SGML: The Yuri Rubinsky Insight Foundation
Subject: Announce: The Yuri Rubinsky Insight Foundation
Date: Fri, 7 Jun 1996 14:43:09 GMT
From: murray@sq.com (Murray Maloney)
Newsgroups: comp.text.sgml
Dear Colleagues,
I am posting this on behalf of Holley Rubinsky
and the Yuri Rubinsky Insight Foundation.
Murray Maloney
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The Yuri Rubinsky Insight Foundation
Statement of Purpose
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 human access to information of all kinds.
Recognizing that all human capabilities are limited in various ways, it
seeks to achieve, to the fullest extent possible, equality of access for
all.
Elaboration
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.
Yuri's tireless work to advance understanding and applications of
the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) began as an extension of
his work in publishing and evolved into a commitment to broaden the
publishing metaphor. He saw the potential inherent in SGML toward achieving
greater access for the blind and visually impaired; using SGML, his novel
Christopher Columbus Answers All Charges was coded into Braille and
produced on voice synthesizer before it was printed. A World Wide Web
innovator, Yuri committed his company, SoftQuad, to the development of
software tools to make SGML a practical basis for international document
information systems.
Colleagues, associates, business competitors and friends
universally acknowledge Yuri's generosity in encouraging cooperation and
the exchange of ideas. He was a listener, a respector of all persons, an
invaluable resource and consequently, an inspiration. Through his vision,
energy and enthusiasm, he provided help to emergent projects - connected
people with mutually complementary ideas, made practical suggestions,
offered insight.
To carry on Yuri's work and spirit, the Foundation will develop
appropriate programs and projects, the first of which is the Yuri Rubinsky
Information Access Award. This award will be given to an individual or
organization in recognition of significant contributions which have
improved information access to all, in local or global contexts.
------------------------------------------------------------
Trustees:
Holley Rubinsky
Stan Bevington, Founder, Coach House Press
Bill Clarke, Executive Vice President, SoftQuad Inc.
Dave Gurney, Chairman & CEO, SoftQuad International
Douglas MacLeod, Architect, Virtual Reality Specialist
Peter Sharpe, Director of SGML Development, SoftQuad Inc.
Tony Wilshere, Publisher
Haviland Wright, CEO Displaytech
Honorary Trustee:
Charles F. Goldfarb, Information Management Consulting
------------------------------------------------------------
Planning Meeting
At the end of July there will be a core group meeting to
determine specific goals and practicalities of the Foundation.
Everyone who was important to Yuri could not be included, but we
hope that next year the Foundation will be able to host an event
that will bring our many communities together. Meanwhile, we hope
that you will feel welcome to come forth with ideas that are of
interest to you, that you think the Foundation should consider. Keep
in mind that the YRIF is not a grant-giving foundation; we're not
funding individual projects.
If you are interested in being placed on the YRIF e-mail and
snail-mail lists, please send your contact addresses to <otis@sq.com>.
Besides the hard copy of the September report, there is a book we have
in mind that will comprise, among other things, Yuri's miscellaneous
writings (including more meditations, for those of you who have read
A Prayer About Prayer) as well as his cartoons.
The Foundation is in the process of seeking charitable status;
for now, your donations will be acknowledged and charitable receipts
sent later.
CIBC (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce)
Att: Anne Foster, Private Banking Centre
2 Bloor Street West
Toronto ON Canada M4W 2G7
By wire: CIBC Yonge & Bloor
Transit # 00502; bank code 010; acct number 77-16613.
Best,
Holley Rubinsky (otis@sq.com)
Yuri Rubinsky Insight Foundation