Kuta,Indonesia, Indonesia
Kota Kinabalu,Malaysia, Malaysia
Kota Kinabalu,Malaysia, Malaysia
Kota Kinabalu,Malaysia, Malaysia
Matei about information-gathering and dciosein-making happening primarily via Council-appointed Task Forces and the process by which that operates is absolutely spot on.You ask how SAA can get involved in the academic preparation for archivists. There are already tools available, as Elizabeth Keathley points out. Training and education do not need to be nearly as decentralized as they are. In decades past, that might have been the case, but now that we have strong and well-established graduate archival education programs like those at Pittsburgh, Michigan, Texas, Maryland and other universities, SAA should be making every effort to direct aspiring archivists towards education that is both academically and professionally rigorous. As egalitarian as we may like to be, not all types of preparation are created equal; most employers recognize this, and it often comes as a rude awakening to people looking for jobs. SAA should be making this clear by throwing its endorsement behind programs that train complete archivists, just as ALA accreditation is an important signifier for aspiring librarians and employers. While I have my issues with the Certified Archivist designation, if we as a profession decide that we should have the equivalent of ongoing certification (like teachers or lawyers), then, yes, by all means, SAA should be pushing ACA certification as well. But these two things need to work together, not in parallel or opposition to each other, and not independent of SAA involvement.Advocacy in the realm of salaries and professional status should really be part and parcel of what a professional association does for its members. A*CENSUS already collected a lot of data on what people are paid; crunching those numbers a bit more and against what people are paid in allied professions and the cost of living in various parts of the country should be a feasible next step.Yes, all of this takes money, and both Council and the Task Forces are comprised of professionals who generously give their time to try to make our profession better. I really do appreciate everything all of you do. But I think if you asked and if you lowered the barriers to participation in the actual dciosein-making bodies and activities, you'd find many among the over 4000 members of SAA who'd be willing to offer a little of their time and expertise to the cause. Obviously, SAA can't be all things to all people, but it certainly should be able to do more for its primary constituency, people who are proud to be archivists and care deeply about their profession. And the first, and least expensive, step, as Jim Gerencser and others have mentioned, is better communication and more transparent dciosein-making.I hope this conversation continues, here or in other forums. I've found it really interesting and thought-provoking to hear all these different viewpoints!
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Mafer Gosh! Haw and Mel!!!!!! Wish we could have been there to share the fun with you guys. You both looked damn good and the fuinoctns looked so personal and definitely so hawandmelish btw You picked a fantastic photographer!! Anna-Rina your shots are superb! And your blogsite is awesome! Keep up the great work.. ()
Mafer Gosh! Haw and Mel!!!!!! Wish we could have been there to share the fun with you guys. You both looked damn good and the fuinoctns looked so personal and definitely so hawandmelish btw You picked a fantastic photographer!! Anna-Rina your shots are superb! And your blogsite is awesome! Keep up the great work.. ()
re: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Guilherme Thank You very much for posting this, Kate. I can tell you that it's rlaley, rlaley reassuring to see this to know that a member of Council is moving this forward. I'm also of the strong opinion that SAA must move forward in these directions in regards to the annual meeting. First, to ensure that labor relations at possible hotel venues are stable and secure before signing a contract. Second, to consider smaller or more out of the way' cities as viable conference locations as a Midwesterner, I'd love more Midwestern cities to be possibilities (though of course I love Chicago) so many of our cities have conference hotels that would easily accommodate a SAA conference. I'd also like to be the first to volunteer to help work toward these goals please let me know if and how I can assist. Further, as Co-Chair of the Issues and Advocacy Roundtable, these are directions that I'd like to have the Roundtable itself go now, I say that as you speak here, Kate of my own volition, without putting that forward to my Co-Chair or the Steering Committee, etc. but I think these are key issues.So: Thank You Kate this is refreshing and heartening news, and I stand with you in this.
re: Kuta,Indonesia, Indonesia
Matei about information-gathering and dciosein-making happening primarily via Council-appointed Task Forces and the process by which that operates is absolutely spot on.You ask how SAA can get involved in the academic preparation for archivists. There are already tools available, as Elizabeth Keathley points out. Training and education do not need to be nearly as decentralized as they are. In decades past, that might have been the case, but now that we have strong and well-established graduate archival education programs like those at Pittsburgh, Michigan, Texas, Maryland and other universities, SAA should be making every effort to direct aspiring archivists towards education that is both academically and professionally rigorous. As egalitarian as we may like to be, not all types of preparation are created equal; most employers recognize this, and it often comes as a rude awakening to people looking for jobs. SAA should be making this clear by throwing its endorsement behind programs that train complete archivists, just as ALA accreditation is an important signifier for aspiring librarians and employers. While I have my issues with the Certified Archivist designation, if we as a profession decide that we should have the equivalent of ongoing certification (like teachers or lawyers), then, yes, by all means, SAA should be pushing ACA certification as well. But these two things need to work together, not in parallel or opposition to each other, and not independent of SAA involvement.Advocacy in the realm of salaries and professional status should really be part and parcel of what a professional association does for its members. A*CENSUS already collected a lot of data on what people are paid; crunching those numbers a bit more and against what people are paid in allied professions and the cost of living in various parts of the country should be a feasible next step.Yes, all of this takes money, and both Council and the Task Forces are comprised of professionals who generously give their time to try to make our profession better. I really do appreciate everything all of you do. But I think if you asked and if you lowered the barriers to participation in the actual dciosein-making bodies and activities, you'd find many among the over 4000 members of SAA who'd be willing to offer a little of their time and expertise to the cause. Obviously, SAA can't be all things to all people, but it certainly should be able to do more for its primary constituency, people who are proud to be archivists and care deeply about their profession. And the first, and least expensive, step, as Jim Gerencser and others have mentioned, is better communication and more transparent dciosein-making.I hope this conversation continues, here or in other forums. I've found it really interesting and thought-provoking to hear all these different viewpoints!
re: Kota Kinabalu,Malaysia, Malaysia
Aase Cramer Kære Magnus. Rart at få et indblik i din færden, det lyder som en fantastisk, udfordrende samt spændende tur. Godt at du nyder det. Alene mad, toilet og kryb, må være en udfordring i sig selv. Pas got på dig selv og forsat god tur. De kærligste hilsner Aase og Hans Jørn.
on the message board
Aase Cramer Kære Magnus. Rart at få et indblik i din færden, det lyder som en fantastisk, udfordrende samt spændende tur. Godt at du nyder det. Alene mad, toilet og kryb, må være en udfordring i sig selv. Pas got på dig selv og forsat god tur. De kærligste hilsner Aase og Hans Jørn.
on the message board
Inge Lise Hej Magnus Det lyder til at være en rigtig spændende tur du er ude på, bort set fra igler. Jeg håber du nyder turen og får mange gode oplevelser med hjem. Pas nu godt på dig selv, du er jo langt hjemmefra og alt er jo anderledes der. Ha' det godt Magnus mange knus fra din faster Inge Lise
on the message board
Magnus has not added a travel plan yet
Guilherme Thank You very much for posting this, Kate. I can tell you that it's rlaley, rlaley reassuring to see this to know that a member of Council is moving this forward. I'm also of the strong opinion that SAA must move forward in these directions in regards to the annual meeting. First, to ensure that labor relations at possible hotel venues are stable and secure before signing a contract. Second, to consider smaller or more out of the way' cities as viable conference locations as a Midwesterner, I'd love more Midwestern cities to be possibilities (though of course I love Chicago) so many of our cities have conference hotels that would easily accommodate a SAA conference. I'd also like to be the first to volunteer to help work toward these goals please let me know if and how I can assist. Further, as Co-Chair of the Issues and Advocacy Roundtable, these are directions that I'd like to have the Roundtable itself go now, I say that as you speak here, Kate of my own volition, without putting that forward to my Co-Chair or the Steering Committee, etc. but I think these are key issues.So: Thank You Kate this is refreshing and heartening news, and I stand with you in this.