Re: [SAGE] Incorporation news?

[Trey Harris <trey@eecs.harvard.edu>]

Speaking for myself, not for the interim board--

In a message dated Fri, 10 Dec 2004, Celeste Stokely writes:
> I, too, would love to read a report on how The New SAGE is doing.
> www.sage.org still says that we're an arm of USENIX. We need an
> update.

Technically speaking, this is correct.  Until the transfer of assets
(including trademarks and domain names) occurs, sage.org is under USENIX's
jurisdiction.

> Are we now incorporated? What is our plan? How are we implementing
> that plan? What projects are being worked? What is the timetable
> for the plan? Who is doing what? Whom should we contact to assist
> with various projects?

David Parter is currently finishing this month's memo to members, which
will have some more details of recent progress.  Things being as they are,
we can't give blow-by-blow updates until legal details are finalized. The
actual transition kicks in when legal items are completed, not when
they're filed, and it would be irresponsible of us to trumpet one or
another filing--which may run into complications that will have to be
responded to--as an "accomplishment."  For the most part, we're at the
mercy of bureaucracies and paperwork getting processed at this point.

The transition timetable was outlined at the community meeting at LISA;
the next member-visible milestone is elections, which should be happening
in late 2005Q1.  Those considering a run for the board may want to start
thinking about their availability and issues they'd like to address in
their campaigns.

I said at the LISA community meeting that we'd love to have
volunteers--aside from potential board candidates--and are gratified by
queries from people wanting to assist.  We're not yet putting out a call
for volunteers because we can't really use any yet; until the transfer of
membership and assets occurs, we're in a sort of stasis with projects and
programs.  Long experience has shown that putting volunteers into a
holding pattern ("thanks for your interest, don't call us, we'll call
you") is a sure-fire path to frustration, and we're not going to repeat
that mistake.  We'll ask for volunteers once we have work for them to do.

(We will very soon be forming a leadership development committee, which
will be charged with identifying people in our community who can make
positive contributions to SAGE programs and projects.  They will also
serve as the nominating committee for the upcoming elections.  David
Parter is heading up the effort to form the initial committee.  I believe
his plan is to identify a few key folks and let them form the committee,
but if you are interested in serving, I'm sure David wouldn't mind if you
sent him mail.)

Trey