18th March 2011, 12:40 PM
Well, I know what I want to see......
I hear Andy's points about beaurocracy and I think, in this instance he is probably right about the potential. Even if that could be avoided, the speed which would be required to act and the flexibility needed to achieve things quickly couldn't come from a convential organisation such as an umbrella group - there would be to much requirement for diplomacy and sharing of responsibility between all of the bodies, although I still feel it would be a wise move for the future within the archaeology part of the heritage sector.
38degrees has been a phenomenal success and has now expanded significantly from its original remit to draw in support and suggestions for other causes. If that is the model to follow (and it appears it is, provided it can be simple, accessible, fast and focused), then why don't we set-up a website just like that and use word-of-mouth to get the message out there.
I also have another concern. To ask the existing organisations to take a lead and produce something from their own ranks would take forever, create a diplomatic nightmare and would probably result in nothing more than a glossy sanitised, beaurocratically heavy campaign which might 'appeal' (or at least make them feel obliged to sign a petition) to those committed, signed up members within the respective organisations but would fail to capitalise on the potential more general, wider support. The solution to this could be to act now, set up a basic (although not unnattractive) website which can be built on stating simply the mission statement and asking for support and then deal with the diplomacy afterwards. If a campaign group founded on that can gather enough support, it is innevitable that EH, NT, CBA, IfA et al would want to join the growing band-wagon and then they can be pulled into the campaign.
Have we been here before............. it seems the key is to act quickly though...........
I hear Andy's points about beaurocracy and I think, in this instance he is probably right about the potential. Even if that could be avoided, the speed which would be required to act and the flexibility needed to achieve things quickly couldn't come from a convential organisation such as an umbrella group - there would be to much requirement for diplomacy and sharing of responsibility between all of the bodies, although I still feel it would be a wise move for the future within the archaeology part of the heritage sector.
38degrees has been a phenomenal success and has now expanded significantly from its original remit to draw in support and suggestions for other causes. If that is the model to follow (and it appears it is, provided it can be simple, accessible, fast and focused), then why don't we set-up a website just like that and use word-of-mouth to get the message out there.
I also have another concern. To ask the existing organisations to take a lead and produce something from their own ranks would take forever, create a diplomatic nightmare and would probably result in nothing more than a glossy sanitised, beaurocratically heavy campaign which might 'appeal' (or at least make them feel obliged to sign a petition) to those committed, signed up members within the respective organisations but would fail to capitalise on the potential more general, wider support. The solution to this could be to act now, set up a basic (although not unnattractive) website which can be built on stating simply the mission statement and asking for support and then deal with the diplomacy afterwards. If a campaign group founded on that can gather enough support, it is innevitable that EH, NT, CBA, IfA et al would want to join the growing band-wagon and then they can be pulled into the campaign.
Have we been here before............. it seems the key is to act quickly though...........