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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