Berating colleagues for attending conferences has yet to eliminate conferences.
Some archaeologists choose to belong to organizations funded by the collection of dues, others don't. Some BA/BS degree holders choose to enroll in a graduate program to earn a higher degree, others don't. Some college graduate archaeologists choose a career with private contracting firms, others choose a career in government (local, state, or federal), and others choose to work in a completely different field.
If one chooses not to attend a conference, is there an expectation that others must abide by that choice and not attend?
Liz
On Wed, 15 May 2013 16:56:49 -0400, sent <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>Again sacrificing jobs and research for the feel good of human contact
>I cant see why this justifies such sacrifice.
>As you point out the job can be done with electronic communication
>
>We owe the public the most inexpensive solution and it has been demonstrated
>that traditional
>conferencing is the most expensive solution for doing the same thing-
>communicating and discussing.
>
>If you want face to face discover free good and easy skype
>
>If you want to exhange papers and even co author them use google docs
>
>for recreation and travel- well use your own money- or volunteer to do
>archeology in a nice setting
>
>Easy
>
>Conrad Bladey
>Archeologist
>Peasant
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: [log in to unmask]
>Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 4:50 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Why YOU should come to SHA Quebec 2014
>
>I really have to weigh in here. I know what it was like to attend
>virtually no conferences early in my career and what it is like to do at
>least two
>per year now (ACRA and SHA, sometimes SAA). Both my business and my
>company's work has improved dramatically, with a lot of that due to face to
>face
>interaction with people in the field. I have picked up many innovative
>ideas, made many changes in the way that I do work and just became more
>enthused with archaeology on a regular basis by attending and participating
>(an
>important component - giving papers, participating in symposia, doing
>posters, serving the organizations on committees and as officers, etc. - I
>was
>chair of the 1999 SHA Conference in Salt Lake City).
>
>While I have not expected to generate new work from these attendances, it
>has happened over the years. I also have, no doubt, that there have been
>projects we have done that have been the result of farther flung
>connections
>made at conferences that I have no idea came from there.
>
>Electronic communication is wonderful and a great way to share specific
>information and keep in touch, but humans are humans. There is no
>substitute
>for person to person interaction, body language, interacting with multiple
>people at once, experiencing the book room, personally interacting with
>people who create posters, the venue and city in which the conference is
>held. Getting to know archaeologists, historians, architectural historians
>and
>others over the years has enhanced my understanding of and joy in the
>profession, made my work better, and generated friendships for my wife
>(also an
>archaeologist) and myself that I would not trade for all of the electronic
>communications available, hands down.
>
>Mike Polk
>Sagebrush Consultants, L.L.C.
>Ogden, Utah
>
>
>In a message dated 5/15/2013 2:05:07 P.M. Mountain Daylight Time,
>[log in to unmask] writes:
>
>Exactly it is black and white that is why it is so important. We have more
>ways to promote interaction other than conferencing than ever in
>history-why
>are we using this
>expensive method which takes jobs and detracts from our ability to address
>the research?
>
>Communication is communication- all the things you mention can be
>generated
>by electronic communication-its easy-
>
>It is like people are insisting that we put our postal mail back on horses
>and stage coaches because it feels better- terrible foundation for the
>argument for communication!
>
>
>Conrad Bladey
>Archeologist
>Peasant
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Kimberly Wooten
>Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 2:36 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Why YOU should come to SHA Quebec 2014
>
>That's your black and white argument. I think the flip side being that
>attendance at conferences generates new ideas, enthusiasm, and
>professional
>contacts, all of which lead to funding and preservation opportunities, and
>if I enjoy myself, regardless of the personal finical decisions I make to
>attend a conference (locally or internationally), so much the better. VTCs
>are another option, happen frequently where I work, and are often employed
>in conjunction with professional meetings. The point of my message was to
>be
>supportive of a peer charged with the task of promoting an important
>conference. Kimberly
>
>
>
>> Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 14:10:36 -0400
>> From: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Why YOU should come to SHA Quebec 2014
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>
>> So the fun and travel is worth limiting funding, employment and
>necessary
>> conservation and fieldwork?
>>
>> Look into the many ways you can do really clear visual and audio
>> conferencing-free
>>
>> Conrad
>>
>> Thank you in advance for your prompt response!
>>
>>
>> On May 15, 2013, at 1:48 PM, Kimberly Wooten <[log in to unmask]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > Let me try this again... As archaeologists, it is almost a given that
>> > most of us are not living the high life. I admit it can be a financial
>
>> > strain on my family to attend a conference, but we choose to do this;
>we
>> > can't always attend annually and are careful with those meetings we do
>> > attend. The SHA meetings in York, England, several years ago were
>> > wonderful and nothing can compare to meeting people face-to-face,
>having
>> > my enthusiasm for my chosen field renewed by this contact and some
>> > excellent presentations, all wrapped in the bonus visiting beautiful
>> > places. Technology has its important uses, but its limits as well. I
>for
>> > one, will be happy to attend the meetings in Quebec City. Kimberly
>> >
>> >
>> >> Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 01:17:50 +0000
>> >> From: [log in to unmask]
>> >> Subject: Why YOU should come to SHA Quebec 2014
>> >> To: [log in to unmask]
>> >>
>> >> See the Society for Historical Archaeology’s latest blog, “Why YOU
>> >> should come to Quebec in 2014”
>> >>
>http://www.sha.org/blog/index.php/2013/05/why-you-should-come-to-quebec-in-2014/
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> William Moss
>> >> Conference Chair / 47th Conference on Historic and Underwater
>> >> Archaeology
>> >> Président du Comité organisateur / 47e Colloque sur l'archéologie
>> >> historique et subaquatique
>> >> www.sha2014.com<http://www.sha2014.com/>
>> >
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