I'm forwarding the following request for folks to sign a petitition to keep the National Archives hours accessbile to everyone. The original petition was written by genealogy columnist Dick Eastman. It came to me via the TN Civil War list at rootsweb and needs action by 8 Sep. Please read the message that follows and consider signing the petition with over 4000 others who have in hopes of benefitting everyone needing to conduct research at NARA. Further information and the petition itself can be found at <http://www.PetitionOnline.com/FGS2006/petition.html> Thanks, ~Dawnelle http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~harrimantn http://TnType.com =========Forwarded messages follow:=========== --- Norma Thornton wrote: Barbara Leak wrote: The National Archives is consolidating their hours of operation to eliminate evening and Saturday hours. This would effectively cut-off access to the archives for working people and weekend visitors. An alternative schedule is being proposed by the Records Preservation and Access Committee (RPAC; a joint NGS/FGS committee). Please read the message below and; if you agree with RPAC's recommendations; sign the online petition at http://www.PetitionOnline.com/FGS2006/petition.html before September 8. This issue needs immediate support from the genealogical community. Societies are asked to please forward this message to your organization's e-mail list ASAP. Thank you. Barbara Leak President & FGS Delegate Genealogical & Historical Council of Sacramento Valley ----- Original Message from RPAC ----- ----- Distributed by the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) ----- We were honored to have Dr. Allen Weinstein; Archivist of the United States attend the FGS/NEHGS 2006 Conference in Boston and to address us in the Opening Session on Thursday; August 31; 2006. Following his remarks; he was presented with a letter by the Chair of the Records Preservation and Access Committee (RPAC) addressing concerns about the proposed changes in the hours of operation for the Research Rooms at the National Archives. It has come to our attention that very few of our constituencies are making their voices heard on this issue. This lack of response sends a loud signal to the Archives that this is not a serious issue and that closing the Archives on evenings and Saturdays is irrelevant. The RPAC has recommended the following suggestions for the Archives to consider: 1) To accommodate the needs of those who need access on Saturdays; we propose that you close one other day per week. This would be at your discretion. Other archives often close Sunday and Monday. 2) Users who need evening hour access could be accommodated by opening the archives later in the day; again at your discretion. If you agree with the recommendations stated above; we are asking your support by immediately going on-line and adding your âsignatureâ to our petition to substitute the hours of access and still help the archives to meet their need to consolidate their hours of operation. Before 8 September 2006; please go to: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/FGS2006/petition.html (Case sensitive) If you would like to send your own personal letter; send it prior to 8 September 2006 and address it to: Regulations Comments Desk (NPOL) Room 4100; Policy and Planning Staff National Archives and Records Administration 8601 Adelphi Road ==== TN-CIVIL-WAR Mailing List ==== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com