Special Meeting - September 2006
Hello, ASBC Nanaimo Members!
My thanks to all those ASBCNB members who attended Sunday's Special Meeting. Special thanks to Eric McLay, Provincial ASBC President, who gave a very enlightening presentation on the ASBC and gave us all some ideas to ponder on where the ASBC should be focusing its energy, now and in the future. Also thanks to Jessica and Marie for bringing cookies! Great way to start your Executive term, Ladies!
Sunday's meeting had two purposes: To find out if the members want more/or less services and to talk about the ASBC in general and where we are going. I really wanted to hear what you, the member, had to say about the Nanaimo Branch. Do you want lecturers from farther afield? Do you want some workshops? If so, what? Do you actually care? I was somewhat disappointed to scan the attending members and see either past or existing Board members staring up at me. I have been working with some of these folks for six years and I already know what they think in regards to the Branch. I really wanted to hear the thoughts of the other half of the membership. Tell us, the Executive, what you want for your membership. Why are you a member? For lectures? For social contacts? What? My door is still open for you to give me ideas on these matters as attending meetings is not always possible and honestly, they can sometimes be very painful! Understanding this, I encourage you to share your thoughts about the Branch with me either via e-mail or at lectures. Good or bad, I want to hear your opinion. It's your Society.
Our second focus was on the mandate of the ASBC and finding out if we are actually doing the ASBC founder's justice and living up to those ideals. A majority of Sunday's discussion centered on this. On a whole, I think the Nanaimo Branch has worked very hard to become a voice for heritage conservation in our area and you can all be proud of that fact. I think we can still do more but it will take some work and dedication from the WHOLE membership, not just the Executive. Provincially though, I think the larger structure of the ASBC needs some focus, something that has been lacking for many years. Its past focus on lectures and not actually on grassroots heritage conservation has left a sour taste in many members' mouths, which was extremely evident at the June AGM in Vancouver. The Provincial ASBC needs to be more vocal, more political, and get out there spreading the word about archaeology and heritage conservation. The ASBC has lost its way but I am confident that with Eric's leadership the ASBC will achieve new heights.
Overall, there was much discussion at the meeting about the past and present relationship with Vancouver and where we should go. Do we want a Federation so we can be more autonomous? My personal feeling is that it might work in the future. There is still the feeling of "us" vs "them" and I don't think all of us going off on our seperate ways and then trying to work on a larger level will work. We have to see ourselves as a unit, the ASBC, not as a "Branch" and the "Parent". It isn't until then we can go forward. Much work needs to be done to repair much of the mistrust over the last few years and Vancouver's Exec certainly has their work cut out for them but so does their general membership. Sure, we live on a rock, and we are geographically isolated from each other but we all have the same goals. We want to protect and preserve BC's collective archaeological past. Until ALL ASBC members, Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, see this we will be stuck. It's a mental shift that needs to happen and I am open to ideas on how to do that.
So now I encourage you to think about why you joined this Society and what you want for your membership. E-mail me or pull me over at any of the lectures. Our Executive meetings are generally the first Friday of every month, excluding January, and you are always welcome to attend. Agendas will be posted on our website so if you find something that tweaks your interest, feel free to attend.
Thanks for slogging through this e-mail and I look forward to your thoughts and comments. Note that our website is being revamped but upcoming lectures are still posted in the usual place.
cheers,
Julie Cowie, President
Archaeological Society of BC - Nanaimo Branch