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This is the last call to join ACRA and SAA in making the point this August that “History Comes to Life Here.”
Our organizations are mobilizing members to share your project site with your elected representatives to demonstrate how our work preserves our shared cultural heritage for present and future generations, creates economic benefits for the communities in which this research is conducted, and contributes to community identity and history.
If you have a site you are working on this summer, consider hosting congressional visitors this August. Please contact Amanda Stratton and request our congressional visit toolkit today! This helpful guide will include tips on conducting a great site visit, talking point suggestions, working with their press staff, social media samples, and other items.
To get started, you need to submit your scheduling request. Go to the SAA Take Action portal today and click on the “History Comes to Life Here” link. Here you can enter the zip code in which your site is located, and send an editable template invitation to the senators and congressperson who represent that area.
Once you have a visit scheduled, please let us know the particulars so that we can follow up with their offices.
Legislators' schedules fill up quickly - get your meeting requests in NOW to participate in this great campaign!
Thank you to all who voted in the 2019 ACRA election! This year's election was extremely close, and we eagerly anticipate welcoming new members to the Board of Directors at the 2019 ACRA Annual Conference in Spokane. We greatly appreciate the service of our departing board members and look forward to their continued leadership on essential committee projects.
Congratulations to the winning candidates below! Their terms will start the Conference in October. Be sure to add your congratulations in the comments below!
Officers
Officers are elected for two-year terms, with those below serving from 2019-2021.
Designated Board Seats
Designated Board Seat Members are elected for three-year terms, with those below serving from 2019-2022.
At-Large Board Positions
At-Large Board Members are elected for three-year terms, with those below serving from 2019-2022.
Ryan Peterson (Cardno, Inc.)
Ann Scott (Terracon Consultants, Inc.)
Jo Reese (Archaeological Investigations Northwest, Inc.)
The 2019 ACRA Conference will be held in Spokane from October 24-27, 2019, and you have one week left to register for the lowest prices! Join us to hear exciting updates on preservation legislation in DC, be a part of interactive panels on CRM's most critical issues, and meet new business partners. What can you expect at this year's conference? Find out in the recently released session schedule. From sessions on innovative approaches to CRM and company/project branding and graphics, this year's slate covers a wide range of CRM and business-related topics.
Given the region's rich tribal history, we have also included a number of tribal elements, including a traditional blessing and a session specifically on the interaction between tribal leaders and the CRM industry. Tribal members are able to attend these specific sessions for a special one-day rate: head over to the registration page to learn more.
Register now to get the Early Bird rate - after July 15, prices increase. ACRA members and firms who register multiple attendees get an even bigger discount. Sign up today!
Register for the 2019 ACRA Conference NOW
Readers can now find relevant news items compiled all in one place! In our CRM Firms in the News series, we feature recent mentions of ACRA member firms and their projects across the country. Was your firm recently featured in a news article or on social media? Send it to us to be included in our next volume of the series!
As a part of our new partnership with NAEP, ACRA members are eligible to receive the member price for NAEP webinars. See below for information on an upcoming webinar on NEPA policy, and access the discount code here.
The National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) is proud to host its annual NEPA Policy and Legislative Update. The July 25 webinar will provide current information on developments regarding the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The presentation will be made by Ted Boling, the Associate Director for National Environmental Policy Act at the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), a position he assumed in January of 2016 after upon his return to CEQ after five years at the Department of the Interior. Ted served as Deputy Solicitor for Parks & Wildlife at the U.S. Department of the Interior, where he supervised the work of the Solicitor's Office in support of programs of the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Ted joined the Department in August of 2010, as Counselor to the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management where he focused on land management planning and renewable energy development and was Deputy Solicitor for Land Resources from April of 2011 to July of 2013. Before Interior, Ted served ten years at CEQ as Deputy General Counsel beginning in August of 2000, General Counsel beginning in January of 2008, and Senior Counsel from September of 2009.
ACRA members can join this timely and important webinar for the NAEP member price - click here for the discount code.
To register and view more details, please visit the event website.
A part of ACRA's mission is to improve the business efficacy of our member firms, and that includes more than just providing guidance on Section 106 and other CRM-specific topics. Our Continuing Education Committee has committed to providing opportunities to improve your general business skills, which in turn makes you a better employee, leader, or collaborator. The next webinar in our 2019 series does just that.
Despite how often meetings are criticized as dull, boring, or pointless, there is no better way to positively affect an organization than by changing how it conducts meetings. In fact, observing how senior leaders conduct their meetings will tell you more about the health of an organization than its balance sheet, or customer surveys.
On July 25, join us for Meetings for a Healthy Organization to learn how you can see improved communication, reduced stress, and an environment where they and others can more effectively do their jobs.
And how does this differ from similar trainings from other organizations? This one was developed specifically with the needs of CRM firms in mind.
Attendees will learn a system of a series of meeting rhythms that include daily check-ins, weekly staff meetings, stand-alone topical, quarterly review, and staff check-ins. Each of these focus on different issues that require their own solutions, from administrative, tactical, strategic, and developmental. This allows organizational leaders to focus on what’s important, rather than trying to cover everything under a single bloated meeting. Or worse still, to be in a constant state of putting out fires and dealing with interruptions that arise because of issues that aren’t being resolved during meetings in the first place.
ACRA's expert provider for this session is Ryan Duddleson, Senior Archaeologist and Principal of Orbis Environmental Consulting. Ryan has developed this system over 15 years of researching this topic and working in small, medium, and large CRM companies.
Improve your skills as a leader or develop the skills you need to move up the ladder quickly - register for Meetings for a Healthy Organization today.
Register Now
From sessions on innovative approaches to CRM and company/project branding and graphics, this year's slate covers a wide range of CRM and business-related topics. Given the region's rich tribal history, we have also included a number of tribal elements, including a traditional blessing and a session specifically on the interaction between tribal leaders and the CRM industry. Tribal members are able to attend these specific sessions for a special one-day rate: head over to the registration page to learn more.
Barrister Winery
This year's conference also includes a Spokane Heritage bus tour before the Saturday Industry Awards Social at the Barrister Winery. Check out the schedule to learn more, and don't forget to register before July 15 to get the early bird rates!
Although school is getting out and summer vacations are in full swing, the 2019 ACRA conference will be here before you know it! Our fall event will be held October 24–27 at The Historic Davenport Hotel in Spokane. Registration is open, with Early Bird rates available through July 15. Be sure to sign up today to receive the discount! The Member rate to register for the full conference is $375.00; the Non-Member rate is $450.00. Remember that subsequent attendees per firm get a $50.00 discount!
Some new attendees often ask what registration includes so they are informed for possible extra costs. The good news is that your full registration includes it all! For those who register for the full Spokane conference, registration includes the Thursday evening welcome reception, coffee and pastries on both Friday and Saturday morning, boxed lunches on Friday, the bus tour on Saturday evening, and the awards social with hors d’oeuvres on Saturday night.
What is not included? The Thursday workshop is a separate fee of $75.00, and the Take a Student to Lunch event is sponsored by the CRM participant (unless the registrant is a student - in that case you get a free lunch with a seasoned CRM professional!). You will sign up for these events separately when you register.
In addition to full registration, a la carte options are available for those who only want to attend the welcome reception or Saturday evening tour and awards social. See the conference webpage for more details.
Have questions about registration, sessions, or any other topic? Leave them in the comments below. See you in Spokane!
One of the primary goals shared by both ACRA and SAA is to advocate for public policies that protect the record of cultural resources both at home and around the world. In representing our community before the U.S. Congress, we deliver the message of how CRM preserves our shared cultural heritage for present and future generations, and how this preservation of our past enriches local communities and creates economic benefits.
Nothing makes an impression on Members of Congress like personal visits to sites that showcase where and how this work is being done in their districts. This summer ACRA and SAA are organizing a campaign to bring senators and representatives to project sites during the upcoming August congressional recess. Now is the chance to show the elected officials in the district where your site lies what important work you do for our nation and localities.
If you are interested in setting a meeting with your Member of Congress this August, contact Amanda Stratton and request our congressional visit toolkit. This helpful guide includes tips on scheduling, conducting a great site visit, talking point suggestions, working with their press staff, social media samples, and other items.
We have also made it easier for you to submit your meeting request: simply go to the SAA Take Action portal and click on the “History Comes to Life Here” link. At this site, you can enter the zip code in which your dig, museum, collection or facility is located, and send an editable template invitation to the federal and state representatives of that area.
Once you have set a date for the visit, be sure to let Amanda know. Let us know the particulars of the visit after the meeting as well so that we can follow up with their offices.
This is a great opportunity to educate Members of Congress on the scientific and economic value of CRM. We know you do amazing work and this is a chance to brag about it people who can make a difference by seeing how NHPA, ARPA and the Antiquities Act benefit their districts. Please participate and show politicians that all history is local.
The ACRA Government Relations team does more than just represent CRM interests in Washington, D.C. Did you know that the team is also available to consult for your local and regional conferences, help you with talking points for site visits, and more? Earlier this spring, ACRA member Shelly Davis-King took advantage of this vital member benefit to make the conversation local and pertinent to her state.
Shelly partnered up with Brendon Greenaway, California Associate State Archaeologist, and Kelly Lizarraga, Advocacy Coordinator for Cultural Heritage Partners, to present a workshop on advocacy at the Society for California Archaeology conference in Sacramento this past March.
Kelly shared an update on the latest news from Washington, DC. She outlined the ongoing threats to historic preservation and discussed the impact of the 2018 midterm elections. Kelly highlighted the areas in which the involvement of ACRA members can shape policy and inform the regulation-writing process of federal agencies.
During the workshop, Shelly and Kelly acted out a mock visit to a Congressional office. Shelly played the role of an ACRA member visiting a Congressional office – something she has done in previous years. Using her experience working on the Hill, Kelly acted the part of the Congressional staffer. Together, they demonstrated how ACRA members can share their expertise with Congressional offices to promote sound policy decisions.
ACRA members who’d like to advocate before Congress can visit their representatives in Washington, DC or in their home districts. Kelly and her colleagues at Cultural Heritage Partners would be pleased to help you schedule a visit to your Member of Congress in your home state. They will provide you with talking points and leave-behind documents to ensure that you feel fully prepared for your meeting. Email Kelly to start utilizing this crucial member benefit!
