John,
 
 I agree entirely with your statement to Jay that:
 
>>  In my opinion SOPA lost a great deal of
>>professional authority when it stoped certifying speciality
>>expertise.
This is one of the main reasons why I'm considering voting against ROPA.  I
actually feel betrayed by the powers-to- be at SHA for not pushing this
issue.  Certainly, I may have a poor understanding of the issues - this is
purely a gut reaction, but when I heard that the specialities had been
dropped, it seemed to me like yet another loss in status for our kind in
the wider world of American Archaeology. ( John, I definately have in mind
the double standard you spoke of where prehistorians can do it all, but
historical archaeologists cannot)   On the other hand, if we are not in the
group, or at the bargaining table, can we ever hope to get these
specialities back?  So, basically, at this point, I'm too confused to even
cast a vote.
Linda Derry [log in to unmask]
 
 
>>John P. McCarthy, SOPA Vice President, Sr.
>>Archaeologist/Historian IMA Consulting, Inc. Minneapolis