News & announcements

A message from Conor Casey: 

The Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Unconference and Workshops, a project of the Reference, Access and Outreach Section of the Society of American Archivists, urgently seeks a host site in Portland for the week of the SAA Conference in July. Can you help the unconference organizers find a suitable Portland venue?

The TPS Unconference is a free, inclusive (open to non-SAA members as well as non-archivists), full-day event held alongside the official pay-to-play SAA annual conference. We are seeking a free or almost free host space that can accommodate 100-150 participants. Our target date is Wednesday, July 26, but we can be flexible.

It doesn’t have to be luxurious, just a space where people who teach with primary sources can gather to share ideas and learn from each other. Schools, museums, libraries, and community or religious buildings are all possibilities. We can supply you with further specifications.

Please send venue leads and offers to TeachWithStuff@gmail.com

For a better sense of what the TPS Unconference and Workshops are all about, we invite you to visit the site we created for the Atlanta TPS Unconference in August: http://teachwithstuff.org/tps-unconference-2016aug-atlanta/

Thank you and we look forward to working with and meeting you all next summer!

Best,

Conor

The Academy of Certified Archivists’ (ACA) early bird application deadline is February 15, 2017 and comes with a reduced exam fee of $25.00. The predetermined locations for the July 26, 2017 exam are Portland, OR (SAA Site); Albuquerque, NM; Annapolis, MD; Chattanooga, TN; Des Moines, IA; and San Jose, CA. There are also pick-your-site locations wherever 3 early bird or 5 regular applicants wish to take it.

To learn more about certification, please visit http://www.certifiedarchivists.org/get-certified/.

The Academy of Certified Archivists, which the Society of American Archivists founded in 1989, is an independent, nonprofit certifying organization of professional archivists. Individual members qualify for certification by meeting a series of defined professional standards and must demonstrate continuing professional commitment to remain certified.  The Academy identifies and promotes understanding of archival goals, ethics, and standards. To learn more about the ACA, visit http://www.certifiedarchivists.org/.

A message from the NWA Professional Development, Education, and Awards Committee: 

The NWA Professional Development, Education, and Awards Committee is currently seeking applications for a number of scholarships and awards.

• The At-large Student Scholarship serves as a resource for students from the NWA Regions who are enrolled in an archives graduate program of an accredited institution. The scholarship provides $500 which the student may use towards developing their interest in archives administration as a career choice, through such means as research projects, unpaid internships and attendance at related conferences, seminars, workshops, institutes or other educational opportunities. For detailed guidelines and information on how to apply, please visit northwestarchivist.org/studentscholarship. Up to three awards will be given.
• The Professional Development Scholarship is intended as a resource for colleagues currently engaged in the archival profession who are self-employed or receive inadequate employer-provided assistance. The scholarship provides $500 to promote the professional development of practicing regional archivists, by such means as attendance of workshops, institutes, conferences or other training opportunities. For detailed guidelines and information on how to apply, please visit http://northwestarchivists.org/profdevscholarship. One award will be given.
• The Retirement Recognition Award is intended to honor NWA members who have retired during the year between annual meetings. Similarly, the Merle W. Wells / John F. Guido Distinguished Service Award is an occasional honor intended to recognize NWA members who have made significant, sustained contributions to the activities and welfare of the association, or institutions that support the goals of NWA through service to the association. Both awards are non-monetary. For detailed guidelines and information on how to nominate an individual, please visit http://northwestarchivists.org/resources/Pictures/Retirement%20App.pdf.

The Student and Professional Development scholarship applications must either be postmarked or e-mailed by March 1, 2017. Retirement award applications should either be postmarked or e-mailed by May 1, 2017 to ensure the nominee’s recognition at the 2017 NWA Annual Conference. Submit applications, verify receipt of your application, or direct any questions to Anneliese Warhank at awarhank@mt.gov.

Hi everyone, 

Just a reminder that your submissions for the Winter issue of Easy Access are due by January 9th! Please send your content to nwa.publications@gmail.com. Tell the membership about all the cool stuff your repository has been up to! 

The deadline for submission of CIMA/NWA 2017 presentation proposals is rapidly approaching! Make it your New Year's resolution to submit by Friday January 6th! Submit your proposals here. Consult the NWA conference webpage for additional information. 

The CIMA/NWA 2017 Annual Meeting webpage is now live! Follow the link for more information about proposal submissions, registration, the conference hotel, and more. More information will be added as it becomes available. 

Can't wait to see you all in Boise! 

A message from the Joint Program Committee: 

The joint Program Committee has identified some options for SAA pre-conference workshops we will offer before our joint annual meeting in May. All workshops will be held on Wednesday, May 17. Please take a moment to share your opinion: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PK2CT38. The survey will close on January 6, 2017.

We are starting to budget and plan for special events to celebrate our 40th Anniversary. This includes receptions at both the Boise annual meeting in May 2017 and at the Portland SAA meeting in July 2017. In order to better anticipate costs and participation, we are asking our members to answer this short survey regarding attendance at these two events. Please respond by December 31, 2016.

See below for a message from NWA President, Erin Passehl Stoddart

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Whenever I think of the past, it brings back so many memories. -- Steven Wright

40 years’ worth of memories in the case of the Northwest Archivists! NWA's upcoming anniversary in 2017 offers the perfect opportunity to collect, present and celebrate forty years of professional advocacy, advancement, and camaraderie! To this end, the NWA40 committee has been formed and is busily working on behalf of the membership-at-large preparing for the celebrations scheduled during 2017. (More details at end of message.) 

The NWA40 Committee is asking members to get meta and turn our collective professional skills inward to mark this auspicious event.  Whether you’ve been an NWA member for 40 years or joined last month, you have NWA-related stories and photographs and we want you to share them!

• Do you have a funny or poignant story?
• How has NWA influenced your professional life?
• Do you have observations about how the membership and organization has changed over the years?
• What are your hopes for the future of NWA?
• Do you have photos to share?

Please send your stories, comments, and remembrances to Diana Banning, diana.banning@portlandoregon.gov.  Please include in the subject line: NWA40.  The NWA40 Committee will compile and publish the collection on NWA’s website.  

The committee is also looking for volunteers who are interested in compiling a written history – let Mary McRobinson know if you feel the call.  And if you are in contact with any of our retired members who could offer additional perspectives and stories, please contact Diana Banning. 

Sneak preview of coming celebratory attractions: 

• Reception at NWA/CIMA meeting, May 2017
• Specially designed NWA40 swag for purchase
• Reception at SAA annual meeting, July 2017
• Brief history of NWA compiled for website (including founding date, list of past Board members, meeting locations, programs, photos, etc.)

Please direct general questions/suggestions to Mary McRobinson, NWA40 Chair, mmcrobin@willamette.edu. 

Erin Passehl Stoddart, NWA President

The Program Committee recently sent out the call for session proposals for our joint annual meeting next May 17-19, 2017, in Boise, ID. To make it easier for like minds to connect, we're offering up this Google spreadsheet where you can share your session proposal ideas, and see who might be interested in joining your panel. 

Please note that this is a planning document only, and it does NOT take the place of actually submitting your session proposal to the Program Committee - to SUBMIT your program proposal go to: http://bit.ly/2gYPWFq. Deadline for session proposals is January 6, 2017.

Thanks,

NWA Program Committee (Anne Jenner, Mariecris Gatlabayan, Chris Petersen)