Category Archives: SOA Council

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.

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.

Council Meeting Minutes from Jan. 24, 2025

The Society of Ohio Archivists most recent leadership meeting minutes from January 24, 2025, can now be found on the Council Meeting Minutes page.

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.

Questions about minutes? Contact SOA Secretary Shelby Beatty.

Council Statement on Recent Federal Government Actions that Impact Archivists & Archives

The leadership of the Society of Ohio Archivists are deeply alarmed by many recent actions taken by the U.S. federal government, including, but not limited to:

the dismissal of Dr. Colleen J. Shogan as Archivist of the United States;
the mass dismissal of federal employees, including at the National Archives and Records Administration and the National Park Service;
the dismantling and attacking of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and work, including the erasure of transgender people from the Stonewall National Monument website;
the deletion and alteration of government websites containing vital records and data;
and the freezing of federal funds despite multiple court orders.

These actions undermine the invaluable work of archivists and cultural heritage workers across this nation and the state of Ohio, as well as the transparency, accountability, and integrity that are foundational to democratic governance.

SOA Council condemns these actions and the reckless nature with which they were undertaken, as they unnecessarily jeopardize the livelihood of dedicated professionals and damage our ability to preserve and make accessible the rich tapestries of our national, state, and local histories. We will continue to monitor this rapidly changing landscape, and will proactively work to provide support for the Ohio archival community in accordance with our core professional values.

As we move forward please feel free to contact the current SOA President Matt Francis with any suggestions, questions, or concerns and we encourage you to contact your federal representatives to make your voice heard.

United we stand.

Society of Ohio Archivists Council

Council Meeting Minutes from Dec 6, 2024

The Society of Ohio Archivists most recent leadership meeting minutes from December 6, 2024, can now be found on the Council Meeting Minutes page.

Questions about minutes? Contact SOA Secretary Shelby Beatty.

Call for Nominations: SOA Council 2025

The SOA Nominating Committee announces a call for nominations for:

Vice President/President-Elect,
Secretary,
Member of Council, and
JEDAI Committee Co-chair (2) (one is a 1-year term and the other is a 2-year term).

Self-nominations and peer nominations are welcomed and encouraged. We also encourage nominations from new professionals and/or individuals seeking to get involved in a professional organization for the first time. All positions are for two-year terms of office, except for the VP/President/Past President cycle, which is one year in each position (a total commitment of three years).

If elected, you must be a current SOA member in good standing by the beginning of your term and willing and able to attend monthly council meetings and business activities (virtually or in person).

The election will be held during the SOA Annual Business Meeting, which will occur during the SOA Spring Meeting on May 15-16, 2025. Prior to the election, candidates will be required to respond to a question printed in the Ohio Archivist.

More details about responsibilities and terms can be found in the SOA Constitution and Bylaws.

Please send nominations to committee chair Melissa Dalton by Friday, March 7, 2005. (Deadline extended from Friday, February 21, 2025.)

Questions? Contact the committee chair, Melissa Dalton.

Join us for Coffee Chat on Jan 15, 2025

Grab a hot beverage and join us for the first Society of Ohio Archivists (SOA) Coffee Chat on Wednesday, January 15, 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.

This first Coffee Chat will be a conversation about what we want these gatherings to look like (round robin, topical discussions, etc.) and how often they take place. 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 Kristen Newby and Jim DaMico, SOA Council Members.

Council Meeting Minutes from Oct 25, 2024

The Society of Ohio Archivists most recent leadership meeting minutes from October 25, 2024, can now be found on the Council Meeting Minutes page.

Questions about minutes? Contact SOA Secretary Shelby Beatty.

Council Meeting Minutes from Aug 23, 2024

The Society of Ohio Archivists most recent leadership meeting minutes from August 23, 2024, can now be found on the Council Meeting Minutes page.

Questions about minutes? Contact SOA Secretary Shelby Beatty.

Council Meeting Minutes from June 20, 2024

The Society of Ohio Archivists most recent leadership meeting minutes from June 20, 2024, can now be found on the Council Meeting Minutes page.

Questions about minutes? Contact SOA Secretary Shelby Beatty.

SOA Election Results 2024

During the recent Annual Meeting at Capital University, new council members were elected.

SOA would like to welcome the following new leaders:

Matt Francis, Ohio Northern University, President (2024-2025)
Jennifer Long Morehart, Bowling Green State University, Vice President/President-Elect (2024-2025)
Sophia McGuire, City of Gahanna, Treasurer (2024-2026)
Jim DaMico, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Edward L. Pratt Research Library, Council Member (2024-2026)

A big thanks to the Nominating Committee. Also, thank you to everyone who participated!

Officer Transitions:

Matt Francis, Ohio Northern University, transitions from Vice President/President-Elect to President. Thanks to Matt for his continued leadership.
Melissa Dalton, Preserve It, LLC, transitions from President to Past-President. Thanks to Melissa for her work as President.
Brittany Hays completed her term as Treasurer. Thanks to Brittany for her work as Treasurer.

New co-chairs:

Advocacy and Outreach Committee: Welcomes Sarah Aisenbrey, as co-chair
Justice, Equity, Diversity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (JEDAI) Committee: Welcomes Hannah Kemp-Severence, University of Akron, as co-chair
Marketing and Communications Committee: Welcomes Amber Bales, Ohio State University, as co-chair.
Membership and Awards Committee: Welcomes Stephanie Shreffler, University of Dayton, as co-chair.

Thanks to outgoing co-chairs: Collette McDonough (Advocacy and Outreach Committee); Penelope Shumaker (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (JEDAI) Committee); Jane Wildermuth (Marketing and Communications Committee); and Jennifer Long Morehart (Membership and Awards Committee).

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