Update on the Internationalization & Unicode Conference

This is an update on the annual Internationalization & Unicode Conference. As some of you know, Object Management Group (OMG), our events and logistics partner for the annual Internationalization and Unicode Conference (IUC), is moving in a different strategic direction.

We decided to mutually end the partnership and are now in the process of transferring the various resources from OMG to the Unicode Consortium.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the OMG team, especially Mike Narducci and Carol David, for their support and dedication in making IUC such a mainstay for the global internationalization community.

Unicode would also like to thank the dedicated group of volunteers who worked with Rick McGowan on the program committee. Some of them have been on the committee from the early days even before we began working with OMG in 2006. This speaks to the strong commitment by the individuals as well as the organizations supporting their involvement over the years.

THE WAY FORWARD

While the ending of this partnership creates some challenges, it is also an opportunity to reshape how Unicode approaches community building and training. And given how the meeting and event landscape continues to evolve, it is a great time to explore best practices and apply lessons learned from other meetings and groups.

To that end, Unicode staff and a small group of volunteers convened late last year and will continue meeting in the coming 60-90 days to create the future IUC.

REQUEST

The Unicode Consortium is always looking to improve its conference. We recognize IUC as a key opportunity each year for knowledge-sharing, community building, and evangelization and want your help to shape the future IUC. Please give us your input and ideas by EOD on Friday, March 11th in one of these brief questionnaires.

(1) Survey for previous attendees
(2) Survey for those who have yet to attend

NEXT STEPS

Once we have additional community input and an update on our specific plan, we will share that information with the broader community via this blog and other channels, including on the meeting website at www.unicodeconference.org.

In the meantime, thanks for your time and ideas!

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