Taking Action - Steven J. Coker
Subject: Taking Action
From: Steven J. Coker
Date: June 10, 1998

Protecting and preserving our historical records.  Some suggestions on how to
get started.

1. Find a few like-minded individuals.  

2. Form a non-profit organization with at least 5 or more members dedicated to
the cause.

3. Get some letter sized paper with the organization name at the letterhead. 
You can get this from many local printers, copy shops, or can create it yourself
on a computer.

4. Write and type a good, concise, attention getting letter on the organization
letterhead.

5. Prepare a small package of information supporting the points made in the
letter.  Copies of newspaper or magazine articles about courthouse fires,
information about lost or damaged records, etc.

6. Send the letter and supporting information to legislators and other
government officials.

7. Send copies of your letters and supporting information to newspapers, other
news media, genealogical societies, historical societies, etc.

8. Follow up with phone calls and personal visits to their offices. Offer to
help them research the problem and develop legislative solutions.  Make them
feel like your organization wants to be their friend, provided that they do the
right thing and help preserve and protect our history.  

9. Setup a system within the organization to monitor, stay informed, and make
sure the issue isn't forgotten.

10. Regularly develop, publish, and distribute a newsletter and/or news release
informing the membership, the legislative representatives, the news media, and
others about what is happening, who is helping, who is not helping, what more
needs to be done, etc.

11. Don't give up until its done.  Make noise, raise heck, don't let them ignore
you, make it happen.

Comments, discussion, and ideas for getting such an organization going are
suitable topics for this forum.  The South Carolina Genealogy Forum (SCRoots) is
available as the non-profit organization to work under if there is sufficient
interest.  Or, if preferred, start a new group dedicated to this cause.  Or, if
some other existing group is better suited and willing to take on the cause, use
them.

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