Slides for the International OpenGen Alliance webinar

1. OpenGen.org Alliance Meeting • December 13, 2010

2. Housekeeping – OpenGen Webinar
1
• Webinar Housekeeping
• This webinar is being recorded
• Recording will be available at OpenGen.org tomorrow afternoon
• A list of webinar attendees will be included in the slides published
at the close of the call
• The webinar slides will be posted at SlideShare following the
webinar, and commenting will be enabled
• Comments and questions are welcome during the call
• Please use the G2W tools to pose questions, raise hands, or chat with members
during the webinar.
• Questions: Ask written questions to the presenters using this dialogue
• Raise your hand: Request permission to speak directly to the group via
your voice connection
• Chat: Offer comments/questions to the entire audience or a specific
member

3. Update – OpenGen Webinar
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• OpenGen Update & Housekeeping
• OpenGen.org was taken offline in September to regroup, and
reconsider the process and structure
• Multiple Committees
• Model Collaboration
• Meeting Frequency
• Tool set for collaboration and communications
• 501c(3) foundation is a formal legal entity
• Represented by the law firm Gesmer Updegrove LLP
• Foundation Bylaws written and filed with foundation
• Membership Update
• Currently 35 members signed up

4. Collaboration – OpenGen Webinar
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During the OpenGen quiet period, the BetterGEDCOM
initiative was launched and has a lot of demonstrated
interest.
1. Update on conversations and intentions with
BetterGEDCOM originators
2. Questions regarding the folding in of other like-
minded genealogy initiatives. Action Item: Compile a
complete list of all such initiatives

5. Lessons Learned – OpenGen Webinar
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1. Collaboration on work product with an open agenda around
the desired product outcome doesn’t work
• OpenGen needs to do a better job at clarifying the desired work
product outcome(s)
2. Multiple committees create a tax on people’s time and focus
• Focus on delivering the work product first, THEN adoption
3. Publishing a rudimentary model without reinforcement of the
intent of doing so alienated participation
• OpenGen will strive for greater clarity around the work product
and the process in achieving a result going forward
4. Perceived leadership on the initiative within the control of a
single commercial entity leads to questions around
motivation.
• OpenGen will accelerate the call for candidates to elect a BOD

6. Near Term Goals – OpenGen Webinar
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• OpenGen wants to deliver a contemporary standard for
genealogical data exchange
• OpenGen’s file format will initially be XML-based
• First round product ready for review in early 2011
• OpenGen seeks to serve as an independently run
standards body with an influential and objective voice in
the definition and maintenance of the standard for
genealogical data
• OpenGen seeks to invite widespread adoption of the
standard by the major players in the industry by the end of
2011

7. Long Term Goals – OpenGen Webinar
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• OpenGen will aid in the authoring of the process and
workflow through which genealogical data preservation
and exchange issues are considered and executed.
• OpenGen will maintain a library of updated documentation
for the standards of genealogical data exchange and
preservation.
• OpenGen will function outside of the control of any single
commercial entity or interest.
• Maintain a set of open source software and services that
facilitates open data exchange and preservation.

8. Process Review – OpenGen Webinar
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Reigniting the OpenGen workflow with a concentration first
on the product and then adoption.
PROCESS FLOW:
1. Definition of the initial work product
• Define and clarify desired refinements to existing standards
This discussion will be the subject of the next meeting
2. Building the data model
• Online collaboration and feedback through Gliffy.com & Basecamp
3. Write the XML and XML Schema code for a file format
• Target an alpha product release date

9. Working Tools – OpenGen Webinar
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Gliffy.com is the free online tool through which our
developer community can collaborate on the
OpenGen model.
www.Gliffy.com
Basecamp is the tool through which meeting
minutes are recorded and shared, documentation
is housed, and project schedules are maintained.
www.opengenalliance.basecamphq.com

10. Next Steps – OpenGen Webinar
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The next scheduled meeting for OpenGen is:
Tuesday, December 28, 2011
1:00 p.m. PST / 4:00 p.m. EST / 9:00 p.m. UTC
GoToMeeting.com details will be available at
OpenGen.org

11. Participant Summary – OpenGen Webinar
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Participants for the webinar included:
• Andrew Hatchett Retired
• GeneJ Composer Family Historian / BetterGEDCOM
• George Farkas XGenML
• Gordon Clarke FamilySearch
• Greg Lamberson Genealogy Enthusiast / Lamco IT Solutions
• Pat Richley GeneaBlogger / BetterGEDCOM
• Peter Cook PGCC, Inc.
• Rysa Pitner AppleTree.com / OpenGen.org
• Scott Mueller AppleTree.com / OpenGen.org
• Tamura Jones GeneaBlogger