Membership Funding and Pathways for Diverse Archives Workers Task Force

I. Purpose

The Membership Funding and Pathways for Diverse Archives Workers Task Force will

·                 By December 2024 (FY25), draft a plan for ongoing funding to support memberships and annual meeting attendance scholarships for diverse archives workers, including retention and engagement (phase 1) and  

·                 By July 2025, make recommendations to the Council on a plan, program, or track focused on building accessible leadership pathways for diverse archives workers (phase 2).

The plan and recommendation will consider the Society’s Strategic Plan 2023-2025 and the DEIA Work Plan and be informed by existing goals and strategies developed by SAA component groups – specifically the Diversity Committee, the Membership Committee, and the SAA Foundation.

The plan and recommendations will be focused in their approach to secure funding and provide clear and accessible membership and leadership pathways for diverse archives workers. They will outline ways to reduce barriers to participation in the Society – specifically through funding memberships and annual meeting attendance costs for diverse archives workers.

The plan and recommendations will be first implemented in FY25, with the goal of the first round of membership and annual meeting funding being distributed during that fiscal year. A second phase–focused on accessible leadership pathways for diverse archives workers– is to be implemented subsequently.

II. Task Force Selection, Size, and Length of Terms

The task force will consist of eight members who will be appointed by the SAA Vice President/President-Elect. The chair will be selected by the task force from among the current task force members. The Task Force members’ terms will end in August 2027. 

Representatives from the component groups and sections shall serve on the Task Force are listed below:  

Awards Committee, chair or designee 
Diversity Committee, chair or designee 
Membership Committee, chair or designee 
Treasurer, chair or designee 
SAA Foundation Development Committee, chair or designee 
Accessibility and Disability Section, chair or designee 
Diverse Sexuality and Gender Section, chair or designee 
Native American Archives Section, chair or designee 

III. Duties and Responsibilities

·         By December 2024, draft a plan and approach for funding memberships and annual meeting attendance scholarships for diverse archives workers, including retention and engagement, starting in FY25.

·         By July 2025, make recommendations to the SAA Council on a plan, program, or track focused on building accessible leadership pathways for diverse archives workers.

·         Consult with allied professional groups funding similar programs. Examples include– but are not limited to– ACRL and the American Society of Association Executives Diversity Executive Leadership Program.

·         Consult with SAA component groups who have implemented similar programs. Examples include– but are not limited to– the Native American Archives Section, the Harold T. Pinkett Student of Color Award, the Brenda S. Banks Travel Award, and the Mosaic Scholarship.

·         Make recommendations to the SAA Council on necessary actions to ensure continued participation of– and secure funding for– diverse archives workers.

·         Explore options for securing ongoing funding for these programs.

IV. Reporting Procedures

The Membership Funding and Pathways for Diverse Archives Workers Task Force reports to the Council and works closely with its Council liaison, the President, and the Chief Executive Officer to ensure that it is responsive to the Council’s needs.

The chair is responsible for submitting a mid-term update and annual report to the Council, a phase 1 report and recommendation by December 2024, a phase 2 report and recommendation by the summer 2025 the SAA Council meeting and may also submit items for Council action or discussion and feedback as necessary.

The chair is also responsible for ensuring that minutes of the Task Force’s meetings are prepared and posted on the Task Force’s microsite to inform SAA members of its activities and comply with SAA’s record-keeping requirements.

V. Meetings

The Task Force shall meet virtually as needed to conduct its work. The Task Force may conduct its business by email, telephone, or virtual meeting during the course of the year. 

Adopted by Council: May 2022