Early-Career Members: Volunteer for SAA Appointed Groups

SAA’s appointed groups are now seeking to mentor early-career members! Students and new professionals (with three or fewer years of experience in the profession) are encouraged to apply for this unique mentoring and leadership development experience.

SAA’s appointed groups—committees, subcommittees, boards, and working groups—advise the SAA Council on various issues and aspects of the profession. Each of the ten early-career member positions available will provide a unique opportunity to see the inner workings of these groups and contribute to important work on behalf of SAA and the profession.

Our early-career members work directly with the appointed group, participating in all meetings as well as assisting with special projects, research, or administrative tasks, when applicable. These early-career member positions are an excellent professional service opportunity that support SAA’s core values and our commitment to “providing an open, inclusive, and collaborative environment” for all of our members.

Early-career members will be assigned to an SAA group for a one-year term, from August 6, 2019, through the 2020 Annual Meeting. Group chairs and early-career members will be asked to complete evaluation forms at the end of the term.

Deadline: Friday, June 28

The following SAA appointed groups are seeking an early-career member to mentor for the 2019-2020 term:

SAA Foundation Board

Assist the SAA Foundation Development Committee with the development and implementation of plans to raise funds to support the Foundation and its priorities. Work with committee members on education and outreach projects, including managing traveling exhibits; planning a thank you event at the Annual Meeting; and developing and disseminating messages for targeted audiences from new members to legacy or planned giving donors. Preference given to members with strong communication, design, and writing skills and an interest in funds development.

SAA Research Forum

Collaborate with the organizing team to support the proposal and review process and the day of the annual forum. The early-career member will help us identify ways to improve workflows for participants and assist with the layout of the forum proceedings, including reformatting participant bios and abstracts. There will be additional opportunities to work closely with members of the organizing team to plan and develop new projects this year.

Committee on Education

Assist the committee with work to review the continuing education needs of SAA members, assist the SAA Education office in developing relevant programming, and provide guidance to the Society on continuing education.

Committee on Ethics and Professional Conduct

Assist the committee with the creation and promotion of education and outreach resources relating to the Code of Ethics for Archivists and the Core Values of Archivists statement, as well as its periodic review of these important documents.

Committee on Public Awareness

Assist the committee with enhancing SAA’s capacity to promote the value of archives and archivists to institutions, communities, and society. Work with the committee to develop programs, such as “A Finding Aid to My Soul,” that promote the value and role(s) of archivists and archives nationwide.

Committee on Public Policy

Assist the committee with providing strategic information and advice to enhance SAA’s capacity to address public policy issues and concerns affecting archivists, archives, the archival profession, and its stakeholders.

Membership Committee

Assist the committee with identifying needs of members and recommending services to meet those needs (as well as non-member needs and perceptions); making prospective and current members aware of the resources, services, and membership benefits of SAA; and welcoming new members and encouraging participation in SAA activities. The Membership Committee oversees the Career Development Subcommittee which hosts the Career Center at the Annual Meeting), the Key Contacts Subcommittee, and the Mentoring Program Subcommittee.

Publications Board

Assist the Editor, Publications Director, and Board with special projects to improve access to books and to help market our newest book offerings. Projects are based on board needs and the early-career member’s interests. Past work has included projects to survey our members, improve indexing of open-access books, and/or research new distribution channels and platforms. Early-career members participate fully in all board meetings and book proposal reviews.

Technical Subcommittee on Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Assist this Standards subcommittee with the timely and ongoing intellectual and technical maintenance and development of Describing Archives: A Content Standard. DACS is an output-neutral set of rules for describing archives, personal papers, and manuscript collections, and can be applied to all material types. Applicants must indicate some experience with applying DACS.

Technical Subcommittee on Encoded Archival Standards

Assist in the various standards development, maintenance, and dissemination activities. Attend the quarterly (3 virtual, 1 in-person) committee meetings and assist the co-chairs with taking minutes. Work primarily with the co-chairs to assist in committee-level initiatives (e.g., the construction of a Handbook for the committee, establishment of agendas for meetings and the invitation of guests, and so on). The co-chairs will serve as direct mentors. May also choose to assist with any of the teams that comprise the major work structure of the committee. Additional team meetings are scheduled according to the team’s current goals and objectives and the early-career member would be welcome to any of those initiatives.

Eligibility

Because these positions are intended to be opportunities for professional and leadership development, all applicants must be:

• An SAA member, and
• A student who is currently enrolled in a master’s or PhD program with an archives component or focus, and/or
• A new archives professional with three or fewer years of experience in the profession.

Because SAA is committed to enhancing the diversity of the organization, the profession, and the historical record, individuals who are members of historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply for an SAA early-career member position.

To Apply:

To volunteer to serve, complete the application form. Most information requested on the form is required (*) because more complete information results in more effective volunteer placements. There are no "right" or "wrong" answers that will ensure or prevent an appointment. In text areas, we are interested in highlights.

If you have any questions, please contact us at saahq@archivist.org or by phone at 866-722-7858.

Deadline: Friday, June 28

Note:

1. SAA early-career members are not funded to attend the Annual Meeting, and must do so at their own (or their institution’s) expense.  
2. Early-career members are considered full, voting members of the appointed group. They are encouraged to contribute to the work of the group and to be an active participant in group meetings.
3. Some appointed groups may hold an additional meeting mid-year to handle other important business. As full members of the group, early-career members would be funded by SAA to attend such meetings.