JCP News Bulletin
October 2003

Here is your October edition of the PMO News Bulletin.  This Bulletin
is sent to JCP (sm) Members, Spec Leads and Experts and is scheduled to
be a monthly insert in your email inbox. This edition covers some recent
news, a JCP survey, the next phase of the 2003 Executive Committee
Elections, the JCP at OOPSLA and ApacheCon, upcoming training dates,
closure dates and some noteworthy JSRs.  Plus a special section with new
information for spec leads.
 
 ** RECENT NEWS **
----------------------
Find out about more about the latest happenings in the Java Community
Process (sm) (JCP sm) program, by visiting  the "What's New" area of the
JCP web site: http://jcp.org/en/whatsnew/jcp 

 ** EC ELECTIONS:  RATIFICATION CLOSES TODAY; NOMINATIONS OPEN FRIDAY **
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratifications for the Executive Committee (EC) Elections are almost
complete. If you haven't voted yet, there is still time to cast your
vote--the ratification ballot will be open until 15 October, midnight
Pacific.  The JSPA contact(s) for each JCP member company or
individual are eligible to vote and should have received their voting
PIN number.  Please remember to vote: http://jcpelection2003.org 

Following the ratifications, nominations for the open elections can be
submitted. If you or your company is interested in joining one of the
ECs, nominate yourself for one of the open seats--the nomination
template will be  available from the voting web site on Friday, 17
October: http://jcpelection2003.org 

 ** JCP SURVEY - LAST WEEK **
-------------------------------
We would like you to participate in a brief online survey regarding the
JCP--the survey will close in one week. Your opinions will help improve
the JCP to better meet the needs of developers and organizations that
depend on Java technology. When you have a few minutes, please go to the
following URL to participate in the survey:
http://63.170.131.3/surveys/jcpsurvey2.htm

To thank you for your participation we will enter your name in a drawing
for a $500 cash prize.  Your opinions are very important to us, so
please respond today.  Thank you in advance for your participation. 

 ** CELEBRATE WITH THE JCP AT APACHECON 2003 **
------------------------------------------------
The JCP will celebrate its five year anniversary this November at
ApacheCon 2003 in Las Vegas! If you plan to attend, please join us for
cake, ice cream and more.
When: 16 - 19 November
Where: Alexis Park Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada
For more information: http://www.apachecon.com/2003/US/index.html

 ** VISIT THE JCP AT OOPSLA 2003 **
------------------------------------
The JCP will host a reception and meeting at the OOPSLA 2003 Conference
on 28 October in Anaheim, California.  If you are attending the
conference, please plan to attend.
When: Tuesday, 28 October, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Where: Anaheim Convention Center, Ballroom D
For more information: http://oopsla.acm.org/oopsla2003/files/spc-4.html

 ** UPCOMING JCP TRAINING **
----------------------------
Mark your calendars for the upcoming JCP Training and Communication
sessions.  All JCP Members are invited and EC Members, Spec Leads,
Expert Group Members and Program-Product Managers are especially
encouraged to attend the Communication session.  Both The West Coast and
the European training will take place after JSR 215 is final and JCP 2.6
has started.

- West Coast - Sun Campus in Santa Clara or Newark, CA - 23 - 24 Feb 04 
- Europe - Sun Campus in Grenoble, France - 10 - 11 May 04 

You can reserve your seat now by contacting Liz Cadd at +1 510 550 4353
or via email Liz.Cadd@sun.com.  Please contact Liz for questions.

 ** JCP PMO CLOSURE DATES **
-----------------------------
The EC is changing during the week of 18 - 25 November 2004.  This means
no 2 week ballots can start on 18 November.  Community Review ballots
can start on 18 November and end on 24 November.  The PMO will be on
winter holiday vacation from 24 December 2003 - 5 January 2004.  This
means no 2 week ballots can start on 16, 23 or 30 December.  Also, no
Community Review ballot can start on 23 or 30 December and no
Maintenance Review can end between 24 December 2003 and 5 January 2004.

 ** NOTEWORTHY JSRs **
-------------------------
This section of the News Bulletin calls out JSRs that have news to share
with the Java Community. If your JSR has something newsworthy to report
then send an alert ("Hey PMO!") to pmo@jcp.org.

- JSR 12, Java Data Objects, is now shipping the maintenance release
1.0.1. The major feature added to the release is support for persistent
Java classes compiled with J2SE 1.4. Minor features provide for better
performance for reading groups of persistent objects and an API to clean
up resources of the datastore. A binary code redistribution option has
been added to the licensing agreement. The specification and reference
implementation can be downloaded here:
http://jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=12

- The SE/EE Executive Committee has approved the Final Approval Ballot
of JSR 168, Portlet Specification.  View the original Specification
Request here: http://jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=168

- JSR 215, JCP version 2.6 is now in Public Review.  This review closes
on 28 October 2003.  Review and comment on the JSR:
http://jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=215

Remember, all JSRs operating under JCP 2.5 (the current version of the
JCP) require that all expert group member entities have signed the JSPA2
located here: http://jcp.org/en/participation/membership.

 ** NEWS FOR SPEC LEADS **
--------------------------
The PMO is proud to present a JSR Process improvement. Effective 2
October 2003, the PMO will host Final Releases.  As with other releases
this is an option the PMO is providing. You may choose not to take
advantage of this service and  host your releases from Public Review on
your own servers.

Many JSRs are related or have dependencies. Spec Leads and Expert Group
members that wish to meet with related JSR Spec Leads and Expert members
or EC members can contact Liz Cadd to set up meetings and/or conference
calls; please see above for contact information.

JSRs currently operating under JCP 2.5 will automatically move under
JCP 2.6 once JSR 215 (currently in PR).  If you would like to move your
JSR to JCP 2.5 before JCP 2.6 is implemented and you need assistance or
information regarding this move, please contact Liz Cadd with above
contact information.

 ** CONTACT INFORMATION **
-------------------------
Here is how to contact the Program Office:

- http://www.jcp.org/en/jsr/proposal
        - To submit proposals for new JSRs.

- spec-submit@jcp.org
        - To send in your draft and/or final specification documents and
related materials (as .pdf or Zip archive, please. Other formats will
not be posted).

- participant-access@jcp.org
        -In case you misplaced your Member password....

- pmo@jcp.org
         - To reach the PMO.