New Generation Special Interest Group

[BAJR]

Well peeps... after asking about and getting not much answer. here is the basic info on the IfA New Generation Group. ( or is it Next Generation with Picard at the helm)

http://www.archaeologists.net/groups/NG

[h=2]Background[/h] The New Generation Special Interest Group was formed in 2012 following a series of discussions and debates by a number of PIfA grade IfA members at the 2012 IfA Conference in Oxford. It became clear that there were many people within the IfA, in the early stages of their careers in archaeology, who wanted to be more involved with the IfA and play a greater role within the sector as a whole.

[h=2]Aims[/h] The New Generation SIG aims to support archaeologists in the early stages of their career working in all aspects of the sector. We aim to achieve this by:

• exploring, researching and offering practical support and advice on pathways into the profession and career development;
  
  
• highlighting the contribution of early career archaeologists to the sector both in the present and in the future,
  
  
• by increasing the role and representation of early stage career archaeologists within the IfA.
  
  
  Currently they are putting out a survey-
  
  [h=1]NGSIG Training Questionnaire[/h]
  
  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3P79JGT
  
  Is this like a Diggers Forum for young Diggers? or what... I wonder what it does. Can anyone tell us how this is going... and if they want to work with us/BAJR/me as well. I am very willing to help, promote and support. As we/BAJR/I do with Diggers forum and anyone else who asks for support.
  
  Anyways... hope to hear from them soon...
  
  

[kevin wooldridge]

If the Yoof thnk there is a need for such a group, who are we old lags to question its existence. Mind you there ought to also be an 'Old Lags special interest group' to protect us against the onset of the New Generation.....might I suggest 'quiet areas' in all site huts where no one is allowed to use a smart phone, a shorter working day to enable us to grab a quick nap at lunch time, Rich Tea instead of Hob Nobs and more comfortable site toilets....

[Tool]

Although I'm just a tad cynical still about the value of the IfA to me, I have just done the survey. I do have a few comments about that survey, but it's probably pointless me posting them if no-one concerned with producing it is going to read them. Any idea if Pottery_Ben is around? Anyways, suffice to say, not the best set out survey ever. They are going to have to work a lot harder to persuade me to part with my hard-earned...

Thanks for posting it though, Sir Host! :face-approve:

[BAJR]

I am now a member of the Facebook page for them

https://www.facebook.com/groups/20356472...er=default

and hope that they can come on and tell us a bit more. As I have said to them, I realise they are looking at skills and training - but I thought the Diggers Forum was looking at skills and training as well. anyway... early days. I think they need to connect.
and I am all for an Old Lags group... with a slippers allowance.

http://hspheritage.com/2013/07/11/ifa2013/
has an account of the April IfA meeting where they become a SIG


ps... Tool... you are a consummate BAJRite

[pdurdin]

It became clear that there were many people within the IfA, in the early stages of their careers in archaeology, who wanted to be more involved with the IfA and play a greater role within the sector as a whole.

So the solution is "let's create an SIG and put those people off to one side in their own little group", not "let's start treating these people as equals, albeit with less experience"?

/cynic

[Tool]

Why thank you! And after just one week in the business...
I'll be keeping an eye on further developments. Not on Facebook though - Avoid that like the plague now after displaying a tendency to post exactly what was on my mind. Upset way too many people...

The IfA really could help themselves by making this SIG visible on their homepage. In fact, they could do a lot to make their homepage more attractive to us newbies...

[Kel]

If the Yoof thnk there is a need for such a group, who are we old lags to question its existence.

Let's not be ageist. I'm an aspiring "early career" archaeologist and I'm 49.

Do you think they mean me though...?

Although being the age I am, "New Generation" sounds like the dance troupe of an early-70s Saturday night TV variety programme.

[Tool]

[/FONT][/COLOR]
So the solution is "let's create an SIG and put those people off to one side in their own little group", not "let's start treating these people as equals, albeit with less experience"?

/cynic

I could read it in two ways:
1) they have become aware of a deficiency in their service to people new to the business and want to address that by asking those at that stage of their career, or
2) they haven't thought it through very well.
Time will tell which is closest.

[Wax]

Splintering off into special interest groups whether that is newbies or old lags suggests that the current organisation does not suite the needs of those it wishes to recruit (force to join). I sense a degree of frustration from those coming into the profession who realise they have no voice in the organisation that is supposed to support them and more importantly no obvious carear structure or staged training. Best of luck to them in trying to change things but I am with pdurdin " Let's start treating these people as equals albeit with less experience". Splinter groups are devisive even if you call them special interest groups. One for all, all for one or don't bother.

[kevin wooldridge]

Let's not be ageist. I'm an aspiring "early career" archaeologist and I'm 49. Do you think they mean me though...?

And equally you can become an 'old lag' at the age of 23 if so inclined.

David:Not sure about the slippers.....in my experience 'old lags' tend to veer towards Wellingtons, even where social protocol suggests otherwise (weddings, funerals, meetings with the bank manager), perhaps due to the lack of laces and not having to bend down with all its resulting problems (dizziness, pain in back, pain in knees etc etc)......

No objection to IfA having special interest groups, and I'm slightly surprised that more have not appeared over the years.....I'm in the 'Buggers who decided to work overseas group' to paraphrase its real title, but we don't get together very often......