Agenda - 10-20-2009 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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7 represented on the current Work Group indicated mission-specific materials would not be moved from their current locations. The most important function fora center is to collect, archive, and preserve sensitive pieces of the history of the County. As a response to this specialized function, Work Group members believe archive planning and management expertise, not available from Work Group members because of their work responsibilities and/or personal skills, is needed. Methodology The Work Group began by examining past work on the topic by County committees and task forces. The Work Group has used face-to-face meetings and communication via email to examine the issues with which it is charged. Internet searches allowed Work Group members to get information on similar enterprises in other communities. The Work Group has met five (5) times since Monday, July 13. The first meeting focused on establishing the current state of heritage-center-type services in the County. The second meeting, held on July 24, resulted in developing a list of elements to be included in a draft vision statement for a Heritage Center. Between the second and third meetings the draft vision statement was distributed by email and an alternative vision statement was proposed. At the beginning of the August 19 meeting the vision statement was discussed and an alternative was emailed to the group between August 19 and September 3: For the August 19 meeting, the business partners were asked to facilitate a discussion of scope that would lead to further discussions about organization and administration for a Heritage Center. Email communications, including a scope document listing materials and items to be moved into a Heritage Center by each represented organization (see attachment B), and discussions between the third and fourth meetings led to a conversation at the September 3 meeting about support for the Heritage Center, especially in terms of moving materials from existing agencies into another facility, and housing the Heritage Center with an existing agency instead of adding another agency to the community. A meeting on September 17 was used to begin formulating recommendations for an October report to the BOCC. Background The history, heritage and culture contained within Orange County's boundaries are a microcosm of our nation's history. The original 13 colonies expanded and our country ultimately became a collective of 50 individual states. Orange County and its people also prospered, spread out and grew from a single large county on the western frontier founded in the middle of 18th century North Carolina. We have split into a group of counties now numbering twelve that contain our state capital, several world-class universities and medical centers, metropolitan centers and small towns, educators, farmers and people of all colors, all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds. We go all the way from the first state-run university in the middle of the 18`h century to one of the original racetracks in the history of NASCAR in the middle of the 20th century. It can be argued that the first acts of rebellion in our nation's fight for independence occurred when shots were fired in Orange County by our own people at Alamance Battleground. It can also be argued that this nation's terrible Civil War effectively ended in Orange County at Bennett Place when the largest contingent of surrendering Confederate troops laid down their arms and we began our return to one nation again. Orange County's history and heritage should be collected, preserved, maintained and fostered, while we still can. We must assemble the pieces of this history and present it to our current and future generations even as we continue to add to it. We need to show the pride due to a county that has produced so much history by its acts and its people. It is the very least we can do. 4