2nd October 2008, 01:54 PM
Posted by Monty:
However, I feel that I, and other archaeologists that I work with, have benefited from our IFA membership in other ways.
For a start, the simple fact that we are members of a professional institute has helped us gain recognition as professionals from members of other professions. When I started out as a professional archaeologist, all archaeologists were assumed (by other professionals) to be a bunch of eccentric amateurs, and all site staff were assumed to be students doing it for fun on their holidays.
The only reason why that works in the long run, however, is that the IFA has done a great deal to promote the development of professional attitudes and to improve the standard of professional practice over the years.
The pace of IFA-promoted change may have slowed in recent years, but that is at least partly because they already made most of the readily-achieveable improvements that they could in their current set-up. Reform and change to the institute itself is required to put them in a stronger position to make further, and larger, improvements to the profession. That is why they are trying to make reforms and changes for exactly that purpose.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
Quote:quote:mmmmm ...why not change it to FAFI.... i.e. we do FA for field archeologists ...... has anyone ever actually benefited from IFA membershipWell, if you want an organisation whose aim is to support employees in negotiations or disputes with their employers, you are probably better off with a trade union. The IFA is a professional institute, and as such it is intended represent all archaeologists - including those in management positions - so its remit in relation to employment matters is very limited.
However, I feel that I, and other archaeologists that I work with, have benefited from our IFA membership in other ways.
For a start, the simple fact that we are members of a professional institute has helped us gain recognition as professionals from members of other professions. When I started out as a professional archaeologist, all archaeologists were assumed (by other professionals) to be a bunch of eccentric amateurs, and all site staff were assumed to be students doing it for fun on their holidays.
The only reason why that works in the long run, however, is that the IFA has done a great deal to promote the development of professional attitudes and to improve the standard of professional practice over the years.
The pace of IFA-promoted change may have slowed in recent years, but that is at least partly because they already made most of the readily-achieveable improvements that they could in their current set-up. Reform and change to the institute itself is required to put them in a stronger position to make further, and larger, improvements to the profession. That is why they are trying to make reforms and changes for exactly that purpose.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished