Hi This topic came up on the list recently. Thought this might interest some of you. The responder of this message, is a member of the same genealogical society that I am, the Roseville (CA) Genealogical Society. Joyce in CA http://www.geocities.com/jarmscoop For those of you who do Indiana research this is important information. It seems no state is safe from the threat of record closure and severe restrictions to the access of records.  The following message came through the APG list and I have also received an email from the Indiana Genealogical Society. California is not the only state to suffer a threat to the access of our records. For more information check out the IGS website at www.indgensoc.org . Click on the first item under News on the left side. I know I will be up early making some phone calls! Pamela Dallas Dear Roots Member, Indiana's legislature will meet at 10:30 am on Wednesday, February 5th to discuss House Bill 1540 which would go into effect on July 1st. If passed, the bill could deny genealogists access to Indiana vital records. Access to vital records less than 100 years old would be restricted to the person named on the record or their immediate relative. The bill is sponsored by Peggy Welch of Bloomington and has the support of the Indiana State Registrar's Association.  Currently access is limited to vital records less 72 years old. The Indiana Genealogical Society is alarmed by this bill and passed a resolution at their meeting on February 1st to send to the legislature. We are urging any and all genealogists concerned with keeping public records open to contact the members of the House's Committee on Public Health and tell them to vote NO on HB 1540. In passing this resolution, the Indiana Genealogical Society is mounting a letter writing, emailing, phone calling campaign to these legislators.  I hope that this issue be voted down.  It is important that the genealogical, and family historian community be heard. I have a letter already written to the office of Rep Peggy Welch concerning this matter. Thank you for your support. Alvie L. Davidson CGRS Lakeland, Florida http://www.floridadetective.net "Keep smiling and keep 'em guessing what you are up to!" --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now

This is happening all over. If these bills pass, we're going to have a difficult, if not impossible, task of getting records on our ancestors. Some of these bills do not even mention a period of time (75 years, 100 years) and provide a blanket coverage. Therefore, if you're seeking the birth or death record of your ancestor, you may not be able to get either once the bill is passed. Already, in Ohio, a researcher was told at a courthouse in Ohio that she'd better get all she wants NOW, before the bill is passed. Alley ----- Original Message ----- From: <JArmscoop@aol.com> To: <VASHENAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2003 8:02 PM Subject: [VASHENAN] Indiana Research Hi This topic came up on the list recently. Thought this might interest some of you. The responder of this message, is a member of the same genealogical society that I am, the Roseville (CA) Genealogical Society. Joyce in CA http://www.geocities.com/jarmscoop For those of you who do Indiana research this is important information. It seems no state is safe from the threat of record closure and severe restrictions to the access of records. The following message came through the APG list and I have also received an email from the Indiana Genealogical Society. California is not the only state to suffer a threat to the access of our records. For more information check out the IGS website at www.indgensoc.org . Click on the first item under News on the left side. I know I will be up early making some phone calls! Pamela Dallas Dear Roots Member, Indiana's legislature will meet at 10:30 am on Wednesday, February 5th to discuss House Bill 1540 which would go into effect on July 1st. If passed, the bill could deny genealogists access to Indiana vital records. Access to vital records less than 100 years old would be restricted to the person named on the record or their immediate relative. The bill is sponsored by Peggy Welch of Bloomington and has the support of the Indiana State Registrar's Association. Currently access is limited to vital records less 72 years old. The Indiana Genealogical Society is alarmed by this bill and passed a resolution at their meeting on February 1st to send to the legislature. We are urging any and all genealogists concerned with keeping public records open to contact the members of the House's Committee on Public Health and tell them to vote NO on HB 1540. In passing this resolution, the Indiana Genealogical Society is mounting a letter writing, emailing, phone calling campaign to these legislators. I hope that this issue be voted down. It is important that the genealogical, and family historian community be heard. I have a letter already written to the office of Rep Peggy Welch concerning this matter. Thank you for your support. Alvie L. Davidson CGRS Lakeland, Florida http://www.floridadetective.net "Keep smiling and keep 'em guessing what you are up to!"