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Last modified: March 05, 2001
SGML/XML Consortia, Users' Groups, and SIGs

Industry Consortia, Users' Groups, and SIGs Supporting SGML and XML

OASIS - Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards [formerly: SGML Open]

[CR: 20010305]

OASIS was incorporated in 1993 under the name SGML Open. In 1998 it adopted the new name OASIS with expanded objectives that embrace the complete spectrum of structured information processing standards, including the XML family of languages, SGML, DSSSL, HyTime, HTML, and CGM. OASIS "is a non-profit, international consortium of users and suppliers whose products and services support SGML and XML, today's most viable standards for document and data interchange, especially in the mainstream information technology market. OASIS operates XML.ORG, the first global XML industry portal featuring an XML registry and repository that offers automated public access to XML schemas for electronic commerce, business-to-business transactions, and tools and application interoperability." Through educational, technical, and marketing programs, OASIS strives to accelerate "the further adoption, application and implementation of the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) and Extensible Markup Language (XML), especially in the mainstream information technology market." The annual SGML/XML 'XX Conference and the corresponding SGML/XML Europe Conference are co-sponsored by OASIS (together with the Graphic Communications Association), as are other major SGML/XML events.

"OASIS provides its members with an open forum to discuss market needs and directions, and to recommend guidelines for product interoperability. The consortium receives, coordinates, and disseminates information describing SGML methodologies, technologies, and implementations. The work of OASIS complements that of standards bodies, focusing on making SGML easy to adopt, and SGML products practical to use, in real-world, open system applications." [adapted from the Mission Statement]

Because SGML/XML are broad enabling standards, sometimes requiring users to integrate multiple products from multiple vendors, OASIS seeks to coordinate collaborate efforts of vendors by establishing pragmatic technical guidelines which assure interoperability without limiting the breadth of application of SGML and XML. Companies joining OASIS agree to work together to improve interoperability in the market. Based upon an understanding of interoperability gaps, OASIS's technical working groups formulate guidelines for bridging those gaps and improving current practice. Documents produced by technical working groups are submitted to a process of review and approval. Such documents provide critical information for vendors who supply products that must interoperate in a "framework" for SGML applications. Integral with this process, OASIS provides a forum in which vendors can discuss what exactly is and can be meant by "interoperability." [adapted from the Technical Agenda description]

Through its Web site, OASIS provides a number of important resources to the international community of SGML/XML users, developers, and suppliers. Its online library incorporates white papers, technical publications, OASIS presentations, feature Newsletter articles, OASIS Public Texts, and other reference documents. The online calendar of events lists conferences, courses, workshops, seminars, user group meetings, and other public events in the SGML/XML world. The OASIS membership listings provide contact information and descriptions of products/services for the individual members.

As of 2001-03-05, OASIS had 79 Sponsors, 70 Contributors, and 16 Affiliates (Liaison).

As of June, 1999, OASIS had eighty-six (86) members within three membership categories it offered to candidate industry partners: Sponsor Membership, Contributor Membership, and Participant Membership. There were thirty-five (35) sponsor members, forty-one (41) contributor members, and ten (10) participant members.

The current Executive Director of OASIS is Laura Walker. She may be contacted by email at laurawalker@earthlink.net. Walker is supported in her leadership role by eight officers who are elected by the membership and serve as the OASIS Board of Directors.

The OASIS Executive Director and Board of Directors:

Executive DirectorLaura WalkerOASIS
ChairmanBob SutorIBM
PresidentBill SmithSun Microsystems
Chief Technical OfficerNorbert MikulaDataChannel
Chief Information OfficerAlan HesterXerox
Board MemberEric GarciaSabre
Board MemberPatrick GannonNetfish
Board MemberUna KearnsDocumentum
Board MemberAmy KraneEnigma

Links:

Contact addresses:
OASIS
Post Office Box 455
Billerica, MA USA 01821
Tel: +1 978 667 5115
FAX: +1 978 667 5114

Media Contact: Carol Geyer
Director of Communications
OASIS
Email: carol.geyer@oasis-open.org
Voice: +1.941.284.0403


The Yuri Rubinsky Insight Foundation

[CR: 19970115]

"The Yuri Rubinsky Insight Foundation is dedicated to commemorating the genius of the late Yuri Rubinsky by bringing together workers from a broad spectrum of disciplines to stimulate research and development of technologies which will enhance access to information of all kinds. The Foundation provides a focal point for those honoring the life and work of Yuri Rubinsky, an industry leader, inventor, entrepreneur, author, humanitarian and friend."

See the primary Web site for the Foundation, or the dedicated section in the SGML Web Page. Tributes to Yuri Rubinsky may be found in the special Tribute page, from some sixty (60) friends and colleagues.


International SGML Users' Group (ISUG)

[CR: 19980402]

Note: Information pertaining to the International SGML Users' Group and to SGML user groups worldwide is being reworked into a dedicated online database of ISUG Web Site materials, now located on the TechnoTeacher server at ISOGEN International Corp. Use this URL (href="http://www.isgmlug.org/ for official ISUG information. The information and links given below will probably not be kept up-to-date.

Links for National/Regional SGMLUG Entities

[CR: 19980402]

Note: see now the official ISUG Web Site for authoritative information and links.

Some links and notes relevant to national/regional chapters of the SGML Users' Group are supplied below, in no particular order. Additions/corrections from officers are solicited.

Contact addresses for all SGMLUG entities

For an address list of elected members, national chapters, SIGs and pending chapters of the SGMLUG, see the SGML Users' Group Newsletter 2/4 (October 1996) 5-8, or see the current online listing [November 16, 1996]; or the listing from 1994 in HTML format.

The primary contact (editorial address) for the International SGMLUG is:
SGML Users' Group
Pamela Gennusa
PO Box 361
Swindon
Wiltshire SN5 7BF
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1793 512515
Fax: +44 1793 512516
Email: plg@dpsl.co.uk

International SGML: Description

The International SGML Users' Group was founded in 1984 by Joan M. Smith, who served as its first president until 1990. The current president (1994) is Pamela Gennusa of Datalogics and MID/Information Logistics Group Ltd. Membership in the SGMLUG numbers some 584 members: 278 individual memberships and 306 corporate representatives for 153 corporate memberships. The International SGMLUG has three liaison representatives to ISO/IEJ JTC 1/SC 18/WG 8, the ISO entity responsible for SGML.

The objectives of the SGML Users' Group are to promote the use of the Standard Generalized Markup Language and to provide a forum for exchange of information about SGML. The Constitution of the SGML Users' Group is published on pp. 7-8 of the SGML Users' Group Newsletter 6 (November 1987); see also "SGML Users' Group Constitution," SGML Users' Group Bulletin 1/1 (1986) 5-7; "Standard Generalized Markup Language. Users' Group," Literary and Linguistic Computing 3/1 (1988) 54.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Users' Group is normally held in conjunction with the International Markup Conference sponsored by the Graphic Communications Association (GCA). Regional and national chapters and SIGs also meet occasionally throughout the year. There are now many national and regional chapters of SGMLUG. For example: Belgian-Luxembourgian Chapter, Danish Chapter, Dutch Chapter, Finland Chapter, French Chapter, German Chapter, Irish Chapter, Italian Chapter, Norwegian Chapter, Swedish Chapter, Swiss Chapter, UK Chapter, Groupe SGML du Quebec, Arizona Chapter, Southern California Chapter, Northern California Chapter, Mid-Atlantic Chapter, Midwest SGML Forum, SGML Forum of New York, Rocky Mountain Chapter, Southeast Chapter, SGML OZ Incorporated, New Zealand Chapter. Two special interest groups affiliated with the International SGMLUG are SIGhyper (Hypertext and Multimedia; Chairman: Erik Naggum) and the European Workgroup on SGML. Some of the chapters and SIGs have dedicated serial publications in paper and electronic format.

Executive Council members of the International SGMLUG for 1994 are as follows. Officers: Ms Pamela Gennusa (President), Mr William W. Davis Jr. (Vice President), Mr Stephen G. Downie (Secretary), Mr Richard Light (Treasurer); Members: Dr Charles F. Goldfarb (Honarary Technical Consultant), David W. Penfold (Ex-Officio Member, Bulletin Editor); Elected Members: Ms Sharon Adler, Mr Marion Elledge, Mr Paul Ellison, Dr James D. Mason, Dr Lynne Price, Ms Drs Dieke van Wijnen.

Membership in the SGMLUG includes receipt of up-to-date information about SGML and related standards, reduced rates at events sponsored by the The SGML Users' Group, a copy of each issue of the SGML Users' Group Newsletter and SGML Users' Group Bulletin, discounts on books central to SGML, and 10-percent discount for the MarkUp Conferences. Membership rates (1994) are: 75 US Dollars (or 40 pounds UK) for individuals; 150 US dollars (or 80 pounds UK) for institutions. Student discounts are being discussed. The secretary of the SGML Users' Group maintains for members a bibliography of other SGML-related publications in a document "SGML Library," and will supply copies of these documents to group members. The "SGML Users' Group Bookstore" represents a stock of SGML-related ISO standards documents, handbooks, tutorials, and other SGML-related publications. These resources are made available to members at discounted rates. Further description of the SGML Users' Group [but current only as of 1994] may be found in an associated fact sheet.


Graphic Communications Association (GCA)

GCA is a "volunteer non-profit membership association, Graphic Communications Association (GCA) was formed in 1966 to apply computer technology to printing, publishing, and related industries. From 14 founding firms, GCA has grown to a worldwide organization with over 350 member organizations and tens of thousands of individuals who participate in our training programs, conferences, standards development committees, and technical studies. No other organization brings such a diverse pool of competitors, customers, and suppliers together to better the information technologies and print communications industry."

[April 19, 2001] "Printing Industries of America (PIA) Board Agrees to Graphic Communications Association (GCA) Spin Off. David J. Steinhardt New Chief Operating Officer of GCA." - "The Printing Industries of America (PIA), Incorporated Board of Directors has agreed to spin off its Special Industry Group, the Graphic Communications Association (GCA), as an independent association, effective on June 30, 2001.

Links:

Address: Graphic Communications Association
100 Daingerfield Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Tel: (703) 519-8160
Fax: (703) 548-2867
Email: dthieme@gca.org (Don Thieme)
Email: mern@well.sf.ca.us


GCARI

[CR: 19990325]

The Graphic Communications Association Research Institute is an affiliate of Graphic Communications Association (GCA) in Alexandria, Va. XML/EDI Group is a special membership organization of the GCA Research Institute.


CommerceNet

[CR: 19980715]

"CommerceNet is a non-profit industry association for companies promoting and building electronic commerce solutions on the Internet. Launched in April 1994 in Silicon Valley, CA, its membership has grown to more than 500 companies and organizations worldwide. They include the leading banks, telecommunications companies, VANs, ISPs, online services, software and service companies, as well as end-users, which are transforming the Internet into a global electronic marketplace."


HyTime Users' Group

[CR: 19980105]

The HyTime Users' Group is a memberless affiliate of the International SGML Users' Group dedicated to the use and maintenance of the HyTime Standard, ISO/IEC 10744:1997 (Second Edition). The HyTime Users' Group sponsors a web site at which readers 'will find a variety of materials to support their exploration and use of HyTime and its related standards'.

Links:

Contact:
Mr Steven R. Newcomb
TechnoTeacher, Inc.
3615 Tanner Lane
Richardson, Texas 75082-2618 USA
Tel: +1 972 231 4098
FAX: +1 972 994 0087
Email: info@techno.com
Email: srn@techno.com (Steven Newcomb)
WWW: http://www.techno.com/
FTP: ftp://ftp.techno.com/


SGML Project


SGML Repository



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