Minutes of the ACM SIGAda Officer's Meeting, November 8, 1994
Held at Tri-Ada '94

Brad Balfour

SIGAda Secretary

Current Officers Present: Brad Balfour, Ed Colbert, Mark Gerhardt, Hal Hart, Rudolf Landwehr

ACM HQ Staff Present: Pat McCarren

Review and Approval of Agenda

Changed Chair's report to Approval of New Working Group Chair

WAdaS 95 Status to be presented by Rush Kester

Changes were moved & approved

New WG Chair Approval Report

Harry Joiner was approved as the new chair of the ReuseWG. Phil Brashier was approved as the new chair PIWG as of Thursday 10 November. Dan Roy was approved as the new chair of the Safety and Security WG.

No review of WGs will happen until the new slate of officers is elected next year.

Action Item List

Mike Griffen was appointed next year's award chair. He needs input from the officers on forming his action item list. Pat McCarren suggested that only e-mail nominations be sent next year as having both paper and e-mail complicated the logistics. Dave Emery asked if the process and schedule of the awards program was made public. This discussion was deferred to e-mail due to time limitations.

Ada Awareness Initiative

Hal Hart said that this year's objective is to go to one show a month. Half of these would be "outside the Ada community". The cost will be approximately $5K per show. This is a $60K bump in the budget for the AAI, up from $10K this year. The IALC will develop a coverage plan for shows that can be covered by SIGAda and other groups. It was suggested that if SIGAda can't cover a show effectively, then its better to not go. Hal Hart said that we need to coordinate with AdaIC, ARA, IALC, etc. When should two or more groups go to a show? Mark Gerhardt said that if we can't establish a presence, (with tutorials, papers, booth, etc.) then we shouldn't go. For example, at TOOLS in Europe, were embarrassingly small and therefore it would have been better to not go according to Alfred Strohmeir. Curtis Bradley said that the amount of effort at OOPSLA was OK. Hal questioned how just a little could be bad. Individuals gave reports and anecdotes from various shows. Mark's point was that a strategic plan is needed. Garth Glynn made the statement that a coordinated effort of booths plus other activities is needed as booth is successful, but perhaps not successful enough. Hal asked who might want to go to another follow-up meeting on scheduling this topic.

Brad Balfour moved to form a subcommittee to coordinate with IALC & ARA on booth schedule for SIGAda. Motion Passed No committee chair or members were appointed.

Mark Gerhardt reported that the IALC is working this issue by e-mail. Hal Hart explained the conferences that were or were not attended. Ed Colbert discussed a list of possible shows which might be attended.

Hal Hart described the success stories which started last year as an effort to create "first person" stories. Mike Feldman and AdaIC produced the first set together. The AdaIC did the next twelve and took some of the momentum away from us. We didn't go out and get more. Most stories were written by the vendors. Mike Feldman claimed that this is the wrong tone. He wants first person stories, not third person. Others mentioned that at least the vendors are publishing non defense stories Mike Feldman made specific suggestions for stories from Rockwell Collins about civil aviation and from CSF-Thompson on Air Traffic Control.

Hal Hart mentioned that he is interviewing two candidates to take over the AAI in the next year as none of the past leaders has been able to give sufficient time to it. Mark Gerhardt & Rudolf Landwehr thought that the IALC is doing this. Charlene Hayden asked "Why can't IALC do it?" Hal Hart asked for a clarification on what is the overlap? Rudolf suggested that there is overlap in what they are supposed to do. The issue of who owns the activity still remains. Hal thinks IALC only recommends, and does not execute. Mike Feldman recommended that SIGAda continue the activity until there is an obvious place to turn it over to.

Tri-Ada 94 Status

Geoff Mendal briefed the following preliminary figures: Conference Registration is $117K under budget. Tutorials are $127K under budget. Exhibits are $20K under budget. The total is $264K under budget. We had originally budgeted so that there would be a surplus of $150K. However, we under spent expenses by approximately $150K (the best guesses range from $50K to 175K). Therefore best guess is surplus of $92K. Paid Conference Registrants were 625. Paid tutorial attendees are 408. Last year there were 730 people at the conference vs. 625 this year. Tutorials last year were 562 people vs. 408 this year. Walk-ins were very far down. Per-registration counts were similar to last years. We had budgeted for increased attendance (due to the improved location) and didn't get it. Steve Grimaldi pointed out that the Baltimore market has changed drastically in the last year. Hal congratulated D&OK and Peter and Geoff on dynamically changing variable costs to keep the surplus similar. Geoff reminded everyone that the worst case is a $100K less on surplus. Geoff thinks that this variance can be narrowed down soon.

Steve Grimaldi will be treasurer for Tri-Ada 95. Hal suggests waiting for one month before preparing the TMRF for next year. Ed Colbert mentioned that many Defense people think the conference is too close to start of fiscal year and their money isn't there yet. Hal pointed out that this varies every year. Mike Griffin said even though it's tight, it is possible. This issue was visited 14 months ago during last years meetings. Rush Kester suggested that walk ins could come from marketing to commercial people who have discretionary funds.

Dave Emery pointed out that to keep even on initiatives we need to get $100K surplus. Hal mentioned that we "require" TA to generate $150K surplus, but we underspend by $50K. Dave Emery suggested that when we budget for next year balance initiatives against the conference income. Steve Grimaldi: points out that we could/should use the joint activity with other conferences be a source of revenue.

Ed Colbert said that exhibitors sign up for booths as of today. He pointed out that He and Mark V are numbers 9&10 on the priority list. This is unusual. Only one company ahead of them increased the size of their booth. 5 or 6 decreased it by 25%-50% and the others stayed the same. There are 142 10x10 spaces this year. This is slightly down from last year due to consolidation. among companies.

Rush Kester suggested a two tier budget cycle. One cycle based on pre-TRI-Ada numbers and then one more after Tri-Ada. Ed Colbert pointed out we have to budget a full year in advance. Dave Emery also mentioned the fund surplus that SIGAda enjoys (~$100K).

Geoff Mendal mentioned that the conference & tutorial numbers assume the worst case. These underruns may be smaller if some attendees were not ACM members. Pat McCarren suggested that as booth space needs & attendance gets smaller then we may want to go to hotel not a convention center. Geoff mentioned that this year, the Baltimore Convention Center was a bargain. Steve Grimaldi added that we are going to a hotel for next year. Peter Kortman questioned if we are looking at a healthy situation in a slump or the bubble bursting?

International Ada Liaison Committee

Mark Gerhardt described the first organizing meeting on Monday November 7, 1994. Representatives from industry, academia, government, etc. were present. The charter was to entertain a combination of activities to promote a focus for information, getting new people interested in Ada, spreading the word, etc. the group will attempt to respond to needs, problems and questions.

When the IALC was first forming, the ASA was vegetative. By time of the first meeting, the ARA was moving along with Bob Mathis at helm. Its charter may be highly overlapping with that of the IALC. At the first meeting were three speakers, Bob Mathis on the ARA, Don Reifer on the AJPO and its current activities and Dennis Ahern on the AIA position paper on languages. Mark & Garth then spoke about the charter. The major frustration among the attendees was that they didn't get a chance to speak. The idea is to have a committee of strategists who keep a work plan of things that need to be done in the community. The group will analyze and prioritize the plan and provoke resources in community to get them done or find ways to get new groups to get them done. The group won't do the work. It also needs to work as the Ada 9X group did with an advance agenda and debate in advance and planned time to work on actions at the meeting.

Hal asked if we can get the members to go to an all day meeting? Mark said that the few he has polled would have done it. He isn't sure if the sample is statistically valid. Mark & Garth drafted a revised charter since the meeting. Early items on the work list include: conference coordination activity (by Alfred Stromier). Also the group didn't seem to feel international in scope. The group was not pleased with the composition of the AJPO speech and its lack of a participatory feel. The next meeting must be more of a workshop. Terry Doran commented on how Don Reifer see this as a replacement for the Ada board. She suggested a subcommittee to help out the AJPO. Garth Glynn pointed out that group would probably be more receptive if the AJPO's needs were a subset not the "perceived" totality. Hal Hart pointed out that IALC should be created separate from AJPO's needs, but we would like to influence the direction of the AJPO's spending.

Hal asked if ICSE is a more international venue for a next meeting. John Barnes was also thinking of real-time workshop in Santa Barbara -- one more focused on our community.

Treasurer's Report

Hard copy of spreadsheets were provided by Hal Hart. The end of FY 94 results were: We have achieved steady state balance on previous years. We are $100K above the SIGAda sustaining fund balance so we don't need to be on a break even. Items that Hal circled on his overheads are items of significant variance. Hal went over his spreadsheet. We budgeted for break-even based on $150K surplus from TRI-Ada and $150K spending on activities. Both underran by equal $50K amount in last two years.

$13K net surplus that Hal shows for FY 94 is due to ~$60K underrun on Tri-Ada and ~$70K underspend. Hal passed out a large spreadsheet which represents his new budget. $60K savings can be achieved through these figures. Objections are solicited.

Hal announced that Geoff Mendal would be treasurer for the remainder of Russ Plain's term.

Motion to appoint Geoff Mendal as replacement treasurer was made, seconded, and unanimously approved.

Geoff, Hal & Pat are to meet Wed at 1:15pm to discuss the budget. Jim Moore asked when a Tri-Ada shortfall is felt. Hal responded that we have about 1 year. Also, we have control over the second half of each FY funds. Jim stated that SIGAda can do a success oriented budget and TRI-Ada 95 can do a success oriented budget and even with an underrun we can "not go to jail".

Hal explained two new additions to member plus packages including Ada UK's Ada Yearbook and Walnut Creek's Ada CD-ROM. Steve Grimaldi. suggested that we only offer products can be ordered at will or have an alternate plan. Pat McCarren mentioned that quantities are known ahead of time and paid for by the SIG.

John Barnes needs an answer by mid-November in order to order copies of the Ada UK Ada Yearbook and to keep costs at around $20. Pat McCarren: other SIGs are offering CD-ROMs and conference proceedings.

Motion was made to table the discussion and continue by e-mail. A decision is needed by 15 Nov.

SAC '95 Status

Steve Grimaldi discussed the Symposium on Applied Computing -- part of Computing Week. SIGAda is a co-sponsor with 4 other SIGs which are vertical domain groups. Ada papers were submitted to the conference. Steve refereed the Ada papers. 3 Ada papers were submitted out of 20 total papers. Steve doesn't know which, if any were accepted. Draft advanced program is at ACM HQ. Also, an Ada 9X tutorial will be presented. Information will be published in Ada Letters and pointers will exist on the WWW in both the SIGAda and SAC areas. The SIGAda booth will be at the conference. Also, there is almost no cost to SIGAda to get lots of coverage. At the last EEC meeting Steve proposed we give copies of the Walnut Creek CD-ROM to attendees (about 150 copies). AK George is the proceedings chair and also a SIGAda member. Jorge-Luiz Diaz Herrera and Steve Grimaldi. will coordinate SAC with SIGAda's AIWG next year.

Steve suggested that we find out how to get into other conferences. Also co-sponsorship with other shows may generate new revenue.

WAdaS '95 Status

Rush Kester: WAdaS 95 has changed in one way: there will be no call for papers and no referred process. Instead, it will be a conference created by design and crafted to reach out to commercial markets. Some things will be the same, such as tutorials and SIGAda WGs. Support from marketing firms has been secured. Partnership dialogues with ITAA (formerly ADAPSO) has been initiated. They don't know what the content is yet -- the strategy is to listen during the dialogue meetings to find a common ground -- more listening and less preaching. Jim Moore asked if it hurts WAdaS to have Tri-Ada in Baltimore. Rush Kester replied that it doesn't if it is 6 moths out of synch. Both conferences need to branch out to commercial arenas. Mark Gerhardt asked if the SIGAda track same as it was? Is this a joint or an in-cooperation conference? Brad Balfour asked what the financial arrangement s? Hal Hart replied that the 1st 17K goes to DC and we split the rest of the profits. Pat McCarren added that there was no advance to DC SIGAda. Dave Emery asked if there was a risk? Rush replied that there might be if the conference lost money, then ACM SIGAda would pay.

Charlene Hayden is responsible for the SIGAda WG meeting part of the conference. Mark Gerhardt asked for longer-term strategy discussion about aiding other local SIGs. Hal is ready to sign the TMRF. Charlene asked to delegate local participation to Brad Balfour who lives in the DC area.

Tri-Ada 95 Status

Tri-Ada 95 will be in Anaheim at Disneyland hotel. Nov. 5-11 1995. The theme: Ada's role in global markets. Steve Grimaldi will be treasurer and Jim Moore will be program chair. Ralph Crafts will be publicity chair.

Steve Grimaldi has a draft TMRF. It will be ready soon and will take into account Tri-Ada 94 actuals. He will need one month to finalize it. Suggestions are needed for the program committee. Hal requested that working group chairs be considered for a role in Tri-Ada organizing. Terry is looking for input on the call for participation. Mike Feldman pointed out that papers are due after SIGCSE so we can round up academics.

Tri-Ada Long Range Planning

Charlene Hayden brought up the issue of constancy of dates for Tri-Ada 96. The week that Tri-Ada 94 was held really does seem to be the best week.

A motion was made that Tri-Ada be held during election day week (first Tuesday after the first Monday in November) and that this be the constant week for TA XX.

Rush Kester pointed out that this was a good week for academics since teachers are off for elections. Ed Colbert pointed out that it is a bad week due to a government holiday at end of week (Veteran's Day). Hal added that it is a good week as kids were off both Monday and Friday. Charlene reminded everyone that constancy is the main issue.

Motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Tri-Ada will be located in Anaheim next year and Baltimore the year after. Beyond that it's too soon to know. Seems unwise to sign in Baltimore now even though we can get a better deal. We should wait and see.

The process for selected future Tri-Ada officers was described. Ideally, the Program Chair for year n is the Conference Chair for year n+1. Charlene has someone waiting in the wings for Tri-Ada 96. The major issue is getting someone to commit, with backing from their company, for two+ years. Hal suggested that the treasurer and tutorial chair be backup candidates.

The process for collecting lessons learned involves creating and distributing a questionnaire to capture them. The questionnaire will go to this year's and past year's Tri-Ada officers.

Dave Emery pointed out that Tri-Ada income is our discretionary income and must balance our expenditures.

TRI-Ada vs. Tri-Ada spellings. Charlene suggested that we leave it alone.

Motion was made and seconded to have a dedicated planning meeting (including a conference call) in the next two months. Passed 4-2

Dave Emery suggested one Long Range Planning meeting every two years held at ACM HQ. (and that this be the only meeting with paid officer travel).

Nominating Committee Report

Mark Gerhardt is the chair and is soliciting nominations for elections in June. He has Mike Griffin, Chuck Engle, and Jorge-Luiz Diaz Herrera that have volunteered. Charlene Hayden will run again. Lewis Gray put in his name for Vice-Chair Liaison.

Ada-in-Academia Initiative/EdWG Activities

ACM computing week is coming up again in February. Mike Feldman talked about the educator grant program and its status. Mike keeps a list of Ada usage in universities and of text books. Jim Moore and Dave Emery asked if Mike had surveyed ACM Computing reviews? Mike stated he had not.

Mike is continuing to coordinate with the ASSEET team. AJPO support for the ASSEET team is firm. They are attempting to raise visibility within DoD.

Last year we held workshop for BAA recipients. Next time this should be done under the BAA, not by us.

There are SIGAda members who are going to small college conferences as a part of their normal jobs. They should be encouraged to continue this attending and promoting Ada. Ed Colbert mentioned that we've been giving away CD-ROMs to these conferences. With the small numbers, we might want to consider give aways.

Ada Letters

We need an editor for Ada Letters. AK George from Oklahoma State University has volunteered. The executive committee will fund a trip for him to coordinate with Cammie Donaldson and transition into becoming the new editor.

The appointment passed unanimously

Electronic Initiatives

OOPLSA's on-line information will be the model for Tri-Ada 95 on-line info for SIGAda.

SIGs and Document Distribution

Lewis Gray described how the SDSAWG found a vendor who would stock a hard copy of documents. They answer phone calls and fax out order forms. For as $7.50 service charge they'll copy the document. The SDSAWG makes no money on this. Orders can be placed using Master Card and VISA as well. No liability to SIGAda exists. Hal pointed out that this is in addition to the normal SIGAda budget to reproduction and hand out copies.

Rudolf stated that this is only preferable for documents that are not available on the Internet.

New Business

Mike Feldman mentioned a Programming Contest -- Internet Programming contest by Duke University. It is open as to the language used. No opposition to Ada exists. The only constraint is that some team must use the language and a compiler must exist on Duke's machine. Mike will be sending out notices on ground rules. Everyone should talk to universities in their area to round up teams. Ed Colbert will send to a notice to SIGAda locals.

Motion to Adjourn was made and passed at 11:05pm