Why have a C.A Group archive?
A C.A Group archive helps to preserves the history of C.A. in Southern Ontario as well as illustrates the growth of C.A. in Southern Ontario, thus protecting C.A.’s legacy for the posterity C.A.
Know your C.A. Group’s History
Every C.A. Group ought to know their inception date, who were the original members and how their present C.A. Group came to be where it is today. The C.A. Group’s Business Meeting minutes will provide a written record of such matters. Furthermore, knowing your Group’s history, such as past motions, changes to the Group conscience, past Group events, treasury and secretary reports can greatly assist the Group in handling current issues. A Group’s business meeting minutes will provide a written record of past discussions and show reasons why specific Group motions were made and how the Group handled them. This can be helpful to resolving similar issues affecting the Group in the present.
Should a C.A Group have an archivist?
Having a C.A. Group archivist gives the C.A. Group yet another opportunity to involve members in Group Service. Moreover, it gives the C.A. member an opportunity to fulfill a vital part in the continuity of C.A.’s ongoing history in Southern Ontario. Be sure to store Group’s archive collection in safe and secure location free from water, light, fire, and insects.
What should a C.A Group collect, preserve and archive?
- Business Meeting Minutes
- GSR Reports
- Treasurer Reports
- Secretary Announcements
- Membership Lists
- Group Event Flyers, Tickets, and other ephemera
How should the C.A. Group protect and preserve its archive?
Paper documents can be stored in Mylar (acid-free plastic sleeves) and kept in a binder. Binders can be stored in an acid-free or acid-neutral “Banker Box” clearly marked with the C.A. Group’s Name and contact information.
For digital files, best practices suggest having four (4) redundant systems for backing up the digital files.
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- The computer on which the Archive is saved.
- The cloud backup in which the Archive information is saved.
- The external hard drive on which the Archive information is saved.
- An “M-DISC” similar to a CD that has more storage and will last 1000 years.
Lastly, as your group discovers its history, please assist the Southern Ontario Cocaine Anonymous Archive Committee by submitting your C.A.’s Group history online:
https://socaarchives.org/the-soca-archives-project/soca-group-history-form/