Learn about the Advocacy Committee
The following letter to A.R.T. membership was originally sent via email to all members on April 13, 2015.
A Letter to the A.R.T. Membership
Happy spring!
Thank you to all our members that took the time to complete the 2015 Member Survey form. We were gratified to receive 115 responses!
We discussed the survey results at our last Board meeting. The A.R.T. Board values your thoughtful and constructive feedback, along with suggestions for improvement. Looking towards the future, we are committed to enhancing the value of your A.R.T. membership. As a result of this initiative, we are pleased to announce the following:
Addition of the Director of the Advocacy Committee
Since 2013, this Board position has been merged with the Outreach Committee, with one Director serving both committees. Over the past few years, membership interest in both Advocacy and Outreach has grown steadily. To provide enhanced volunteer opportunities for members and to strengthen the impact of these Committees, the Board structure will expand to include a Director of the Advocacy Committee.
This position is the Advocacy Committee’s voting representative for the A.R.T. Board, serving a two-year term (June 2015 - June 2017). Tiffany Nixon, currently the Director of the Outreach and Advocacy Committees, will continue on as Director of the Outreach Committee through June 2016.
Creation of the Development Committee
Many of the survey responses expressed a desire for A.R.T. to provide more cost-effective, cross-disciplinary programming with additional networking opportunities, as well as exhibition visits and other exciting ideas. To properly support these initiatives, an A.R.T. Development Committee will begin in June 2015.
This committee will be comprised of a non-voting Director, and at minimum 3 committee members. The Director will be appointed by the Board each year in June. There is an option for renewal of up to 3 years, at the Board’s discretion. The Director’s responsibilities will include: generating resources for A.R.T. programs and events; conducting strategic planning for identifying potential funding sources; and actively communicating with the A.R.T. Board on committee actions and activities.
In preparation for the A.R.T. Board elections and end-of-year program, to be held at the Museum of Modern Art on June 15th, we will be adding the Director of the Advocacy Committee position along with the other open positions: Vice-President/President Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Director of the Advocacy Committee, and Director of the Education Committee.
Nomination forms can be accessed here. The deadline for nominations is May 29, 2015. Self-nominations are encouraged! Stay tuned for additional announcements regarding the elections and the end-of-year program.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments you may have.
Regards,
Ryan Anthony Donaldson
President
The Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York, Inc. (A.R.T.) is now accepting nominations for the A.R.T. Board for the 2015 - 2016 election year. Terms shall commence at the conclusion of the A.R.T. Annual Meeting, to be held June 15, 2015, at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), with the announcement of the election results. Deadline for nomination submissions is Friday, 29 May 2015, midnight EST. All current A.R.T. members are eligible for nomination. Nominations from colleagues and self-nominations are both welcomed. Serving on the A.R.T. Board is a unique volunteer opportunity. As an A.R.T. Board member, you will gain skills and expertise beyond the scope of your past and present work commitments. Local leadership, project management, and networking are a few of the key benefits. Most importantly, you are serving as a representative for your colleagues and all A.R.T. membership.
The following positions are open:
Vice President (1 Year Term: 1 year Vice President/President Elect, 1 Year President)
Secretary (1 Year Term)
Treasurer (2 Year Term)
Director of the Advocacy Committee (2 Year Term)
Director of the Education Committee (2 Year Term)
Director of the Communications Committee (1 Year Term)
Positions are two-year terms, with the exception of the Vice President, which is a one-year term, following which the Vice President becomes President without an election; Secretary, and Director of the Communications Committee. After the nominations period closes, each candidate confirming acceptance of the nomination will be required to provide a short biography, candidate statement, and headshot for the ballot, due by Wednesday, 3 June 2015, midnight EST.
Please access the following link for the nomination form:
https://nycarchivists.wufoo.com/forms/call-for-nominations-art-board-2015-2016/
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) has released the following regarding the House of Representatives budget proposal eliminating IMLS funding (among other budget cuts such as eliminating the NEH):
http://www.arl.org/news/community-updates/3568-us-house-budget-proposal-calls-for-elimination-of-imls#.VSlfBCjtieG
To see the full impact IMLS funding has on communities around the country, see their annual report:
http://www.arl.org/news/community-updates/3569-imls-releases-annual-report-for-2014#.VSlgwCjtieG
Contact your representatives today to let them know how such cuts would imapct your archives and the community you serve:
http://www.house.gov/representatives/
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Statement regarding public officials using private email to conduct official business
The Board of Directors and the Advocacy Committee of the Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York, Inc., expresses concern at recent news reports that public officials at different levels of government have used private email accounts to routinely communicate and conduct official business. Use of non-official systems to send and receive email, except in extreme circumstances (i.e. emergency situations where government systems are not available) increases the likelihood that messages which meet the legal definition of a public record are not captured or managed in accordance with existing laws and regulations. Public records, whether email messages or paper documents, not captured in official records management systems diminish the historical record, decrease government efficiency and effectiveness, and impede the public¹s ability to hold government officials accountable. The Board of Directors and the Advocacy Committee urge governments to adopt records regulations that prohibit the use of non-official email systems except in extreme, emergency situations. Furthermore, the Board of Directors and the Committee urge that stricter rules regarding the use of official email accounts for official business be implemented and enforced to ensure preservation of the historic record and to foster greater transparency and accountability at all levels of government.
The statement can be downloaded at the following link [PDF]:
2015_ART_email_advocacy_letter.pdf
Change.org petition on the state of funding for the Iowa State Archives and Historical Society:
Budget cuts and reorganization plans for the State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) endanger the preservation of Iowa history contained in diaries, letters, photographs, maps, oral histories and other materials housed at the Society's two libraries in Des Moines and Iowa City.
Drastic reductions in operating hours and staff, the diversion of resources to unrelated activities, and recommendations to "streamline" the SHSI libraries threaten public access to the state's history. Iowans risk being severed from their past.
https://www.change.org/p/iowa-department-of-cultural-affairs-terry-branstad-state-historical-society-of-iowa-save-iowa-history-restore-funding-for-the-state-historical-society-of-iowa-libraries-and-archives-keep-physical-records-of-iowa-history-accessible-to-all
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” -- Benjamin Franklin
Ideas for MayDay Activities
For more on these ideas: http://www2.archivists.org/initiatives/mayday-saving-our-archives/ideas-for-mayday-activities
Associated Press CEO Gary Pruitt writes on the challenges and difficulties encountered when trying to access public records under Freedom of Information laws and includes some very illuminating examples.
AP CEO: Government undermining 'right to know' laws
http://www.ap.org/Content/Press-Release/2015/Gary-Pruitt-Sunshine-Week-column
March 15-21, 2015
Join us in the annual nationwide celebration of access to public information and what it means for you and your community. Find all the free resources you need to get started right here.
It's Sunshine Week's 10th anniversary, and we've made a lot of gains in open government thanks to your work.
For more info see: http://www.sunshineweek.org/
For more info see: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/advleg/nlld
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