NYNASSAU-L Archives

From: "Unclefred" <>
Subject: [NYNAS ] Fw: [Q-R] Fw: Massachusetts Vital Records Closed with H5158 bill passage!
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 13:07:10 -0500

For your information....

Also wishing you a very Happy New Year, ListUncle

----- Original Message -----
From: "Unclefred" <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2002 1:04 PM
Subject: [Q-R] Fw: Massachusetts Vital Records Closed with H5158 bill
passage!


>
>
> Often we are in a position to study History,
> from time to time, we are in a position to observe History,
> more rarely, we are in a position to participate in the making of
> History..
>
> Study it out in your mind, then act as your conscience dictates...
>
> ListUncle
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gordon A. Watts" <>
> To: "Canada Census Campaign" <>
> Cc: "Sharon Sergeant" <>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2002 12:38 PM
> Subject: Massachusetts Vital Records Closed with H5158 bill passage!
>
>
> > Greetings All.
> >
> > It appears that legislators in Massachusetts are once again
attacking
> > the free access to records vital to all who seek information on
their
> > ancestors. I pass the following message on for the benefit of our
> many
> > listers residing in the US and urge you to read this message
carefully
> > and act accordingly. Massachusetts is not the only State eyeing the
> > closure of vital records and genealogists must be vigilant in
advising
> > misguided legislators that they do not wish this to happen.
> >
> > Sharon Sergeant and people she represents have been strong
supporters
> of
> > our efforts to regain public access to our Post-1901 Census records
in
> > Canada. I urge all to show her the support that she has shown us.
> > Forward her message to all you know that may be in a position to
voice
> > their opposition to this action.
> >
> > Happy New Year to all, and Happy Hunting.
> >
> > Gordon A. Watts
> > Co-Chair, Canada Census Committee
> > Port Coquitlam, BC
> >
> > http://globalgenealogy.com/Census
> > en français http://globalgenealogy.com/Census/Index_f.htm
> > =======================================
> >
> > Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 19:54:11 -0800 (PST)
> > From: Sharon Sergeant <>
> > Reply-To:
> > Subject: Massachusetts Vital Records Closed with H5158 bill passage!
> >
> > -----------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE BILL H5158 - OPEN RECORDS CLOSED!
> >
> > The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) initiative to
> > RESTRICT the current and historically OPEN vital records of the
> > Commonwealth with House Bill H5158 HAS PASSED THE MA HOUSE TODAY
> > December 30, 2002!
> >
> > All that remains is the Massachusetts Senate and Exiting Governor's
> > rubber stamp & Did YOU have the opportunity to review the text and
> give
> > your testimony in HEARINGS? NO!
> >
> > Do you even have ACCESS to the H5158 text? NO!
> >
> > Behind closed doors and in the hallways of the legislature, taking
> > advantage of the informal sessions, Lame Duck status and holidays, a
> > handful of people have take away YOUR RIGHTS to YOUR HERITAGE!
> >
> > CONTACT YOUR MASSACHUSETTS SENATOR NOW! Tell them who the SILENT
> > MAJORITY VOTERS are in their district who RELY ON OPEN MASSACHUSETTS
> > VITAL RECORDS
> >
> > http://www.state.ma.us/legis/memmenus.htm
> >
> > CONTACT YOUR SENATORS! See
> >
> > http://www.state.ma.us/legis/sendis01.htm for 2001-2002
> >
> > Just in case this ELEVENTH HOUR tactic actually passes to CLOSE
> > MASSACHUSETTS VITAL RECORDS alert the 2003 legislators about YOUR
> > CONCERNS on this matter!
> >
> > http://www.state.ma.us/legis/repdis03.htm
> > and
> > http://www.state.ma.us/legis/sendis03.htm
> >
> > IF YOUR LEGISLATORS DO NOT RESPOND OR ARE NOT AVAILABLE, CONTACT THE
> > LEGISLATORS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE INFORMAL SESSIONS!
> >
> > O'Brien, Thomas J. Rep.ThomasO'
> > http://www.state.ma.us/legis/member/tjo1.htm
> >
> > Susan C. Fargo
> > http://www.state.ma.us/legis/member/scf0.htm
> >
> > SUMMARY:
> >
> > The Massachusetts Genealogical Council (MGC) initiative to STOP
H5158
> > from passage at the tail end of the July 2002 formal sessions was
> > successful - thanks to the response of all CONCERNED citizens in the
> > genealogical community. Although the response of many legislators
> > indicated that they had clearly not READ or did not UNDERSTAND the
> > IMPLICATIONS of H5158, they did understand that large numbers of
> > CONSTITUENTS are AGAINST RESTRICTIONS to the PUBLIC GOOD in the form
> of
> > POORLY DRAFTED legislation that has had NO PUBLIC HEARINGS!
> >
> > However, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has
> > CONTINUED their efforts!
> >
> > Specifically: December 2002 H5158 language changes have been chosen
> for
> > the purposes of OTHER BILLS that are not filed yet - Modernization
and
> > Fraud Control bills that ALSO have had NO PUBLIC HEARINGS! The MGC
> > continues to be EXCLUDED from the permanent special vital records
and
> > statistics committee to oversee the overall improvement including
> > preservation and automation of the vital records and statistics
system
> > in the commonwealth!
> >
> > Even though the MDPH has repeatedly said the MGC omission was "an
> > oversight", this ERROR PERSISTS in the revisions!
> >
> > NO VERSION of H5158 has been made available to the public via the
> > legislative web site since it's FIRST ELEVENTH HOUR introduction in
> the
> > July formal sessions
> >
> > http://www.state.ma.us/scripts/legis/ltsh.idq?HouseNumber=5158
> >
> > The most recently reported MDPH H5158 wording changes appear as
> attempts
> > to clarify the previous problems, but introduce the UNKNOWN impact
of
> > the unfiled legislation PROPOSAL DEPENDENCIES!
> >
> > CONTACT YOUR SENATORS! See
> >
> > http://www.state.ma.us/legis/sendis01.htm for 2001-2002
> >
> > NO CONTROVERSIAL BILL can be passed in informal sessions IF THE
> > CONTROVERSY IS KNOWN! MAKE SURE YOUR SENATOR KNOWS THAT YOU DO NOT
> > APPRECIATE BEING EXCLUDED FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS!
> >
> > YOUR RIGHTS TO RECORDS TO RECORDS ACCESS DESERVE A PUBLIC HEARING!
> >
> > H5158 SHOULD NOT BE PASSED on DECEMBER 31, 2002!
> >
> > Sharon Sergeant
> > Program Director, Massachusetts Genealogical Council
> >
> > http://massgencouncil.home.attbi.com/index.htm
> >
> > =====
> > Sharon Sergeant
> > Ancestors and Ephemera http://GenealogyFair.com
> > Bring Your Ancestors Home!
> >
> >
>
>
> ==== QUEBEC-RESEARCH Mailing List ====
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> Visit our Quebec list web page. la page Web Quebec:
> Http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~unclefred/main.htm
> and Read submission requests from 'Best Bill"
> et lis les demandes pour poster de "Best Bill"
> For the 1901 census campain
visit:http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~downhome/committee.html
>
> ==============================
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>

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• [NYNAS ] Fw: [Q-R] Fw: Massachusetts Vital Records Closed with H5158 bill passage! by "Unclefred" <>