how would you change the ifa

[disheartened]

maybe this is again covering old ground but what would you do in an ideal world.

Our lovely fairy-godmother has just granted our wish [8D], the power to make the ifa what we want. Make it representative, a force for change, a real organisation. she'll wave the wand once it's decided what you want and how it should work. so what would you like to see the ifa doing?[?]

[troll]

All of a sudden, the IFA realise that they have a responsibility to the public and the finite resource that belongs to all. They suddenly realise that giving extra letters to peoples names is no guarantee of competence and professionalism. They suddenly realise that the people who do this for a living are not ignorant, misinformed or dellusional and that actually, they (IFA) have a problem. They wake up one fine morning and decide that if archaeology is to be sandwiched between developers and other animals, some safeguards are needed. The biggest gift the IFA could offer is simple: listen to the people who do this for a living and stop pretending that everything is just dandy and the nation`s heritage is safe in their hands. I`d join them tommorrow if they did....

[vulpes]

Hmmm.... So am I to conclude that everyone is happy with the IFA except Troll, and possibly Disheartened, who, working in Ireland (Eire?) falls outside their reach anyway. Personally, for the record, I think they're doing a fine job and exactly what it says on the tin...

[vulpes]

Oh, being new to forums and all this pettifogging I am impressed with the star system which seems to reward quantity over quality. It also (perhaps deliberately) seems to resemble working at a certain fast food outlet. Well what with all this talk of the McJobbishness of Archaeology I'm not surprised. D'yer want chips wi' that?

[disheartened]

i thought that with the amount of bitching going on in here, it might be an idea for people to put down real concrete ideas about what they would like the ifa to be. and then maybe talk about how to make it happen working within the existing structures (assuming that it's generally better to start with what you got rather than nothing). you can't whinge forever you know.

and yep i'm in Eire, and don't belong to the ifa, for the simple reson that i haven't gotten around to filling in the direct debit! but they don't have a geographical limits, any professional archaeologist can join, regardless of where in the world they may be.

[vulpes]

The IFA are a British organisation. There's enough to sort out here apparently, without taking on the world. Yeah, anyone can join, and I'm sure they'll be all too happy to take your money. They do have strong links with their Irish equivalent the IAI though, heres a link:

http://www.instituteofarchaeologistsofireland.ie/

[troll]

Vulpes-absolutely right, the star system simply reflects the quantity of posts. "Quality" of course will ultimately be judged according to individual perception. There is no kudos to be had in shiny stars-I for one am lower than a snakes genitals and glad that I am-I see more from here and, would dispute in the strongest possible terms you`re insistance the IFA "does what it says on the tin". There are plenty of people who would like to see changes and discuss the issues here and with the help of the Digger. For my part, I am grateful for the opportunity to do so and am not remotely interested in personality competitions.Agree with you disheartened, issues need to become distilled and unambiguous.Our main problem is one of communication to all in the profession, apathy can be a deafening silence....

[BAJR Host]

Star system is a standard forum device for seeing the ammount of time or posts a member spends in this particular forum. I am afraid that my 'quality of posting filter' is turned off as is my 'what was the point of that' filter ...the 'crap quaestions' filter etc.



This is a lively and almost 99% safe forum, where ideas can be discussed, answers can be put forward and solutions do arise. It is definately not a forum for a 'nothings the matter' head in the sand. In this case the original question echoes what the IFA (and I mean at High levels) are asking themselves and trying to deal with. If the IFA know that something is wrong, and want to change it, then I think that any suggestions will (if not agreed with or implemented) help them to realise the full potential.

The Diggers Group is one active example of ideas turned into reality, a more interactive disciple system, reasons for diggers to join, member benefits, CPD help, guidlines and codes meant for all. Representaion of the majority of archeologists... all these are important and active issues. If indeed the IFA are in teh process of becoming an organisation that not only represents the archaeologist but is seen to act for their benefit then BAJR would and will support that. These discussions and sugggestions are all part of the process.

Just in case nobody saw... Join up with the Diggers Group! IFA membership not required. Print out the flyer as well to publisise

http://www.bajr.org/Documents/MEMBERSHIPFORMFLYER.pdf
http://www.bajr.org/Documents/DFMEMBERSHIPFORM.pdf

[Alfie]

I for one would like to see an archaeological regulatory authority. I think the IFA are chiefly concerned with sustaining the IFA, not archaeology and archaeologists; in my opinion they are a product of their time and have had their day. They represent a minority of archaeologists in terms of membership and policies and now only get in the way of real change. This is to the detriment of archaeology.To change the organisation would be like trying to make a cortina into a microlight, possible but a bloody long way round.I have been trying to think of positive changes that could be made but inevitably come back to the same conclusiontart again.
By the way "a more interactive disciple system," Hosanna! is that where you get to ride the donkey too?

[disheartened]

all right then. What do you start with?