SAA has grown greatly and, as importantly, has grown more diverse. The society requires many voices and venues. Given the society's expansion and the location of the 1995 meeting in an area of population concentration, we had a record number of submissions. In fact, the 1995 Minneapolis meeting will be the largest in SAA's history, with more than 1100 individual presentations, forums, and workshops. Instead of silencing a large number of our colleagues by having an unacceptably high rejection rate, the program was expanded to accommodate as many participants as possible. Thus, you will note, perhaps with some discomfort, there will be Thursday evening presentations and 14 concurrent sessions. Nevertheless, the Program Committee still had to decline four percent of the submissions. Because of the size and complexity of the 1995 Annual Meeting, everyone will need to be well organized, and the sessions must stay on schedule.
The Opening Session of the Annual Meeting coincides with Minnesota Archaeology Week. A Wednesday evening dedicatory drumming and welcoming ceremony with representatives of Minnesota's archaeologists and Native Americans begin the meeting. Then, Don Fowler will present "Archaeology in the 21st Century: We're All in the Past Together," in honor of Elden Johnson.
There will be sessions and activities of interest to all archaeologists. In addition to a very large number of North American symposia, the 1995 meeting has 20 Old World sessions and 27 sessions devoted to Latin America. Nearly 25 theory symposia are joined by many sessions, workshops, and forums on CRM, public archaeology, and methodological issues. The meeting is further enhanced by numerous excursions and adjunct activities.
Make room in your schedule for two notable sessions. Stephen Lekson organized a very special Plenary Session, "Telling Archaeology: Parks, Museums, Print, and Video," on the public image of archaeology. This Saturday evening program includes a distinguished group of participants who have been especially important in molding and nurturing archaeology's image. At the request of the Executive Board, board members Catherine Cameron and Roger Anyon organized a Thursday night session, "Finding Creative Solutions for Restructuring American Archaeology," to rethink the structure of archaeological research.
You will have also noted that this year's Annual Meeting has 24 roundtable lunches, opportunities for those with common interests to get together informally. Unfortunately, most of the lunches are limited to 20 participants each. The society is considering forming interest groups within the society, and many of the lunches could become seeds for such future groups. Lunch participants should consider beforehand how they could institute greater communication among archaeologists with similar interests.
Let me take this opportunity on behalf of the Program Committee to thank you for your submissions, participation, and cooperation. We much preferred organizing a meeting for an active membership overflowing with many creative ideas than one for an ossified and dull discipline. We enjoyed working with all of you. Thank you.
Of course, there are always regrets and missed opportunities. I take no responsibility for the lack of a field trip to one of the most fertile areas of anthropological research, the Mall of America, the world's largest mall just outside Minneapolis. Blame SAA executive director Ralph Johnson (who, perhaps rightly, suggested if anyone was interested they would surely find their own way there!) Perhaps I'll see you at the mall during one of the infrequent lulls in the Annual Meeting's schedule.
Paul Minnis is with the University of Oklahoma at Norman.
Scott Anfinson (Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office)
Gary Cavender (Spiritual Advisor for the Mystic Lake Dakota
Community)
"Sacred and Profaned: Perspectives on the American Indian
History of the Twin Cities Area," which presents complementary
perspectives on the history and prehistory of Minnesota and
continuing cultural traditions drawn from archaeological
evidence and oral history.
For more information on the SAA Public Education Committee's activities, contact Edward Friedman, Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 25007, D-5650, Denver, CO 80225, (303) 236-1061, ext. 239.
Teresa L. Hoffman is with the Environmental Division of the Bureau of Reclamation in Phoenix, Arizona.
The course will include the following topics: objectives and requirements of FERC regarding compliance with section 106 of the NHPA and related historic preservation laws; guidance for reporting on cultural resources investigations; definition of cultural resources terms used by FERC in the compliance process; and efficient strategies for planning and conducting cultural resources investigations.
There is no fee for the course, which will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but attendance is limited and you must preregister. To receive information and/or a registration form for the course, please contact Donna Connor by telephone at (617) 542-8805, or by mail at Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation, 211 Congress St., Boston, MA 02110.
Past listings have included opportunities in academe, consulting firms, federal and state agencies, and museums. We have revised the format of the ESC based on suggestions from previous participants; the new ESC is designed to be more convenient and flexible for both employers and individuals seeking employment.
For more information about this free-to-members service, write: Employment Service Center, Society for American Archaeology, 900 2nd Street N.E. #12, Washington D.C. 20002, fax (202) 789-0284, to request guidelines for users.
If you are not already a member, let us know in your request and we will forward membership information to you promptly!