60 likes | 208 Views
SIGSOFT Viability Report 2005-2009 *. William G. Griswold Chair 2005-2009. *items in italics are new initiatives. Membership and Volunteer Development. Continued slow membership drop (10.4% to 2733) Long-term retention rate fairly stable ( 84 %)
E N D
SIGSOFT Viability Report 2005-2009* William G. Griswold Chair 2005-2009 *items in italics are new initiatives
Membership and Volunteer Development • Continued slow membership drop (10.4% to 2733) • Long-term retention rate fairly stable (84%) • 1-year retention down from mid 50’s to mid 40’s • total retention stable at 75% • No trouble finding conference volunteers • but some issues under active management (more later) • Not clear what to do with “volunteer” volunteers • most volunteer for conference organization, PC’s, etc. • try to redirect into areas of need or personal passion • a few contributing to newsletter, which is a need • New town meeting format has energized discussions • digital publication, initiatives, value of membership…
Conferences • Diverse conference sponsorship program (~14/yr) • main events: ICSE, FSE, ISSTA, … • a lot of “partner” events: ASE, MODELS, PASTE, CBSE, SOFTVIS, … • partnering is a challenge due to conflicting cultures, etc. • ICSOC switched from co-sponsored to in-coop w/o consultation • High student attendance continues (~50%) • healthy on the whole, but are professors overcommitted? • looking beyond having regular attendees “subsidize” • also increased CAPS, introduced childcare program • Most now distributing digital proceedings • trying to publish in DL on/before start of conference
Financials • Fund balance increased by $340K to $1M • discretionary funds increased by $221K • twice rate of previous period, mostly from DL ($100K/year) • also savings from hybrid paper/digital newsletter (SEN) • Conference enrichment program underway • Flexible contingencies • Increase in CAPS, new childcare program • Will probably put DL income back into conferences (e.g., reduce charge for overhead) • help keep student registration fees low • hard when working with other societies that charge overhead
Publications and Other Member Benefits • Bi-monthly newsletter • tip of the iceberg delivered by post • rest in DL (no proceedings issues) • ICSE proceedings available as “plus” package (9%) • Member access to “SOFT” part of DL • Discounted registration at conferences • Awards • Research, Service, Educator • ICSE MIP, Impact Paper • Frank Anger Student Travel Award • Conference attendance programs • childcare (all members) and CAPS (students)
Past and Future Challenges • Sliding membership • recruitment campaign now underway having small impact • Aged bylaws • finally revised with help of new guidelines; small bit being voted on • Getting authors to reference ACM DL rather than self-publish • e-mail campaign to conference authors has not been big success • hoping new ACM DL author page will help (but misses things) • Involvement of academics from developing regions • new liaisons from north and south Asia (HK and India) • interest in extending CAPS idea • partnering with India’s CSI/SIGSE and their ISEC conference • Dist. Paper Awardees re-present papers at conference • Rising conference costs • plowing DL revenue back into conferences may be solution • subsidize student attendance, others in need • registration fee, CAPS, childcare, developing regions • ICSE, our big conference, has become unwieldy • finding organizers, coordinating with co-sponsors • hiring “secretariat” of some kind; new MOU in works; see previous item