And now, a word from IMA’s Richard McCoy:
Ellen Carrlee is an objects conservator who lives in Alaska. We’ve never met in person and only know each other through these internets. Along with our other friend and objects conservator, Daniel Cull, we’ve decided to take turns this week writing aboutour ideas for “New Directions” for the American Institute for Conservation (AIC). I was a guest blogger for Ellen on Monday. My post up there in Alaska is filled with lots of crazy ideas. On Friday, Daniel Cull will make a post on his blog… who knows what he’s cooking up. Here’s Ellen’s offering:
Straight from Wikipedia:
Elitism is the belief or attitude that those individuals who are considered members of the elite—a select group of people with outstanding personal abilities, intellect, wealth, specialized training or experience, or other distinctive attributes—are those whose views on a matter are to be taken the most seriously or carry the most weight; whose views and/or actions are most likely to be constructive to society as a whole; or whose extraordinary skills, abilities or wisdom render them especially fit to govern.
First things first: we need AIC and I respect the vital role it plays in our professionalism. You could say I was suckled at the AIC teat. Back in 1993, I was trying to find someone who would tell me what the heck “conservation” was. I made a long distance phone call to Jay Krueger, who my uncle told me was a friend of a friend, and one of this mysterious breed called “conservators.” It was quite a short conversation, and the upshot was “ask AIC.” I sent away for their brochures (by mail!) and poured over the requirements of the programs. It was the first of many times I turned to AIC to tell me what I needed to do.
