I am interested in your symposium and think I might have something to say 
on the topic. I've been in archaeology for 30+ years, many of them for a 
contract archaeology program in a public university and currently as 
assistant director/curator for an anthropology museum in the same 
institution. But I also teach for the M.A. program in historic preservation 
in my University's College of Design and conduct my own research as well as 
take on other projects (generally with some public archaeology element) 
that come my way and are interesting. And I field a lot of inquiries from 
the general public about artifacts, sites and so on. My museum also 
includes the State Archaeologist's office and I review all the site forms 
that are submitted for permanent site numbers. I definitely have some 
opinions about how archaeologists are being trained and what we are 
offering the public, clients, etc. Would you mind if I called you and 
talked about this topic a bit before I commit?

At 01:17 AM 5/30/2006, you wrote:
>Following is a call for papers for an SHA 07 symposium on the topic the
>relevance of archaeology to the modern world. We have already gathered a
>stellar list of participants with perspectives from various government
>positions, CRM, academia, and public interpretation. We are looking for a
>few more presenters, particularly in the realm of archaeological legislation
>and public policy, museum-related topics, and Native American
>perspectives/approaches. Other innovative ideas will certainly be
>considered!
>
>Symposium description and brief bios of the organizers given below. If
>you're interested, please contact Marcy Rockman at:
>[log in to unmask], by June 10.
>
>Thank you so much,
>
>Marcy Rockman
>Joe Flatman
>
>
>Contemporary Relevance of Archaeological Research II: A Reply to the SAA
>
>A forum presented at the recent Society for American Archaeology meetings in
>San Juan addressed the question of the contemporary relevance of
>archaeological research, but they asked only academic archaeologists and did
>not come to any firm or - to us - useful conclusions. There are so many of
>us who deal with archaeology on a day-to-day basis outside of academia, and
>we think those experiences and perspectives are a key part to any full
>answer to the questions-- why do we do archaeology? What value does it
>really have? Why should modern economies pay to learn about the past?
>
>There are many reasons why these questions are important to the field of
>archaeology as whole here and now. In some respects, protection for and
>interest in cultural resources is increasing. An example is recently passed
>legislation in California that requires consultation with Native Americans
>at the very start of the urban planning and development process. A glance at
>Yahoo! news and the television schedule shows frequently brings up a global
>array of archaeological items and programs. But there are also real threats.
>In the U.S., there have been serious Congressional-level efforts to reduce
>the power of the National Historic Preservation Act, and globally problems
>in protecting archaeological resources in areas of conflict, such as Iraq,
>and ongoing trafficking in antiquities. Academic archaeology is also facing
>new challenges as teachers respond to an ever-growing student need for
>transferable skills such as project management, budgeting and legal skills.
>And, of course, there are the perennial issues of funding in all corners. We
>think that attention to modern-day relevance must be part of archaeology's
>answer to these pressures.
>
>This session is an effort to bring together archaeologists from a wide range
>of professional positions: governmental, publishing and media, cultural
>resource management, public interpretation, legislative, Native
>American-related, as well as academic, to consider what archaeology is
>currently contributing to the modern world and how these contributions can
>be improved, expanded, and added to. Topics for consideration include
>research techniques, training and departmental course structures,
>theoretical approaches, interpretation, and, particularly, presentation.
>Contributions come not only from the questions we ask of archaeology, but
>what we do with the answers we develop.  Jared Diamond's recent book
>"Collapse" was discussed extensively at the SAA forum, including the fact
>that it wasn't written by an archaeologist. Why not? What can archaeology do
>to have a more active voice in the interaction between our modern global
>society and our environment?
>
>Would you be interested in contributing? We are most interested in your
>thoughts, experiences, and solutions. For instance, your paper might
>describe who you work for, how they allocate funds for archaeology, and how
>they ask you to justify your needs. Why do they do archaeology? Do you ever
>have to explain why archaeology is necessary and, if so, how do you do so?
>Is there information or models that you would like archaeology to have that
>it does not yet provide? What happens to the archaeological work that you
>do, and do you think there is more that could be done with it? Specific
>project data are welcome, but not necessary.
>
>
>Organizers:
>Marcy Rockman, Ph.D.: Principal Archaeologist at PCR Services Corporation,
>Santa Monica; UCLA Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. Research focus:
>colonization and environmental information modeling (ie. "landscape
>learning"), lithic sourcing, Paleolithic Britain, southern California
>cultural resource management.
>
>Joe Flatman, Ph.D.: University College London Institute of Archaeology:
>Research focus: underwater archaeology, medieval maritime technology and
>iconography, heritage preservation.

Nancy O'Malley
Assistant Director
William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology
1020A Export St.
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Ky. 40506
Tele: 859-257-1944
FAX: 859-323-1968
Email: [log in to unmask]