24th November 2010, 12:19 PM
BAJR Wrote:Recently a Council Chief Exec said " Explain yourselves to us... we cannot understand you if you don't tell us, we can't include you in programs if you don't promote yourself" I paraphrase, but basicly, if we sit there expecting people to support us, we will get what we are getting now! OR we do make a concerted and vocal effort to explain our reality - a coherent why we do what we do and also why sometimes we find nothing, but if we do, then we have a duty - to communicate the information. And please gawd let it not be a mumbling monotone lecture read off a sheet of paper, as pictures and diagrams flash past on a poorly presented powerpoint. It is supposed to excite the public... to inspire people... SO when we do find something worth telling, then lets tell! If we explain why we don't invite people to every watching brief, then perhaps people will understand. Time to come out from behind the protection of the fence! PPS5 offers that opportunity. Nobody owes us anything - we have to earn it
:face-approve: But the only way to avoid the "mumbling" is training in presentation and speaking. We may be born with the tool (brain) but it needs sharpening for various applications. Hope that the new CBA initiative is flexible enough for all the varied work that needs to be done in the next 20 years after the last two decades of giving the impression that the public should "get off moi laaand". Lets go the way of the PAS and have imbeded and trained people all over the country engaging with the public, not just communicating information but facilitating the access to material culture that's required to allow for a real contribution to our subject, and the use of existing skills and knowledge that non-archaeologists have.