AWA Area Groups
The AWA encourages our members to gather together locally and provides grants to support socializing and educational opportunities. This is a great way to meet people and network, as well as to have fun.
If you are interested in setting up a local activity for AWA members in your area, please reach out to your Area Group Coordinator(s) and they can help you advertise the event and recruit volunteers.
- Northwest Sound (Everett, Bellingham): Jennifer Zovar & Jerry Ek
- Greater Seattle Area (Seattle Metro, Eastside): Sierra Harding
- South Sound (Tacoma, Olympia): Scott Williams, Sara Steinkraus, Beth Mathews
- Southeast Washington (Tri-Cities, Yakima): Doug Mcfarland
- Central Washington (Ellensburg, Wenatchee): Josh Allen
- Eastern Washington (Spokane, Pullman): Ayla Aymond
- Southwest Washington (Chehalis, Vancouver, Portland): Jennifer Olander
Please reach out to vicepresident.awa@gmail.com if you need the contact information for your Area Group Coordinator.
AWA Committees
AWA Committees are a great way to get involved with special AWA projects and initiatives.
Diversity Committee
Contact: awadiversity@gmail.com
The AWA Diversity Committee is determined to improve equity, diversity, inclusivity, and belonging of all people in Washington and Pacific Northwest in archaeology. We meet these aims by completing small projects to better our organization and our field, such as compiling and creating resources for archaeologists working in the region. In addition, we are the home to the AWA’s Field Technician Training Program (read more on the Field Technician Resources page).
The AWA DC is always open to new members! We encourage you to get involved or contact our committee if you have ideas for how we can improve Washington archaeology. Please visit the AWA Diversity Committee Information and Updates page to find updates from the AWA DC, information about our past projects, and our detailed mission statement. To stay up to date on meeting invitations and other AWA DC news, please sign up to receive AWA DC emails using this Google Sheet (linked here), which serves as our group roster and self-selected email list.
Grants Committee
Contact: awa.grants@gmail.com
The AWA offers several grants to support students, early career professionals, Tribal staff and members, academics, and researcher members working in and around Washington State. The Grants Committee (GC) guides AWA in how it provides financial assistance while prioritizing equitable access to available funds that will increase inclusivity and diversity in our field. The GC receives and reviews all grant applications and selects recipients, as well as conducts fundraising to support the grants program.
Legislative Action Committee
Contact: washingtonarchaeology@gmail.com
The Legislative Action Committee (LAC) aims to keep the membership up to date on relevant legislative activity through various channels, such as the Society for American Archaeology, National and Washington Trusts for Historic Preservation, Preservation Action, the Coalition for American Heritage, and the State Heritage Caucus. The LAC Chair may also be the AWA's Government Affairs Network of State Representatives (GANSER) representative.
The LAC shares information with the Board and encourages the AWA membership to take action; when merited, the LAC provides advice and guidance on how to do so. For example, the Committee may draft comments on pending legislation for the Board to sign, or the Committee might prepare articles for the AWA newsletter to inform the membership about important regulatory issues. The LAC also responds to inquiries about legislation posed to the association by members or the general public.
Public Outreach Committee
Contact: washingtonarchaeology@gmail.com
The Public Outreach Committee (POC) is dedicated to improving the AWA member experience. We do that by finding ways to connect members and provide fun and professional activities that allow people to share their common interest in Washington archaeology.
Mentorship Committee
Contact: mentorship.awa@gmail.com
The AWA established a Mentorship Program to help students and new professionals begin their careers by connecting them with established or retired professionals in careers that impact archaeology in Washington state and the PNW. The program matches mentors with mentees who have similar interests and goals. The Mentorship Committee (MC) works to match mentors and mentees with similar interests, goals, and availability.
Northwest Anthropological Conference Committee
Contact: washingtonarchaeology@gmail.com
The Northwest Anthropological Conference Committee (NWACC) helps plan and organize AWA's involvement in the annual NWAC. The AWA Annual General Meeting (AGM) is held at NWAC each year, which is open to all current AWA members. AWA also staffs an information table where members can join or renew and hosts social events such as a pub crawl.
AWA Volunteers
The AWA is entirely run by volunteers, and we are always looking for new and innovative ways to engage with our membership. Being an AWA volunteer has many benefits, including gaining resume-building skills and visibility among the archaeological community which can lead to new opportunities. Regular volunteers can become Contributing Members of AWA, which includes all the benefits and privileges of regular membership with waived annual dues during the term of service. To become a volunteer, please fill out the AWA Volunteer Sign-Up Form. Reach out to vicepresident.awa@gmail.com with any questions!