Next conference call Nov. 9--LegalXML Electronic Court Filing TC--are youavailable?

[Robin.Gibson@courts.mo.gov]

Folks, our next scheduled conference call
is November 9 at Noon Eastern time.  Based on the messages passing
on the list lately, it looks like we have some significant issues to address.
 Please advise if you are unavailable for this conference call so
that it can be rescheduled if needed.  

Call in information:
Dial-in number: (218) 339-2699
Access code:  529192



Robin Gibson, PMP
Court Automation Manager
Information Technology Divsion
Office of State Courts Administrator
573-751-4377
----- Forwarded by Robin
Gibson/OSCA/Courts/Judicial on 10/28/2010 08:18 AM -----

From:      
 Laurent M Liscia <laurent.liscia@oasis-open.org>
To:      
 legalxml-courtfiling@lists.oasis-open.org
Cc:      
 Board Plus <board-plus@lists.oasis-open.org>
Date:      
 10/22/2010 05:33 PM
Subject:    
   [legalxml-courtfiling]
More background on Board decision regarding LegalXML Member Section funds

---

Dear members of the Legal XML community, 
Here's some clarification of the Board's decision to require
that the Legal XML Steering Committee present a reasonable plan justifying
the continued existence of the Member Section. I can't answer all the points
that were discussed on the list, but I can definitely address your concerns
by giving you the background on the decision. My role as Executive Director
is to serve, among other things, as an ombudsman, and I'm happy to do so
in this matter. 

Let me begin by saying that the decision is by no means
a reflection on the extraordinary work that has taken place in this community.
We are all proud of the LegalXML Member Section and its diverse and far-reaching
work. 

For a while now, the Steering Committee of the Member
Section has explored what to do with the Member Section since by all indications,
the work under its roof has reached its conclusion. There were two proposals
discussed with OASIS staff and the relevant parties. I'm truly sorry you
were not aware of these proposals, although I find it curious that this
information did not find its way into the community: 

1. The first proposal was to merge with eGov. There were
discussions 
with John Borras, who chairs the eGov Member Section Steering

Committee, but it was hard to map the shared goals of
the two groups 
and how a single steering committee would be structured
to serve both 
constituencies well.  John  has expressed disappointment
over that 
turn of events and is amenable to re-opening the discussion.


2. The second proposal was to wind down the Member Section--which
is 
very different than "eliminating TCs" dormant
or otherwise. LegalXML, 
for years,  had many TCs and several very different
constituencies 
(the legal publishing "800# gorillas, ABA, courts)
to coordinate and 
balance.  This all made the overhead of the Member
Section and 
Steering Committee a great investment--for OASIS and the
members 
involved.  Now with most of those TCs successfully
completed, and two of 
those different constituencies retired from LegalXML,
it *could* be 
that there is not sufficient need for that Member Section
and Steering 
Committee overhead - recognizing that the TCs would of
course 
continue. And to be clear - the concern is the overhead
on members who 
must sit on the SC, and participate at another level in
addition to 
their TC work.  Jim, while you and your TC were actively
doing your 
work the Steering Committee seemed to struggle to see
their work as 
necessary--as demonstrated by the difficulty in the Committee
meetings 
quorate or even people to fill open positions on the SC. 
While 
sunsetting the MS is possible, the remaining SC members
are working 
hard to find new energy both internally and in a larger
audience. 
You'll see evidence of that with their commitment to an
event  focused 
on a LegalXML event that will take place at Stanford University
in 
November.  OASIS is supporting that event with a
presentation by the 
OASIS Chairman of the Board.  If that effort is successful
we will of 
course welcome the continued long-term participation from
folks at the 
MS and SC level.  If folks prefer to focus their
energies on their TC 
work, that too is perfectly acceptable. 

I conveyed all the information above to the Board of Directors
to the very best of my recollection and with supporting documents. Please
remember that each director has fiduciary responsibility and that LegalXML
has a budget. I think the concern was and remains that, other than the
Stanford panel, there is no actual plan to attract new members to the community,
nor is there one to generate new work. The conclusion is that the funds
available to the section will either remain unspent, or will be spent on
activities that do not dovetail  with its mission. That is exactly
what prompted the Board's decision. As you can see, this is not a lack
of oversight, but, on the contrary, a case of preventative oversight. 

My own recommendation, and it is strictly mine (not the
Board's), is that, as the Stanford panel suggests, there is a natural alignment
between eGov and LegalXML. eGov has exciting new work in transformational
government, and the legal dimension is clear. This would be an ideal way
to add value to the LegalXML specifications. 

In addition, if the member section's steering committee
feels that it ought to continue, as a separate viable entity, then your
next task is to provide for its continuity and future. Your rules of procedures
require a minimum number of active StC members, and periodic elections,
and we're happy to work with you on this. As for funding, the Board only
has frozen the funds for lack of activity; the StC is welcome to present
a plan for staff to carry back to them, describing a planned path forward.
As we told the StC members last month, OASIS staff is ready and happy to
work with them, if you've made the fundamental decision that a continued,
viable separate member section makes sense. 

Alternatively, not only is there no shame in declaring
victory and winding down the Member Section. In this case, your track record
of TCs and published work speaks for itself. The standards will continue
to be appreciated and used by thousands in the legal community and beyond.
If there is no forward plan for activity and growth of the section, as
a section, then we should wind it down in an appropriate, polite way. That's
distinct from and does not reflect on the plans and viability of LegalXML
TCs, which operate under a whole different rule set. 
I hope this sheds some light on the Board's decision and
has calmed the unnecessary fires of controversy. 

Perhaps it is time for the LegalXML community to engage
in dialogue with its Steering Committee. 

Finally, I apologize for not sending this sooner, but
literally just returned to my desk from Europe then the East Coast today.


Very best regards, 
Laurent Liscia, Executive Director, OASIS 

-- 
Laurent Liscia, Executive Director
OASIS: Advancing open standards for the information
society 
1-978-667-5115, extension 201

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