ALERC Forum

Dear All

I am delighted to report that as of yesterday, 1st October 2009, ALERC is open for membership and open for business!

Within the next few days the ALERC Directors will be sending out membership pack to every LRC in the UK. If you don't receive an email, please get in touch with me directly on adam.rowe@sewbrec.org.uk

As a sneaky preview, here is the text of the introductory letter:

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Dear Colleague

LAUNCH OF ALERC

This is a landmark day in the development of Local Records Centres (LRCs) in the UK. After many years of gestation, we are finally able to formally launch the Association of Local Environmental Records Centres (ALERC).

I hope that you may already be aware of ALERC and its planned activities, but for more information, please see the introductory parts to the enclosed application form and our website at www.alerc.org.uk.

For me, as ALERC’s first Chairman, the most important function of the Association will be to provide a voice to represent the LRC sector and to defend our interests, as we develop alongside other local, regional and national players in the environmental information field. Another important role for ALERC will be the development and implementation of a simple and workable system of LRC accreditation, which will strengthen the profile and reputation of the whole LRC network. I am pleased to report that one of ALERC’s first activities will be as a major player in a partnership project which is being established to develop such an accreditation scheme.

We hope to achieve widespread support from the LRC community through membership of ALERC. With this support and resourcing in place, ALERC will be in a position to tackle a range of issues affecting LRCs. A knock-on benefit will be that LRC Managers and key staff will be able to concentrate on their local roles, safe in the knowledge that the interests of their LRC are being professionally represented at all appropriate levels.

I would like to take this opportunity to urge you or your LRC to take the opportunity of becoming a member of ALERC. I strongly believe that all LRCs will benefit from having ALERC in place and acting as positive force on behalf of the wider LRC community.

Please get in touch if you have any questions about ALERC and its planned activities, or if you would like to get involved in the running of ALERC.

Kind regards

Adam Rowe

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I hope you are as excited as I am about this (if that's possible) and we look forward to your membership application forms piling up in Nicky Court's in-tray!

Adam