Special Interest Groups

Last year, the SPS Board of Governors approved the creation of Special Interest Groups. Special Interest Groups are provisional groups that are created to quickly address emerging technical areas. The full details on Special Interest Groups appears below. If you are interested in submitting a Special Interest Groups proposal, please submit it to Charlie Bouman, Vice President-Technical Directions. The proposal should contain as much information as possible in support of the proposal, as well as a suggested scope, membership roster and the rationale as to why the Special Interest Group is needed at that particular time.

Policy 5.1.1. Creation of Special Interest Groups.

Special Interest Groups are provisional groups that are created to quickly address emerging technical areas. Special Interest Groups will have a life-span of up to three years. They will follow the same composition structure as a Technical Committee and will also function in the same way. When the term end of the Special Interest Group approaches, the Special Interest Group will be subject to a review by the TC Review Committee to determine if the group should continue to be a Special Interest Group, formally become a Technical Committee or be disbanded. The TC Review Committee Chair will bring forward the Committee’s recommendation to the Board of Governors for review and action.

The Vice President-Technical Directions has the authority to identify emerging areas and create and receive proposals for Special Interest Groups. The proposal shall contain as much information as possible in support of the proposal and shall include a suggested scope, membership roster, as well as a rationale as to why the Special Interest Group is needed at that particular time. The proposal will be reviewed by the Vice President-Technical Directions, who will then seek feedback from the Technical Directions Board. After feedback has been received, the Vice President-Technical Directions will bring forward a recommendation to the Executive Committee for review and action. The Executive Committee shall then consider the proposal and the Vice President’s recommendation, and may act to approve the creation of the new Special Interest Group.

After approval of the Special Interest Group, the Vice President-Technical Directions shall appoint the inaugural Chair of the Special Interest Group, who will become an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Technical Directions Board.