General
The Web Site Development Sub-Committee of the Electronic Media Committee has met several times since the October Executive Committee meeting, including two meetings with EIH, our web site contractor. The business of the committee continues to be primarily conducted via e-mail, the EMC Web Group Intranet and lots of phone calls.

Status of Electronic Publishing Projects
As reported previously, the transition to full electronic production of Marine Technology has been successfully accomplished but we await the inclusion of the SNAME News sections. Non-members can view all abstracts but member sign-in is required to download the .pdf files of the papers. The proposed new SNAME on-line Journal of Ship Design is discussed in the T&R Report.

E-Publications Strategic Planning Ad Hoc Committee
As recommended at the September 1999 Executive Committee meeting, an ad hoc committee has been organized to make recommendation on how to proceed with the availability, pricing, distribution, and copyright issues regarding electronic publishing.. The members of this group are specifically tasked with developing the cost basis for distributing electronic papers to members and non-members on the web, and should also develop a long range strategy for SNAME’s publications, subscriptions, and transition to electronic publications. (Report to be added by BJ)

On-Line Credit Card Transactions on the Web
In operation for the Annual Meeting and Publications Sales. Under development for Dues Renewal, hopefully completed in 2000.

Web Site Enhancements
EIH continues to do a terrific job putting up our new web site

E-Communications - sections and technical panels/committees

(Previous report)
Pleased to report that the Intranets.com web-based communications tool has been successfully deployed; that is not to say that all its functionalities are well understood and are usable by all. Numerous contracts to support this area were approved by the (September 1999) Executive Committee, but progress is not obvious because of a slow start by the contractor. This will be resolved, and progress in getting ALL technical committees and panels on-line in early 2001. The template for active panels and Ad Hoc panels is available. Yet to be worked out is smooth communications among the sections and panels.

The Intranets.com web-based communications tool has been extremely well used and demonstrated by the organizing committee for the jointly-sponsored ASNE/SNAME Environmental Symposium scheduled for 31 May and 1 June 2001. The Intranets.com for a group can be easily set up by the user; documents can be “put up”; and discussion groups set up and shared by any member; and, emailing to the address-list retained on the site, is extremely simple. This is a powerful tool for sections and panels.

The priorities for E-communications group are: pages for Ad Hocs on Alt Propulsion Plants, Ferry Transportation and Bunker Fuel Spills; then the major technical panels as these are particularly under-subscribed on the web; and finally, the committees. Once the contractor gets the panels and committees on-line they will analyze the sections for “best practices” and work with the sections to bring each up to equally high levels.

Action Requested of the Executive Committee

Respectfully submitted,
Bruce Johnson, Chairman
Paul Cojeen, Vice-Chairman