>Dear George,
>
>
>Could you be kind enough to present the masterpiece of administrative
>jargon you quoted in understandable English? Just for the benefit of us
>poor and restricted souls who do not speak English as a native language.
>
>Yours ever,
>
>Jussi Hanska
Dear Jussi,
thank you for your query. Indeed, I am sure many native speakers will find the
announcement difficult to understand, but a summary of it is this:
Mailbase, a body founded ten years ago in order to co-ordinate e-mail lists that are
based in the United Kingdom, has had to place a bid to a government body ('JISC';
don't ask me what it stands for!) in order to justify and continue its existence. The
government body, although agreeing that Mailbase has done a superb job of providing
such an excellent infrastructure and service (to a country particularly resistant, at
first, to such an innovation as e-mail lists), has decided not to continue to fund
Mailbase. Instead, it is funding another body which has placed a bid to provide this
service. Those of us who use Mailbase might find the service will improve; we might
discover that things will get worse; we may (indeed, probably will) find that things
will remain largely as they are.
This, for Mailbase, is precisely the gratitude that people and organizations in the
UK have come to expect from a Thatcherite and neo-Thatcherite pseudo-corporate
mentality that prefers slightly lower costs above loyalty, innovation, dedication and
(how un-British!) success.
The shortest possible summary would be this: our list management will be changed next
year, but this change will not cause users of the list any disruptions.
Best wishes,
George
PS: I apologize for the polemics. I won't do it again. Really, I won't. Honestly.
>Following a recent open procurement, the JISC has awarded the contract
>>to provide the National Academic Mailing List Service to the Council
>>for the Central Laboratories of the Research Councils (CCLRC) with
>>effect from 1 August 2000.
>>
>>The new service from CCLRC will be based on the well known LISTSERV
>>software. This will mean there will be some changes for users,
>>however, these would have occurred as part of the natural evolution of
>>the mailing list service. Mailbase at the University of Newcastle had
>>postponed their planned transfer from the current software to LISTSERV
>>during the summer of 1999 pending the outcome of the tender process.
>>
>>The JISC is in discussion with the current providers, Mailbase at the
>>University of Newcastle, and CCLRC regarding transition arrangements.
>>Further announcements will be made once the arrangements are agreed
>>with all parties.
>>
>>The JISC would like to formally recognise the high quality of the
>>service provided by Mailbase and in particular its successful efforts
>>in encouraging the uptake and use of information technology and
>>electronic mail within the HE community. Awarding the contract to the
>>CCLRC is not a reflection on the excellent service that has been
>>provided by Mailbase for the last 10 years, nor on the quality of their
>>bid.
>>
>>-------------------------------------------
>>Bronwen Reid
>>Email [log in to unmask]
>>Web http://www.mailbase.ac.uk
>>-------------------------------------------
>>
>>* * * * * * * * * *
>>
>>(It's me, George, again.) I am told that the change of control of the lists
>>will be 'seamless', but I somehow doubt it. Anyway, I'll provide you with
>more
>>information in the new year.
>>
>>I think it's an utter disgrace that Mailbase -- the organization that brought
>>the United Kingdom into the scholarly e-mail era -- should be treated so
>>shabbily.
>>
>>George
******************************************************************
George Ferzoco Office: Attenborough Tower 1112
Director of Italian Studies Office Tel: ++ 44 (0)116 252 2654
University of Leicester Office Fax: ++ 44 (0)116 252 2657
School of Modern Languages Secretary Tel:++ 44 (0)116 252 2680
University Road Secretary Fax:++ 44 (0)116 252 3633
LEICESTER LE1 7RH e-mail: [log in to unmask]
UNITED KINGDOM http://www.le.ac.uk/ml/gpf2/gpf2.html
List owner of italian-studies:
http://www.mailbase.ac.uk/lists/italian-studies
List owner of medieval-religion:
http://www.mailbase.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion
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