NEFAA is an organization that is
strictly non-hierarchical and open to all interested
individuals. Accordingly, there is no membership,
no dues, and no officers. The Organization is open
to all interested individuals. The openness of NEFAA
extends beyond anthropology and the meetings include
presentations by archaeologists, paleontologists,
coroners, and police. The organization emphasizes
the importance of a very informal atmosphere, or
what one of the founders, Dr. Marci Sorg, has called
"controlled anarchy."
Most of the meetings have no set agenda planned
for speakers until the day of the meeting. No abstracts
are submitted so there is no rush to meet a deadline
or worry about committing to an idea in print before
having a chance to discuss it with colleagues. Members
simply pack up some slides and head off to that
year's destination where the schedule is sorted
out.
The early meetings in York, PA were small enough
that sessions were held in one of the member's living
room. With its annual growth in size, gathering
in someone's parlor is no longer possible. Meeting
costs are kept to a minimum by using the college
or university facilities of the host members. In
addition to the individual case presentations, some
of the hosts have arranged events that offer unique
learning experiences for the participants. These
have ranged from demonstrations of cadaver dogs
by Ed David in Maine to the DMORT triage demonstration
organized by Dennis Dirkmaat at the meetings this
past fall.
The original approach has served its members well
and hopefully will continue to do so into the future.
Dr. Marci Sorg has noted that the support she received
from NEFAA was instrumental in the development of
the well-known taphonomy volumes which she edited
with William Haglund. Student members have found
that attending NEFAA meetings is a much easier way
to meet other anthropologists and those in related
fields. Providing this atmosphere where students
could learn and feel comfortable was one of the
primary goals of NEFAA.
*Special thanks to C. Wilczak and M. Sorg for
their imput*
