Charter of the International Conference Series on Web Reasoning and Rule Systems

1. Focus

The “International Conference on Web Reasoning and Rule Systems” (RR) is devoted to all aspects of Semantic Web Reasoning, with an emphasis on rule-based approaches and languages. The conference addresses both, principles and applications.

The conference is related to rule-based approaches and languages as investigated especially in the following projects and initiatives:

2. Organisation

2.1 RR Steering Committee

The conferences are run by the “RR Steering Committee”, which consists of up to 12 people. The initial members are:

Harold Boley, University of New Brunswick (Canada)
Francois Bry, University of Munich (Germany)
Thomas Eiter, Technische Universitat Wien (Austria)
Pascal Hitzler, University of Karlsruhe (Germany) – vice chairperson (elected in April 2007)
Michael Kifer, State University of New York (United States)
Massimo Marchiori, UNIPD (Italy)
Jeff Z. Pan, University of Aberdeen (United Kingdom)
Riccardo Rosati, Universita’ di Roma La Sapienza (Italy) – chairperson (elected in April 2007)
Christian de Sainte Marie, ILOG (France)
Bruce Spencer, University of New Brunswick (Canada)
Holger Wache, University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (Switzerland)

Every year, beginning from 2008, the membership of those members of the steering committee whose term expires ends. In order to start the rotation, in initial years 3 persons whose membership ends are determined by the steering committee itself or, in case such an agreement is not possible, by some random process. Starting from 2008, persons elected to be members of the RR Steering Committee are elected for 4 years. Former steering committee members may again become steering committee members if the remaining steering committee so decides by the same procedure as for other changes to the RR Steering Committee. They may also be reelected right after the end of their term for another 4 years.

Decisions by the RR Steering Committee are made in the form of majority votes. A vote is valid if at least 50% of the steering committee members have voted. An issue is accepted by vote, if the vote is valid and a simple majority of the voters voted for the issue.

The RR Steering Committee elects among its members a chairperson and a vice chairperson, who initiate telephone conferences, meetings, votes etc. of the RR Steering Committee in due time and who are both responsible for a timely activity of the steering committee (see Section 4). They also keep track of RR Steering Committee memberships.

Chairperson and vice chairperson are elected for a duration of three years. Their term may cease after less than three years, in case the person leaves the RR Steering Committee or resigns. Their membership of the RR Steering Committee is automatically extended for the duration of their chairmanship, in case the usual 4-year membership would expire. Former chairpersons or vice chairpersons may be reelected to these positions.

Nominations of RR Steering Committee members and changes to this charter have to be proposed by at least 2 members of the steering committee and decided in a vote of the (current) steering committee.

The RR Steering Committee decides, for each year’s instance of the conference, on the location and the dates of the conference. The steering committee shall adhere to the time plan laid out in the Calendar (Section 4).

The RR Steering Committee appoints for each year’s instance of the conference

The programme committee chairperson(s) can additionally suggest to the RR Steering Committee to nominate a proceedings chairperson who needs to be approved by the RR Steering Committee.

Any decisions affecting the “corporate identity” of RR, such as the name of the symposium, logo, focus, web site style, are made by the RR Steering Committee and not by the General Chair, the programme committee or local organisation chairperson(s).

2.2 Programme Committee

The programme committee chairperson(s) invite/s, after approval by the RR Steering Committee, a programme committee of up to 24 persons. The number of members may be slightly higher if this is needed and well motivated. Approval by the RR Steering Committee takes into account the general focus of the RR conference series described in Section 1 and a possible additional focus chosen for the respective year’s venue of the symposium. The RR Steering Committee is committed to ensure the programme committee’s scientific independence, among others, from the industrial and local organization chairpersons.

The programme committee chairpersons are also members of the PC. They are responsible for

and for suggesting the following first drafts to the RR Steering Committee:

in due time (see Section 4).

The programme committee is responsible for

in due time (see Section 4).

A main concern of the programme committee is the quality of both, the conference and the proceedings. A presentation without a paper published in the proceedings is undesirable, but possible if well motivated and conductive to high quality standards.

The programme committee chairpersons are barred from submitting papers to the conference for which they serve as chairs. Programme committee members may submit papers, but they should be held to a higher standard.

2.3 Industrial Chair

The optional industrial chairperson is responsible for

The programme of the industry track will be decided by the progamme committee, not by the industrial chair.

2.4 Local Organisation

The local organisation chairperson is responsible for

The local organisation chairperson is not necessarily a member of the programme committee.

2.5 General Chair

The General Chair is responsible for overseeing the overall progress of the conference. This Chair will also ensure that timely and appropriate decisions are being made, and that all issues concerning the conference are being taken care of.

The General Chair must not be a member of the programme committee. He is also barred from submitting papers to the conference for which he serves as chair.

3. Finances

Each year’s instance of the RR conference should fully cover the expenses of holding the conference in that year. The budget plan should be calculated with a sufficient safety margin to avoid deficit.

The budget plan is to be proposed by the local organisation chairperson and approved by the RR Steering Committee.

4. Calendar (approximate dates, N = month of the conference)

N – 18 Start RR Steering Committee discussion to find chairpersons and location

N – 13 Appoint programme committee chairperson, appoint local organisation chairperson, if applicable: appoint industry chairperson

N – 10 Finalise programme committee, define specific focus, fix location and date (if standalone)

N – 9 Define programme structure, define local organisation details and budget plan

N – 9/8 Programme is defined up to minor refinements, publisher of proceedings has been found, web site draft is available for internal discussion, poster and call for papers are prepared

N – 7/8 Publish web site, distribute call for papers and other PR material

N – 5 Deadline for submissions, then reviewing

N – 4 Notification to authors

N – 3 Camera ready version

N – 1 Proceedings are finalised Shipping of proceedings to conference place

N Hold conference


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