ISUG 1997 Annual General Meeting Reports:
President's Report

Pamela Gennusa, Database Publishing Systems Ltd
United Kingdom, May 1997

For ISUG 1996-1997 has been a busy year, perhaps the busiest in its history. A number of milestones have been accomplished:

• We amended our Constitution to:
• change our name to the International SGML Users' Group
• add a new membership class of Chapter (both Affiliate and Subsidiary)
• We've filed our amendment with the Charities Commission of England and Wales
• We named a Web Manager, Robin Cover
• we created a public website (http://www.isgmlug.org/) through the efforts of Robin Cover
• we've got a domain name (isgmlug.org) and will begin work on a private, members-only site shortly
• We began an overhaul of the ISUG Newsletter at the urging of Richard Light
• we revamped the look of the Newsletter with the help of a new Production Editor, Marilyn Chick
• we've named a new Newsletter Editor, Eamonn Neylon, who has already begun work and will be the editor commencing with the July 1997 issue, with a focus on improving the content of the Newsletter
• We passed a resolution to name two new ex officio members of the Executive Council:
• Robin Cover, Web Manager
• Eamonn Neylon, Newsletter Editor
• We designed and built an Access database application suited to the needs of the ISUG through the efforts of Cathy Turner and Kirsten Wheatley
• We have cleaned up the membership list, fixing inaccuracies and out-of-date information; we have also brought the list up-to-date to reflect only those who have current memberships
• We designed and ordered lapel pins that should be delivered with your July issue of the Newsletter

Kirsten Wheatley now devotes 2.5 days of her week to ISUG responsibilities, up from an average of 2 days per week in 1996. She has devoted much of her time this year to improving the membership information and making sure that membership renewals go out in a timely fashion and are chased. From the Secretary's Report you'll note that our overall membership has only increased by 4 members. The clean-up that has taken place last year has seen us drop a number of members who have not maintained their membership for the past couple of years. Thus, from this year's analysis and work, it is clear that last year's numbers were inflated. This year's numbers reflect a cleaning out of a number of inactive members and the addition of many active members.

Based on a ballot of the Executive Council we used some discretionary funds to start a website, which I feel has been money well-spent. We are very excited about the quality and breadth of the website. I hope you will let us know your comments and forward us any suggestions that you feel would enhance the site.

The Belgium/Luxembourg (BELUX), Norwegian, and Swedish Chapters have been the first to advise us of their intention to become Affiliated Chapters. We hope that over the coming months, as more groups meet, they will also decide to become either Affiliated or Subsidiary Chapter Members.

During the coming year, one of our primary aims is to look into ways to make it easier for Chapters to become affiliated with the ISUG.

The number of Chapters and SIGs has increased by two over the past 12 months. This growth gives us even more encouragement to spend time and effort to assist local groups to form and grow.

Thank you for your continued support and membership. Your comments, criticisms, and assistance has been appreciated in the past and will be solicited in the months and years to come.

Kirsten Wheatley and I always enjoy hearing from members and are pleased to provide available information. You can now reach us via electronic mail at isug@dpsl.co.uk.

Contact Robin Cover with corrections and updates, or to submit contributions to the ISUG online document database.

Copyright © 1997 International SGML Users' Group