IfA Recession Seminar

[BAJR Host]

Missed this one.. I thought BAJR might have at least got a heads up.. but hey - Is anyone able to go?

nice to see a 30 quid fee for non IfA ... at times like this, we should not be dividing, but all talking. So... anyone able to go on BAJRs behalf?

As part of the IfA's recession plan, the Institute has organised a Recession Seminar to explore ways for individual practitioners and archaeological organisations to cope with the changing economic climate and to plan for the future. This seminar will be on Monday 16 February at the Museum at Docklands from 11am - 5pm. Please find below the provisional programme and booking form. The event is free to IfA members (for non-members there is a fee of ?30). Attendance at the seminar also allows free entry to the museum. There are a limited number of spaces available so please return the form promptly to the IfA offices by email (admin@archaeologists.net) post or fax (0118 378 644:face-thinks: to book you place.

Seminar Outline
http://www.archaeologists.net/modules/ic...utline.doc

Booking form
http://www.archaeologists.net/modules/ic...g_form.doc


Kenneth Aitchison (Head of Projects and Professional Development) has written an article on the recession (submitted November 200:face-thinks: which is published in Antiquity. It can be found online here http://antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/aitchison/ .

?When a sinister person means to be your enemy, they always start by trying to become your friend.?
William Blake

[monty]

I can't go myself....... though someone MUST go on behalf of BAJR......talking instead of dividing ......well said Hosty......

[achingknees]

Thought all IfA members might get a heads up. They have my email address! It might be free but getting a train ticket now will cost plenty. I can't help being cynical here - was this meant to be for a select few representing organisations? Hope some good egg can make it and report back.

[Curator Kid]

Being extra-cynical, it's worth pointing out that there is the formal launch of the Nighthawking Report at the Society of Antiquaries at the same time as this. The report launch was arranged first as far as I know, so any luminaries in London will no doubt have committed to go to that already before this seminar was announced. Nice timing. :face-stir:

[BAJR Host]

I certainly hope that our cynical buttons are not jammed down However, this was (I thought) supposed to be everyone in UK archaeology getting together.. as equals.. and discussing a joint way forward. I still support that ideal, but fear it is devalued.. both by location, cost, timing etc. (not to say the baffling 30 quid fee to attend by non-IfA members - not very inclusive or recession busting) I certainly hope this can be more than just a chat about how bad it all is... I do notice that the IfA put the news up on their website on the 5th Feb.. (so it was there.. just nobody noticed) I was heartened to see it went 'public' on the IfA facebook on the 10th Feb. I found out about it from FAME, who had just been contacted yesterday. Talk about short notice.



?When a sinister person means to be your enemy, they always start by trying to become your friend.?
William Blake

[BAJR Host]

SO LONDON BAJRites any takers

?When a sinister person means to be your enemy, they always start by trying to become your friend.?
William Blake

[gonetopot]

In defence of the IFA, I got an e-mail notifying me of the seminar. Unfortunately I can't go as I'm still clinging to a job! Why a Monday when in the circumastances work is so important and vital to most of us. I know Saturdays are a weekend and all but its a small sacrifice many of us make for other events.

[Kathryn Whittington]

This seminar has been organised at relatively short notice (compared to comparable events we have organised) and this has unfortunately affected the timings in publicising the event. Although it has only been in the last week that we have been in a position to give definite timings and a programme, the date was announced in mid-January when we updated our Recession Plan, which was publicised on our website, on BAJR and britarch.

The booking form and plan have been on the IfA website for a week and we have electronically contacted all ROs, and all IfA members who allow us to contact them by email and have supplied us with a functioning email address. Members of FAME, TAF and ALGAO (and hopefully the Prospect archaeology branch members will be contacted by someone at Prospect, though I am aware that they are in a transition period at present) have been contacted on our behalf by relevant members.

The charge for non-members has been set to cover the cost of catering and the date has been determined by the availability of the venue. There are several people who are attending both the Nighthawking launch and the seminar.

[Paul Belford]

Cynicism and paranoia seem to be the main themes of this thread.

In fact the first announcement of the IfA seminar was in December last year. I got an email from the IfA about it earlier this month.

I would be surprised if there is much overlap between audiences for the Nighthawks launch and the IfA seminar. The Antiquaries event is a morning launch of a report which will in any case be on the internet at the same time - which means a couple of speeches and a cup of coffee. The IfA event is a seminar lasting all day to discuss the recession and its impact on the archaeological profession.

Short notice yes, but the IfA can't win - any later and you would have accused them of delay! Good for them for quickly organising what looks like a useful meeting at a critical juncture.

[Paul Belford]

Sorry Kathryn I was typing my response as you were typing yours!

I think a charge for non-members is fair - after all why should my membership subscription subsidise someone who can't be bothered to join the IfA and yet wants to gain the benefits of events such as this?