From FOGAH President Dianne Cannestra:
“After reading the October 18, 2012 Press Release from Governor Deal’s office, the FOGAH Legislative Affairs Committee had a conference call with our Legislative Affairs Consultant. It is unclear how the latest news will impact on the termination of the 7 employees. The consultant will attempt to get more information on that question as soon as possible. He shares our opinion that all 7 of the employees are essential to the Archives operation. It was also not clearly stated that the Archives will remain in Morrow. We will be working on that clarification as well.
We are all very appreciative of the Governor’s intervention and are especially excited about the move to the University System. Please write letters to the Governor thanking him for his intervention as soon as possible.
Our fight for restoration of the budget is not over. The $125,000 is obviously not nearly enough. No matter where the Archives resides organizationally, we need to convince our senators and representatives that the Archives needs $5.4 million to get back to the model Archives it once was and be open 5 days a week.
The first task in the consultants work plan is to identify volunteers around the state who will personally make contact with their state legislators after receiving training and “talking points” from our consulting firm. If you would be willing to volunteer, please email me at diannebc@bellsouth.net and I will add you to the list.
Because the consultant contract fee of $3,000 per month for 6 months was not anticipated and thus not in the FOGAH budget, you can also assist in saving the Archives by making a donation to FOGAH for the “Consultant Fee” fund. You can send a check to FOGAH, 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow GA 30260 or by PayPal at www.FOGAH.org. Please check that web site frequently for additional updates.”
Links to news coverage below the jump.
Kristina Torres http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/5-georgia-archives-employees-will-still-lose-jobs/nShnm/
Vivian Price Saffold http://georgiaarchivesmatters.org/
Norman Gomlak , AP http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/uproar-ga-officials-back-off-archives-plan-17511947
[Norman Gomlak] Associated Press http://valdostadailytimes.com/todays-top-stories/x1200637139/After-uproar-Ga-officials-back-off-archives-plan
[Norman Gomlak] Associated Press http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/259212/After-uproar–Ga–officials-back-off-archives-plan-.html?isap=1&nav=5014 (Central Iowa Daily News)
Brandon Howell http://georgiatipsheet.com/tag/georgia-archives/
Joseph M Alderman http://www.common-place.org/pasley/?m=20121019
Kathleen Baydala Joyner http://www.atlawblog.com/2012/10/deal-and-kemp-will-keep-state-archives-open/ (last paragraph ???)
Dick Eastman http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2012/10/georgias-archives-to-remain-open.html#more
Jennifer Hunt Johnson http://www.familyhistoryexpos.com/wordpress/2012/10/georgia-archives-still-threatened-with-cutbacks/
Associated Press http://hnn.us/roundup/41.html#148858
Norman Gomlak, AP http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/uproar-ga-officials-back-off-archives-plan-17511947#.UII36W_ypKg
No byline http://www.wjhnews.com/filesforweb/pageone/friday.pdf (bottom left)
sogablog.org 