CANDIDATE FOR DIRECTOR

James A. Yaple

While I was being considered for an "official" nomination by the USENIX election committee, I was asked, "Do you understand your chance of being elected to the Board of Directors is very small your first time out?" Yes, I do. As a member for only a few years, who has not attended any of the sponsored conferences and has published little, I simply do not have the name recognition or credentials earned by many of the other candidates. So, why seek nomination and ask you for your vote?

I have a vision for USENIX as an organization which serves its members. Vision can make a bigger impact than the last paper you wrote, how many people happen to know your name, or a project you completed recently.

The most valuable thing USENIX offers to its members is the ability to share information, ideas, and solutions with peers. USENIX needs to offer alternatives to get people involved. Effective use of collaboration techniques like streaming media, Web conferencing, and even email can get more people involved in the organization. USENIX can expand conferences beyond their physical attendance. USENIX has a ready and willing participation structure in the form of local SAGE chapters. We need to take advantage of these local teams to better connect people with the organization.

You can see a more detailed statement of my thoughts and ideas for USENIX at https://home.mindspring.com/~euhura/index.html.

Regardless of your candidate preference, I encourage you to vote in the upcoming election. USENIX is an organization which thrives when people get involved.

BTW, the "official" committee passed me over. I would like to thank the "alternative" nominating committee of Greg Rose, Margo Seltzer, and Lynda True for their nomination. I see myself representing the Internet/Web constituency of advanced computing.

Biography: "Change James" Yaple is currently a lead software engineer at American Express Company, directing teams installing Java-based Web products into a secure, n-tier Internet infrastructure. He consults with internal and third-party development teams to maintain cost, schedule, performance, and 24x7 availability. For 12 years he was a systems manager at several federal judiciary sites and provided system administration training and support to judiciary personnel nationwide. He has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Louisiana State University. He is married and lives with his family in Phoenix, Arizona.

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