10th October 2011, 10:19 AM
Martin Locock Wrote:The AGM also approved the move towards chartership.
I fully support the IfA ambition of attaining Chartered status and was pleased to see the resolution passed without opposition. But I feel that such a massive potential change to the status of archaeologists has to take the members of the profession with it. If we can't even convince 5% of the committed membership to vote on such important issues, what chance is there of gaining the support of sceptical non-members...?
I remember a similar situation when RAO status was introduced and I was one of the few IfA members to express doubts at a meeting at the IfA cionference. In the end I was (ever gullible!!) convinced to stifle my objections with the reassurance from at least 2 council members 'Let us get the thing up and running and then we can deal with the 'fallout' once we have the archaeological organisations tied in'......Still waiting.
I just have a feeling that unless the IfA introduce a 'minimum voting quota' on at least some issues and methods of maximising the voting potential, then the system is open to exploitation by those who can most gain advantage from voter apathy ....
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...