Minutes of the December 10th SGB EC Conference Call

1) February Meeting Schedule and Agenda -

HQ Liaison Baglio provided site details for San Francisco on the 19th, 20th and 21st. It was suggested that the SGB EC hold a preliminary meeting on the evening of the 19th, the SGB meeting be held on the 20th with an SGB EC follow-up meeting later that same evening. This would make the total meeting time 1 1/2 days. The group agreed this was very manageable.

VC Notkin requested that the discussion on the SGB meetings be linked to agenda item #3 regarding the retreat. Not all members of the SGB EC were enthusiastic about holding a January retreat. Instead, some suggested holding a "retreat-like" meeting prior to the preliminary SGB EC meeting. Everyone could come in early on Friday; the SGB EC could meet for about 4 hours in the afternoon to discuss mission, direction, etc. The group agreed to start with a lunch for those that were available at 1:00 PM followed by a meeting from 2:00 PM - 6:00pm with a one-hour break. The SGB EC could then have a dinner meeting from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM enabling everyone to leave on Sunday morning.

The agenda for the February meeting will include the SGB Sharing Session as requested by the SGB. Baglio requested that John White, ACM's new Chief Executive Office be invited to address the SGB. Ellis was also going to invite Bill Arms and perhaps Barbara Simons. Also to be included on the agenda is the SDF discussion that Cunningham is working on and the Organizational Structure Task Force being led by Lewis Johnson. Baglio will send out a call for agenda items with the schedule and sign-up form.

Action: SGB EC members should check airline schedules to see what time they could get to San Francisco. They should forward this information to Baglio so that she can schedule the meeting.

2) SIGAda Issues -

Conference Advisor Snodgrass led discussion. Snodgrass requested that the issue of viability and future SIGAda conferences be kept separate.

The SGB EC was informed that the recent SIGAda conference lost between $30,000 and $40,000. The SIG has a fund balance of $47,000 and the loss brings them below their fund requirement. The SIGAda leadership has plans for a '99 conference in Redondo Beach, CA. Without the appropriate fund balance requirements the decision on moving ahead with another conference falls to the SGB EC. The conference organizers want to broaden the conference but keep an Ada perspective. Some SGB EC members felt that there was no way to broaden and focus on Ada. If there is to be a conference, it should focus on Ada. The EC suggested that additional information be gathered from the SIGAda leadership; number of papers that have been submitted and accepted over the past 2 years, call for participation for '99, intentions on how the group proposes to move ahead and names of committee members. The SGB EC was reminded that over the last 3 years the SIGAda leadership has indicated that they understood the causes of their conference financial woes and each year vowed to correct them. The SGB EC was concerned about moving ahead with another meeting knowing that the last three have lost substantial amounts of money.

If the conference is approved by the SGB EC, Snodgrass suggested that there be one contact from the community (Brosgol) to deal with ACM HQ. Baglio was asked her opinion on moving ahead with the conference. She indicated that the decision to move ahead was the decision of the SGB EC. Based on the history of the event HQ believes is unwise to allow them to hold a conference. She indicated that if the SGB EC did endorse the event, the only way to approve it was based on the criteria suggested by Snodgrass.

The SGB EC decided to give the SIGAda leadership an opportunity to come up with a plan of action. Based on the suggestions made by Snodgrass, the SIGADA EC will be required to: close the SIGAda'98 books, provide a break-even budget for SIGAda'99 of 100 paid participants including a publicity expense of 4-15% of total expenses, a CFP for SIGAda'99 including organizers, data from the last two years on the technical program, a discussion of the technical focus of the conference a summary of the major changes to be made this year, a detailed list of milestones for conference activities.

The group endorsed moving ahead as suggested by Snodgrass. They agreed that no commitments should be made to the hotel until this information is submitted and reviewed and the leadership is given the go-ahead.

Action: Snodgrass will send a note to the SIGAda leadership requesting that they provide the SGB EC with additional information in order to move ahead with the '99 conference. He will forward a copy to the SGB EC for comment prior to sending to the SIGAda leadership.

2) SIGKDD's Awards -

VC Furuta led the discussion. The group was concerned about distributing a service award for a new SIG. Baglio reminded them that the SIG was new but that the community and the conference now associated with the SIG were not. They were also concerned about the SIG not being financially stable yet and offering monetary awards. To help SIGKDD they agreed to endorse the award premise but with the above restrictions.

Motion: Move to accept proposal presented by Furuta to endorse the SIGKDD proposal for SIGKDD Innovation Award and SIGKDD Services Award, with the following amendments:

1. Awards will be plaque only (no cash award) until SIGKDD achieves the required fund balance reserve or until stable external funding for prize money is obtained.
2. Initiation of the SIGKDD Services Award will be postponed to on or after January 1, 2000, or SIGKDD's leaving transitional status, whichever is later.

Soffa, Furuta
(6,0,1)

3) Retreat - Yes or No?

This item was covered under agenda item #1.

4) SIGMICRO Chair Appointment - Small SIG Liaison Cassel forwarded e-mail on this issue dated 12/7/98

The SGB EC unanimously supported the appointment of Dr. Kemal Ebcioblu as the SIGMICRO Chair from July 1, 1999 - June 30, 2001.

Action: Baglio will issue an appointment letter on behalf of Ellis to Dr. Kemal Ebcioblu as the SIGMICRO Chair from July 1, 1999 - June 30, 2001.

5) SGB EC Member Reports -

Cohoon reported that the Central Repository was discussed during the recent Publications Board meeting. ACM is conducting and experiment and allowing authors to place journal papers there for a two year period. Cohoon suggested that be the conference proceedings default as well. Once papers are accepted by ACM all versions are to be removed from the repository and placed in the ACM DL. IEEE has refused to allow this same experiment.

6) Nominating Committee Discussion -

Chair Ellis led discussion. The SGB EC is required to put together a nominating committee for the upcoming election cycle. SGB EC members were asked to send nominating committee candidate suggestions to Ellis. She reminded the EC that a slate needed to be in place by February 1st.

Once the SGB EC forwards the names of possible nominating committee candidates to Ellis, it was agreed that Carla Ellis would name the nominating committee members without further input from the SGB EC.

Action: SGB EC members are to send nominating committee candidate suggestions to Ellis.

Action: Ellis to appoint SGB Nominating committee.

7) Review status of Current Action Items - A list of action items will be distributed.

There was no time to review action items during the call but the following were reported complete:

 

 

• Person Responsible Snodgrass
  Item SIGAda
  Date Assigned 10/14/98
  ACM Subunit SGB
  Status Open
  Status Date 10/14/98
  Comments Inform the SIGAda Executive Committee that
  1. SGB EC requests that the SIGAda leadership not advertise or spend on the '99 event until the '98 event is complete and the financial viability of that conference is established.
  2. SIGAda should be prepared to provide a program review during the next SGB meeting.
• Person Responsible Baglio
  Item SIGAda Program Review
  Date Assigned 10/14/98
  ACM Subunit SGB
  Status open
  Status Date 10/14/98
  Comments Place SIGAda program review on the next SGB Meeting Agenda.
• Person Responsible Ellis
  Item IFIP
  Date Assigned 10/4/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 11/19/98
  Comments Ellis will inform Joe Turner that the SIGs wish to pursue the IFIP proposal presented to the SGB.
• Person Responsible Baglio
  Item SIGCAPH Program Review
  Date Assigned 10/4/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 11/19/98
  Comments Baglio will schedule a program review for SIGCAPH in 2 years in order to monitor their progress with regard to the concerns on volunteer development, strengthening of the SIG and their ties to the ACM Committee on Disability Issues.
• Person Responsible SGB EC
  Item IFIP
  Date Assigned 10/3/98
  ACM Subunit SGB
  Status Open
  Status Date 11/18/98
  Comments SGB EC is to inform appropriate volunteer leadership that the SIGs wish to pursue the IFIP proposal presented by Joe Turner and work on implementation.
• Person Responsible Ellis
  Item SIGLINK Name Change
  Date Assigned 10/3/98
  ACM Subunit SGB
  Status Open
  Status Date 11/19/98
  Comments Bring the SIGLINK name change forward to the ACM EC for approval.
• Person Responsible SGB EC
  Item SIG Reviewer Software
  Date Assigned 10/3/98
  ACM Subunit SGB
  Status Open
  Status Date 11/19/98
  Comments SGB EC is to examine the collaboration possibilities on the SIG reviewer software and report to the SGB. Taken over by Snodgrass.
• Person Responsible Baglio
  Item February SGB Meetings
  Date Assigned 10/4/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 11/19/98
  Comments Provide Notkin with location options for the next set of SGB meetings. Every attempt will be made to avoid overlapping SIG meetings.
• Person Responsible Baglio
  Item Conference Scheduler Web tool
  Date Assigned 10/4/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 11/19/98
  Comments Contact John Hart and request the web tool he's designed to administer scheduling of conference calls.
• Person Responsible Baglio
  Item Monthly Conference Calls
  Date Assigned 10/4/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 11/19/98
  Comments Baglio will set up monthly conference calls for the SGB EC once a schedule has been established.
• Person Responsible Baglio
  Item SGB EC Budget
  Date Assigned 10/4/98
  ACM Subunit SGB
  Status Open
  Status Date 11/19/98
  Comments Send a copy of the SGB EC budget to the SGB EC.
• Person Responsible Cohoon
  Item "CAPH like" Conferences
  Date Assigned 10/4/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 11/19/98
  Comments Cohoon will review the activities of other "CAPH like" conferences and organizations and report back to the SGB EC.
• Person Responsible Ellis
  Item Alternate Organization Models
  Date Assigned 10/4/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 11/19/98
  Comments Ask 2 members of the SGB to work with Furuta, Baglio and Ryan on the development of alternate organization models. A 60 minute time slot will be reserved for presentation of their report during the next SGB meeting.
• Person Responsible Ellis
  Item Model Development Committee
  Date Assigned 10/4/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 11/19/98
  Comments Will seek an SGB representative for the model development committee (Johnson and Furuta, Baglio and Ryan).
• Person Responsible Baglio
  Item E-mail Distribution Lists
  Date Assigned 10/4/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 11/19/98
  Comments Put together e-mail distribution lists for the new Boards.
• Person Responsible Baglio
  Item FOCUS TC Reps.
  Date Assigned 10/4/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 11/19/98
  Comments Report which of the FOCUS TC reps are ACM members.
• Person Responsible Baglio
  Item SIGCUE Extension of Terms
  Date Assigned 10/4/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 11/19/98
  Comments Forward request form SIGCUE for extension of terms to the SGB EC on Monday, October 5th for their review and recommendation.
• Person Responsible Baer
  Item Operating Rules
  Date Assigned 11/19/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 12/9/98
  Comments Review the operating rules, make recommended changes and forward to the SGB EC for review.
• Person Responsible Baer
  Item Election Task Force
  Date Assigned 11/19/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 12/9/98
  Comments Form an election task force to review the changes the SIGs would like to make and provide recommendations to the ACM EC to make those changes.
• Person Responsible Baglio
  Item Election Operating Rules
  Date Assigned 11/19/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 12/9/98
  Comments Distribute Election Operating Rules. Please note Whitton distributed these during the call.
• Person Responsible Baglio
  Item SGB EC Minutes
  Date Assigned 11/19/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 12/9/98
  Comments Place minutes of the SGB EC meeting on the WEB.
• Person Responsible Furuta
  Item SIG Awards
  Date Assigned 11/19/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 12/9/98
  Comments Inform SIG Awards Liaison that Awards are to be endorsed by SGB-EC through the VC of Development prior to being forwarded to the ACM Awards Committee for approval.
• Person Responsible Furuta
  Item TSC Task Force
  Date Assigned 11/19/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 12/9/98
  Comments Put together a task force on the future and mission of the TSC. He will request participation from SIGCHI and SIGGRAPH.
• Person Responsible Cassel
  Item SIGMICRO
  Date Assigned 11/19/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 12/9/98
  Comments Discuss the SIGMICRO Chair appointment with Jim Bondi and make a recommendation to the SGB EC.
• Person Responsible Baglio
  Item January Retreat
  Date Assigned 11/19/98
  ACM Subunit SGB EC
  Status Open
  Status Date 12/9/98
  Comments Seek sights and dates for a January retreat.