[OASIS members] OASIS Seeks Members for Technical Advisory Board

[Carol Geyer <carol.geyer@oasis-open.org>]

OASIS Members,
OASIS is unique among standards groups in that our technical agenda is
driven by our members themselves. The recent growth of OASIS TCs is a
testament to the success of our open technical process. We now have 25
TCs with more on the way, and increasing numbers of standards bodies and
industry groups are seeking liaisons with us.

With that growth has come the need for OASIS to provide a coordinated
vision for the industry and to offer guidance on technical direction for
our members. To that end, the Consortium is pleased to announce the
formation of the OASIS Technical Advisory Board, an elected group of
industry experts who will provide input to the OASIS Board of Directors
on technical topics meriting member consideration.

The OASIS Technical Advisory Board will anticipate growth and envisage
future direction for the Consortium. Its members will identify
interoperability issues and encourage the formation of TCs to address
those issues. They will seek convergence wherever possible, helping to
coordinate OASIS work with that of other standards-setting bodies.

Acting as stewards of the OASIS technical agenda, Technical Advisory
Board members will provide guidance on issues related to strategy,
process, interoperability, and scope. They will support the growth of
technical work within OASIS by identifying topics for standardization
that will be beneficial for the industry. They will recommend areas of
collaboration within and between OASIS TCs. The OASIS Technical Advisory
Board Charter http://www.oasis-open.org/nominations_tab/tab_charter.pdf
provides additional details on the activities of this group.

The OASIS Technical Advisory Board will be comprised of ten voting
members. Four members are elected by the OASIS membership, and four
appointed by the Board. An OASIS staff member and a Board representative
will also serve. OASIS Technical Advisory Board Members will commit to a
term of two years, with staggered one-year elections/appointments.

All member companies are strongly encouraged to nominate representatives
for the OASIS Technical Advisory Board. To be considered, applicants
must submit a biography and a letter to the OASIS membership describing
their interest in serving, as well as their qualifications. The letter
may also include opinions on future directions for OASIS and ideas for
technical activities. Members will review these materials via the OASIS
website and vote for those individuals they believe most capable of
providing technical guidance to the organization. Applicants should be
willing to commit to monthly meetings, but otherwise required time and
travel should be at a minimum.

Applications for the OASIS Technical Advisory Board should be submitted
to nominations@oasis-open.org on or before 29 March. Elections will be
held 1-30 April. The first meeting of the TAB will be in May 2002.

Be assured, the OASIS Technical Advisory Board will not affect the open
technical process of OASIS. The Technical Advisory Board will act in an
advisory capacity and will not create TCs or restrict TC activities.

We ask that all members give serious consideration to serving on the
OASIS Technical Advisory Board or encouraging a qualified expert to
serve. If you have any questions, please contact me or any other member
of the OASIS Board of Directors.

Regards,

Una Kearns
Documentum
OASIS Board of Directors
ukearns@documentum.com