10/31/2006 SWAG Minutes

SWAG (Southeastern Wisconsin Archivists Group) Meeting

October 31, 2006

SCSJ Archives, Priests of the Sacred Heart 

Present:
Bill Fliss, Marquette University (chair); Nick Weber, UW-Parkside (chair); Corrine Dais, SSSF, School Sisters of St. Francis; Mary Ann Eichenseer, School Sisters of St. Francis ; Mike Hoffman, SDS, Salvatorian Archives;Wayne Jenkins, SC, SCJS Archives; Ann McIntyre, Mount Mary College; Sara Shutkin, Alverno College; Mark Thiel, Marquette University; Judy Turner (recording)

Bill Fliss opened the meeting by thanking Fr. Wayne Jenkins for hosting the meeting at his beautiful new facility.  The minutes of the May, 2006 meeting were approved with one correction – the addition of Sara Shutkin to the list of those present.  Bill asked for any additions to the agenda; there being none, he invited announcements.

Announcements:
Ann McIntyre announced that the Kohler Company archivist, Angela Miller, expressed an interest in joining SWAG; her name will be added to the e-mailing list and directory of members on the website and the group hopes that she will be able attend a meeting in the near future.

Nick Weber reported on the meeting of the University of Wisconsin System Archives Council (USAC) held the previous week.  Items of particular interest to SWAG:
-- WHS has begun a $6 million capital campaign for the improvement of Wisconsin historic sites.
-- The Society’s Archives has started reviewing its collections policy, recognizing the need to shift focus from its traditional strengths – the agriculture and heavy industry sectors - toward the high tech and health care fields.
-- WHS is participating in Wisconsin Heritage Online, with Google digitizing older books in the collection in order to add them to this important research resource.

Sara Shutkin announced that the Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning received a $120,000 grant from the Helen Bader Foundation. The funds will be used to prepare a documentary about life in smaller Jewish communities throughout  Wisconsin.  Society experts are working with a UWM documentary filmmaking class with the aim of producing a program that can be broadcast on public television. Sara is consulting
archivist for the WSJL; she will keep SWAG updated on the progress of the project.

Bill announced that there were still openings in the OCLC Content DM workshop to be offered by WILS in Madison.  Sara inquired about the possibility of carpooling.   

UWM will be hosting the Society of American Archivists’ EAD (Encoded Archival Description) Workshop in Spring 2007.  Details will be sent to SWAG members when they are available.

Mark Thiel announced that his NHPRC-funded project “A Guide to Catholic Records in the West: American Indians and Eskimos is nearly complete.  Covering a
14-state area including Alaska and Hawaii, the guide will be available online in several weeks. Mark will send an email message to the list at that time.  The new guide is a companion to his recent guide to Catholic records in the Midwest. 

Old Business

MCHS Records on OCLC
Nick Weber spoke with the Milwaukee County Historical Society’s Steve Daly who indicated MCHS would be willing to work on the MCHS records entered during the
Documenting Metropolitan Milwaukee project, but he was uncertain how to proceed.   Judy Turner suggested that Nick ask Mr. Daly to call Debbie Cardinal, the
WILS-OCLC contact, at the WILS office in Madison.  Ms. Cardinal worked with LCOMM staff and DMM project participants when the records were originally entered in the early 1990’s. Judy had been in contact with her when the Library Council office raised the location problem several years ago.

New Business

General discussion turned to the need to link to regional and national archival organizations and to reach out to local historical societies throughout southeastern Wisconsin. The possibility of creating a press release to inform these various constituencies was made.  Additionally, the co-chairs will convey information about SWAG to the Society of American Archivists for inclusion in their online Leadership
Directory.

Continuing Education Event for Spring
Bill reminded the group that last year’s survey revealed the greatest level of member c.e. interest was in managing electronic records, followed by preserving film and audio and video materials, using the DACS and caring for artifacts in the archives. Discussion of possible speakers, topics and venues followed.  Additionally, the possibility of meeting jointly with a local historical society was raised. Timing for the c.e. program will need to be slotted in among various other meetings in Spring, 2007,
including MAC and the aforementioned EAD workshop. Once a date has been established a program will be arranged to coincide with the next SWAG meeting. 

2nd Annual Non-Holiday Party
Last January’s gathering proved to be a well-attended success and there was general agreement to do something similar in early 2007.  Bill will ask last year’s organizers, Stephanie and Michelle, to repeat their efforts. 

Co-Chair Election
Bill asked for volunteers for the soon-to-be-vacated co-chair position.  He suggested that SWAG members contact him if they are interested in taking on this challenge.  Bill then thanked out-going co-chair Nick Weber for his service over the past 2 years, all
present heartily endorsed these remarks with a round of applause.

Putting SWAG on Web Directories
Given that discussion of making the broader archival and historical society communities aware of SWAG’s existence and work during the announcements and
continuing education discussion, there was no further need to discuss this item.

There being no further new business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:25 p.m.   Attendees fortified themselves with the delicious refreshments provided by our host prior to joining  Fr. Wayne for a tour of the area.