Strategic Plan

Members of the Society of Ohio Archivists drafted this strategic plan at a retreat held in Columbus on February 26, 1995. The SOA Council approved the plan on June 9, 1995.

  1. The Society of Ohio Archivists will do whatever feasible to advance archival institutions and the archival profession in Ohio.

    • The society should not squander its limited resources pursuing unreachable objectives.

    • The society should try to balance its programs to appeal to both professional and amateur archivists.

  2. The Society of Ohio Archivists will make a concerted effort to recruit members from similar organizations and from the ranks of the amateur archivists of Ohio.

    • The society should have at least one member from every archival institution in the state.

    • The society should target related organizations like the Ohio Genealogical Society for members.

    • The society should gain access to these groups by targeting educational programs to their needs.

  3. The Society of Ohio Archivists Education Program should continue to provide quality continuing education to the state's professionals while seeking to provide basic archival education to the state's amateur archivists.

    • Nationally recognized experts should be recruited for continuing education programs.

    • Every amateur archivist should be given the opportunity to attend an Archives 101 workshop in his or her region.

    • A standing education committee should be established to create new programs and workshops, to create a calendar of programs, and to develop an information packet on how to start an archives.

    • The education of those using archival institutions is outside the scope of the society, and should be left to individual institutions.

    • The creation of educational packets of primary sources for teaching history is likewise outside the scope of the society.

    • The SOA council should write a letter to the Ohio Board of Regents expressing concern about the lack of advanced archival education courses in the state, and to encourage funding for undergraduate internships in archival institutions.

  4. The current procedures for dealing with legislative concerns and similar issues are adequate and do not need to be changed.

    • The role of the council is to inform the membership of significant legislation and to encourage the membership to take appropriate action on their own.

    • The council should poll the membership on issues if possible, but may make recommendations without consulting the membership if time does not permit.

  5. The Society of Ohio Archivists should seek to enhance its visibility through Archives Week.

    • The focus of Archives week should include: what are archivists and archives and what purpose do they serve?

    • SAA and MAC should be encouraged to implement a national and regional Archives Week.

    • A speakers' bureau should be created to respond to outreach opportunities.

    • The membership should be encouraged to participate in Archives Week.

  6. The Society of Ohio Archivists should adopt administrative measures to encourage the completion of long-range goals.

    • Committees should be adopted and headed by council members to facilitate activities that have recently grown in scope.

    • Among the activities that may need new administrative structures are education, legislation, and Archives Week.

    • A public information officer might facilitate the dissemination of important information.

    • Council should act with great deliberation so that the administrative structures chosen for these tasks endure the test of time.