The GDL Community exceeds Graphisoft's Fund Raising Challenge Grant

The GDL Alliance was working toward a September 10, 2000 deadline of raising seed funding of $5,000 in order to meet a challenge grant of $5,000 by Graphisoft US. We are please to announce that this goal has been met and is still growing. We are off to a strong start.

News for The GDL Alliance, Founding and Charter Members

 Volume 1 – Sept. 25, 2000

Welcome to The GDL Alliance. This will be the first in a series of newsletters to all of our Founding and Charter Members. In this newsletter is important information relating to the start up and evolution of The GDL Alliance that will be happening over the next few months. The GDL Alliance is off to a great start. For the past 10 months, starting from zero, we have been operating on volunteer time and finances. Our recent pledge drive has resulted in monetary support from our generous Founding Members and from Graphisoft US. The recent momentum of GDL in various areas is exciting and we know this is the beginning of "something big" and invite everyone to participate. We have gathered together as a unified alliance to shape the future of GDL. We are on a roll now and invite all of you to help us crystallize the vision of The GDL Alliance. This is just the beginning.

Kimon G. Onuma
President Pro Temp, GDL Alliance

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[1]  Pledge Drive Update

• 25 founding members who have pledged financial support
• 80 charter members representing 20 countries
• $9,370 in Pledges
• $5,000 Matching fund confirmation from Graphisoft US
• $5,600 Received as checks or wire transfers

For those who have not sent your checks in yet please do so soon, we are counting on you.  Keep recruiting and promoting for new sponsors and members.

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[2]  Planned Use of Funds

The current funds of The GDL Alliance will be used for the following:

• Administration
• Maintenance of Website
• Develop Maintain Membership Database
• Create Brochure
• Communication
• Registration of Non Profit Educational Corporation
• Registration of Internet Domain Names
• Server Space
• Brochures Publicizing The Alliance
• Mailing Costs Total
• Program to Solicit Charter Members Total
• Consultants, attorneys accountants etc. on an as needed basis
• Planning for The GDL Alliance's first annual Forum, to be held in the first to second quarter of 2001

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[3] Founding Members

Founding members are the leaders in the GDL community that have committed monetary support to The GDL Alliance. The founding members make it possible for The GDL Alliance to exist without directly asking for membership dues at this time and also are crucial to this start up phase of The Alliance. Founding membership is open to all until December 15th by making a pledge on the GDL Alliance web site. After December 15th, we will still be accepting pledges but the category will be changed from "Founding Member" to "Sponsor Member".

Founding member's links and info can be seen at:

http://www.GDLalliance.com/Founders/founders.html

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[4]  Charter Members

Charter membership includes all Charter and Founding members. Charter members are those that join the GDL Alliance prior to December 15, 2000. A Charter Member can be actively involved in the formation of The GDL Alliance by nominating the Board of Directors. Charter membership dues are waived until Januray 2001, when the new Board willl set up a structure for membership dues.

We have representation from around the world.  Note that some countries have more members than others. We know there are other GDL Developers out there and ask you all to join in. One of the immediate goals is to establish local chapters of the GDL Alliance. The GDL Alliance website will serve the entire world's GDL community. The first part of this effort is evident on the Japanese version of the GDL Alliance web site. We need volunteers to help The GDL Alliance create a German and French section of The GDL Alliance web site.

List of countries and total number of Charter Members can be seen at:

http://www.GDLalliance.com/Members/members.html

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[5]  Upcoming Events

The next 6 months are going to be busy ones for The Alliance. Starting with elections and moving toward an annual assembly. We welcome input from all regarding this process.

[A]  Election Year

The GDL Alliance has been operating in "start up mode" with a "pro temp" executive committee. The next goal is to elect a Board of Directors, which will in turn elect The GDL Alliance's first officers. This is going to be happening in the next few months. All Founding members and charter members will be able to place nominations for the Board of Directors. This is an important time in the evolution of The GDL Alliance and we would like everyone to be involved.  Many of our Charter and Founding members have offered support in time and services to help us through this start up period. If anyone would like to offer support in any other way please let us know.

Board of Directors Nomination and Election
All charter members can nominate anyone for the Board of Directors
13 Board of Directors will be elected by all Charter Members
13 Board Members will be nominated
All nomination for Board of Directors due on Dec. 1, 2000

Nominate online at http://GDLalliance.com

Must be a registered GDL Alliance Charter Member to vote.
Voting the week of Dec 4, 2000
All votes due by Dec. 8, 2000
The 13 Elected Board Members will elect officers
The first meeting of The GDL Alliance Board of Directors will be in mid-December, 2000.
The elected Board of Directors will elect officers of The GDL Alliance
Election for Officers will be on January 13, 2001

[B]  Promotion and Marketing

The GDL Alliance intends to get the word out about our existence. This has already started happening with the events listed on the web site. The website will be updated on a regular basis.

Things to do on the website:

• Go to the news section of The GDL Alliance web site to get updates on events.
• Sign up for GDL talk
• Sing up to become a Charter or Founding Member
• Make pledges, both monetary and support
• Support our Founding Members by clicking through to their websites
• Check updates about The GDL Alliance on a regular basis
• Check on upcoming GDL Classes and events
• Nominate the Board of Directors

[C]  Gatherings

The first meeting of The GDL Alliance Board of Directors will be on Dec 11, 2000.

The GDL Alliance is planning on the first annual gathering of members in the first or second quarter of 2001. This will be an opportunity to network and learn more about the GDL world.

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[6]  Contact us

If you have any questions or comments about The GDL Alliance please contact us:

Officers (forming the Executive Committee pro temp until elections in Jan 2001):

• President: Kimon Onuma – GDLalliance@onuma.com
• Vice President: Duane Valencia - VFrontiers@aol.com
• GDL Evangelist: David Nicholson-Cole - davidnc@innotts.co.uk
• Director of Education: John Stebbins -- john@digitalvis.com