News & EVENTS

On February 13, 2017, New England Archivists issued an official statement opposing political actions that discriminate against individuals and calling for a more transparent government and documentation of all government activities, regardless of political party. NEA stands ready to work with others to ensure that federal policies and funding recognize and support archives as an essential element of an enduring democracy.

To read the full statement, see the NEA website.

The Day of Service is a New England Archivists community volunteer project that is part of the annual Spring Meeting program. This year's event on Thursday, March 23rd, will offer volunteers a variety of experiences at two possible sites. Participating in NEA's Day of Service is a great way to enhance your skills, or learn new ones, and join with colleagues and new friends to serve the profession.

Sign up to volunteer at either the Sturgis Library or at the Bourne Historical Society using the 2017 Day of Service Volunteer Form. Shifts are first come, first serve, and space is limited so sign up early to guarantee a spot*. Sign ups will close Wednesday, March 22nd, OR as soon as all spots are filled. Once someone signs-up for a shift, the project organizers will email potential volunteers to confirm participation and share further logistical details.

*You do not have to attend the Spring 2016 Meeting in order to participate in the NEA Day of Service event.

ABOUT THE PROJECTS
Sturgis Library:
Project #1: Gravestones and Deeds preservation work
This project will have volunteers encapsulating gravestone rubbings, a project for which prior experience is strongly requested. Mylar and double stick tape are provided; these supplies are partially funded by the Cape Cod Antique Dealers’ Association.

Project #2: Stanley Smith Deed Collection online database
For this project volunteers will contribute to the Stanley Smith Deed Collection online database, a work-in-progress in collaboration with the Boston Public Library. Amassed by local historian Stanley Webster Smith (1869-1941), this extensive collection includes deeds for land, property, wharfs, salt works, and church pews. Volunteers will work from digital images and fill out forms with keywords and other information (to be entered into the database by a staff member). Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own laptops if they have them.

Bourne Historical Society:
Project: Town Undertaker Edward D. Nickerson diary transcription
The Bourne Historical Society recently received three diaries, dating from 1898-1930, with photographs and handwritten descriptions of Bourne from the town undertaker Edward D. Nickerson (at that time the only undertaker on Cape Cod). Volunteers will transcribe one volume (111 pages, covering 1902-1921) from photocopies and are encouraged to bring their own laptops, as computers at the historical society are limited (transcriptions may also be handwritten initially). Volunteers’ ideas or suggestions for an upcoming exhibit, tentatively titled “Edward D. Nickerson, A Bourne Original: Undertaker, Environmentalist, Storyteller,” will also be welcome.

Bring your expertise and enthusiasm and help make a difference at one of these cultural heritage institutions on the Cape!

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Attend the NEA Spring 2017 Meeting
"Changing Tides" | March 23-25, 2017
Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis*
Early-bird registration is open through Sunday, February 19th.
See the NEA website for schedules, rates, and travel information

*PLEASE NOTE: There are still rooms available at the The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, but the original NEA block is almost full. When making reservations, it is advisable to call the hotel directly (866-828-9111 or 508-775-7775) and ask for a room for the NEA Spring 2017 Meeting. They will honor our rate for any room reserved during the meeting.

TODAY, Wednesday, February 15th is the deadline to apply for a New England Archivist  Professional Development award, nominate colleagues for the Archival Advocacy Award or Distinguished Service Award or take advantage of the NEA Mentoring program.

-- Professional Development Awards
Apply for one of New England Archivists' three awards to help members in their professional development and activities: Hale Professional Development Award, Haas Records Management Award, and the A/V Professional Development Award. Applications for all three awards and supporting documentation should be submitted to the NEA Representatives-at-large (RepAtLarge@newenglandarchivists.org).

-- Nominations for Service Awards
Nominate the outstanding work of your colleagues. New England Archivists is seeking nominations for the Archival Advocacy Award and the Distinguished Service Award. See the NEA website for criteria for eligibility and more details. Nominations for both awards can be made using this nomination form.

-- Mentoring Program
Apply to take part in the relaunch of the New England Archivists Mentoring Program. This year-long program will begin in March 2017. Applications and more information are available on the NEA website.

MORE UPCOMING DEADLINES:

Sunday, February 19: Spring 2017 Meeting: early-bird deadline
Attend the NEA Spring 2017 Meeting "Changing Tides" | March 23-25, 2017 | Cape Cod Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, Massachusetts. See the NEA website for the full schedule, rates, and travel information*.

Sunday, February 19: Spring 2017 Workshops: early-bird deadline
New England Archivists is offering two workshops at the Spring 2017 Meeting in Hyannis, MA, which will give archivists in our region a leg-up on project management and grant funding. Sign up for the SAA workshop, The Fundamentals of Project Management for Archivists or the Funding for Archives Work workshop on applying for a grant from the NHPRC, specifically the Access to Historical Records grant program.

*PLEASE NOTE: There are still rooms available at the The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, but the original NEA block is almost full. When making reservations, it is advisable to call the hotel directly (866-828-9111 or 508-775-7775) and ask for a room for the NEA Spring 2017 Meeting. They will honor our rate for any room reserved during the meeting.

Applications to participate in the New England Archivists Mentoring Program will be accepted through Wednesday, February 15, 2017. This year-long program will begin in March 2017. Applications and more information are available on the NEA website.

WHY PARTICIPATE?
The program is structured in several Mentoring Circles, small groups that consist of four to six mentees and two mentors. Diverging from the traditional one-on-one mentoring model, the NEA Mentoring Program aims to:
-- Encourage the exchange of experiences, challenges, and opportunities to facilitate goal-setting for career and personal development
-- Build competence and character to reach those goals
-- Foster self-confidence, communication skills, and collective growth

Mentors and mentees are matched to a circle depending on their interests, goals, and availability. The application process includes an initial survey to determine everyone’s interests and support the initial matching. All participants should be current NEA members able to commit to a full cycle of the program (seven to nine months).

HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Please visit the NEA Mentoring page on the NEA website to learn more about the program and to apply to join. Applications will be accepted through Wednesday, February 15, 2017, and applicants will receive further information by March 8, 2017. If you have any questions about the program, please contact NEA Membership Committee Co-Chairs Pam Hopkins (psmhopkins@gmail.com) and Heather Mumford (heather_mumford@hms.harvard.edu).

This is the last week to catch the early-bird rate for the New England Archivists Spring 2017 Meeting. And now you can see all of the events, speakers, and sessions going on over the three-day meeting on the NEA website.

SCHEDULE
Take a moment to look through the updated Schedule-at-a-Glance to learn more about:
-- Day of Service projects*
-- Workshops
-- plenary speakers Michael Lesy (Friday) and K.J. Rawson (Saturday)
-- Two full days of thought-provoking sessions.

*Details on how to sign-up for the Day of Service projects will be announced this week.

TRAVEL
The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis is best accessed by car. If you are looking for a ride to the meeting, or if you are willing to share a spot in your car in exchange for fine company (and/or gas money), we've created an online, self-service carpooling sign-up sheet where you can connect with other members looking to share a ride. Just enter your name and contact info, when and from where you're traveling, and whether you're a driver (with a car) or a rider. Then wait to be contacted by other carpoolers, or go ahead and contact others who list pick-up locations and dates in line with your travel plans.

Please note that attendees are entirely responsible for making their own rideshare arrangements, including meeting times, sharing the cost of gas, etc., and following through with their plans.

ATTEND
NEA Spring 2017 Meeting
"Changing Tides" | March 23-25, 2017
Cape Cod Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis
Early-bird registration is open through February 19th.
See the NEA website for schedules, rates, and travel information.

See you in Hyannis!

Volunteers at New England Archivists are in the middle of organizing a lot of events and programs all to benefit our members. We hope you'll be able to take advantage of as many of these opportunities as possible. Next week there are some significant deadlines to note:

Wednesday, February 15: Mentoring Program applications due
Apply to take part in the relaunch of the New England Archivists Mentoring Program. This year-long program will begin in March 2017. Applications and more information are available on the NEA website.

Wednesday, February 15: Professional development award applications due
Apply for one of New England Archivists' three awards to help members in their professional development and activities: Richard W. Hale, Jr. Professional Development Award, Richard L. Haas Records Management Award, Audio/Visual Professional Development Award. Applications for all three awards and supporting documentation should be submitted to the NEA Representatives-at-large (RepAtLarge@newenglandarchivists.org).

Wednesday, February 15: Nomination applications due
Nominate the outstanding work of your colleagues. New England Archivists is seeking nominations for the Archival Advocacy Award and the Distinguished Service Award. See the NEA website for criteria for eligibility and more details. Nominations for both awards can be made using this nomination form.

Sunday, February 19: Spring 2017 Meeting: early-bird deadline
Attend the NEA Spring 2017 Meeting "Changing Tides" | March 23-25, 2017 | Cape Cod Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, Massachusetts. See the NEA website for schedules (updated online schedule coming soon!), rates, and travel information. See you on Cape Cod!

Sunday, February 19: Spring 2017 Workshops: early-bird deadline
New England Archivists is offering two workshops at the Spring 2017 Meeting in Hyannis, MA, which will give archivists in our region a leg-up on project management and grant funding. Sign up for the SAA workshop, The Fundamentals of Project Management for Archivists or the Funding for Archives Work workshop on applying for a grant from the NHPRC, specifically the Access to Historical Records grant program.

The 2017 New England Archivists Archival Advocacy and Distinguished Service Awards Committee seeks nominations for the following: 

ARCHIVAL ADVOCACY AWARD
If you know a colleague outside the field of archives who has dedicated themselves to helping archivists and archives in New England, consider nominating them for an Archival Advocacy Award. See the NEA website for criteria for eligibility and more details. 

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
If you know a colleague who has been a leader in promoting and furthering the objectives of NEA, consider nominating them for a Distinguished Service Award. See the NEA website for criteria for eligibility and more details. 

Nominations for both awards can be made using this nomination form. Nominations must be submitted by next Wednesday, February 15, 2017. If you have questions or comments, please email Colin Lukens, NEA Immediate-Past President: colin_lukens@harvard.edu.

New England Archivists is offering two workshops at the Spring 2017 Meeting in Hyannis, MA, which will give archivists in our region a leg-up on project management and grant funding.

LEAD BY EXAMPLE: The Fundamentals of Project Management for Archivists
The greatest assets in leading teams and managing archival projects are knowing how to navigate the tools, techniques, and relationships. Anyone who has ever worked on a team should consider registering for Fundamentals of Project Management for Archivists.

Part of the SAA Arrangement & Description Certificate Program, this workshop will give you an understanding of the project life cycle, from initiation to completion, including addressing which tools and techniques are best, exploring how to evaluate outcomes and disseminate project information, and demonstrating methods for achieving success.

Bonus: SAA will provide a $25 discount off the non-member rate for NEA members. Log on to the NEA website to view the promotional code on the member portal.

FIND MORE MONEY: Funding for Archives Work
What can you do to find funding for your repository? To create more access to collections? To better serve your researchers? To preserve historical documents? Grants. Anyone who has an idea for a project to better serve their collections should consider registering for Funding for Archives Work.

Kathleen Williams, Director of the National Historical Publication & Records Commission Description, will provide expert tips and tricks on applying for a grant from the NHPRC, specifically the Access to Historical Records grant program. Through review of sample projects and the opportunity to begin your own grant application package, this NEA workshop will provide you with the skills to put together competitive grant proposals for archives and records management projects.

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Please note: Both workshops will be held at The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis on Thursday, March 23rd from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. For more information on these workshops, visit the NEA Spring 2017 Meeting website. Questions? Contact NEA Education Committee Chair Stephanie Call (stephanie.call@ajhsboston.org).

Attend the NEA Spring 2017 Meeting
"Changing Tides"  |  March 23-25, 2017
Cape Cod Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis
Early-bird registration is open through February 19th.
See the NEA website for schedules, rates, and travel information.

See you in Hyannis!

Apply for one of New England Archivists' three awards to help members in their professional development and activities:

Richard W. Hale, Jr. Professional Development Award
The Hale Award is given annually by NEA to promote the professional development of archivists in the region. Individual members of NEA are invited to apply for the award. For more information on the award and submitting an application, go to: newenglandarchivists.org/awards/hale

Richard L. Haas Records Management Award
The Haas Award is given annually by NEA in support of a project that promotes increased cooperation, understanding, and knowledge between the archival and records management professions. Applicants need not be a member of NEA to receive this award. For more information on the award and submitting an application, go to: newenglandarchivists.org/awards/haas

Audio/Visual Professional Development Award
The A/V Award is given annually by NEA to promote the professional development of members in the areas of moving image, recorded sound, and time-based media. Individual members of NEA are invited to apply for the award. For more information on the award and submitting an application, go to: newenglandarchivists.org/av_award

Applications for all three awards and supporting documentation must be submitted to the Representatives-at-large (RepAtLarge@newenglandarchivists.org) by Wednesday, February 15, 2017.

This year's New England Archivists Spring 2017 Meeting will be in Hyannis, MA, from March 23-25, 2017. Since it will still be the off-season on the Cape, NEA will have the run of the Cape Cod Resort and Conference Center for our meeting.... And that means attendees will be able to enjoy many of the amenities the resort has to offer. We want everyone to be able to enjoy this meeting, but it is most easily accessible by car.

So if you are looking for a ride to the meeting, or if you are willing to share a spot in your car in exchange for fine company (and/or gas money), we've created an online, self-service carpooling sign-up sheet where you can connect with other members looking to share a ride. Just enter your name and contact info, when and from where you're traveling, and whether you're a driver (with a car) or a rider. Then wait to be contacted by other carpoolers, or go ahead and contact others who list pick-up locations and dates in line with your travel plans.

Please note that attendees are entirely responsible for making their own rideshare arrangements, including meeting times, sharing the cost of gas, etc., and following through with their plans.

*******
Attend the NEA Spring 2017 Meeting
"Changing Tides" | March 23-25, 2017
Cape Cod Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis
Hyannis, Massachusetts
Early-bird registration is open through February 19th.
See the NEA website for schedules, rates, and travel information.

See you on Cape Cod!​