On Tuesday, May 1, 2007 the Cape May County Clerk’s Office held a “May Day” exercise in the Record Room and Archives.  “A May Day exercise is a day when archivists take personal and professional responsibility for accomplishing something which can be done in a day but will have a significant impact on a repository’s ability to respond to a disaster,” explained County Clerk Rita Marie Fulginiti.   Fulginiti and County Clerk Archivist Diana L. Hevener were responding to a call made by the Society of American Archivists for it’s members to conduct May Day exercises.  Under the direction of County Clerk’s Archivist Diana Hevener the Record Room staff accomplished the following activities during their May Day exercise:

1.      The County Clerk’s written Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Plan was updated.

2.      The records staff toured the Record Room and Archives to locate all of the fire alarms, fire extinguishers, emergency exits.  Emergency procedures were reviewed. 

3.      A check was done to ensure that all loose materials are boxed protecting them from possible smoke and water damage and that no materials are stored directly on the floor placing them at risk to possible water damage.

4.      An inventory was conducted of the salvage recovery materials.

            The County Clerk’s Office maintains a collection of public records relating to property and civil matters dating back to the 1690’s.  “It is our responsibility to protect these archival treasures of Cape May County.”  Fulginiti said.
 

County Clerk Rita Marie Fulginiti (right), Archivist Diana L. Hevener (second from right) and staff conduct a May Day Exercise in the County Clerk’s Record Room and Archives.  Pictured (from left to right) are Leigh Tucker, Deborah Greene, Marist T. Paris, Dawn Conway, Diana L. Hevener and Rita Marie Fulginiti.