In this issue:
|
From the chair Ellen Swain Dear RAO members: My name is Ellen Swain and I’m the RAO Section chair this year. It is a privilege to serve in this position and I hope you will feel most welcome to contact me at any time with questions, concerns, and project ideas for the Section. The steering committee and I certainly encourage and appreciate your participation and input throughout the year! Here is an update on RAO activities, August-October 2003: SAA Conference in Los Angeles, August 2003 The RAO Section elected two new steering committee members: Todd Kosmerick from the University of Oklahoma and Arlene Schmuland from the University of Alaska Anchorage. Jessica Lacher-Feldman agreed to serve as vice chair/chair elect and Carrie Daniels volunteered to be our new Webmaster. Thanks to outgoing chair Kathie Burger Johnson, steering committee member Susan McElrath, and Webmaster Cory Daly for their outstanding work for the Section. Thanks, too, to Sharon Pullen for continuing to produce the RAO newsletter. After Sheryl Redmon’s interesting video presentation concerning the Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College, the Section discussed the implications of the USA Patriot Act for archivists, including concerns voiced and actions proposed by the Manuscript Repositories Section and Privacy and Confidentiality Roundtable. RAO members approved the following statement, proposed from the floor: "The SAA Reference, Access and Outreach Section urges Council to consider study of the necessity of taking a position on the USA Patriot Act, reflecting the concerns of the archival profession." Session Endorsements/Future Activities The steering committee was pleased to receive 13 session proposals for endorsement consideration for SAA 2004. At present, the committee is evaluating these proposals and will submit a ranked list to the Program Committee by November 7. Finally, the steering committee is interested in enhancing the RAO website to make it a more useful resource for the RAO membership. Some ideas include: an RAO administrative history, posted by-laws, links to resources and organizations, and photographs from member institutions. If you have suggestions, please let me or a steering committee member know. |
Send comments on this website to Carrie Daniels.