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No disrespect, Len, but this is a fairly inflammatory and unintelligent point. Were it the case that corporation taxes solely paid for archive services, I for one would see that as very damaging to the vital role which records and information play in any democracy. This is particularly so given the nature of multinational companies in countries where no form of stable democracy exists. Frankly, if I wanted to hear right-wing nonsense, I would have attended the Labour Party conference this week. I'd prefer not to have it flashing up on my screen at work. Alan -----Original Message----- From: Leonard Mcdonald [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 29 September 2000 00:21 To: mailbase Subject: Re: '...profit hungry monsters.' The public sector ought to be glad there are profit hungry mosters still surviving in Great Britain. The taxes they pay, pay the salaries of the those archivists who think they survive because they've conned a couple of councillors into believing that Record Offices are a civilised 'thing'. Given a choice between a new school or a new record office the great rate-paying public will always vote for the school. There are no votes in archives. Len McDonald 46 Weaver Ave Rainhill PRESCOT, Merseyside Phone: 0151-426 5273 Mobile: 07775 914796 e-mail: [log in to unmask] ----- Original Message ----- From: <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]> Cc: <[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, September 25, 2000 4:53 PM Subject: RE: '...profit hungry monsters.' > As a founding member of the BRG (Business Records Group), and as a committee > member of the SRG personally responsible for stuffing and mailing some 100 > copies of the Newsletter, I have to say that this potential cause for > offence passed me by. I think that Sarah Flynn and Carol Morgan are correct > in saying that the comments in the editorial were intended to be light > hearted. As an SRG Committee member I am well aware that it is extremely > difficult to recruit enthusiastic and motivated people to serve in "taken > for granted" positions such as a newsletter editor (and envelope stuffer) - > I think that this has been a recent topic for debate on this list serv. And > as a BRG (Business Records Group) Committee member, I have to acknowledge > that it was partly the perceived bias in the profession to the public sector > that led to the new Group's formation in the first place. In which case as a > business archivist I can hardly complain if someone puts forward a > mischievous counter blast, which is surely to the good for a healthy & > lively debate, and the point of an editorial anyway. > > I don't think that anyone has intended to cause offence, either as a BRG > member or an SRG newsletter editor, and I hope that we can all be big enough > to take a jibe in good spirit. And anyone who says that organisations such > as mine are not profit hungry monsters (with all the challenges that ensue > for their archivists) are clearly living in a different dimension to mine. > > Having pacified no-one and antagonised many, I will now retreat. > > > David > > David Hay > Head of Group Archives > British Telecommunications plc > Phone : +44 20 7492 8799 Fax : +44 20 7242 1973 > Mob: +44 7850 444920 > e-mail: [log in to unmask] > BT Group Archives, 3rd Floor, Holborn Telephone Exchange, > 268-278 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EE > http://www.bt.com/archives/ > > > **************************************************************************** > ***************** > This electronic message contains information from British Telecommunications > plc, which may be privileged and confidential. The views of the author may > not necessarily reflect those of the Company. The information is intended to > be for the use of the individual(s) or entity named above. If you are not > the intended recipient, please notify us by telephone or e-mail, then > immediately delete the email and destroy any copies of it. > **************************************************************************** > ***************** > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Elaine Brison [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Monday, September 25, 2000 1:09 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Cc: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask] > Subject: '...profit hungry monsters.' > Sensitivity: Confidential > > > An open letter to Mark Pomeroy, editor of the SRG newsletter, > from Elaine Brison. > > I do not know whether it is lack of nerve or incompetance > that causes the editor of the SRG newsletter to fail to put > his name to offensive remarks in the editorial, but I for one > am not afraid to say openly what I think and believe. > Business history is as valid a part of our heritage as any > other and there are very few repositories that do not hold > 'business records' of one form or another whether they be > those of a commercial organisation, a local parish or a > charitable body. > The slur on business archivists that cannot help but be > inferred from the above comment is undeserved and plain > offensive - is it any wonder that people such as Elizabeth > Oxbarrow-Cowan are constantly despairing at the lack of > enthusiasm for people to take an active part in the society > when all that is on offer is this kind of narrow and petty > minded view point. > Needless to say the SRG can take my resignation as regional > rep to be effective immediately and I will not be renewing my > membership of SRG on return of my membership form this month. > %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%