The following account borrows heavily from "Organization of the SGML Users' Group" written by Joan Smith for the SGML Users' Group Bulletin (Volume 1 No. 1, 1986).
The SGML Users' Group came into existence through the initiative of several specialists in text and graphics processing who realized the important contribution that standards can make to the exchange and multiple uses of computer-based information. Several charter members of the Group made significant contributions towards the creation and drafting of the standard.
The idea of a Users' Group was proposed by Joan Smith at the Markup Conference held in Oxford in April 1984. Joan felt that those who were embarking on the use of SGML would benefit from having a forum in which information could be interchanged. The idea was taken up and it could be said that Bill Tunnicliffe of the Graphic Communications Association (GCA) and Joan Smith became co-founders of the SGML Users' Group. Initially, GCA was responsible for the main secretariat function, with Peter Howgate of BPCC in the UK carrying out the role for what was then considered the European chapter.
Three meetings were held in the UK (December 1984, February 1985, and May 1985) prior to the inaugural general meeting held in conjunction with the Markup Conference in June 1985, in Heidelberg. The first draft of the consitution reflected the organizational plans agreed by those present at that inaugural general meeting. Although some early discussions considered a separately constituted group for Europe, Joan, Peter and others pushed for one organization with an international remit. The original officers were: Joan Smith (UK - NCC), President; William Davis (US - IRS), Vice President; Peter Howgate (UK - BDCC), Secretary; and Francis Cave (UK -Pira), Treasurer.
The Group's status as a non-profit organization became official when its application was approved by the Charities Commission of England and Wales in October of 1988 (registration number 800183). The constitution of the Group provided for two levels of membership: individual and corporate, and also allowed the formation of chapters. A chapter wishing to be associated with the Group could do so by filing its constitution with the Group and having one of its officers join the group with either an individual or corporate membership. That officer became an ex officio member of the Executive Council of the Group. Since 1988 over 20 groups worldwide have become chapters.
In December of 1996, the Group changed its name to the "International SGML Users' Group" (ISUG) and filed a revised constitution with the Charities Commission adding a new member class, Chapter. There are two classes of Chapter Membership: Affiliated - a separately constituted body; and Subsidiary - existing as part of the ISUG. Chapter members pay dues to the ISUG based on the number of individual and/or corporate members they have. Each of their members enjoys all of the benefits of a direct membership in the ISUG. Existing chapters can choose to become either Affiliate or Subsidiary Chapter Members or can remain as independent chapters.
The current Users' Group has over 600 members, more than 500 of whom also belong to an independent chapter. Countries represented in the membership include: Australia, Belgium, Canada, China (including Hong Kong), Denmark, Ireland, Finland, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Membership across the independent chapters is estimated at approximately 1200. The current officers of the International SGML Users' Group are: Pamela Gennusa (UK - DPSL), President; David Silverman (US - Innodata), Vice President; Steven Downie (Canada - SoftQuad), Secretary; and Richard Light (UK - Consultant), Treasurer.
Contact Robin Cover with corrections and updates, or to submit contributions to the ISUG online document database.
