Request for Proposals for Hosting SAM2018

THIS PAGE IS OUT OF DATE - IT WAS DECIDED AT THE SOCIETY AGM IN 2017 ORGANISE SAM2018 WITH MODELS 2018.

The SDL Forum Society  invites proposals to host the 10th SAM - Systems Analysis and Modelling - Conference to be held in 2018, probably in June or July or September or October. The previous SAM workshops were organized in Berlin 1998, Grenoble 2000, Aberwrystwyth 2002, Kaiserslautern 2006, Oslo 2010 (with MODELS2010), Innsbruck 2012 (with MODELS 2012) and Valencia 2014 (with MODELS2014). It was decided not to hold a SAM in 2008 between SDL2007 and SDL2009, but instead to have a short event at ITU Geneva in September 2008.

Following established procedure the decision in principle to hold a SAM event in 2018 would normally be made at the Society AGM in 2016, and a final decision made before or at the Society AGM in 2017 (during SDL2017). The Society would be pleased to receive proposals well in advance of the AGM in 2017 so that planning for the event can be started.

The possibility to hold SAM2018 with MODELS2018 is likely to be considered, but alternative proposals will be considered. The final decision will not be made until the Society AGM in 2017. If a much better proposal is made, or if collaboration with Models 2018 is not practical, a different decision could be made at the AGM in 2017. Alternative proposals for hosting SAM2018 are therefore welcome.

If you are interested in helping host the event in your area, please assemble the following information, and send it to admin of sdl-forum.org with a copy to the mail list for members of sdl-forum.org.

The proposal may be brief and informal, but needs to address the following questions, which will help us evaluate the viability of the proposal.

  1. Who is making the proposal?
    These will be one or more individuals (representing an organization) who is/are willing to be responsible for local arrangements. Although this is optional, the proposal should also include someone who is willing to serve as co-chair for the event (other co-chairs will be appointed by the SDL Forum Board). This co-chair person is not signing up to be responsible for the whole event - the SAM 2018 Organizing Committee is responsible for that. If the proposal is selected, the person (or people) that you list will be added to the Organizing Committee, and the chair people of the conference (to be named later) will assign responsibilities to various members of the committee. The proposer should be a member of the SDL Forum Society. If a non-member wishes to make a proposal they should either collaborate with a member or join the Society.
  2. What would be the main subject and character of the workshop?
    The scope should be well related to contemporary interest in the System Design Languages (SDL) covered by the Society. Such languages are the ITU-T Specification and Description Language - Z.100 series, Message Sequence Chart - Z.120 series, TTCN, ASN.1, UML, and URN. The scope (as finalized by the programme committee) is put in the call for contributions and is a key factor in getting contributions, participants and acceptance for publication. In 2014 SAM was renamed a "conference" rather than a "workshop", recognizing the character of SAM2010 and SAM2012.
  3. In what venue do you propose it be held?
    Ideally, this venue should be able to handle to plenary sessions of up to 75 people, and one or two parallel sessions. Recent SAM events have not had parallel sessions. The availability of a demo area is sometime useful. Internet connection is expected - though delegates should be discouraged (prevented?) from reading email or using the net during presentations.
  4. How much will the meeting cost?
    An estimated meeting cost and participation fee should be given.  Assume attendance of between 40 and 75 for 2 or 3 days. The figures can be approximate, as long as it gives us an idea of how much it will cost both for the whole conference and for each attendee. In any case it shall agreed that any gain or loss will be shared at least equally by the SDL Forum Society and the local organiser. Normally refreshments and lunch are included. Sometimes a conference dinner is included. An outline budget should be provided. Usually Society members will get a discount on the fees, and non-members pay more, but are offered free membership of the Society until 31 December. These are guidelines and (for example) the financial agreement was significantly different for SAM2010, SAM2012 and SAM2014 as these were "co-sponsored" by IEEE and ACM as a MODELS "satellite event".
  5. Can arrangements be made for demos by participants?
    Many participants like to see software tool demos - both of commercial tools and ongoing research efforts.
  6. How the proceedings will be published?
    For SAM2002, SAM2004, SAM2006, SAM2010, and SAM2012 the decision was for post-event publication of the proceedings in the Springer LNCS series with revised papers reflecting feedback from the event. SAM2014 was also published in the LNCS series, but in time for the event. Acceptance in the LNCS series is not automatic and will depend on the scope and interest in the workshop papers. The cost of providing a copy of the published proceedings to each participant should be included in the budget, as well as the cost of providing a copy at the event if the LNCS book is published later.
  7. Dates when the venue should be reserved.
    The venue should be available for 2 to 4 consecutive week days. There may be meetings to be held before or after the event for standards work and/or related projects. The SDL Forum Society AGM is usually held immediately before, during or after the event.
  8. Are there any potential local (or global) sponsors?
    Sponsors are welcome to provide any level of support from making the whole workshop free to attend to providing delegate badges, provided the sponsorship is acceptable to the SDL Forum Society. At some events there has been a sponsorship deal linked to tool demonstrations.
  9. What publicity is planned?
    Events do not always attract as many participants as anticipated, and publicity is probably one factor. Relying on distribution by email lists is insufficient, and the publicity planned to reach the intended participants is an important factor.
  10. Will people enjoy coming?
    Hopefully the meeting will be in a pleasant, interesting area with easy access for international travellers.
  11. Any other point that will help as to select the best proposal.

If you have further questions, please direct them to admin of sdl-forum.org.

Proposals received one week before the calling notice is sent out for the SDL Forum Society Annual General Meeting in 2016 will be considered at that meeting.

Proposals received one week before the calling notice is sent out for the SDL Forum Society Annual General Meeting in 2017 will be considered at that meeting if a decision has not already been made.

The deadlines may be extended to later dates if necessary by the Board of the Society.

Proposals that arrive after the deadlines will be considered only if a decision has not been made by then, and if a good proposal is received before the deadline the Board may decide to proceed (after consulting members) without waiting for further offers.

R. Reed

Non Voting Board member, December 2015.

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