<html>
<body>
<font size=3>Is this something that SOA as an organization should
participate in?<br><br>
<br>
From: "Vicki Walch" <vwalch@statearchivists.org><br>
To: <archival_leaders@aall.archivists.org>,
<COSHRC-L@lists.Maine.edu><br>
Subject: [AALL] Fwd: Invitation to Join SAA in MayDay Activities<br>
Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2006 10:32:51 -0600<br>
Sender: archival_leaders-owner@aall.archivists.org<br>
Reply-To: archival_leaders@aall.archivists.org<br><br>
<br>
Dear Colleague:<br><br>
Protecting collections is one of our fundamental responsibilities as<br>
archivists. Last year's visits from Katrina, Rita, and Wilma
certainly<br>
provided a wake-up call, reminding us of the very real importance of<br>
disaster preparedness. Yet ironically, the Heritage Health Index,
released<br>
soon after the hurricanes, reported that few institutions have
disaster<br>
plans and for those that do, often the plan is out of date. Given
human<br>
nature, it's easy to put off disaster planning as we devote our
attentions<br>
to tasks with more immediate "payback." <br><br>
The Society of American Archivists hopes that your organization will join
us<br>
in the "MayDay Project" - a collaborative campaign to improve
professionals'<br>
readiness to respond to disaster. The MayDay project encourages all
records<br>
and archives professionals to do something on May 1st of each year - even
if<br>
it's something simple - to help ensure that they are prepared to respond
to<br>
a disaster. <br><br>
Because disasters are, for many archivists, unexpected and rare,
there's<br>
little if any motivation to prepare. By designating a specific date on
which<br>
to focus the profession's attention on preparedness, we hope to
trigger<br>
individuals to take action. As more individuals and repositories
participate<br>
over time, the exercise may become ingrained in our professional<br>
consciousness. <br><br>
MayDay focuses on doing something simple - something that can be<br>
accomplished in a day but that can have a profound impact on an
individual's<br>
or a repository's ability to respond. Taking time to read key policy<br>
documents keeps information fresh. Conducting a drill to evacuate
the<br>
building ensures that everyone knows the plan and can identify problems
with<br>
it. Updating contact information, and even creating wallet-size
versions of<br>
an emergency contact roster, makes it possible to locate people when time
is<br>
critical. Over time, a repository may choose different
activities.<br><br>
SAA will promote MayDay to its 4,400 members over the next several
months<br>
via Archival Outlook, the SAA website, and postings to the Archives
and<br>
Archivists List, the SAA Leadership List, and other appropriate
listservs.<br>
We will be providing a list of suggested activities from which
archivists<br>
might choose, as well as other supporting materials. We would be grateful
if<br>
you could distribute this information to your members and help to
promote<br>
the idea of MayDay as widely as possible.<br><br>
If you are willing to participate in the MayDay project, could you
please<br>
drop me a note to indicate that you will assist in promoting it? I
look<br>
forward to hearing from you! <br><br>
If you have questions, concerns, or ideas for how to make MayDay a
success,<br>
please let me know.<br><br>
Best regards.<br><br>
Richard Pearce-Moses<br>
Society of American Archivists<br>
President, 2005-2006<br>
president@archivists.org<br>
Work: 602-542-4035<br>
Cell: 602-568-5869<br><br>
<br>
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o<br><br>
The Archival Association Leadership Listserv (AALL) is co-sponsored by
the Council of State Historical Records Coordinators (COSHRC)
<<a href="http://www.coshrc.org" eudora="autourl">
http://www.coshrc.org</a>> and the Society of American Archivists
(SAA)
<<a href="http://www.archivists.org" eudora="autourl">
http://www.archivists.org</a>>.<br><br>
Additional information about the list, including terms of participation,
may be found at
<<a href="http://www.archivists.org/listservs/aall.asp" eudora="autourl">
http://www.archivists.org/listservs/aall.asp</a>> or at
<<a href="http://www.coshrc.org/connections/" eudora="autourl">
http://www.coshrc.org/connections/</a>>.<br><br>
To unsubscribe, send a request to the list moderator, Jenifer
Burlis-Freilich, at <jbfreilich@coshrc.org>.<br><br>
Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed on this listserv and the
information provided by the participants do not necessarily reflect the
opinions, views, or policies of SAA, COSHRC, or other sponsoring
institutions or organizations.<br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
______________<br>
Janet M. Carleton - <carleton@ohio.edu> - 740/597-2527
<br>
Digital Initiatives Coordinator / Women's Studies Bibliographer<br>
Alden 235A, Ohio University Libraries, Athens,
Ohio<br>
<<a href="http://www.library.ohiou.edu/" eudora="autourl">
http://www.library.ohiou.edu/</a>></font></body>
</html>