MARAC Strategic Planning Committee

Adopted by Steering Committee 28 January 2005

Vision

Long-term organizational goal:

To be the premier mid-Atlantic organization for archival advocacy and education, for archivists and other keepers of the historical record throughout their careers.

Core Values

MARAC is committed to:

Affordability

Collegiality

Professional standards, practices, and ethics

Diversity

Mission / Core Purpose

MARAC's purpose is to provide archival advocacy and educational opportunities.

Strategic Outcomes / Objectives / Strategies

1. The membership will benefit from an organization that is dedicated to diversity, affordability, and collegiality, and upholds professionalism for the archival community.

Objective 1. Increase a diverse membership.
Strategies:

• Identify new and leverage current relationships with other historical, archival and records management organizations utilizing state organization lists
• Target communities with archivists
• Offer "Meet an Archivist" events to diverse communities during Archives Week

Objective 2. Maintain organization's affordability.
Strategies:

• Redirect print publication expenses to electronic publications.
• Seek corporate sponsorships.

Objective 3. Increase and encourage active participation of the membership.
Strategies:

• Announce committee openings and other participation opportunities at every caucus and business meeting, through web site, and in MAA.
• Identify potential leaders, session and workshop presenters, and publication writers and other individuals with skills to assist MARAC meet is goals.

Objective 4. Enhance and demonstrate professionalism of members.
Strategies:

• Develop professional/expertise directory.
• Establish administration/professionalism track in conference programs.
• Identify issues in MAA with articles written by members.

2. Members and non-members will have educational opportunities to advance their archival knowledge and skills.

Objective 1. Expand workshop offerings at conferences.
Strategies:

• Establish curriculum and rotation for workshops for various knowledge and skill levels.

Objective 2. Increase relevant publications (technical leaflets, occasional papers, etc.)
Strategies:

• Revise or eliminate outdated publications.
• Prepare publications on new and emerging topics in archivy.
• Expand MAA content.

Objective 3. Expand scholarships.
Strategies:

• Establish partnerships with LIS programs, state historical boards.
• Create stable funding base/endowment.
• Create volunteer scholarships for workshops.
• Create graduate school scholarship.

Objective 4. Create non-conference workshops or workshop sponsorships.
Strategies:

• Identify existing workshop offerings MARAC can co-sponsor financially or through member participation as leaders/educators.
• Identify new opportunities for non-conference workshops.

3. The public will understand the value of historical records, the archival profession and the importance of increased support for archival repositories.

Objective 1. Increase awareness of archival issues and profession.
Strategies:

• Establish MARAC sponsorship of History Day activities in each caucus.
• Contact national, state, and local legislators upon election to introduce the organization.
• Establish proactive program to contact appropriate legislators or corporate/non-profit leaders to stress a position or offer support when public or private institutions are confronted with archival issues.
• Promotion of Archives Week and activities.

Objective 2. Enhance reputation of archives.
Strategies:

• Contact corporate/non-profit organization leaders to explain value of archives and archival programs.
• Identify and promote signature collections in established archives to internal and external audiences.