Home

SAA Membership Dues Town Hall Question & Answers

Overview 

This page consolidates questions raised by members regarding SAA’s dues model, financial sustainability, member value, and transparency. Responses reflect SAA’s current planning processes, financial considerations, and long-term strategies to support the Society and its members. During the recent Membership Dues Town Hall on December 4, members asked questions during the Q&A session. SAA President Derek Mosley informed attendees that any questions not answered during the event would be shared publicly. Please find the questions and answers below.  

If you were unable to attend the live town hall, please take a moment to review the recording, PPT presentation, and the FAQ for the new dues model here. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

From what services or cost centers have SAA considered reducing or eliminating costs? 

SAA reviews all programs and cost centers annually as part of its budgeting process. In recent years, several reductions have been implemented, including: 

  • Streamlining publications workflows, including transitioning to digital delivery 
  • Reducing the costs incurred to produce the Annual Meeting, including reducing the number of meeting rooms used, etc. 
  • Consolidating or eliminating underutilized programs 
  • Reducing or renegotiating vendor contracts 

What steps is SAA taking to reduce operating costs? 

Alongside discussions about a dues adjustment, SAA has enacted multiple cost management strategies, such as: 

  • Shifting more work to virtual and hybrid formats 
  • Tightening operational budgets 
  • Reevaluating contracted services 
  • SAA is convening a working group to evaluate the long‑term sustainability and appropriate cadence of the Annual Meeting. 

Cost reduction is an ongoing process, and updates will be communicated as part of SAA’s commitment to financial transparency. 

Has SAA considered making more resources members-only to increase the value of membership? 

Yes. SAA is evaluating which resources may shift to members-only access to enhance membership value. However, SAA must balance member benefits with its larger mission to advance the archival profession nationally, which often requires open-access resources to support advocacy and public awareness. 

Why were federal contractors not included in the membership of relief for federal employees? 

Yes, federal contractors are eligible for membership relief. In 2025, the SAA Council established a resource program to support impacted workers, which includes federal contractors. To learn more, please visit the resource page. 

Would SAA consider membership fee support for members in leadership or volunteer roles? 

SAA acknowledges the significant contributions of member volunteers. Council will consider whether a leadership-based discount or subsidy is feasible and equitable.   

Will rising dues and Annual Meeting costs reduce participation? How is SAA addressing this? 

SAA is committed to maintaining participation and access by: 

  • Reevaluating the pricing structure of the Annual Meeting 
  • Creating more flexible volunteer pathways 
  • Recognizing the challenges faced by members and working to ensure participation remains sustainable. 

Has membership remained static? Could the dues increase result in loss of members? 

Membership has fluctuated modestly over the last decade, reflecting broader trends in the profession. SAA recognizes that dues increase carries risk, and we are closely analyzing potential impacts. Any implementation will include: 

  • Clear communication 
  • Monitoring of membership trends 
  • Contingency plans if retention declines 

Why doesn’t SAA advocate more aggressively for compensation standards, similar to unions? 

SAA supports fair compensation and produces tools such as salary surveys, guidelines, and advocacy materials. SAA requires salaries be listed when jobs are posted on our jobs portal or via the Announcements listserv. However, as a professional association, not a labor union, SAA has legal limits on collective bargaining or wage setting activities. Work continues through: 

  • Archival Worker Labor Task Force 
  • Education and training 
  • Research and reporting 
  • Public advocacy 
  • Partnerships and coalition-building 

SAA remains committed to advancing compensation conversations within these parameters. 

How will SAA measure the impact of the dues increase? 

SAA is developing a measurable assessment plan that includes: 

  • Membership retention and recruitment 
  • Member satisfaction 
  • Program utilization 
  • Revenue stability 

Could SAA immediately increase institutional membership rates instead of individual dues? 

The SAA Council did increase institutional membership.    

Can SAA provide itemized costs for services and show ROI for members and the profession? 

SAA does not currently provide fully itemized costs or a comprehensive ROI analysis for all services, as many costs are shared across programs. However, SAA is actively working to improve cost transparency and develop clearer ways to demonstrate return on investment for members and the profession. 

Is the original incorrect dues model still being considered? 

No. The earlier model contained inaccuracies and has been fully replaced. Please review the news release.  

How many members attended the town hall? 

103 individuals attended the town hall. 

Updated: 2026-01-21

SAA Membership Dues and Benefits Overview Town Hall Recording

Membership Dues Town Hall (Q&A)

SAA Membership Dues and Benefits Overview (PowerPoint)