The National Conference of State Societies (NCSS) was charted by Congress on April 3, 1952, when President Harry Truman signed Public Law 82-293 (36 U.S.C.
Members of early state associations were mostly made up of government clerks in the days before Civil Service reform, who wanted to stay on the good side of whichever party controlled the White House.
Many military service men and women were invited to attend state society dances free of charge during World War II.
In 1948 the Conference of State Societies joined the DC Commissioners in restarting the pre-war cherry blossom festival as a way to rebuild friendly relations with Japan.
That is still a primary role for the NCSS in 2009 but there is also a coordinating committee for many such events organized under the umbrella of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.