I have stated it before: We are not establishing the normal "liaison" in the ISO sense here. For that kind of liaison a formal acceptance by parent committee and ISO is required. My point is the following: We need some individual experts. Those we "volunteer" to serve as members or observers on the JAC. However, there are also some institutions and organizations that should be consulted "as organization". They should be allowed to nominate one person -- that nomination should not be JAC's responsibility. The latter I have called "liaison"; we could have called it something else ("observer organization" sounds funny); but as long as we know what we are dealing with, I think that "liaison" is an acceptable term. In ISO-speak a liaisonship is actually uni-directional. It is an organization who wishes to contribute to the work in a committee that approaches ISO to get liaison status. Between standardization committees liaisonship is normally bi-directional, but it doesn't have to be! Our "liaisons" will in principle be uni-directional. The liaison officers are expected to contribute to the work with 639. We are not expected to contribute to their work! For the liaison officers to contribute to 639, they will need to share their knowledge and resources with JAC. JAC is already sharing its findings with the whole world. If a commercial organization is willing to support the JAC and the work with 639 in this way, I don't see how that can possibly be any problem. Best regards Havard ------------------------- Havard Hjulstad mailto:[log in to unmask] Solfallsveien 31 NO-1430 As, Norway tel: +47-64944233 & +47-64963684 mob: +47-90145563 http://www.hjulstad.com/havard/ ------------------------- -----Original Message----- From: ISO 639 Joint Advisory Committee [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Keld Jorn Simonsen Sent: 4. april 2002 19:26 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Commercialism or not [Re: Liaisons to JAC] I think it is customary with liaisons that each liaison is treated as a member in the other organization, and thus one membership is waived for that person. The liaison then can get information to the organisations documents, and attend meetings, and then forward documents after getting permission to do so to the other organisation. I believe such an arrangement is necessary for a liaison to function, and recommend that we do not pursue this if the liaison does not get access to documents and meetings in the other organisation. Or if this is not possible, then do not call them liaison. Best regards, keld