Proposed AAI&S and IfA merger

[BAJR]

Have been sent this by an AAI&S member...

here is what he thinks

It's the assumption that illustration isn't really a specialism and that if you're MAAI&S only in the majority of cases would your work be better than anyone who fancied putting some drawings together. I know I couldn't manage a site but could a site manager manage a graphics office?

It's the "only an illustrator" an attitude I'm sick of coming across and being given briefs that blatantly show the report writer hasn't a clue how to use drawings from the field to interpret the site, or how to even make them legible.

I'm also sick of sorting out truly shocking fieldwork because some muppet has surveyed the site off a lampost, or picked up a site plan halfway through and not noticed they'd rotated it upside down so drawn the entire site back to front from the way the site outline and the first few features were drawn. I'm not bl**dy psychic but I know how to untangle the shambles that I get given and make it into a clear concise drawing that tells the story of the site - and generally save people's as*es.

Nice to be appreciated.... Just because you move into illustration doesn't mean you stop learning about archaeology and how commercial archaeology works, but there's the old them and us attitude that dogs the profession alive and well. (Phew that was a bit more of a rant than I expected - sorry!)

The AAI&S is not able to tackle this issue, and the only positive feedback I've discussed with other members is about finally getting some recognition that when you take on the management of graphics, which is where most MAAI&S have got to, you should be recognised as MIfA and that you have the relative archaeological knowledge as well as specialist ability/knowledge to be able to do so.

Now I too have been an illustrator and surveyor for many years... and get the attitude they describe... oh... just make up a couple of pics... blah blah... how hard is it.. etc... never get your hands dirty... why should you get a mention on the report... you 'only drew the illustrations' etc... I know quite a lot of illustrators, surveyors and draughtspeople who still dig (myself included) but we can also draw.. and manage...etc. perhaps we should be a higher grade than MIFA

The point of the IfA is to represent archaeology (or should I say heritage) in general. SO... you can have a pifa illustrator or digger or sup[ervisor or forensic or osteologist etc... and you could also have a MiFA digger or illustrator or osteo...etc... personally I think you should either be a member or a licentiate.. as IfA like teh AAI&S and the subs are far too small to allow for paid admin... which seems to be the basic reasoning behind the merger idea.

Now correct me if I am wrong

Forensic Science Society... British Assoc. of Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology.... Historical Metallurgy Society etc...etc......... all these are good working associations dealing with sub disciplines for archaeology representing the specialists... perhaps they should all give up ... them and more... and the IfA becomes the only body for everything... and I will then merge as well..

:face-approve:

Biifa! BAJR Inside the I F A


pps Trowel... I do see what you are getting at... I think the idea that MIFA means one thing.. and that is management is out dated (don't mean it ain't true!) MIFA means you are the best at the subdiscipline - whatever that is.