THE QUARTERLY |
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FROM THE CAUCUS REPRESENTATIVE Dear Colleague: This is the first issue of The Quarterly, a newsletter with an entirely unoriginal name typed out on a completely unoriginal format, and dedicated to keeping members of the DC Caucus of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC) aware of the varied activities of the Caucus via the United States Postal Service. My name is Jim Cassedy and, as new Representative (Rep ) of the DC Caucus, I have the dubious distinction of trying to follow the outstanding example set by previous Representatives (Reps ), most recently by Ms. Susan McElrath.Ê IÕll try. During the upcoming year or two, I hope that the Caucus will continue to have regular Meetings, and continue its annual Archives Week events and other activities so notably begun, and continued, by Susan McElrath and other Caucus colleagues.Ê We also wish to strengthen our ties with other Archival organizations in the DC area. I also hope to strengthen our ability to communicate with one another, particularly electronically.Ê The Caucus has moved forward on three fronts in this arena.Ê Through the good efforts of Cheryl Stadel-Bevans, we now have the infrastructure with which to operate a DC Caucus List Serve.Ê This List Serve is voluntary.Ê In order to join this listserve, you need to send a message to marac-dc-subscribe@egroups.com with the message "subscribe YourName". Each new addition needs to be "approved" as it is a closed list. Cheryl has very kindly agreed to serve as list "supervisor," and I will serve as the back up.Ê Secondly, I set up an electronic mailing list for official use.Ê I obtained the e-mail addresses from the MARAC Directory, and have attempted to supplement it using other resources.Ê There are a few who have probably not received my previous e-mail messages, which have served as an introduction to upcoming DC Caucus activities, as well as our electronic communication work.Ê If you have not received any electronic mail messages from me, and you wish to receive these messages, please contact me at james.cassedy@arch2.nara.gov, or telephone me at 301-713-7110, ext. 258.Ê On the other hand, should you not wish to receive e-mails from me in the future, please contact me, and I will be happy to remove you from my list. Generally, I will not send out third party messages to my DC Caucus mail list.Ê I wish to limit the number of messages I send to the membership of DC Caucus, and I think the listserve is an opportune way to limit other messages to those who wish to receive them. Finally, DC Caucus is in the early stages of setting up a web page i.e. we have a server and an address - www.dcarchivists.org.Ê If you check out the web page too quickly, you will find nothing there, but please do so from time to time.Ê IÕm hoping to take advantage of the talents of others to create a good web site, and IÕd certainly be interested in volunteers. Speaking of volunteers.Ê I have found that organizations work best with the multifaceted talents of all members, and this includes the DC Caucus of MARAC.Ê Several individuals have kindly volunteered their time some of whom are noted in this edition of The Quarterly, and others who have volunteered but who have not yet been contacted but will be.Ê Soon. In the future, I hope that this newsletter might have more than one contributor. If you are interested in lending assistance, including writing articles for or editing the newsletter, please contact me.Ê All the Best, -Jim Cassedy- DC Caucus MeetingJuly 27, 2000The next Quarterly Meeting of the DC Caucus of MARAC is scheduled for Thursday, July 27, 2000, at the National Archives Building, 7th and Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC, in Room 105, from 3:45pm to 5:15 pm.Ê The National Archives Assembly and the DC Caucus are co-sponsoring a presentation by Mr. Rick Blondo on the renovation of Archives I. There will also be a brief business meeting during which we may discuss plans for Archives Week (October 9 - 13, 2000), other possible meetings of the DC Caucus, possible recruitment activities, and possible archival workshops.Archives Week ActivitiesAs part of the events scheduled for Archives Week, the DC Caucus of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference will host its third annual Archives Fair. ÊThe Fair will take place on Thursday October 12, 2000 from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Smithsonian's Ripley Center. The DC Caucus invites interested organizations and repositories from the Metropolitan Washington, DC area to display literature, exhibits, etc.Ê There is no charge for participating.Ê Archives which are unable to send a representative may provide literature for distribution, however active participation is strongly encouraged.Ê To learn more about the Archives Fair, please contact Susan McElrath at (202) 786-2513 or mcelrath.susan@nmnh.si.edu or Kristine Kaske at (202) 357-3133 or kaskek@si.edu . In addition to the Archives Fair, the DC Caucus is sponsoring a Teachers Workshop, Archives and Archival Research 101.Ê Designed to introduce teachers to primary sources and archives.Ê The workshop is scheduled for Saturday October 14, 2000, from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., and will be held at the National Digital Library Visitor Center, Library of Congress. Our colleagues, Susan McElrath, Kristine Kaske, La Nina Clayton, Jennie Guilbaud, Heather Moore, Susan Malbin, Faye Haskins, Peggy Appleman, Mychalene Giampaoli Danna Bell-Russel, and Gail R. Redmann Ê(if IÕve forgotten anyone, profuse apologies!) deserve the thanks of DC Caucus for their activities which serve to strengthen the D.C. archival community.Ê Many Thanks! ÊNews NotesDC History Day First Hand Contest WinnerThe first winner of the DC History Day First Hand Award is Alex Buchner, an 8th grade student from Alice Deal Junior High School.Ê He received a $15.00 gift certificate to the National Archives and Records Administration Store.Ê Sponsored by the National Archives Assembly and the DC Caucus of the Mid-Atlantic Archives Conference, The First Hand Award: Creative Uses of Primary Sources is given to a local DC participant in the entry levels of the History Day National Contest.Ê Award winners do not move onto the next level of the History Day competitions.Ê Award winning contest entries must incorporate primary sources into their presentation in a creative manner.Ê AlexÕs History Day Entry, Concrete Wall Built to Fall, focused on the Berlin Wall and the significance of its fall. -Jennie Guilbaud-Arline Custer Memorial AwardThe award recognizes the best books, articles, and exhibition catalogues published by MARAC members and individuals and institutions in DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, and WV. Individuals or institutions may submit up to two works which were published between July 1, 1999, and June 30, 2000. Submissions must be received by August 31, 2000.Ê If you desire to nominate a publication, please send two copies of each submission to: Larry Baume, 5805 Taylor Road, Riverdale Park, MD 20737. Questions? Please call Larry at 301/713-7110 ext. 234, or send e-mail to larry.baume@arch2.nara.gov. Next Meeting of the MARAC Steering CommitteeThe next meeting of the MARAC Steering Committee is Friday, July 28, 2000.Ê If you have issues to be raised, please contact Jim Cassedy. Field Trip!!The Maryland Caucus, led by Ms. Mary Mannix, is attempting to organize a visit to the Calvert Maritime Museum in SolomonÕs Island, Maryland, with a possible side trip to the nearby Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum.Ê The Caucus is aiming for a September visit, and has invited members of the DC Caucus to attend.Ê Stay tuned for additional news.Membership RenewalYour Rep has just received his MARAC membership renewal form for 2000 - 2001.Ê Have you?Ê If you havenÕt received the form, let me know, and IÕll try to help out.Ê If you have received the membership renewal form, please fill it out, and return that bad boy with a check.Complaints?Ê Suggestions?The buck stops with your Caucus Rep. If you have suggestions, complaints, wish to volunteer, etc. please contact: Jim Cassedy |