Category Archives: Membership

Join us for Coffee Chat on January 13, 2026

Photograph of a coffee cup with the text join us for SOA Virtual Coffee Chat, January 13, 2026, 10-11am.Grab a hot beverage and join us for the third Society of Ohio Archivists (SOA) Coffee Chat on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, from 10-11am on Zoom! These casual gatherings are an opportunity for SOA members to network, share challenges and successes in their work, and bounce ideas off colleagues outside of the Annual Conference.

This, our third Coffee Chat will be chance to check in with members. Possible discussion topics include teaching with primary resources and navigating archives and institutional structure, especially for solo archivists. This is your chance to shape a benefit of SOA membership! We hope to see you there. Please register to join the conversation. If you are unable to attend but would like to help shape what these meetings look like, please complete the survey.

Questions?  Contact Darrell Blevins Jr. and Jim DaMico, SOA Council Members.

Renew Your SOA Membership for 2026

Dear SOA Member:

The Membership & Awards Committee invites you to renew your SOA membership or join as a new member in 2026. Membership may be renewed online through the secure site provided by the Ohio History Connection’s Ohio History Store or by mailing the PDF invoice with check or money order. SOA continues its hardship membership program for those experiencing uncertainty. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with questions or interest in the program.

Thank you for supporting the Society of Ohio Archivists during the past year. Your dedication enables SOA to provide community, networking opportunities, professional development, funding, and advocacy efforts for archivists and aspiring archivists.

Highlights from 2025 include:

  • Coordinating SOA’s hybrid Spring Annual Meeting in May
  • Collaborating with the Ohio Local History Alliance, Ohio Preservation Council, Ohio History
    Connection, Ohio History Day, and others to provide professional development, scholarships, and awards
  • Publishing the Ohio Archivist newsletter and coordinating Archives Months events and activities
  • Creating community and fostering communication about cultural heritage activities, internships, funding opportunities, and advocacy efforts through the SOA blog, listserv, and social media

In 2026, members of SOA can look forward to:

  • The Society of Ohio Archivists & Midwest Archives Conference Joint Annual Meeting in May. SOA members will get a discount code for member-rate registration!
  • The SOA Mentorship Task Force exploring the creation of a mentorship program for SOA
    members

Thank you again for your support, and we are glad to help with any questions.
Stephanie Shreffler and Julia Teran
Cochairs, SOA Membership & Awards Committee

Nominating Committee Seeks Two Members

The Society of Ohio Archivists Nominating Committee is seeking two new members to join the committee.

Responsibilities: Committee members work collaboratively to identify and recruit qualified candidates for SOA leadership positions. Nominations are generally sought in December and January, with elections during the Annual Meeting in the spring, and terms beginning at the end of that Annual Meeting. Committee members are expected to serve for at least one election cycle, and work is conducted through email and virtual meetings.

Who Should Apply: Any SOA member who is not currently serving in an elected position is welcome to apply. This is a great professional service opportunity where you can help support SOA’s continued growth and work.

Applications are due on Friday, October 31, 2025.

Please contact the Nominating Committee Chair, Matt Francis, at [email protected] to volunteer or with any questions.

SOA Constitutional Amendment – Revision Proposal

Revision Proposal

Edit (April 25, 2025): Thanks to member feedback, proposed language changes linked below to the SOA Constitution will be modified and presented at the annual meeting before voting takes place.

After reviewing our governing documents, SOA Council recently approved an amendment to the SOA Constitution to align the Constitution with current SOA Council meeting practices and Ohio’s Revised Code. The proposed language change, rationale, and information from the Ohio Revised Code can be found here. The amendment will be voted on by members during the business meeting at the SOA Conference (Friday, May 16th, 2025), with a majority vote in the affirmative being required for approval. If desired there will be time for discussion of the proposed amendment during the business meeting. I also welcome all thoughts and questions by email prior to the meeting.

Thank you everyone, and I look forward to seeing many of you at our annual meeting in just a few weeks.

Matt Francis
SOA President

Join us for Coffee Chat on April 8, 2025

Grab a hot beverage and join us for the next Society of Ohio Archivists (SOA) Coffee Chat on Tuesday, April 8th 2025, from 10-11am on Zoom! These casual gatherings are an opportunity for SOA members to network, share challenges and successes in their work, and bounce ideas off colleagues outside of the Annual Conference.Graphic of coffee cup with the words SOA virtual coffee chat April 8 10-11am around the cup.

This quarter we will be sharing how we’re handling the challenges of recent federal legislation and the tumultuous political climate, from how this has directly affected your work to how you’re supporting your staff. Please register here to join the conversation! We will send a Zoom link to all registrants the day before the meeting. We hope to see you there!

Questions?  Contact Kristen Newby and Jim DaMico, SOA Council Members.

Renew Your SOA Membership for 2025

Dear SOA Member:

The Membership & Awards Committee invites you to renew your SOA membership or join as a new member in 2025. Membership may be renewed online through the secure site provided by the Ohio History Connection’s Ohio History Store or by mailing the PDF invoice with check or money order. SOA continues its hardship membership program for those experiencing uncertainty. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with questions or interest in the program. Continue reading →

SOA Membership Renewal 2024

Renew Your Society of Ohio Archivists Membership!

Dear SOA members,

Thank you for supporting the Society of Ohio Archivists during the past year. Your dedication enables SOA to provide community, networking opportunities, professional development, funding, and advocacy efforts for archivists and aspiring archivists. Highlights from the past year include: Continue reading →

Renew Your SOA Membership for 2023

Dear SOA members:  Thank you for supporting the Society of Ohio Archivists during the past year. Your dedication enables SOA to provide community and opportunities for archivists and aspiring archivists.

Highlights from the past year include:

The Membership & Awards Committee invites you to renew your SOA membership or join as a new member through the secure site online provided by the Ohio History Connection’s Ohio History Store, or by mailing in the invoice.

Continue reading →

SOA Membership Fee Change Passes for 2023

In November, Society of Ohio Archivists members voted overwhelmingly to raise membership dues effective January 1, 2023. A vote by membership to waive the bylaws for this action was required in order for the change to be put in effect for the 2023 membership year.

SOA had not raised dues since 1996 while we worked to keep costs to members as low as possible. Even during the height of the pandemic we committed to offering free and low-cost programs for members and non-members alike, but rising inflation and costs have taken their toll on our finances.

The new dues structure will be:

  • Individual: $30
  • Student and bridge: $15
  • Patron: $50
  • Sponsor: $100

We are also committed to continuing our hardship program for those in need in these times of cuts to professional development funding and other struggles. Anyone who wants to renew their membership or join SOA but is struggling with the cost can contact the Membership & Awards Committee cochairs to access this program.

Thank you again for your continued support of SOA!
SOA Council

Ohio Summer Archiving Fellowships from Dance/USA’s Department of Archiving & Preservation

Announcing 2 (of 6 available nationally) of the 2022 Dance/USA Summer Archiving Fellowships will be located in Ohio!

Institution: Dance/USA, Department of Archiving & Preservation
Position: Summer Archiving Fellowships
Locations: Dancing Wheels Company (Cleveland) & Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (Dayton)
Contact: Hallie Chametzky, [email protected]. All details are at https://www.danceusa.org/fellowships
Availability: June-August 2022, approximately 450 hours total.
Application deadline: 11:59pm EST, February 28, 2022 Continue reading →