IfA/AAIS merger

[dmama]

r

the only inclusive way forward is surely the return to areas of competence where mifa is a recognised standard of competence in selected fields of endevour

curiously i sort of agree. a standard of competence is something to be highly desired however i don't agree with it being in the hands of the ifa. just drawing a pot? 25 years experience in archaeology surely counts for something. my work stands and falls on it's own merit and personally belonging to a "club" doesn't alter that. the same goes for anyone else in this field. we all know of someone who is a brilliant digger, manager etc. but equally there are the opposites who may well be members of ifa/etc. having already encountered such people and suffered as a consequence i'm not sure i want them to judge my work, experience and knowledge. luckily i am in a part of the industry that has proof of my work, my portfolio, but as a digger i was at the mercy of others who may, for what ever reason, have made it difficult for me (and others) to advance. (i'm trying to put this as diplomatic as pos, however if a manager takes a dislike to you, even having never met you, well you can guess the rest.) it is a sticky one i admit. finding a neutral and qualified panel of arbiters is no mean task. good luck

[overseas]

Well said, if sadly too true.

I myself am just about burned out from all the work BAJR has done over the past 12 years. and with some few exceptions, it has been alone. some people have helped greatly, others just complain that BAJR does not do enough. Or for every step forward (often the build up is never seen - nor do I like to make public any success - rather it just appears as if by magic or is credited elsewhere) there are those that leap onto any mistake. People seem to love to complain, but rare are those that help make it better.

I do believe that BAJRites have made a great difference.. by having views aired in public - by making it relevant... so lets hope we can do something with the future as the grains of sand start the final decent through the egg timer of archaeology

Not necessarily bang on topic,

But yes : complaining, criticizing etc is actually the easy part of awareness . Creating, producing, working towards - these are all hard - and not necessarily made easier by some of the complainers, criticizers and moaners who simply find a new target to have a go at! This is not a criticism of anyone or anything in particular here - and continuing critical judgement an absolute necessity! -, just a general reflection , as a build up to saying - wow, yes, a huge thanks to everybody who actually is out there moving and shifting and shaking and working and creating, to try and preserve, forward the cause, improve, save - conditions, standards, opportunities, the profession even, and generally being aware that history is now and we are the ones who make it. Thanks for all the hard work. Just words, but something we often forget to express, in the midst of expressing all our concerns.

[Boxoffrogs]

as a one time webservice owner Mr BAJR & I had to 'work' together, but he was so far in advance of the then given problem he was able to 'sort' it quickly and pain free. I thanked him at the time, and am happy to raise a glass to him ionce more!

On standards and guidance, I feel the only way forward is for an IFA like organisation taking the position of being between the 'workers' and the government, and that can only really me chartered status. If we are to see pay and conditions improve I stongly believe that the only way forward (as an unemployed archaeologist) is Chartered status, bring it on I say!

[Dinosaur]

How would that help your unemployed status? - everyone would have to join (sadly even me) so you'd be no further forward.....

[Boxoffrogs]

Dino, it may not help me as I am so close (well a few years) away from my state pension, but it would help save the profession and the 'young uns' coming up behiond us .... It would be nice to be considered a 'professional' rather than a'bloody student' when one says archaeologist!!!

[BAJR]

Nicely said box...

and glad I was able to help back then as well.

As to everyone having to join the club.. then there would be no more them and us... just us. and as you say... rather than looking for the "what's in it for me ME ME!!" what's good for us all is a much better attitude. Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate Dino's position, however, sometimes its better to act as a group - hence the hope that IfA CBA RESCUE BAJR et al can act as one. you never now

[Jack]

Archaeologists acting as one?

It would be like herding cats!

[BAJR]

WE almost manage it here! I say almost... however although people can disagree and argue, there can be a mutual recognition of values that we all agree on.

Either that or we are tame cats

[Wax]

Charted status is the way forward, open to all archaeologists professional and amateur across the multi disciplines that make up the profession. this requires a total rethink of the nature of such a professional organisation and the IFA in it's current form is not the means of doing this. It requires a leap of imagination and a pulling together of all across the profession. How does a profession gain charted status?:face-thinks:

[BAJR]

I can only but agree with you Wax. Either the IfA needs a total rethink OR we are fecked!