From September 24-27^th, ACA Staff, Board Members, and Committee Chairs met in Winnipeg to discuss upcoming priorities, issues facing the archival community, and member needs. As a member-driven organization, we are very grateful to the 176 ACA members who took the time to complete our member survey in early September. Your feedback guided our discussions and was integral to all the plans we made. 

We were grateful to be joined by Megan Skyvington, from Stable Ground Fundraising, who led two fundraising workshops to help us examine past, present and future fundraising opportunities for the organization. 

Our discussions focused on the following areas:

Communications

We discussed the need to sharpen ACA’s communications and make it easier for members to understand what the Association offers, how to get involved, and where to find relevant information.

A particular focus was the experience of new members. We are exploring a more intentional welcome process that could include a welcome letter from the Board, information about ACA programs and opportunities, and other materials to help new members feel connected to the Association from the outset.

We also discussed how we communicate membership benefits more clearly and consistently, so that members have a better understanding of the full range of opportunities available to them.

Organizational Identity

We also discussed how the ACA presents itself to members and the broader archival community. A clear theme from our conversations was substance over style. Any future work on the ACA’s visual identity, website, or communications will need to be grounded in improving the member experience: making information easier to find, communicating our value more clearly, and ensuring that the Association feels welcoming, relevant, and reflective of the profession we serve.

Fundraising

Fundraising discussions focused on building a stronger and more consistent culture of philanthropy in support of the ACA Foundation. This includes strengthening year-end fundraising efforts and looking at how fundraising can be better connected to key moments throughout the year. A key theme was the importance of showing donors the tangible impact of their support. Future fundraising communications will aim to provide clearer examples of what donations make possible, supported by testimonials and stories from the archival community.

Professional Development

Professional development emerged as a major priority for the coming year. Members have expressed strong interest in more frequent and accessible opportunities to learn, connect, and build new skills. In response, the ACA will begin developing a broader professional development framework that considers not only individual workshops, but how our educational offerings fit together as a longer-term learning program.

As part of this work, we will explore digital learning tools that could make it easier for members to access recorded sessions, participate in online learning, and engage with professional development and networking opportunities.

What Comes Next

The Winnipeg meetings were an important opportunity to bring together member feedback, committee perspectives, Board priorities, and staff planning.

Work is already beginning in several of these areas, including communications improvements, professional development planning, and fundraising. We will continue to share updates with members as this work develops.

Thank you again to everyone who participated in the member survey and to the volunteers who contributed their time and expertise to the Planning and Priorities meetings. Your input shapes the direction of the ACA.