Unfortunately most archaeologists would rather spend our time doing archaeology (like me) - its one of those jobs most people do for the love of it, getting paid's just a handy enabler (good thing considering how poor the wages are, and IFA have just washed their hands on that particular issue) - hence we rather object to being f***ed-over by people with apparently nothing better to do than throw their weight around on some sort of power-craze ...but equally since we'd rather be doing something useful, arsing-around setting up committees etc doesn't appeal - long long ago there was a real archaeologists organisation called ACT, to which IFA was the manager counterpoint, obviously ACT fizzled out and the manager mentality won out, but then that's why they're managers...although to be fair they've since invented the pathetic PIFA membership grade for people who can be milked for membership fees but aren't deemed worthy to rub shoulders...and made it as hard as possible along the way for anyone to upgrade to the club - back in the mid-80s I qualified for MIFA, but with all the little tweaks I'm not sure 25 years on that I do any more! you pretty much have to be a manager these days. Luckily most people are pragmatic enough to see through the b******s, non-membership has certainly never been any sort of career handicap. IFAs current aim is ultimately to see only chartered archaeologists operating commercially in Britain - their next aim after attaining Chartered status will be to seek a licencing system, which actually I'm in favour of, just not administered through their little club which would attempt to restrict it to Chartered members (i.e. a closed shop). that'd be time to go remove my decades of experience/knowledge to another sphere and I know other people of the same view - archaeology's loss [maybe not in my case?]
On the up-side, their little club certainly doesn't get it all their own way commercially at the moment, their members despite their efforts can't even grab all the big contracts for all their undercutting, they can't remotely claim to have a monopoly on quality or professionalism, and they certainly don't hold the academic high ground on end product. Long may it remain so :face-approve:
On the up-side, their little club certainly doesn't get it all their own way commercially at the moment, their members despite their efforts can't even grab all the big contracts for all their undercutting, they can't remotely claim to have a monopoly on quality or professionalism, and they certainly don't hold the academic high ground on end product. Long may it remain so :face-approve: