[SCC_Active_Members] Re-Naming the SCC

[Tim Shoppa]

Al Kossow <aek at bitsavers.org> wrote:
> Bernard, as we discussed on the phone, every other organization of this type
> associated with CHM is a Special Interest Group (SIG). I respectfully
> request that you reconsider "Software Preservation SIG".

Al, Bernard, Len:

  I say this as a sometimes-collaborator (optimistically!) with
individuals/volunteers involved with various projects throughout
CHM, including the SCC:

  It may be that the current organization of SCC with CHM is best
described as a SIG. That is, a "special interest" that doesn't
necessarily overlap with every other group.

  But this is not the way it should be. The software archive
and associated activities (negotiations with rights-holders, collaboration
with other individuals and groups, collaborations with other museums,
and both technical and inspirational leadership in the ways and tools
of software archiving) should be a CORE activity of CHM, not a special
interest group.

  SIGs should interact with each other where appropriate, but every
SIG should look to, take from, use, and contribute to the software archive,
not just the contents but the tools, organization, policies, and staff.

> CHM needs to take the initiative and be the leader by establishing a
> world-class archive FIRST and establish international credibilty before
> worrying about forming "alliances" or "partnerships" with outside entities
> which may or may not currently exist.

True words! But now is the time to position the archive within/around/
as a core part of the CHM, not later!

The "comittee" name that the SCC currently has is not so bad. It
implies that details and structure are being formulated
and articulated. People get together and are meeting to establish the
direction and organization in a committee, and this is acknowledged by the
SCC's current TLA. If you guys are still uncertain as to
where it'll end up, it may be best to keep it as a "committee" until
everyone is really sure about what the destination and mission is.

Tim.