Category Archives: SOA Committees

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 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.

Call for Task Force Members – Social Justice and Black Lives Matter

To help SOA and SOA Council act upon the principles in SOA’s “Statement on Racial Inequality and Black Lives Matter,” Council has approved the creation of a Task Force on Social Justice and Black Lives Matter.

SOA Council is now seeking volunteers to fill the Task Force and is currently looking for both a chair and general members.

If you would like to join the Task Force—either as a chair or member—please fill out the linked Google Form by October 1.

For more information about the Task Force, Chair position, and membership responsibilities, see the SJBLM Task Force page.

Questions? Contact SOA President Adam Wanter.

New SOA Committee Cochairs named, summer 2020

Adam Wanter, president of the Society of Ohio Archivists, is pleased to announce new committee cochair appointments. Cochair terms are for two years, with possibility of one renewal. Terms run from June to July.

See the Committees page for information on all of SOA’s committees. Interested in committee work? Contact that committee’s chairs–info on that page.

Advocacy and Outreach
Jenifer Baker, Warren County Records Center & Archives replaces Melissa Dalton, Greene County Records Center and Archives, who was elected to Council. Jenifer joins Cochair Natalie Fritz, Clark County Historical Society.

Educational Programming
Rachael Bussert, Dayton Metro Library, replaces Stephanie Bricking, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, who completed her term. Rachael joins Cochair William Modrow, Miami University.

Marketing and Communications
Amanda Rindler, Ohio History Connection, joins Cochair Janet Carleton, Ohio University.