On August 6, the members of CoSA convened for the annual business meeting. With 39 states and territories represented, it was one of CoSA’s best attended business meetings since shifting to a virtual format. On the agenda: election of directors for the 2026-2029 board term, a financial report from Treasurer Stephanie Clark (OR), remarks from Executive Director Joy Banks, the State of the Association address from President Allen Ramsey (CT), and a Look Ahead at the 2026-2027 CoSA year from President-Elect Cathrine Giles (KY). 

Election results:

Congratulations to the three members elected to the Board of Directors: Christian Cotz (ME) for his first term, and Lopez Matthews (DC) and Stephanie Clark (OR) for their second terms.

Financial report:

CoSA is in a strong financial position despite the uncertainty created in 2025 by the termination of two significant federal grants. Because of the effectiveness of CoSA's investments and in alignment with the philosophy of the Finance Committee that the goal of our investments should not be just about growing money but also about giving back to our community in a meaningful way, dues will not increase in the coming fiscal year. Members should be aware that beginning in November 2026, dues payments made by credit card will be charged a service fee. Payments made by check or electronic funds transfer (EFT) will not be charged a fee.  

Executive Director remarks:

Executive Director Joy Banks shared ways in which CoSA has exhibited resilience over the past year. CoSA was awarded a grant to review and update the Intergovernmental Preparedness for Essential Records (IPER) program. IPER was first developed between 2008 and 2011 with FEMA funding, and still serves as the foundation of many emergency preparedness programs today. CoSA continues to focus on its resource center, data collection practices, and strategic foundations with the involvement of contracted partners Jess Farrell, principal of Redstart Works, and her project partner Ryan Morrison-Westphal for the resource center, and Adam Jacobson, principal at TalkShop LA, and his project partner Elliott Teller for the strategic plan.

State of the Association:

President Allen Ramsey offered a reminder that engagement enhances the value that CoSA can bring to state and territorial archives. He noted that there are a variety of ways that individual members can engage with their CoSA colleagues:  committees, working groups, affinity groups (including new affinity groups for social media, conservation and preservation, appraisal, and microfilm), Chatting with Colleagues, webinars, the SERI STEER Unconference, and more. 

Look ahead:

President-elect Cathrine Giles continued on the theme of engagement, telling the story of how, at a CoSA Annual Meeting, she found "her people," and connected engagement to advocacy. She reminded attendees that "at its most basic, advocacy is about building relationships," asked members to think about how CoSA can support their states' advocacy needs, and expressed gratitude to engaged members who have, knowingly or not, served as mentors to new state and territorial archives staff.   

Watch the meeting