Dear ACWR Members,

Greetings from the ACWR Board of Directors! As we continue our collective work of preserving and honoring the rich history found within the archival collections of women religious, we would like to acknowledge with gratitude your ongoing dedication, expertise, and community spirit, which remain the foundation of our association.

The Board has been working diligently behind the scenes to ensure ACWR continues to evolve and to provide support for your work. To that end, we would like to share several major organizational updates regarding our next triennial conference, the launch of our updated website, and an adjustment to membership fees. Please read on for the full details.

 

ACWR Triennial Conference:

In late 2025, the Board selected a location for the Triennial Conference. A partner organization generously offered to host the conference at a reduced rate; however concerns related to accessibility and scheduling timelines ultimately led the Board to reconsider the arrangement and pursue an alternative direction.

After extensive discussion, the Board determined that the proposed timeline was too close to the 2027 conference to allow for the level of planning and attention the event deserves. Rather than compromise the quality of the program and overall conference experience, the Board voted to move the conference to 2028.

We are currently finalizing location details and will share additional information with the membership as soon as plans are confirmed. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we have worked through these considerations.

 

Volunteers for Triennial Conference Planning:

As we look ahead to the next conference, we are seeking members interested in helping with planning and organization. If you would like to shape the next conference, please consider volunteering for the planning committee. We’d love to include a variety of perspectives and levels of experience. If you are interested, contact ACWR’s Executive Secretary at archivistsacwr@gmail.com.

 

Old URL, New Look – ACWR’s New Website:

We are excited to announce the launch of the newly redesigned website on June 1, 2026! The updated site features a fresh look and improved navigation to help you find the information and resources you need, based on feedback we received from members during last summer’s focus groups.

The updated site is now divided into two sections: resources freely available to the public and resources exclusively available to ACWR members. The public section features newly created materials for researchers interested in the history of women religious. The members-only section includes resources organized by topic, such as photographs, finding aids, record groups, collection policies, and more!

The board would like to thank the website redesign committee members Sarah Aisenbrey, Carlinthia Cox, Michele Levandoski, Sarah Lubelski, and Marissa Ortosky-Dorantes,. We also extend our gratitude to web designer Rayanne Medford for her dedication and hard work on this project.

Check the ACWR Listserv next week for an official announcement with instructions and tips for navigating the new features of the site.

 

Membership Fee Increase:

We are grateful for your continued support and commitment to ACWR. Your membership plays an essential role in helping us fulfill our mission and continue providing valuable programs, services, and opportunities for our community. After careful consideration and review of our operating costs and future goals, the Board has approved an adjustment to membership fees. Effective June 2027, the tiered membership fees will increase to the following:

• • Regular: $75
  • Reduced: $50
  • Emerita: $25
  • Institutional: $200

This decision was not made lightly. The increase will help ensure that we can continue to support ongoing programs and initiatives; meet rising operation costs; and invent in the future sustainability of the organization. Thank you again for your continued membership and dedication to ACWR.

 

If you have questions or comments about any of these updates or other ideas to share with us, please reach out! You can contact the ACWR Executive Secretary at archivistsacwr@gmail.com or ACWR President Sarah Lubelski at slubelski@archivescollaborative.org. We would love to hear from you, and we thank you for your continued involvement in ACWR.

 

Sincerely,

The ACWR Board of Directors

• • Sarah Lubelski, President
  • Sarah Aisenbrey, Vice President/President-Elect
  • Michele Levandoski, Past President
  • Virginia Jung, OSB, Secretary
  • Scott Keefer, Treasurer
  • Grace Marie del Priore, CSSF, Sister Archivist Advisor
  • Susan Durkin, OSU, Sister Leadership Advisor 
  • Veronica Buchanan, Executive Secretary