Big plans for 2012....!!

[kevin wooldridge]

What is the big issue that BAJRites should be campaigning for in 2012?


(I am guessing avoiding ending up selling 'Big Issue' will be first and foremost in most peoples minds....)

[Dinosaur]

Stopping them turning off my analogue tv signal! !

[Wax]

Stopping cut backs to local government archaeology services (and all those other services such as care for the disabled and the elderly)

[BAJR]

Along with Diggers Forum it will be away from home working / skills training (with recognition of skills) and Transparent adverts for posts.

[kevin wooldridge]

My personal joy would be to see 10 Diggers Forum candidates on the ballot sheet at the next IfA AGM (Sept/Oct).....

[Martin Locock]

To build on Kevin's suggestion, for anyone interested in improving standards in the profession to join the IfA and take part in elections, group meetings, consultations and votes etc. Purely on a pragmatic short-term basis this could have an enormous impact on the strategic direction of the profession.

[chiz]

My personal joy would be to see 10 Diggers Forum candidates on the ballot sheet at the next IfA AGM (Sept/Oct).....

Well, you know you can attend council by conference call from anywhere in the world Kevin! I'd also like to see some more Diggers standing for council, whether DF or not. Sounds like we only need 9 more volunteers!

And as Martin says, getting involved will help shape the profession. There are big things going on right now, the threat to HERs and Curators is huge as Wax says, then there's Museum funding cuts, representative assemblies, chartership, all of this can be activley shaped by getting involved. Its not just IfA stuff, join Rescue, join your local society. If you don't feel represented, represent yourself; if you haven't got a voice, speak up.

If every archaeologist wrote to their local council every time it tried to cut services would it make a difference? Well it did in Sheffield. We are in this profession, so for the sake of at little as ten minutes a week, just give something back and help shape it the way you think it should be. Write a letter, sign a petition, make a difference, get involved. Otherwise there won't be any archaeology left in 5 years time.

So I don't know whether its a single issue for 2012, or just that I'd like to see more archaeologists get engaged, via whatever means you like. The DF could always do with some more helpers, but if you think we're no good, then give someone else an hour of your time.

The DF will soon publish its report on away work and travel, based on the surveys held last year. We'll be pushing to try and get improvements in this area, and on the related area of transparent adverts. Trying to make sure you know what those terms and conditions actually will mean to your wage. We've a couple of smart ideas on this, but it will need help to make them a reality.

Here's to a good year, all year!

http://www.archaeologists.net/groups/diggers
http://www.facebook.com/DiggersForum?sk=info

[kevin wooldridge]

If you are starting a slate Chiz for the next IfA elections you can add me to it. As you say it isn't vital to have to attend London for every meeting and I know from the past that there is always a ton of IfA work going on behind the scenes. I think the next IfA council will also be the one that possible starts the 'Chartered' project rolling so as you say a chance to shape the profession for the future....

[chiz]

Kevin, thankyou. I know you'd be a valuable addition to council, and if you want to sign up to the DF statement of being 'committed to creating a positive, sustainable and financially viable career for all professional archaeologists at all points in their career' then the DF will back you all the way. And we know you have supported and championed that view for many years both in words and in actions.
Of course all candidates stand for, and speak to, council as individuals, there is no 'block vote' of DF members, and we've voted in different ways from each other in the past. We live in interesting times, lets help shape them!


?if a child of mine expressed a desire to be an archaeologist I would thrash it out of them.? anon., 2012 DF report on away work and travel, in prep.

[P Prentice]

will you be advocating minimum wage kevin?