Alexandria Archaeology Volunteer News
Read are the latest issue of FOAA's quarterly newsletter. A printed copy is mailed to all FOAA members and active volunteers.
FOAA Annual Report
How to Join FOAA
The Friends of Alexandria Archaeology is a not-for-profit organization formed to support Alexandria Archaeology and to provide opportunities to participate in the excitement of uncovering the past.
To learn more about becoming a member, or to purchase your membership online, click here.
Join the FOAA List Serve to keep up with current activities and points of interest to our members.
The History of FOAA
Early in 1986, a small group of Alexandria Archaeology volunteers met to discuss the possibility of creating a "Friends" group. The group sought ways in which to expand the volunteer opportunities in Alexandria Archaeology.
An ad hoc steering committee sponsored a contest that April to choose a name and logo for the organization and the recruitment of members began. Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, and public recruitment were discussed, and a volunteer Board of Directors was created.
In the years that followed, the Friends of Alexandria Archaeology has succeeded in providing volunteer opportunities and increasing public awareness of archaeology. FOAA’s organizational framework now includes more than 300 members, and the quarterly newsletter, Volunteer News, reaches 600 readers.
FOAA’s Mission and Goals
Mission:
- To develop a common movement for the appreciation and conservation of Alexandria Archaeology and its place in the continuity of human experience.
Goals:
- Expand Friends of Alexandria Archaeology organizational framework
- Develop human and financial resources
- Conduct an effective educational and community awareness program
- Promote Friends of Alexandria Archaeology and archaeology
- Serve as an advocate for archaeology in Alexandria and elsewhere
Some FOAA Programs and Activities
Lectures and Tours
- Behind-the-scenes tours of local archaeology-related sites.
- Lectures by archaeologists from the Washington area and from around the world, including Egypt and Easter Island.
- "Java Jolts," informal coffee mornings in the museum, with guest speakers.
Scholarships
- FOAA presents a yearly scholarship for Alexandria Archaeology Summer Camp.
Members also assist with:
- Family Dig Days at Shuter’s Hill.
- Open Houses during Virginia Archaeology Month.
- Holiday Ornament Workshop, during the annual Scottish Walk. Visitors decorated cookie-dough ornaments shaped like artifacts from the collection.
- Marching in the George Washington Birthday Parade. Featured attractions have included our award winning float and a "precision" trowel and bucket drill team.
- Co-hosting the annual Volunteer Appreciation Party.
