Re: Paleo21 - Avocational paleontologists

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A major problem in dealing with avocational paleontologists is that there
seems to be no list of them or their organizations together with mailing
addresses.

Most professionals realize the value of their avocational colleagues, and
many have collaborated with them.  Indeed, the Paleo Soc and the Pal Ass
both have awards for "amateurs", who are so defined simply because they
have other jobs but many of them could probably get tenure at a University
based on their publications.   We need to do more.  Clearly, there is a
gradation in the avocational paleo community from those people who are
mildly interested in fossils or paleontology to those who conduct major
field and research projects.   Everyone along this gradient has something
to benefit from by more interactions with professionals, confidence being
only one of those things.

We need to locate all of these people so we can communicate with them.  A
good deal is being lost to both sides.  Without some means of
communication, we cannot begin to consider the needs and benefits of either
side in this.   As one example, the Paleo Soc has tried to develop
connections with avocational groups, but this has been possible only for a
couple of their societies known to particular members.   With a larger
number of groups going online, we can contact more now, but the list is
still probably very incomplete.

Paleo21 should develop a way to assemble this kind of information, to
develop a list of potential interactions of mutual benefit, and some
suggestions on how to bring the avocationalists into the fold of semi-, if
not truly, professionalism.