10/21/2004 SWAG Minutes

Archives Group Organizational Meeting

Present: Michael Doylen (UWM), Tim Cary (Archdiocese), Ann McIntyre (Mount Mary College), Bill Fliss (Marquette), Dave Herrewig (Miller Brewing), Christel Maass (UWM), Stephanie Williams (Northwestern Mutual), Ellen Engseth (UWM), Fr.Wayne Jenkins (SCJ U.S. Province), Sara Shutkin (Alverno College), Nick Weber (UW-Parkside), Sr. Carol Marie Haag (Sisters of the Divine Saviors), Guest: Helmut Knies (Wisconsin Historical Society)

Absent: Sr. Corrine Dais (School Sisters of St. Francis), Elizabeth Schmoeger (Milwaukee Art Museum), Amy Hefter (Legislative Reference Bureau), Tim Ericson (UWM), Virginia Schwartz (Milwaukee Public Library), Beth Dippel (Sheboygan County Historical Research Center), Ken Wirth (Johnson Controls)

History

Tim Cary gave a brief history of the Archives Committee and of the Library Council of Southeastern Wisconsin, formerly LCOMM

Discussion Points

Purpose and Activities: The group shared ideas about possible purpose and activities for a new archives group. Some of the ideas discussed were information sharing about new collection acquisitions, loaning collections between members, working with WHS on the mentor project, managing a listserv, offering workshops, professional networking and working together on National Archives Week. There was some discussion on being a group that is just project driven.

Membership: It was decided that we should reach out to corporate archivists, record management professionals, and local history organizations. It was suggested that we could place an announcement in the MAC Newsletter. Helmut offered to be a point of contact for us with the WHS and he will check with Tom McKay about any affiliation with local history groups. Father Wayne offered to contact religious groups about their local archivists. Dave Herrewig offered to contact John Gurda to see if he is aware of any archivists working in local government agencies. The group discussed individual memberships versus institutional memberships. It was generally agreed upon that offering institutional memberships may come later if the need is there. There was also a discussion about having a membership chair or committee versus the current practice of having a co-chair arrangement. Ann McIntyre offered to survey other archival groups to see how they organize themselves.

Dues: The group discussed the need or reasons, if any, to collect dues. A discussion followed about the need to incorporate the organization. Helmut talked about the advantages to this. It was decided that this may be considered in the future.

Name: Deferred to next meeting

Library Council of Southeastern Wisconsin: Michael Doylen will report the results of our organizational meeting to the board of the Library Council.

Formation of Steering Committee: Michael Doylen, Tim Cary, Nick Weber, Stephanie Williams, Sara Shutkin and Ann McIntyre volunteered to be part of the Steering Committee. The committee will have its first meeting on December 1st at 9:00 a.m. at the Milwaukee Archdiocese Archives. The steering committee will explore the issues discussed today and make recommendations to the full committee.

Next Meeting: December 9th at the Milwaukee Archdiocese Archives at 9:00 a.m.