Eric and TopicMap.org Friends,

I will refrain from commenting on the almost certain origin of this
arbitrary decision by IDEAlliance and the childish petulance that urged
it. I would find this all quite amusing save for the possible negative
impact on the progress of TopicMaps.org as an organization and topicmaps
as a technology.

I say possible negative impact as the recent posts on the topicmap list
reveal that applications are beginning to appear and will no doubt be
used by the wider community. My suggestion is that all current members
of the authoring group suggest one or more host organizations with a
brief statement of why such organizations would make appropriate hosts
for our efforts. Perhaps a short statement (1 per member please) of what
you see as the pluses or minuses of your suggestion(s). If we
self-regulate the suggestions and debate, I suspect we could have a
rough consensus before the end of April, 2001.

I don't know who has access to our website but certainly we should
remove all references to IDEAlliance and what was the phrase, wish them
"Good luck, you are going to need it!"

Onto more positive matters, suggestions for a new TopicMaps.org host
organization:

1. TEI-C.org

Pluses:

1. Neutral, not allied with a particular vendor
2. Technically oriented and conversant with SGML/XML
3. Not top heavy or seeking to promote the organization as an end goal

Negatives (I am a TEI member and fully support it, these are negatives
only from a commercial perspective)

1. Oriented towards strong standards, not strong commercial promotion
2. Less well known than some organizations among commercial vendors
3. As a young organization may not have the depth required for
supporting another young organization


2. Oasis

Pluses:

1. Neutral, also not allied with vendors but a wider set of vendors are
members (than in #1)
2. Technically oriented and conversant with SGML/XML
3. Well known among vendors

Negatives (I am not currently an Oasis member but can remedy that error
sooner rather than later if needed for our efforts.)

1. Oriented towards strong standards but does not appear (I may be
completely incorrect here) to have a strong arm for promoting adoption
of a standard, aside from the efforts of individual members. That may be
the case with most standards organizations. If we want topicmaps to be
widely used then we will have to author the software and topicmaps to
demonstrate (widely as possible) their usefulness. (Less debate on
theoretical issues and more rubber hitting the road perhaps.)
2. Baggage in its relationship to other standards bodies (may be a
positive?)
3. May also lack the administrative support we need but how much will we
require? It would be nice to have someone arrange the rooms, etc., but I
suspect we may have remaining members who are capable of using the phone
to arrange meeting rooms and to collect payments from members for their
use.

Yes, I took the two of the more obvious ones but I am between conference
calls and had the time. >:-)

For what it is worth (since I will not be at XML Europe (my daughter's
high school graduation conflicts) but planning on making the Montreal
meeting) I would be willing to start with the Montreal meeting to assist
the Chair by taking responsibility for making room reservations for
TopicMap.org meeting before or after the XML conferences. I don't have a
slush fund for such arrangements so, assuming the group is agreeable, I
will have to ascertain the room cost ahead of time and we will have to
self-assess ourselves the cost of the meeting prior to actually
attending. For off-conference meetings, I would prefer that we meet
where one of our members (the SBL has a very nice meeting room that I
could get for an attractive price(!) in Atlanta) could provide minimal
meeting facilities.

Perhaps a new meeting schedule, now that the specification is in place
of face-2-face every 4 months would work, assuming that we see more
software and examples (pointing and talking to myself here!) between
meetings. Maybe we can realize Murray's dream of an Apache module for
topicmaps. Best way I know to promote anything is to make it both useful
and ubiquitous. Counts for a lot more than tantrums and secret cabals.

Doing the beagle in Covington, GA, while the Lucy's of the world lecture
away!

Patrick

--
Patrick Durusau
Director of Research and Development
Society of Biblical Literature
pdurusau@...