Local SIGs Achieve Visibility at CHI 98
October 1998 Local SIGs column
In my first Local SIGs column -- the column that appeared two years ago in October of 1996, I included a section entitled, "A New CHI Conference Challenge: Greater Local SIGs Visibility," and I wrote: "That you may have attended a CHI conference and not found out about local chapter activities or opportunities near you is something I hope to change."
I am delighted to report that, thanks to many, SIGCHI local chapters achieved the visibility they deserve at CHI 98.
Visibility at Conference Sessions
It did not take long for CHI 98 attendees to hear about Local SIGs. During the Opening Plenary Session, Mike Atwood (SIGCHI Chair), Clare-Marie Karat (CHI 98 Co-Chair), and Ben Shneiderman (Opening Plenary Speaker) all made references to the outstanding work being done by Local SIGs. And CHI-Kids' Parade of Nations and Domains that opened the conference highlighted each of the 14 nations in which Local SIG activity is underway and most of the additional nations in which Local SIG activity is under consideration.
Local SIGs were discussed at the Newcomers' Orientation, at the SIGCHI International Issues Committee SIG (see report elsewhere in this issue), and at the SIGCHI Business Meeting. And all conference attendees who had worked to make Local SIGs successful were invited to the ACM SIGCHI Volunteer Appreciation Reception.
At the Closing Plenary Session, Clare-Marie Karat again refered to Local SIGs, encouraging all attendees to build on the ideas and enthusiasm generated during the conference by contributing to and benefiting from Local SIG programs and services.
Visibility in The Commons and on Attendee Badges
All conference attendees frequented The Commons, a spacious hall housing exhibits, student posters, message boards (including a message board for Local SIGs), food during conference session breaks, an internet room, and meeting areas. And all who entered The Commons could not miss seeing the huge, colorful banner of the CHI Local SIGs booth -- a new banner provided by BayCHI, the San Francisco Bay Area Local SIG. A large map of the world (also provided by BayCHI) adorned another of the Local SIGs booth walls for the first time and depicted the many locations of Local SIGs and the many locations in which people are hoping Local SIG activity will develop.
Conference Attendees Gather at the Local SIGs Booth (photo courtesy of Diane Cerra)
The Local SIGs booth drew a record number of visitors at CHI 98, supported further by a special Highlight on Local SIGs that occurred during the conference midpoint and by a record number of flyers developed and disseminated by the many Local SIGs.
For the first time, Local SIG members could be identified via conference badges. Bright orange ribbons identifying the wearers' Local SIG were made available to Local SIG members, courtesy of -- you guessed it -- BayCHI, and many were to be spotted throughout the conference.
Visibility in Conference Publications
Local SIGs and conference activities specific to Local SIGs received mention in more conference publications than ever before: in the Conference Proceedings and the CHI 98 Summary, in the Conference Program, on the CHI 98 website, in handouts placed in each attendee's bag of conference materials, on flyers disseminated in The Commons, and in the CHIConferenceNews (from the CHIkids Newsroom).
Visibility via a Second Workshop for Local SIGs' Leaders
And lastly, but certainly not leastly, representatives of 27 chartered and prospective Local SIGs -- from 11 different countries -- assembled for a full-day workshop to address what it takes to make the impossible possible in or via a local chapter of ACM SIGCHI. A successful workshop of this nature was offered at CHI 97 (see the October 97 Local SIGs column for a description), but attendance at this year's workshop was even greater.
The Local SIGs Workshop in Session (photo courtesy of Steven Pemberton)
Guided by "yours truly," workshop participants addressed:
- understanding the obstacles to achieving what they want to achieve
Why are there obstacles to their Local SIG goals? Of what obstacles were they not (yet) aware? We examined common obstacles to the user-centered design of a Local SIG and analyzed obstacles of particular concern to them.
- realizing and increasing the benefits of being a Local SIG
Why form a Local SIG? Are their chapters realizing all of the benefits? What additional benefits do they need? We reviewed existing benefits, clarified which are available to whom, contributed to the development of new benefits (e.g., tutorials-to-go & information kits), and began to figure out what needs to be done to facilitate their realization of all benefits to which their Local SIGs are entitled.
- meeting the challenges of starting and running a Local SIG
What does it take? What role does money play? What role can sponsors play? What roles must volunteers play? We looked at the more challenging components of Local SIG initiation and administration, and discussed approaches to making these components manageable.
- becoming and remaining a vital community in their parts of the world
Who are their users? What are their users' needs? We examined the importance of offering the right programs, services, and opportunities, at the right time, and in the right way.
- benefiting from stronger ties to SIGCHI and to other Local SIGs
Should Local SIG membership be linked to SIGCHI membership? Should Local SIGs care about each other? We examined the present relationship among Local SIGs and with SIGCHI and critiqued and generated proposals for making the relationship stronger.
"The SIGCHI Local SIG Business Is Booming," but ...
As I reported at the SIGCHI Business Meeting during CHI 98, "the SIGCHI Local SIG business is booming." But continued visibility of Local SIGs at the CHI conference is important to maintain this success: Local SIGs need to see that SIGCHI cares about their efforts, and they need to become known to all CHI conference attendees; and SIGCHI needs to embrace the organizations -- its Local SIGs -- that will increasingly define SIGCHI's future.
The Local SIGs Chair Taking a Rare Break at CHI 98 (photo courtesy of Diane Cerra)
Many thanks to those who helped make CHI 98 the best CHI conference ever for Local SIGs. Special thanks to CHI 98 Co-Chairs Clare-Marie Karat and Arnie Lund; ACM's Lillian Israel; BayCHI's Bob Weissman, Diane Cerra, and Fred Jacobson; Borysa Struk, Mike Yancy, and Paul Henning in the Conference Office; SIGCHI's Keith Instone and David Riederman; the creators of the many Local SIG flyers that were disseminated at the conference; Kevin Schofield (who made a guest presentation at the Local SIGs workshop); and the Local SIG leaders who attended the Local SIGs workshop: Felipe de Almeida (Brazil SIGCHI), William Hunt (ToRCHI), David Novick (Toulouse SIGCHI), Maria Francesca Costabile (SIGCHI Italy), Steven Pemberton (SIGCHI NL), Alfredo Sanchez (CHI Mexico), Marcin Sikorski & colleague (Poland SIGCHI), Lars Erik Holmquist (Sweden/Scandanavia SIGCHI), Juergen Fackelmayer (SwissCHI), Don Patterson (BayCHI), Sandra Newsome (LA CHI), George Kissel (ConnCHI), Nick Sabadosh (CHI-Atlanta), Wendy Fischer (CHI-Squared), Will Kreth (MaineCHI), Dan Workman (GB/SIGCHI), Scott Jensen (TwinCHI), Alp Tiritoglu (KC-CHI), Catherine Riordan & Mike Coble (GatewayCHI), Joseph Kramer (NYC SIGCHI), Lorraine Normore & Gary Perlman (BuckCHI), Tom Cocklin (CHIFOO), Amanda McCoy (CHI-Austin), Mark Shurtleff (LoneStar CHI), Grant Skousen (NUCHI), Sharon Sahm (Puget Sound SIGCHI), and Boba Mannova (Czech SIGCHI).
Richard I. Anderson, Local SIGs Chair
