Call for Proposals for 2023 Annual Meeting

The 2023 Annual Meeting of the Society of Florida Archivists – Where Have We Been? Where Are We Going? – will take place May 10-12, 2023 in Tallahassee, FL, adjacent to the Florida State University campus and the State Archives of Florida. This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the Society of Florida Archivists. 

Call for Proposals

The 2023 Society of Florida Archivists Annual Meeting Committee invites proposals for sessions and poster presentations. Along with any aspect of archival practice, the Committee encourages proposals addressing the conference’s main theme and possible subthemes: 

• Where Have We Been? Where Are We Going?
• Unfinished projects - what can be reported on the progress of a major project, and what remains to reach completion?
• Legacy collections and backlogs - what work have we inherited, and how do we apply current practices and priorities to these legacies? 
• How have practices evolved and changed over time in the areas of collection development, description, discovery, access, etc? What hasn’t changed?
• How are we approaching new challenges, like born-digital collections or virtual research consultations? 
• With our past experiences and current knowledge, what can we do differently going forward?
• On the 40th Anniversary of the Society of Florida Archivists’ founding, where has SFA been and where is it going? How has this organization’s establishment of networks and communication affected archival professions in Florida? What can we expect from SFA going forward? 

The above list is merely a starting point for generating topics. The committee encourages first-time presenters and proposals that highlight institutional commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility. 

Presentation Format: 

• Individual papers. 10-15 minutes in length and typically combined into a 45-minute session followed by a  comment-and-discussion period.
• Papers in a complete panel session. Two or three papers with a common theme and a chair/moderator, comprising a 45-minute session followed by a comment-and-discussion period.
• Discussion-based panel sessions. Visual or media presentations (e.g., videos, films, physical items from  collections) followed by group discussion. One to three presenters may comprise a single session. Session length must be mentioned in the proposal.
• Lightning talks. Short individual talks (5-10 minutes) given in rapid succession, followed by a comment-and-discussion period.
• Poster sessions. Visual displays of projects, activities, or applied or theoretical research, to be  incorporated into a larger poster session.
• Other formats. Hands-on demonstrations or other formats that encourage engagement and conversation.

Proposal Criteria:

Submissions should be simple narratives of no more than 300 words that explain the purpose of the session, the intended audience, and how the session will proceed. You need not name specific presenters, but a designated chair or moderator must be identified. Please include that individual’s contact information (institution, mailing address, email, and phone). Preference will be given to session proposals that  demonstrate the following characteristics:  

• Inclusion of geographically and demographically diverse perspectives and initiatives.
• Potential impact on archives and records management practice. Relevance of the topic for society members and other interested attendees.
• Interaction and engagement with session participants.

Presenters need not be SFA members, but are expected to arrange their own conference registration, travel, and accommodations.

Proposals are due by the end of the day Friday, March 3rd, 2023. Please submit your proposals through the Annual Meeting Proposal Submission Form, linked here: https://bit.ly/sfasubmit2023. 

If you have any questions or issues submitting, please contact Bethanie Telesz (Bethanie.Telesz AT DOS.MyFlorida.com) or Carady DeSimone (cara_desimone AT nps.gov).