Category Archives: SOA Leadership

Register for “Crucial Conversations: Recognizing and Overcoming Racial Injustice & Bias,” January 14, 2022

Crucial Conversations: Recognizing and Overcoming Racial Injustice & BiasBegin Martin Luther King Day weekend with an unforgettable discussion about systemic racism awareness and initiatives to dismantle it.

Recording now available on YouTube.

On Friday, January 14, 2022, at 12:00 noon-1:30pm (eastern), the Society of Ohio Archivists Task Force on Social Justice and Black Lives Matter will host on Zoom the free online discussion, “Crucial Conversations: Recognizing and Overcoming Racial Injustice & Bias,” featuring Eric Deggans, Dave Snyder, and moderated by Jerolyn Barbee.

Register now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/crucial-conversations-recognizing-and-overcoming-racial-injustice-bias-tickets-216979169537

Eric Deggans

Eric Deggans, panelist at Crucial Conversations

Speaker Eric Deggans is NPR’s first full-time TV critic, appearing on all the network’s shows, including Morning Edition, Here & Now and All Things Considered, writing for NPR.org and appearing on podcasts such as Life Kit, Code Switch and Pop Culture Happy Hour. He is also author of a book dissecting how media outlets use prejudice and stereotypes to build ratings and power; Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation, published in October 2012 by Palgrave Macmillan. Continue reading →

New Resource List from SOA Task Force on Social Justice and Black Lives Matter

The Society of Ohio Archivists Task Force on Social Justice and Black Lives Matter announces a new list of resources.

The Task Force on Social Justice and Black Lives Matter is responsible for identifying, promoting, developing, and educating on antiracist and social justice resources, efforts, and actions for the Society of Ohio Archivists Council, committees, and membership.

The Task Force members contribute online resources about social justice problems in communities, police departments, funding for social justice matters, accountability in the legal system, and resources about diversity and inclusion of underepresented groups. The resources are reviewed and updated by the Task Force every 3-4 months.

For more information about the Task Force on Social Justice and Black Lives Matter, visit its page here.

SOA Strategic Planning Committee: Call for Nominations

The Society of Ohio Archivists Strategic Planning Committee is seeking two At-Large members, each for a different term. SOA’s current Strategic Plan ends in 2021, so this is your chance to help craft our vision and goals of the future!

The Strategic Planning Committee works with Council and is responsible for monitoring SOA’s mission, long-term vision, and development. The committee will track SOA’s progress towards reaching the goals and objectives laid out in SOA’s most recent Strategic Plan and aid in the development of future goal. To join the committee, you must be an SOA member of good standing.

If interested, please contact committee Chair Adam Wanter) or any SOA Council member.

SOA Council Meeting Minutes for Sept 20, 2021 Available

The Society of Ohio Archivists most recent leadership meeting minutes, from September 20, 2021, can now be found on the Council Meeting Minutes page. The document includes many between-meeting actions from the spring.

Interested in SOA over time? Also on that page are minutes dating back to 1997. In addition to documenting actions from the leadership meeting, minutes include reports from the treasurer as well as from committees and task forces.

SOA Council Meeting Minutes for June 28, 2021 Available

The Society of Ohio Archivists most recent leadership meeting minutes, from June 28, 2021, can be found on the Council Meeting Minutes page. The document includes many between-meeting actions from the spring.

Interested in SOA over time? Also on that page are minutes dating back to 1997. In addition to documenting actions from the leadership meeting, minutes include reports from the treasurer as well as from committees and task forces.

SOA Election Results 2021

Amy Rohmiller

Amy Rohmiller, Vice President/President-Elect

For the second year in a row, the Society of Ohio Archivists held its normally scheduled election online May 14-28. The online election was again necessitated by current conditions and the lack of an in-person Annual Meeting (held June 7-8 virtually this year and free to membership).

 

Jen Johnson, Secretary

The results of the election are now in and officially recognized. SOA would like to welcome the following new leaders:

  • Amy Rohmiller, University of Dayton, Vice President/President-Elect (2021-2022)
  • Jen Johnson, State Library of Ohio, Secretary (2021-2023)
  • Sasha Griffin, Denison University, Council (2021-2023)

Sasha Griffin, Council

A big thank you to Jenifer Baker and Marsha Miles for running, and the Nominating Committee. Also, thank you to everyone who participated!

For more on the new officers and Council member, see the Candidate Statements in this 4-page extract from the Ohio Archivist, spring 2021.

Officer Transitions

  • Sherri Goudy, Nerd Girl History Adventure, transitions from Vice President/President-Elect to President.
  • Adam Wanter, MidPointe Library, transitions from President to Past-President.
  • Robin Heise, Greene County Records Center and Archives, transitions out of SOA Leadership. Council cannot heap enough praise on Robin for all that she has done and for her great leadership.

Committee Leadership Appointments and Departures

Another big thank you also goes out to outgoing, incoming, and reappointed committee leadership:

  • Educational Planning Committee: Bill Modrow, Miami University, whose term as EPC cochair comes to an end with the 2021 Annual Conference. Welcome to incoming Cochair Anne Ryckbost, Xavier University, who is joining current Cochair Rachael Bussert, Dayton Metro Library.
  • Marketing and Communications Committee: Janet Carleton, Ohio University, has been reappointed for a second term as MCC cochair, joining current Cochair Amanda Rindler, Ohio History Connection.
  • Membership and Awards Committee: Stephanie Shreffler, University of Dayton, has been reappointed for a second term as MAC cochair, joining current Cochair Matt Francis, Ohio Northern University.
  • Nominating Committee: Robin Heise, Greene County Records Center and Archives, whose term comes to an end as the chair position resides with the Past President. Adam Wanter, MidPointe Library System assumes the role of chair.
  • Ohio Archivist: Kayla Harris, University of Dayton, whose term as Editor-in-Chief comes to an end. Welcome to incoming Editor Abigail Sachs.

For more information see the Officer and Council Member roster, Committees & Task Forces page, and the Nominating Committee page.

Ballot Available for 2021 SOA Election

It’s time to vote for Society of Ohio Archivists Leadership!

All current members of SOA should have received an email with a link to the ballot for officers and Council members today, May 14. The ballot will be available May 14-28. If you did not receive one, and you have checked your junk folder, please contact Matt Francis, cochair of the Membership & Awards Committee, to check on your membership status.

Please see the Candidate Statements in this 4-page extract from the Ohio Archivist, spring 2021.

2021 Slate of Candidates

  • Vice President/President-elect: Amy Rohmiller
  • Secretary: Jen Johnson
  • Council (1 open seat): Jenifer Baker, Sasha Griffin, Marsha Miles

Thank you to the Nominating Committee for their work.

SOA condemns violence against Asian American and Pacific Island people

April 8, 2021— We stand with AAPI communities as they face rising discrimination, violence, and hate crimes. Just last week, another racist attack was recorded for the world to see, as 65-year-old Vilma Kari was knocked to the ground and beaten, while bystanders did nothing. This happened two weeks after the horrific attack and murder of Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Yong Ae Yue, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre Michels, Xiaojie Tan, and Daoyou Feng in Georgia, fueled by anti-Asian racism and misogyny. We are angry and we will not be silent bystanders.

The AAPI community is enduring increased acts of hatred and violence largely because of the racist rhetoric that has been so prevalent since the beginning of the pandemic. However, we know that racism towards Asian Americans and Pacific Island people is not new. As archivists, we understand and have a responsibility to not only shed light on these truths, but to also foster safe spaces for discussions about these painful and traumatic histories. We also commit to celebrating AAPI stories of joy, not just those of pain and violence. AAPI people are Americans, they belong, and their stories are part of the fabric that tells our shared past.

We endorse the statement made by the Midwest Archives Conference and encourage other institutions to take a stand as well. Unity cannot be achieved with neutrality or silence.

#StopAsianHate  #StopAAPIHate

Download statement as PDF.

For more information on the Society of Ohio Archivists Social Justice and Black Lives Matter Task Force see its webpage.

Below are a variety of resources for donating, speaking up, and examining how others are already combating racism. Continue reading →

SOA Council Meeting Minutes for March 10, 2021

The Society of Ohio Archivists most recent leadership meeting minutes, from March 10, 2021, can be found on the Council Meeting Minutes page. It includes many between-meeting actions from over the winter.

Interested in SOA over time? Also on that page are minutes dating back to 1997. In addition to documenting actions from the leadership meeting, minutes include reports from the treasurer as well as from committees and task forces.

Members Named to SOA Social Justice and Black Lives Matter Task Force

The Society of Ohio Archivists Council is pleased to announce that Jessica Heys (Kettering Foundation), has been appointed Chair of SOA’s new Social Justice and Black Lives Matter Task Force.

Joining Jessica on the Task Force as members are Devhra BennettJones, Madeleine Fix (Nationwide Insurance), Kristen Newby (Ohio History Connection), Penelope Shumaker (State Library of Ohio), and Nicole Sutton (Columbus Metro Library). Sherri Goudy (Nerd Girl History Adventure), SOA President-Elect, will serve as Council Liaison.

The Task Force will be meeting (virtually) for the first time in the near future to discuss its charge and map out a way to recruit non-SOA members.

Contact: To reach out to the Task Force, please contact Chair Jessica Heys or Council Liaison Sherri Goudy. Suggestions or ideas on how to fulfill the Task Force’s mission are welcome.

For more information about the Social Justice and Black Lives Matter Task Force, visit its page here.