Although there have been problems with the online voting system for TAPPI Standards for a while now, the good news is that TAPPI is almost ready to launch a new system based on one developed by our vendor, the Kavi Corporation, called Kavi Workspace.
Standard-Specific Interest Group (SSIG) members should have already received an email from admin@standards.tappi.org. This will be the sender for messages that the TAPPI Standards Manager creates in the system. The email provided login instructions, a user name, and a password. After an SSIG member logs in the first time, the password can be changed; users can use the same password they use for the main TAPPI website but should be aware that logging into one does not log one into the other (they are hosted on separate servers.
On the user’s home page will appear general information about the system on the right-hand side. On the left-hand side will be notices in case there are ballots to be voted on new documents of interest. Whenever there is an item posted for ballot or any other documents or emails posted in any of the SSIGs that a user belongs to, an email notice will go out.
In the general information on the right will be links to obtain help and a link to online training videos as well.
In the upper left-hand corner of the home page will be a "Groups" dropdown box. The list in this dropdown box will be divided between "My Groups" and "All Groups." "My Groups" are the active groups -- i.e., groups where some activity is currently going on (Work Item opened, ballots in progress, etc.) -- that the logged-in user is a member of. "All Groups" shows all SSIGs that are currently active -- including those the user belongs to (in bold). Click on any group to go to its home page. Those who are not a member of a particular group will see a link to request membership in that SSIG.
Among the active groups to be listed are the standards that will come up for review in 2014. These will be visible when the review begins. If you have not seen the list of standards up for review this year, see the related article in this newsletter, or go to http://www.tappi.org/Standards-TIPs/Review-Schedule-for-TAPPI-Standards.aspx.
The first ballot scheduled to happen under the new system will be for the five-year review of T 1006 on May 6, 2014.
If you are a member of any SSIGs, and you have not received the login instructions, please contact standards@tappi.org immediately As with the old system, you will receive emails alerting you whenever a ballot from one of your SSIGs is up for vote.
If you are attending PaperCon in Nashville, there will be a demonstration of the new system on Tuesday, April 29, at 5:00 pm. Please check the program book on site for the room.
To join existing SSIGs that may not show up yet on the new site (because they are not currently active), you can still sign up for them at any time by visiting the Subject Categories page.