ABOUT NCSS
The National Conference of State Societies (NCSS) is a nonprofit, voluntary umbrella organization representing state and territorial societies in the National Capital Region. Over the years, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories—American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)—have maintained active participation.
NCSS traces its origins to the late 1930s, when officers from various state societies began meeting informally to exchange ideas and collaborate on programs. This collaboration was formally recognized on April 3, 1952, when President Harry S. Truman signed Public Law 82-293, granting NCSS a congressional charter. Today, NCSS remains a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, with an affiliated 501(c)(3) Charitable Foundation approved by the IRS in 1970.
NCSS is the only organization that exists solely to support, amplify, and unify State and Territorial Societies. Through NCSS, societies gain access to a powerful network of peers, shared resources, collaborative programming, and national visibility they might not achieve independently. Participation in NCSS provides: advocacy and representation; shared knowledge and resources; and prestige and visibility. Staying active in NCSS ensures that societies are not working in isolation. When we show up for each other, we create a vibrant, supportive network that reflects the strength and diversity of all 50 states, D.C., and the territories.
In 1948, in partnership with the D.C. Commissioners, the Washington Board of Trade and NCSS helped revive the Cherry Blossom Festival following World War II. Cherry blossoms—widely regarded as a global symbol of spring—hold special meaning in Washington, DC. They represent the enduring friendship between the United States and Japan, commemorating the 1912 gift of 3,000 flowering cherry trees from Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki to the people of the United States. By reestablishing the pre-war tradition of selecting Cherry Blossom representatives from every U.S. state and territory and crowning a U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen we have proudly upheld its role in honoring the legacy of friendship symbolized by the cherry blossoms.
NCSS is the longest serving organization involved in the Cherry Blossom festival. Today it is a collaborative celebration made possible by the collective efforts of the Embassy of Japan, the Mayor’s Office, the National Park Service, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc.®, the Japan-America Society of Washington DC, NCSS, and many other dedicated partners.
I encourage you to get involved with your State/Territorial Society to foster fellowship, civic engagement, and the celebration of America’s diverse heritage.
Gigi Galbraith
NCSS President
P.L. 105-225 is our Charter and operating statute. The measure was introduced in the 105th Congress as H.R. 1085 by Rep. Henry Hyde of IL, to “revise, codify, and enact without substantive change certain general and permanent laws, related to patriotic and national observances, ceremonies, and organizations, as title 36, United States Code, "Patriotic and National Observances, Ceremonies, and Organizations.” The House passed the bill by voice vote on 2-3-98, and the Senate passed it by unanimous consent on 7-30-98. President Clinton signed the bill into law on 8-12-98, which essentially superseded our original 1952 charter. The NCSS can be found in chapter 1505 (sections 150501-150513; pgs. 137-139).
House Report 105-326 -The House issued a report on H.R. 1085, which outlines the changes in the new bill from our original 1952 Charter. As the introduction to the report explains, H.R. 1085 was simply a codification of title 36 of the United States Code (Patriotic and National Observances, Ceremonies, and Organizations). The NCSS can be found in chapter 1505 (sections 150501-150513; pgs. 150-156).
36 U.S.C. 150501-150513 is the NCSS chapter as published in the United States Code. Scroll down to find a link for each individual section (sections 150501-150513). In addition to the current legislative text, each section outlines the changes from the original 1952 law (similar to the House Report).