[iaufwg] IAU FITS WG membership

[William Pence]

Dear IAU FITS Working Group members,

As we approach the IAU General Assembly in August 2009, this is a good 
time to consider making any adjustments in the membership of the FITS 
Working Group.  In order to start this process, I'm sending out this 
email to gather some information from each of you.  Please reply 
privately to me, within the next week if possible, to the following 
questions:

1.  Is the information  at 
http://fits.gsfc.nasa.gov/iaufwg/iaufwg_members.html regarding your 
employing institution and areas of expertize still correct and up to 
date?  If not please send me any corrections.

2.  Are you willing and able to continue as a member of the FITS WG for 
another 3 years (2009 - 2012)?

3.  It is not my desire or intention to make large scale changes in the 
membership at this point, except perhaps to replace a couple members who 
are now retired, but I would ask you to consider whether there is 
someone else at your institution, or within your field of expertise, who 
might replace you on the working group, especially if you have been a 
long-time member.  Generally speaking, I think it would be beneficial to 
the viability of the FITS format to allow more people to participate in 
the FITS standard process by rotating the membership on the working 
group.  Please let me know if you want to suggest a replacement for your 
seat on the working group (however, other factors such a maintaining 
diversity in geography and technical areas of expertize would need to be 
considered before accepting any suggested changes).   Anyone who steps 
down as a working group member could still participate in the 
discussions on the IAUFWG email list, but would not have an official 
vote on any proposals.

4.  Do you have any recommendations for new members of the FITS working 
group if there are any vacancies?  If so, please send me a brief summary 
of their qualifications.

5.  Are you planning to attend the IAU General Assembly in August 2009 
in Brazil?  If so, note that the FITS WG business meeting is scheduled 
for Wednesday, Aug 5th.

thanks,
Bill
-- 
____________________________________________________________________
Dr. William Pence                       William.Pence at nasa.gov
NASA/GSFC Code 662       HEASARC        +1-301-286-4599 (voice)
Greenbelt MD 20771                      +1-301-286-1684 (fax)