2015-01-14, Evan Davies, Institute for Historical Survey

President Bill Harty rang the bell to begin our meeting at 12:10 pm and Ana Mangino opened the meeting with the invocation.  President Harty led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and Michele Murphy let the club in singing, followed by a lively meet and greet!  Janet Green was our mystery greeter. Since she was absent during much of the meet and greet, most of us added our fines to the can. 

We had many guests this week including Visiting Rotarian Mike Basehart from Colville, Washington, student guests Katheryn Dickson (Las Cruces High), Samantha Perez (Mayfield High), and Emily Ramsey (Centennial High).  Keith Houser introduced his guest (and wife), Laurie AND Matt Mossburg introduced his guest (and wife) Gina.   President Harty also introduced Bill Brogan, club guest.  The following announcements were made: 1) The Rio Grande Academy schedule was set for January 31, February 28 and April 11 in Alamogordo and January 24, March 7, and March 28 in El Paso; 2) The Four-Way Test Essay Contest will be held February 10 at Branigan Library; and 3) the new Picacho Middle School Interact starts next week with the next 1^st Monday assistance at that school on Monday, February 2.

President Harty presented Matt Mossburg and Julie Maager with their blue badges signifying that they had completed their introduction to Rotary requirements.

Happy bucks were gathered from Mary Ellen McKay, Jim Parks, Mel Parish, Caroline Zamora, and James Gerwels.  We received updates on the health status of Elaine Szalay and Alex Keatts.  Elaine is back at the rehab hospital (same room) and Alex is currently at the Village at Northrise. 

The Program

Howard Ness introduced our speaker Evan Davies.  Howard made sure that we knew this was a departure from our last and next presentation topics on EBID and Legal Matters in the Lower Rio Grande.  Mr. Davies is the President of the Institute of Historical Survey Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit.  Mr. Davies’ presentation was entitled “Archival Records, Digital Security Warning.”   The mission of the IHSF is to acquire, conserve and share historical artifacts for education research and production.  IHSF also serves as the archive for the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande and participates in the Veterans History Project.  IHSF has interviewed more than 250 veterans since the program’s inception.

This archive  is a state-of –the-art, climate-controlled facility located in Mesilla Park, New Mexico  The diversity of this archive includes personal papers, diaries, business and financial records, photographic film images, negatives, slides, and movies, as well as recording media, artifacts and other historical artifacts.  These archives are organized by origin of the artifact. 

Mr. Davies explained the difference between analog and digital media along with archival micro-filming and its long-life advantages.

IHSF employs many volunteers and students.  Students receive practical work experience in degrees relevant to the archives such as history and museum conservation.  To date, fourteen students have received advanced degrees concurrent with their work at IHSF.

After the Program

Mary Ellen McKay won the 50/50 drawing and the can collections through Happy Dollars and fines generated $42 for the El Caldito Soup Kitchen.  The meeting closed with a reminder of next week’s speaker – Steve Hernandez, EBID and President Harty led us in the Four-Way Test.  

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Guests of Rotarians

Visiting Rotarians

Student Guests

Make-ups

Submitted by Kristi Granados