CHARTER

30 April 1993

Revised: 29 July 1993
Revised: 25 August 1993
Revised: 01 September 1993
Revised: 25 October 1994
Revised: 07 October 1996
Revised: 05 December 1996
Revised: 22 March 2000
Revised: 28 July 2000

  1. ESTABLISHMENT

    The Southern California Software Process Improvement Network, hereafter referred to as the Southern California SPIN, was originally established on 24 January 1992 as an activity sponsored by the University of California's Irvine Research Unit in Software (IRUS). On November 24, 1999 it was announced that University College and Extension Services (UCES) at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) had been selected by the Steering Committee, on the basis of a competitive proposal process, to sponsor the SPIN effective January, 2000.

  2. MISSION

    The Southern California SPIN is a leadership forum for the free and open exchange of software and systems process improvement experiences and practical ideas. We promote achieving higher levels of process maturity, software quality and mutual respect. Our goal is to enhance skills and support technology transition through an active program of networking, publications, recognition of excellence, and mutual support.

  3. OBJECTIVES

    In carrying out its mission, the Southern California SPIN organization acts to accomplish the following objectives within the software community: Advance the quality of software; Improve software productivity; Promote software process maturity; Transfer software improvement knowledge and innovation to all participants; Share lessons learned between participants and other SPIN organizations; Promote cooperation between industry, academia, and government with respect to software process improvement and systems engineering technology.

  4. ORGANIZATION

    The Southern California SPIN is organized as a Steering Committee, various working groups, general participants, and individual meeting coordinators. Steering Committee members, working group members, general participants and meeting coordinators receive no remuneration for their services.

    The Southern California SPIN is sponsored by University College and Extension Services (UCES), one of the eight colleges within California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). SPIN roles and responsibilities are shared by members of the SPIN Steering Committee and UCES staff.

    1. STEERING COMMITTEE

      The Steering Committee consists of those SPIN participants who have committed to actively take on the roles and responsibilities of the various functions necessary to run the Southern California SPIN. The Steering Committee operates as a consensus based decision-making team with the following specific roles: leader, deputy leader, UCES representative(s), recorder, liaison, working group chairs and members-at-large. One or more individuals may fulfill a specific role. This is not a hierarchically organized team; all roles have equal voice in the decision making process.

      The Steering Committee meets after the general SPIN meeting. The meetings are open to all interested SPIN participants. Generally these meetings occur over lunch. The responsibilities of the Steering Committee are as follows:

      Manage the affairs of the Southern California SPIN; SPIN budget funds may not be appropriated if the UCES budget experiences a shortfall. Maintain coordination with other SPIN organizations; Identify program coordinators for the SPIN meetings; Approve topics and speakers for SPIN meetings; Approve the establishment, charter, and disbandment of working groups, and selection of working group chairs; Elect Steering Committee members to the roles described in this charter; Periodically review the operation of the SPIN to determine

      Improvements in its operation. This includes reviewing the charter at least annually, approving changes, and reviewing the budget at least annually

      1. Responsibilities of Steering Committee Leader

        2. The leader presides at regular meetings of the Southern California SPIN and at meetings of the Steering Committee. The leader is responsible for assuring the reassignment of duties of other Steering Committee members in the event of their absence, or in the event of incapacity, until they are replaced by the Steering Committee. The leader maintains a list of current role assignments and ensures that the sponsor and co-sponsor interests are maintained.

      2. Responsibilities of the SPIN Steering Committee Deputy Leader

        3. The Deputy Leader takes over the leader's duties when the leader is not available, and such duties as the leader may delegate.

      3. Responsibilities of UCES Representative(s)

        4. UCES and its representative(s) are the custodians of UCES funds. UCES renders an annual report of the SPIN budget.within thirty (30) days of the end of the UCES fiscal year plus any special reports required by the Steering Committee. UCES monitors all expenditures against the budget and ensures that these expenditures are in.compliance with CSULB university policies, regulations and procedures.

        UCES representatives carry out the desires of the SPINSteering Committee in accordance with the SPIN operating budget.

        UCES is responsible for securing the meeting site and arrangement of refreshments for the SPIN and SPIN Steering Committee meetings.

        UCES is responsible for producing the meeting flyer.

        UCES is responsible for maintaining a database of the current SPIN participants.

        UCES representatives are responsible for maintaining literature pertinent to the mission of the organization, including all Steering Committee and working group meeting minutes and any available presentation materials.

        A UCES representative takes over the responsibilities of the deputy leader in the event of an absence until thedeputy leader either returns or is replaced by the Steering Committee.

      4. Responsibilities of Recorder

        5. The recorder is responsible for recording and disseminating Steering Committee meeting minutes. The recorder conveys these minutes to the UCES representatives.

      5. Responsibilities of Liaison

        6. The liaison is the point of contact for other SPINs, professional organizations (e.g., IEEE, ACM, INCOSE), and other organizations such as the SEI. The liaison coordinates with these organizations to transfer information and disseminate information to Steering Committee members.

        The liaison distributes related information that the Steering Committee feels is of general interest to the current SPIN participants.

      6. Responsibilities of Working Group Chairs

        7. Proposals to add working groups are submitted by interested SPIN members to the Steering Committee for the conduct of specific, special interest activities. The chair is approved by the Steering Committee. The chair of each working group in cooperation with working group members is responsible for approving all members of the working group, holding meetings, and for ensuring that meeting minutes are forwarded to the UCES representatives. The chair disseminates the minutes to all working group members. The working group is responsible for developing a charter that is approved by the Steering Committee. The chair or designee is required to give periodic status reports to the Steering Committee.

      7. Responsibilities of Members-At-Large

        8. Any SPIN participant may petition to the Steering Committee to become a member-at-large. The appointment must be approved by the Steering Committee. Members-at-large regularly attend and fully participate in Steering Committee meetings.

    2. GENERAL PARTICIPANTS

      Participation in the Southern California SPIN is open without discrimination to all individuals, companies, academic institutions, and government organizations who are interested in furthering the objectives of the Southern California SPIN. Co-sponsorship is encouraged, though not required.

    3. MEETING COORDINATOR

      A meeting coordinator is chosen for each meeting by the Steering Committee. The meeting coordinator is responsible for arrangement of the meeting and for providing complete flyer information to the UCES representatives at least one month in advance. The meeting coordinator is responsible for reviewing the meeting planning activities with the Steering Committee and for ensuring the quality of the meeting. The meeting coordinator introduces each speaker and acts as a time-keeper to ensure that the meeting runs according to schedule. The meeting coordinator ensures that adequate copies of the presentation material are available at the time of the SPIN meeting.

  5. TERMS OF ROLE ASSIGNMENTS

    Role assignments must be reviewed and elected by a majority vote at least on an annual basis coinciding with the Southern California SPIN calendar year. The Southern California SPIN Election Procedure for Steering Committee Roles provides election procedure details.

    Any appointment can be rescinded by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Steering Committee at a meeting where a majority of the Steering Committee members are present.

  6. PARTICIPANT FEES

    Any fees for meetings or special events are determined by UCES and approved by the Steering Committee. Collection of annual SPIN co-sponsorship fees is handled by the UCES.

  7. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SPIN CALENDAR YEAR

    The Southern California SPIN calendar year will run from July 1 to June 30.

  8. MEETINGS

    Meetings of the Southern California SPIN will normally take place on the last Friday of each month at the campus of California State University, Long Beach. An announcement for each meeting will be disseminated to all current participants at least two weeks in advance of the meeting.

  9. CHARTER REVISIONS

    Proposed charter revisions are distributed and announced in advance of a general SPIN meeting. Charter revisions must be approved at a subsequent Steering Committee meeting, where the approval has been identified as an agenda item, by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the participants in the vote. At least fifty (50) percent of the Southern California SPIN Steering Committee must participate in the vote for the vote to be valid. Voting may be done in person or via electronic means.

  10. DISSOLUTION OF ORGANIZATION

    Dissolution of the Southern California SPIN organization shall consist of unanimous agreement of all Steering Committee members, together with a majority vote at a meeting that has been publicized in advance to all current participants of the Southern California SPIN for the purpose of taking this vote.

    11. University College and Extension Services
    California State University, Long Beach
    6300 State University Drive #104
    Long Beach, CA 90815