This was an internal memo I sent to the OBEC office this week, detailing my progress:
Dear Reader,
OBEC's scanning and archival program is progressing well. In the two weeks since I began working on the project at the Eugene home office, Kaiser(my brother) and I have emptied six (6) filing cabinets' worth of hanging file folders and manila folders. While Kaiser continues to work on scanning the WRB (Willamette River Bridge) project when he has spare time after school, I have been working full-time on emptying the filing cabinets in the upstairs suite. In addition, I recently took a trip to the Eugene storage unit and brought back fourteen (14) boxes of files from the Ferry Street Bridge project.
Although it is difficult to know for sure, I am confident that all of the scanning will be completed by mid-January of 2019, if not earlier. I have listed below a few of the factors that affect the project completion rate:
-Number of projects. It is easier to archive when all of the documents belong to the same project number (i.e., 19-250).
-Number of folders. It is easier to archive when all of the documents belong to the same category (i.e., Final Plans).
-Size of documents. It is easier to archive when all of the documents are standard sheets of paper (i.e., 8.5 x 11 instead of 11x17 or larger).
-Method of storage. It is easier to archive when all of the documents have been stored loose-leaf and straight (i.e, no paperclips, staples, or significant bending/warping/folding).
-Orientation of documents. It is easier to archive when all of the documents have been printed vertically on one side (i.e., not landscape and/or duplex/double-sided).
-Stamina of archivist. It is easier to archive when all of my muscles sustain high levels of energy for an extended period of time (i.e., resist soreness and fatigue).
I want you to be aware that there is a great deal of subjective decision-making involved in scanning, naming, sorting, fixing, and filing the document files in ProjectWise. Despite the extreme care that I exercise when making these judgements, errors may still occur. If you ever notice a discrepancy in ProjectWise (i.e., a misplaced/misnamed/missing file), please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly at kentslocum@obec.com. I am dedicated to the highest levels of professionalism and excellence in my role as archivist, and I feel a great deal of responsibility to the entire staff at OBEC.
I wish to thank everyone who has had a hand in pushing this Herculean effort forward, and I look eagerly forward to its completion.
Thank you,
Kent Slocum
-Archivist & Fellow Human