March 5, 2010
Dear MGC Society Presidents & Delegates:
First I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the genealogy community for all their words of support. They are very welcome during this time.
Many of you have asked what we can do to help. Now is your chance.
As you are aware, the Governor has appointed her Michigan Center for Innovation and Reinvention Board (MCIR). While our representative, Dr. Frank Boles from Central Michigan University, was not appointed, Dr. Boles has been asked to participate in public comment at both the February and March meetings.
The focus of the March 15 meeting is to learn about the various collections at the Library of Michigan. This is our opportunity to educate the board on the importance of what is being called the “non-Michigan” genealogy collection and to explain that this is a misnomer and that it is all Michigan. While the time for public comment is 3 minutes per person, if testimony lasts for quite a while because everyone is testifying, then we genealogists will lose the Board’s attention.
Therefore, so as not to overwhelm the board and so that we speak as one cohesive voice, MGC is asking for six volunteers to represent genealogists/Council and speak regarding a specific aspect of the collection.
For example, someone would speak on family histories, another on the importance of census records from other states, etc. Dr. Boles would end the public comment by tying it all together. We estimate this will take roughly 21 minutes.
We would like to have various parts of our state represented. So if you would be willing to drive to Lansing that day, and if you are interested in representing Council and testifying at this meeting, please contact Mr. Tom Koselka by Wednesday, March 10 at tom@mimgc.org. If you would like to submit written comments that pertain to the Library of Michigan collection you may send them to the same address. Please place ‘MCIR” in the subject line. We will print them out and pass them on to the MCIR Board.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of you that were able to go to the library and use the collection during the February MCIR meeting. I received praise regarding everyone’s professionalism. Therefore, if you are able to again be at the library during the March meeting, that would be great. It is so important to show how much the collection is valued, and the best way to do that is to show that the library is packed and the collection is being used. Therefore, we would like to encourage you to come and again spend the day using the library and archives.
Again I would like to thank the community for their support of Council during this time. We are still working towards a solution to this problem. While we cannot give many details at this time, please know that we are working hard and hopefully we may be able to say more at our March delegate meeting.
Best wishes,
Cynthia S. Grostick, President
Michigan Genealogical Council
