Dear All
Yes I'm serious, (ARIA did make it here once and intereg programmes have
too). I got lots of enthusiasm both on and off list. Perhaps folk ought to
find out from their authorities whether its viable - travel costs are high,
but have it on a Thurs and instead of travelling back Fri, we could arrange
to take you out and about then and over the w/e. O/n s - presumably we all
get the same allowance being LAs or quango LAs. If you want to come then
do, but make it May - July for your own benefits (better weather makes it
more interesting). We have a lovely conference room too!
Val
Val Turner
Regional Archaeologist, Shetland
Shetland Amenity Trust
Garthspool
Lerwick
Shetland ZE1 ONY
01595 694688
-----Original Message-----
From: Issues related to Sites & Monuments Records
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Sent: 11 December 2003 14:22
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Subject: Various issues - 1 of 3 - attendance at meetings
Dear All
I've been reading this discussion with interest and a little bit of
frustration. As some of the points made relate to things that were set up
when I chaired the HBSMR Users Group, it might be worth giving a few
thoughts and, where appropriate, reminding everyone of why we did what we
did. I've split it into three, as it's otherwise a long blether.
Attendance at meetings
Although the hope is for a large and representative number at every meeting,
it's not always going to happen, for various reasons, many of which have
been aired. Difficultly for travel is not an absolute and isn't determined
by distance alone - personal factors, reliability and timetabling of
transport all come into the equation. While I would hope that budgets
stretch to travel, not all will be able to support regular overnight
accommodation coasts . Just a fact of life for many, I suspect. There is
clearly a difficulty in not everyone being able to get easily to meetings
from all locations. That is at least one benefit in moving around, ensuring
that everyone gets a chance to attend a meeting near them. It spreads the
load and allows us all to get out and about. Travel is much more difficult
for those covering large rural areas, such as Scottish-based colleagues.
This is true even within their own areas (for example, when I was with
Highland Council, I did occasion!
ally have overnight stays just to do site visits!). So let's exercise some
tolerance for everyone else's difficulties, eh?
I don't want to stick to just one meeting place, and I don't want to visit
London any more than I can help. So: let's start spreading it around
further. It has always been difficult to get people to host meetings, be
they HBSMR or National, but it's worth the effort. Sarah's right too: a
meeting doesn't take much organising. Were you serious, Val? Were you
serious, those who thought Shetland was a good idea? As an alternative, if
everybody is ready for a 6 hour ferry trip from Oban or a plane ride landing
on Traigh Mhor, Barra's cockle beach airport, we could ask Historic Scotland
to let us have use of Kismul Castle, the ancestral home of the MacNeils. I
could have a word with the family...? Exotic or what?
Jim
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Jim McNeil, South Yorkshire Archaeology Service
Planning, Transport and Highways
Howden House, 1 Union Street, Sheffield, S1 2SH
Tel.: 0114 273 6428 Fax.: 0114 273 5002
Email: [log in to unmask]
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