To those colleagues, students, and archaeology supporters who will be
attending the SAA annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee April 2-6, 1997, I
would like to inform you of an interesting forum "WASHINGTON POLITICS AND
ARCHAEOLOGY:WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON" to be held Friday morning between 8
and 10:30 AM in the Opryland Hotel.  There is a summary of the forum below
as well as the list of pannelists.  If you are interested in politics and
archaeology, you will hear the lastest from the people who are the key
players for our profession in the U.S.
 
In addition to archaeologists and historic preservationists, the forum
included a sitting Congressman, REPRESENTATIVE PHIL ENGLISH (R-PA), who is
the recipient of the 1997 SAA Public Service Award.  Having a sitting
Legialator attend a political forum at the annual meeting is a first. The
forum have a panel of professionals who are active in government affairs who
present short summaries (10 minutes) of archaeology and poitics to be
followed by a open question and answer session.  If you are curious,
worried, frustrated, or pleased with the current political situation in
Washington and how it effects archaeology, go to the forum and listen to and
question the people who are on top of things inside the Beltway.
 
 
FORUM:  WASHINGTON POLITICS AND ARCHAEOLOGY:  WHAT THE HECK HAS BEEN GOING
ON AND WHAT'S NEXT?  FRIDAY APRIL 4, 8 - noon in the Opryland Hotel.  This
will be the second annual forum in which the leaders of Government Affairs
inside and outside the SAA  share with the general membership what has been
happening inside the beltway during the last year.  There will be a panel
who will give brief summaries on specific topics which will be followed by
an active question and answer period.  The panelists include:
 
VIN STEPONAITUS, SAA PRESIDENT-ELECT
        Importance and Role of Government Affairs in the SAA
BILL LIPE, SAA PRESIDENT
        New Directions in the SAA's Government Affairs program
JUDY BENSE CHAIR, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
        All Politics are Local: How Local Archaeology Contacts with
        Legislators Effect Capitol Hill
NELLIE LONGSWORTH PRESERVATION ACTION
        The Big Picture of Historic Preservation: Lessons of the 104th and
Applications to the 105th
DONNA SEIFERT, SAA EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER
        Archaeology on Capitol Hill: A Member's Involvement
REP. PHIL ENGLISH (R-PA, recipient of the 1997 SAA Public Service Award)
        Getting Your Message to Congress: How it Works
DONALD CRAIB SAA GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM MANAGER
        Review of Congressional Activitiy of 104th Congress and Forecast for
        105th
 
The forum last year was well attended, and many new faces to government
affairs were there.  I encourage you to bring a friend new to Washington
politics and archaeology.  The discussions were very interesting and
informative.
 
SEE YOU THERE!!!
 
Judy Bense, Chair, Government Affairs Committee.