Key Contact Subcommittee

The concept of the Society of American Archivists (SAA) Key Contact Program is simple. A cadre of volunteers, working under the supervision of the Membership Committee, supplement and extend the efforts of the SAA professional staff. Approximately seventy volunteers work with members at the grassroots level, in their state or province, welcoming new members and assisting the Society in soliciting new members. This personalized means of contacting and soliciting members, in cooperation with the ongoing efforts of the national office, provides a stronger multi-level approach to our membership initiatives.

Origin

The program was modeled on similar successful programs used by a number of regional archival organizations and ancillary professional organizations (e.g., the Organization of American Historians). SAA Council approved the Key Contact Program in February 1996 after strong endorsements by former SAA staff member Debra Mills Nolan and Leon Miller, former chair of the Membership Committee and the person who introduced the concept to the committee. The following spring the Membership Committee identified volunteers from throughout the organization and implemented the program. The volunteers represent the 50 states of the United States, 10 provinces of Canada, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

How to Volunteer

Interested in serving as an SAA Key Contact? Fill out this form (Member log in required) to be put on a waiting list. Key Contact terms generally run for three years, and you will be contacted by Committee membership as vacancies in your region become available.