What is NCSS?

The National Conference of State Societies (NCSS) is the non-profit, voluntary umbrella association for state and territorial societies in the national capital area. At one time or another, all 50 states have had active societies as well as the District of Columbia and our 5 territories: American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and CNMI.

State society officers first informally met in the late 1930s to share ideas and programs. In cooperation with the D.C. Commissioners and with the Washington Board of Trade, the state societies helped to re-launch the first post-World War II Cherry Blossom Festival in 1948. State societies re-started the pre-war tradition of sponsoring state cherry blossom princesses and the U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen in that year to promote peaceful relations with Japan. NCSS is the only civic organization that has sponsored the National Cherry Blossom Festival® events every year for 63 years without interruption.

The informal association of state officers became a formal organization on April 3, 1952 when President Harry Truman signed Public Law 82-293 that gave a congressional charter to the Conference of State Societies. NCSS celebrated its 50th Anniversary on April 3, 2002. Coincidentally during that same week, in cooperation with some NCSS events in Washington, DC and at events in the state capitals, the U.S. Postal Service released a sheet of 50 stamps celebrating the 50 states.

NCSS plays a unique role in the National Cherry Blossom Festival® by sponsoring a series of events that highlight educational and cultural exchange programs for the Cherry Blossom Princesses who are college students or young professionals selected by state/territorial societies and embassies to represent them. Today the festival is a cooperative effort of many organizations including the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc., the Mayor’s office, the National Park Service, the Japan America Society of Washington DC, and NCSS, just to mention a few.

Click here to view a copy of the NCSS By-laws.


What are the State and Territory Societies?

State and Territory societies are civic and social organizations that are unique to the national capital region. With roots that trace back to the founding of the Illinois State Society in 1854, state societies evolved over the next 148 years as non-partisan booster clubs that celebrate the history, culture, colleges, traditions, sports teams, humor, politics and commerce of America’s 50 states.

The societies provide expatriates of states who live in the greater-Washington area with a special non-partisan venue that enables them to share in a wide variety of receptions, dinners, picnics, ceremonies and sporting events.

What makes state and territory society programs unique is that they bring together Members of Congress, Capitol Hill staff, journalists, students, government affairs professionals, military staff, diplomats, attorneys, trade-association staff, and business leaders who share their home-state heritage in a relaxed and non-partisan atmosphere of goodwill and good fun.

In this wonderful and friendly environment that is forged by the emotional bonds of home-town loyalties, state societies fulfill a necessary goodwill mission in the civic and political life of Washington that cannot be filled by any other institution.

What is the value of a Minnesota Walleye Pike Dinner, or a Hawaiian Luau, a Louisiana Crawfish Boil, a California Oscar Night, a Texas Black Tie and Boots Ball, or an Illinois St. Patrick’s Day Party? The value lies in offering a place where partisan tensions can melt away in memories shared and enthusiasm rekindled for the Chicago Cubs of 1969, the Detroit Tigers of 1945, the Green Bay Packer Super Bowl winners this year, eating Maryland crab cakes last Saturday, or singing Florida college songs tonight.

In the last 149 years, hundreds of Members of Congress have served as state society members and officers. Abraham Lincoln was reportedly a member of the Illinois State Society in 1854. In recent years some examples include former Vice President Al Gore, who was a member of the Tennessee State Society, Vice President Dick Cheney has been a member of the Wyoming State Society, and House Speaker Dennis Hastert who was President of the Illinois State Society. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison was President of the Texas State Society in 2001, and Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta is a former President of the California State Society.

In addition to hundreds of events each year, every four years state societies sponsor major receptions, lunches, and Galas for home-state visitors to the Presidential Inaugurations.

The United States Congress chartered NCSS in 1952 under Public Law 82-293. It is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)4 tax-exempt, non-profit organization, with a 501(c)3 Charitable Foundation that the IRS approved in 1970.