now quite a few other FHSs with this sort > of equipment). > > I leave it at that for now and look forward to receiving feedback via the > list. (Please don't shoot me, if you disagree with my viewpoint I don't > mind, I am just trying to help). > > Gillian Stevens > Member of SOG, Events co-ordinator for BerksFHS > Data administrator for www.familyhistoryonline.net > > > > >