excellent idea. At the moment the SMR Users Group is an excellent forum but
can provide no direct feedback to non-SMR people who need to consult us as a
species. The ALGAO SMR committee can offer formal feedback but is so small
that it doesn't always have a real mandate. A designated SMR Users Working
Party should therefore have a real role. As regards personnel, can I suggest
that some new faces would be welcome. The 'usual suspects' do a grand job
but often represent SMRs who come from one end of the spectrum ie well
resourced and with time to attend such functions. It would be good to have a
truly representative sample of SMRs on the group, in terms of geography,
technology and resources.
> ----------
> From: Emma Jones[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 21 June 2001 15:03
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: SMR User Group
>
> At the last SMR User Group held in York I made a suggestion regarding the
> future running of our Group. I would like to set up a small working group
> of SMROs, I would suggest one from each region as an ideal number. The
> working group will:
>
> Act as a more formal mechanism for sharing information between the ALGAO
> SMR Committee, the Portable Antiquities Working Group and SMROs
> Decide on topics, format and venues for future SMR User Groups
>
> The level of communication between SMROs is excellent thanks to the SMR
> Forum but links with ALGAO are adhoc and we would all benefit from the
> introduction of some structure. As SMROs we all need to feel that User
> Group such as, development of the SMR Manual, liaison with the Portable
> Antiquities Scheme etc are run effectively. I hope the instigation of a
> working group (I know, meetings about meetings!) is a way to ensure we are
> more than just talking shop. The group need not meet anywhere other than
> in e-space and they would ensure that more SMRs have their views
> represented in the national context.
>
> I should say this is not a bid to do Martin Newman out of a job, he will
> continue to take most of the credit for arranging User Group Meetings and
> acting as liaison between SMROs and EH.
>
> I am happy to see a debate on this idea on SMR Forum, but I would be even
> happier to have SMROs volunteer to sit on the Working Group. A Working
> Group should be formed by the end of August to plan for the next SMR User
> Group in November.
>
> Emma Jones
> Warwickshire SMR Officer
>
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