ACM SIGGRAPH 2000 Elections

Linda Hersom
Candidate for Director for Communications

I have over 25 years experience working with and chairing a wide range of volunteer groups, from local charities and arts support groups, to national and international professional organizations.

My first SIGGRAPH was in 1991 as a guest of Dick Mueller, the International Chair. From the moment I arrived, I was completely fascinated with not only the conference as a whole but with the number of attendees that came from all over the world. Since much of my time was spent in the International Center with a multitude of cultures and languages all around me, I wanted to know more about each of them and how SIGGRAPH impacted their lives on a day-to-day level. I also knew that some how, some way, I had to become more involved in this marvelous conference. Jim and I volunteered for the next six years as International Center Managers and as International Chairs in 1998 and 1999.

Objectives

The principal role of the Director for Communications is to initiate and manage ACM SIGGRAPH ’s publicity and public image. If I am elected, I will take my 15 years experience in advertising, graphic design and public relations and promote SIGGRAPH to a new level. With better visibility, there will be reaction. ACM SIGGRAPH will benefit by increasing awareness, thereby increasing membership and maintaining it.

From the Snowbird Conference, the most pressing issue in the creative/expressive community was that of SIGGRAPH’s involvement with the public — SIGGRAPH being inner-directed and taking no public position. If I am elected, I will work towards SIGGRAPH fostering a social conscience, outward-directed, expanding beyond the computer graphics elite. Also, I would work towards increasing SIGGRAPH’s role politically and socially by raising public consciousness about the ethical use of technology assuming both an editorial point of view as well as global leadership in legal issues such as intellectual property rights.

SIGGRAPH’s web page is a wealth of information if you are fluent in English. If I am elected, I would implement translating the information into various languages. As International Chair for SIGGRAPH 1998 and 1999, I produced an International Services brochure containing general information on the conference in nine languages. The entire brochure was uploaded to the conference website and proved to be a vital tool for the international audience. By translating the organization’s web content, the international sector would become included, informed and thereby involved.

To sum up, my goal as Director for Communications is to globally make SIGGRAPH’s presence bigger and better. It is a passion, therefore I will devote much of my time to the position. My experience at various levels within the SIGGRAPH conference, as well as my role in a growing ad agency, provide an excellent background for this position. My dedication to SIGGRAPH, my experience in the public relations field and my commitment in all tasks I undertake ensure that the position of Director for Communications will be in good hands.

Education

Interests

Professional Experience

Other Organizations

SIGGRAPH Activities

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Leo Hourvitz
Candidate for Director for Communications

Education

Interests

Objectives/Priorities

I was lucky enough to discover SIGGRAPH through a mentor when I was a sophomore in my undergraduate program. Ever since then, as my career has variously involved graphics software systems, children’s multimedia and film production, SIGGRAPH and the technical excellence that defines it have remained at the center of my professional life.

We talk about how ACM SIGGRAPH is built around five values: excellence, passion, integrity, volunteerism and cross-disciplinary interaction. I’m always astonished to think about how true this actually is: our annual and small conferences define technical excellence in our field, the community that gathers around SIGGRAPH is passionate about computer graphics and what it can accomplish, our activities maintain the highest level of integrity via a great staff of volunteers from around the globe; and we bring myriad application disciplines together around computer graphics and the possibilities it creates.

As Director for Communications, my primary focus is developing and implementing a membership program, and I also oversee the ACM SIGGRAPH website. I’ve presented to SIGGRAPH EC a membership plan for the next year that includes specific tasks such as preparing a mailing to likely member prospects, but also includes defining how we describe the organization and its programs to the world. I’m coordinating our presence for SIGGRAPH 2000 now, and I hope you’ll find that the ACM SIGGRAPH presence is clearer and less confusing than it has been in the past. Other specific actions I’ve taken include:

• Worked with ACM to implement the new on-line membership and renewal form
• Upgraded navigation and presentation on www.siggraph.org, and added more material about what we’re doing and how people can help
• Developed and administered the distribution plan for last year’s documentary film, The Story of Computer Graphics

• Recognize members for their support, especially at the annual conference
• Promote the fact that members will be able to access the back SIGGRAPH proceedings in the ACM Digital Library
• Create a repository of computer graphics links on www.siggraph.org
• Keep members aware of the organization through an optional email newsletter
• Follow up with lapsed members to see why they’ve left the organization

Professional Experience

ACM or SIGGRAPH Activities

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Tony Longson
Candidate for Director for Education

My background is in the arts. I make 3D constructions which you may have seen in the SIGGRAPH 86 Art Show in Dallas, or Los Angeles in ‘95. Originally from England, I studied fine arts at Reading University with a post graduate year in Holland.

In 1972, I was introduced to programming and 3D computer displays. I realized the creative potential that they held for my work, and immediately started to pass on those ideas to my students.

In 1981, I got a grant from the Queen to visit Pasadena and see the amazing work that was coming from Bob Holzman’s Computer Graphics Group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. I spent a year there as artist in residence and have lived and worked in California since then.

Teaching the use of technology in the arts is a passion. I have been fortunate to teach at schools notable for their innovation including the experimental area at the Slade School, University College, London, West Coast University/Otis-Parsons Institute of Design, Los Angeles (where I started possibly the first computer graphics program in the U.S. specifically for artists and designers), University of Southern California’s School of Cinema and Television, the Design School at the University of California, Los Angeles and California State University, Los Angeles, where I now teach animation and interactive design.

Computers are integral to most aspects of art and design education, so it is surprising that there are no clear guidelines on what to teach, how to teach it, and where, or if, it fits into our educational system as a whole. My goal is to build on the work that has already been done by SIGGRAPH, using your ideas - ideas for curriculum, for pedagogical foundations and for creative projects, with examples of student work which have proven successful. This is an international initiative for which I encourage (and rely on) participation of educators throughout the world.

At home there is a specific need voiced by representatives from the computer graphics industry to improve the preparedness of students for employment. I see this not just as a matter of “training” in the short term, but of determining how technology is affecting our national educational goals as a whole. This means collaboration from industry, education and educational accreditation organizations (K-12, higher and postgraduate) in the process.

For a complete resume please see http://design.calstatela.edu/tony_longson/resume.

Following are some of my contributions to SIGGRAPH.

1980 - House sitting for my boss so that he could attend SIGGRAPH
1981 - 83 - The Frame Buffer Show
1983 - Los Angeles SIGGRAPH - Visual Dynamics Showcase
1986 - Art Show Contributor - a 20 Year Retrospective curated by Patric Prince
1986 - SIGGRAPH Traveling Art Show
1990 - Paper: “New Methods, New Art Forms,” Chair Barbara Mones-Hattal
1991 - Chair: Education Panel SIGGRAPH 91 “What Next? A Provocative Look at Creativity, Curriculum and Organization in Teaching Artists and Designers to use Computers”
1991 - SIGGRAPH Dream Curriculum workshop
1990-93 - Courses Review Jury
1995 - Art Show Contributor
1997 - Outreach Subcommittee
1997 - SIGGRAPH Traveling Art Show
1997 - “The Making of ANTZ”
1999 - Paper: “Past, Present, Future: Computers in Art and Design Education,” GVE 99, Portugal

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Michael B. McGrath
Candidate for Director for Education

Education

Interests

Statement

• Emphasizing and promoting projects that develop educational resource materials for educators
• Expanding the volunteer base
• Developing closer ties to the educators program at the conference
• Establishing a refereed journal on computer graphics and teaching
• Developing our website as THE portal to visual and graphical materials and resources

Professional Experience

SIGGRAPH Activities

Awards/Accomplishments

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Colleen Cleary
Candidate for Director for Professional Chapters

ACM SIGGRAPH is changing the world. Some form of computer graphics touches more and more lives every day. Its graphical, rather than verbal, nature bridges language barriers and facilitates international communication, while providing what many view as a more intuitive means of understanding information than textual representations. It is the people of ACM SIGGRAPH, the researchers, developers, engineers, educators, artists, entrepreneurs and users of all sorts, who are driving the technological and resulting social and cultural changes brought about by computer graphics.

Relatively few people seem to be aware that even public safety, my current field, is embracing computer graphics and interactive techniques in communications age tools to better serve and protect the public. In my capacity as Information Management Services Project Manager for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, there is constant reminder of how such tools can save lives and avert danger, as well as enhance the quality of life for the citizens of our community.

Because the reach of computer graphics is now so pervasive, ACM SIGGRAPH can perhaps best serve our communities by being part of them as Professional Chapters. There are currently more than 30 established or in formation chapters in 15 countries spanning the globe. Members of ACM SIGGRAPH Professional Chapters have diverse backgrounds and varied interests in computer graphics and interactive techniques. The leadership of the individual chapters are committed to serving the membership by providing interesting programs and opportunities for social interaction and networking.

The chapters need leadership, information, resources and general support from various sources to sustain and grow. Scott Lang, our current Director for Professional Chapters, fulfills these needs most admirably and is truly a leaders’ leader. As Scott cannot continue in this position at the end of the present term of office, I would, if elected, lead the Professional Chapters on the established course of development, while charting new territory for our future. As Director for Professional Chapters, I would consult with the leadership of the individual Professional Chapters to ensure the chapters’ and members’ needs are being met and to seek fresh ideas for enhancing the benefits of membership in both ACM SIGGRAPH and the Professional Chapters.

As a member of the ACM SIGGRAPH Executive Committee, I would serve as advocate for the Professional Chapters and as a bi-directional communicator between the Professional Chapters and the Executive Committee. Community outreach, education, collaboration with other organizations and increasing international involvement with ACM, SIGGRAPH and the Professional Chapters are special interests that I would support. My belief is that, like all organizations, ACM SIGGRAPH must be flexible to adapt to the changing needs of its members and it must constantly evaluate its effectiveness as an organization.

My involvement with ACM, SIGGRAPH and the Professional Chapters spans more than 10 years in several capacities, including chair of a Professional Chapter, membership in the Professional Chapters Committee, Professional Chapters Editor for Computer Graphics and other roles. Such experience and my long-standing interaction with people involved with ACM, SIGGRAPH and the Professional Chapters would enable clearer insight to provide competent leadership. Additionally, my extensive international travel and firsthand knowledge of other cultures and languages have developed in me a broad world view and ability to communicate that could serve to expand the reach and effectiveness of ACM, SIGGRAPH and the Professional Chapters. ACM SIGGRAPH’s mission, purpose and values statements are elements of my personal creed, which, naturally, encompasses a broader scope.

My professional background and personal experiences and values instill in me the vision and ability to provide leadership and are what I consider to be my strongest qualifications to serve as Director for Professional Chapters and member of the ACM SIGGRAPH Executive Committee.

Education

Interests

Professional Experience

ACM and SIGGRAPH Activities

Achievements

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Thierry Frey
Candidate for Director for Professional Chapters

Education

Interests

Objectives/Priorities

In the new millennium, SIGGRAPH needs to grow, develop and evolve in order to cross this threshold. But like all organizations, SIGGRAPH is what its members make it. So members have to evolve; not by growing a third arm, but by growing to express their ideas and thoughts about what SIGGRAPH is and what SIGGRAPH will be. I personally find this difficult to accomplish. I think it is part of SIGGRAPH’s responsibility to help members and potential members express themselves. The Professional Chapters can play an important part in this communication process.

Furthermore, chapters are able to reach individuals that would not respond to SIGGRAPH otherwise, because the chapters operate on a much smaller scale. Chapters allow future SIGGRAPH members to get rapidly acquainted with the organization. This is particularly true for international chapters.

I am convinced that the Professional Chapters are a key component to the success of SIGGRAPH in the coming years. For this, the Director for Professional Chapters will need to address the following issues:

• Support the growth of existing and new chapters, with the help of the Professional Chapters Committee
• Help individual chapters find their specific identity within the chapter network
• Improve the symbiosis between the chapters and the organization, if possible through a common membership package

Professional Experience

SIGGRAPH Activities

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David S. Ebert
Candidate for Director-at-Large

Education

Interests

Objectives/Priorities

Through my service as Chair of the SIGGRAPH 97 Sketches program, I became convinced of the importance and need of new venues and adaptation to the changing needs of the SIGGRAPH membership. In the past six years, the Sketches program has grown into an important part of the SIGGRAPH conference. It provides opportunities for showcasing the latest technical achievements, as well as providing new opportunities for artists, animators and application developers. This venue has expanded the role of the technical program to serve more of the SIGGRAPH conference attendees. I want to capitalize on my experience with the conference committee to help the organization grow to serve the evolving field of computer graphics.

As a member of the SIGGRAPH Executive Committee, I would like to achieve the following:

• Expand the role of SIGGRAPH outside the annual conference. I would like to help SIGGRAPH to build upon the excitement and success of the annual conference through activities throughout the year. In conjunction with the ACM small conference and local chapters, I would like to develop new opportunities to increase the role of SIGGRAPH within the graphics community. One such initiative is the possibility of offering SIGGRAPH conference courses throughout the year around the world.
• Strengthen SIGGRAPH’s support for application areas of computer graphics. As the field of computer graphics grows, the application areas are increasing and maturing. I would like to build closer associations and joint events between ACM SIGGRAPH and other organizations in associated areas. There are several application areas that provide natural collaborative opportunities for SIGGRAPH and other ACM SIGs. Information visualization provides good opportunities for involvement of ACM SIGGRAPH, SIGIR and SIGCHI. I also want to strengthen ties with other organizations, such as the IEEE Technical Committee on Computer Graphics, international art societies (e.g, ISEA), animation societies and broadcasting societies.
• Support development of new technologies. Through targeted conferences, workshops and new initiatives, SIGGRAPH can foster the development of new technologies and the advancement of computer graphics into the next century.

Professional Experience

ACM and/or SIGGRAPH Activities

Awards/Accomplishments

Program co-chair 2000
Co-chair Papers program 1998, 1999
Co-chair Late Breaking Hot Topics 1997
Chair Late Breaking Hot Topics 1996
Co-chair Demonstrations 1995

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Gudrun Enger
Candidate for Director-at-Large

Objectives/Priorities

In each organization I belong to, the strength of the group is decided by the strength of the volunteers. SIGGRAPH is no exception, and the volunteers who work with this organization are dedicated and committed, both to furthering the field and strengthening the organization. I believe it is the role of the Executive Committee to facilitate this involvement and harness the power of the people who work so passionately. Volunteer support is a valuable commodity, and in this era where everyone’s lives move so quickly and are full of so many important tasks, it is imperative that we treat our volunteers with respect.

As we go forward with SIGGRAPH, I see the organization playing a key role in furnishing a portal to the industry. Using the communication tools it already has, SIGGRAPH can be the focal point for computer graphics and interactive technology, advocating innovation, partnerships and collaboration. Partnering educators with corporations, providing strong conferences and seminars and encouraging collaboration throughout the many disciplines of computer graphics are only a few ways in which SIGGRAPH can serve the community. Ensuring the organization remains on the forefront of technology will be one of the keys to success.

In 1997, when I first joined the Creative Applications Lab (CAL) Committee, it was a new venue dedicated to furthering the learning process at the conference. As Chair of the CAL in 1999, collaborating with the 1999 Conference Committee, as well as the CAL Committee, I was able to develop a vision and a strategy, and implement an effective and impactful venue. In three years, the CAL has grown to include over 58 contributors, providing additional opportunities for education and partnership at the conference. As SIGGRAPH continues to grow, one of the challenges will be to meet the needs of the membership of the organization, not just at the annual conference, but throughout the year. As we seek to develop new venues and opportunities at the conferences, SIGGRAPH must also be on the lookout for new opportunities outside the conference.

My experience with SIGGRAPH and the annual conferences has been very positive, and I look forward to taking my strengths in leadership and management to the Executive Committee, and focus on bringing SIGGRAPH successfully into the future.

Biography

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Alyn Rockwood
Candidate for Director-at-Large

Statement

My salient qualifications include a long-term association (26 years) with SIGGRAPH and consequent emotional attachment; a generally even-handed, consensus-based approach to problem solving; a penchant for visionary thinking; and a lack of ego-investment in the position (hey, I love SIGGRAPH, but on a personal/selfish level I would rather do research).

Biography

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David Spoelstra
Candidate for Director-at-Large

Interests

Objectives/Priorities

As Director-at-Large, I will concentrate on four things:

• To survey, understand and address the needs and wants of our current membership as well as bringing in other industries and professions that use computer graphics into our membership. One of the most interesting programs I have seen at SIGGRAPH through the years has been the Applications venue, which is now incorporated into the Sketches & Applications program. The Applications program brought in professionals from other fields, such as law, to show the use of computer graphics in their day-to-day tasks. Most of these professionals had never heard of SIGGRAPH until we contacted them. As I said above, SIGGRAPH has gone through a large evolution over the last 15 years. On top of that, we have seen a leveling off of the attendance at the SIGGRAPH conference. The only way to ensure we have a strong membership base into the next century is to fully understand and address the needs and wants of our changing membership and to continue to bring in new members from other industries and professions that use computer graphics.
• To explore how to make the SIGGRAPH conference a “year-round” event. Every year I hear the SIGGRAPH conference committee express a desire to make the SIGGRAPH conference a “year-round” event. Through the years, the conference has started SIGKids and Community Outreach to further that goal. From the organization side, we have the Education Committee and the Chapters filling that role. Working at the organizational level, I would like to be a liaison with the conference to further explore what we can do to make the SIGGRAPH conference a “year-round” experience thereby strengthening both the conference and the organization.
• To start a mentoring program. Over the last eight years, I have had the privilege of mentoring my next-door neighbor’s son as he moved from a slight interest in computer graphics to pursuing a full-time career in computer animation. I am now working with him to establish a SIGGRAPH student chapter at Ball State University. Time and time again he has told me that without my help, he would have never gone into the computer animation field because he had no one to give him assistance and direction. Not only would a mentoring program assist people entering the computer graphics field, but it would also be a resource for our existing membership base. Remember, the students entering the high schools, colleges and universities today are our membership tomorrow. If we don’t keep bringing in new members, we will wither away.
• To function as a liaison between the SIGGRAPH conference and the SIGGRAPH organization. All three of my goals above have components in both the conference and the organization side. Neither the conference nor the organization can exist alone - they each address the unique needs of the membership. The more communication and flow of ideas we have between the two, the stronger the combined entity will be.

ACM or SIGGRAPH Activities

Awards/Accomplishments

Professional Experience

Education

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