About two dozen Archives supporters, including several members of the Georgia Genealogical Society, attended the signing. Among the attendees was Rep. Matt Hatchett (R-150) from Dublin, who was the principal author of the bill and an avid supporter of the Archives during the 2013 legislative session.

After the short ceremony, people left the governor’s office to make way for the next signing, stopping to chat and say their good-byes on the way out of the capitol.

They were greeted with a surprise when they exited the capitol. All alone, walking around the capitol, was Morrow Mayor J. B. Burke. The mayor, a great friend of the Georgia Archives and the Georgia Genealogical Society, was carrying a sign thanking the governor and Archives advocates for their support in making the transition a reality. “This is a great day for Georgia,” exclaimed.

His unexpected one-man parade served as a perfect exclamation point on a hopeful day for the Georgia Archives.

Vivian Price Saffold

The bill transfers the Georgia Archives to the University System of Georgia from the Georgia Secretary of State.

Anyone who is interested may gather in the governor’s office. Of course, not all of us will be invited into the inner office for the official signing and photograph, but we certainly can be there.

I know it’s short notice, but it would be great to see all those same stalwart volunteers who filled the governor’s office last fall back again… this time to celebrate this momentous occasion.

Vivian Price Saffold

At the last minute the Georgia Archives achieved a tiny, but significant victory. The House-Senate Conference Committee on the Fiscal Year 2014 budget chose to support the Senate figure of $300,000,  $75,881 more than the House recommended.

No, in terms of money it’s certainly not quite as much as we’d hoped for. The Archives still will struggle. While the amount may be disappointing, it cannot be surprising, given the state of the economy and the demands on the state budget.

But in terms of advocacy, the value of our campaign cannot be overstated. Repeatedly during the legislative session, lawmakers commented on the strong effort being made by Archives supporters.

The fact that the conferees chose the higher Senate budget number confirms that in the waning days of the session Georgia Archives supporters spoke and legislators listened.

Thanks to all those who have worked, worried and prayed on behalf of the institution we love.

Special thanks to Elizabeth Olson, co-chairman of the Campaign to Save the Georgia Archives, as well as to all GGS members and members of genealogical and historical societies across the state.

Thanks to state legislators who also proved themselves to be Archives advocates: most especially to Rep. Terry England, also to Reps. Earl Ehrhart, Jan Jones and Larry O’Neal and Sens. Jack Hill, Buddy Carter, Ronnie Chance and David Shafer.
University System of Georgia Senior Vice Chancellor for External Affairs Tom Daniel deserves special recognition.

Thanks also to:

• Archives Director Chris Davidson and Archivist Steve Engerrand, as well as former director David Carmicheal
• University System of Georgia Regents Dean Alford and George Hooks, as well as University System of Georgia Associate Vice Chancellor for Planning and Implementation Shelley Nickel
• Our DeKalb County friends John Hewitt of the DeKalb Champion and public relations professional Matthew Spaulding
• Fred Moss and the Records Preservation and Access Committee of the Federation of Genealogical Societies
• Packet stuffers, phone callers, letter writers and never-give-uppers
• And, as always, the Georgia Genealogical Society’s great friend Gwinnett Graphics

The next order of business is to keep up with how the Archives fares under new leadership at the University System of Georgia.

And, of course, will start all over again with the 2014 session of the Georgia General Assembly.

Vivian Price Saffold

As you probably know, this blog is sponsored by the Georgia Genealogical Society. It was started with the goal of providing information about the crisis at the Georgia Archives. That goal will continue, with information and issues being posted as needed.

Beginning today, we also will use this blog to post information about GGS activities and other news of interest to the genealogical and related communities.

AFRICAN AMERICAN RESEARCH SPECIALIST

TO LECTURE AT THE ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER

Today we feature an upcoming lecture sponsored by GGS and the Metro Atlanta Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society in conjunction with the Atlanta History Center.

African American genealogist Tony Burroughs will discuss his book,  Black Roots: A Beginner’s Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree, at the Atlanta History Center on Tuesday, April 2 at 8 p.m.

Attendees will discover how to trace, document, record and write family history using this easy-to-read, step-by-step authoritative guide. Black Roots highlights some of the special problems, solutions and sources unique to African Americans.

Admission is $5 for members, $10 non-members and free to AHC Insiders unless otherwise noted.  Reservations are required. Phone 404-814-4150 or reserve online at www.atlantahistorycenter.com. Click on the link in the calendar section.

Of course, Archives supporters would prefer the Senate version.

I know many of you are weary of this struggle and weary of requests that you contact your legislators. You will be relieved to know that this will be the last request for this session.

A House-Senate conference committee will meet soon to reconcile the two budgets. Following is a list of conferees you can contact to support the Senate budget.

Rep. Terry England

245 State Capitol

Atlanta, GA 30334

404.463.2247 – Office

englandhomeport2@windstream.net

Rep. Jan Jones

340 State Capitol

Atlanta, GA 30334

404.656.5072 – Office

404.657.0498 – Fax

jan.jones@house.ga.gov

Rep. Larry O`Neal

338 State Capitol

Atlanta, GA 30334

404.656.5052 – Office

larry.oneal@house.ga.gov

Sen. Ronnie Chance

236 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone: (404) 463-1366
Fax: (404) 657-9887

ronnie.chance@senate.ga.gov

Sen. Jack Hill

234 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone: (404) 656-5038
Fax: (404) 657-7094

jack.hill@senate.ga.gov

Sen. David Shafer

321 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone: (404) 656-0048
Fax: (404) 463-5220

david.shafer@senate.ga.gov

The full Georgia Senate Thursday approved House Bill 287 transferring the Archives from the Secretary of State to the University System of Georgia. All that is needed to make the transfer official is the governor’s signature.

The full Senate is expected to vote on the budget on Friday.

Vivian Price Saffold

The legislature is in recess until Wednesday, March 20.  During the recess the Senate will be formulating the budget.

Please take time to call the Senators on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Ask that the full amount — $448,266 — requested by Chancellor Hank Huckaby be added to the Senate version of the budget.

Senate Appropriations Committee Members

Note: Sens. Carter, Chance, Cowsert, Davenport and Staton make up the Senate Higher Education Appropriations Committee.

Contact information can be found here:

http://www.senate.ga.gov/committees/en-US/committee.aspx?Committee=103&Session=23

Vivian Price Saffold

The closer it gets to the end of the legislative session the faster things move.

Before most people had had their first cup of coffee on Monday, one House of Representatives committee had met and approved a budget for the Georgia Archives. A second committee approved the budget Monday afternoon.

The House Appropriations Higher Education Subcommittee and the full Appropriations Committee agreed on a figure of $224,113 in addition to the $3,851,428 recommended by the governor. The additional amount is roughly half of what University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby recommended.

There is only one more step for any Archives legislation in the House of Representatives: approval of the budget by the full House.

The Senate will take up both the budget and House Bill 287 (the transfer bill) in the coming days.

The Senate will discuss House Bill 287 on Wednesday, March 13 at 3 p.m.

Preliminary meetings on the Senate’s version of the budget already are underway by members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee.

The Senate, in its version of the budget, could recommend more than the House. As always, the budget will go to a House-Senate Conference Committee in order to development a budget both houses can support.

At this point, the only way to get more money for the Archives is to convince members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to recommend the full $448,266 that Chancellor Huckaby requested.

To all of those who wrote or called over the weekend or on Monday: your voices were heard. To all of those who have voiced support for the Archives over the last few months: you are making a difference.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Terry England said in his presentation of the budget on Monday that he had heard from “many, many, many” Archives supporters. No other budget issue rated such a comment from the chairman.

Keep up the great work.

Below is a list of Senate committee members:

Senate Appropriations Committee Members

Note: Sens. Carter, Chance, Cowsert, Davenport and Staton make up the Senate Higher Education Appropriations Committee.

Contact information can be found here:

http://www.senate.ga.gov/committees/en-US/committee.aspx?Committee=103&Session=23

Vivian Price Saffold

The bill can be found here:

http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20132014/133373.pdf

This will be the last opportunity the public has for input into this legislation. If there is anything you would like to tell the Senators, these are the folks to contact:

Committee Members
Bill Cowsert, Chairman
Joshua McKoon, Vice Chairman
Burt Jones, Secretary
Buddy Carter, Member
Hardie Davis, Member
Tim Golden, Member
Lester G. Jackson, Member
Nan Orrock, Member
Cecil Staton, Member

Contact information can be found here:

http://www.senate.ga.gov/committees/en-US/committee.aspx?Committee=77&Session=23

Vivian Price Saffold

The bill now moves to the state Senate for consideration.

HB287 transfers the Georgia Archives from the Secretary of State to the University System of Georgia as of the beginning of the fiscal year, July 1.

The House Appropriations Committee seriously gets down to business on the budget in the final 10 legislative days, as well as on days when the full House is not in session. (There are several recess days scheduled).

Gov. Nathan Deal recommended $3,851,428 for the Archives for Fiscal Year 2014. Subtracting the “lease” (bond) payment on the Archives building, this budget leaves about $1 million to operate the Archives for an entire year. This won’t do.

USG Chancellor Hank Huckaby is asking for an additional $448,266, for a total of $4,299,694. This is a fair amount. Last fall, Gov.  Deal mandated that all state agencies cut three percent from their budgets. Secretary of State Brian Kemp cut $730,000 (intended as the total cut for all of his divisions). Adding the Chancellor’s recommendation brings the Archives back to the governor’s 3% mandated cut, the same as every other agency has had to take.

The Chancellor’s $448,266 also is a reasonable request, an amount that is neither greedy nor impossible.

It is very important that all Archives supporters immediately contact all members of the full House Appropriations Committee in support of a larger budget than the one recommended by the governor. Members of the committee can be found here:

http://www.house.ga.gov/Committees/en-US/committee.aspx?Committee=88&Session=23

Thanks to all of you who have worked and continued to work to support the Archives.

Vivian Price Saffold