ASD-STE100 is maintained by the Simplified Technical English Maintenance Group (STEMG), a working group of ASD (www-asd-europe.org).
The STEMG was originally formed in 1983 as a working group to develop AECMA Simplified English and subsequently, in 2004, when ASD was created, the group changed its name to the STEMG.
The STEMG is composed as follows:
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES (PRIMARY)
Sophie Beaumont - Airbus Operations SAS – Toulouse, France - GIFAS (France)
Jennifer Bennor - Vestas - Hamburg, Germany
Rosa De Román - Airbus Defence & Space – Seville, Spain - TEDAE (Spain)
Orlando Chiarello (Chairperson) - Secondo Mona S.p.A.- Somma Lombardo, Italy - AIAD (Italy)
Ciaran Dodd - Team Defence Information - Bristol, UK - ADS (United Kingdom)
Claudia-Maria Hofbauer - Schiebel Elektronische Geraete GmbH – Vienna, Austria - AAIG (Austria)
Irene Koukia - Metafrasma Single Member P.C. - Athens, Greece - HASDIG (Greece)
Alexander Lowe (Vice-Chairperson) - Berotec – Linköping, Sweden
Tetsuzo Nakamura - JTCA - INFOSTA, Japan
Melina Ruiz Arias - Unitrados – Buenos Aires, Argentina - ANAC (Argentina)
Tatiana Shvets - MGIMO University, Moscow, Russia
Michael Tierney - Boeing – USA - AIA-US (United States of America)
SECONDARY NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
Nadia Camarena - Quest Global - Spain
Alexandra Grave - Dassault Aviation - France
Matthew Lewis - Pratt & Whittney - USA
Robert McIntyre - SAS Technical Training – Stockholm, Sweden - Scandinavia
Liliya Zentsova - Aviaizdat LLC - Russia
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Carolina Aragón - Iberia - Spain
Lea Tung - World Food Programme (WFP) (United Nations)
Daniela Zambrini - Cormorant - Italy
EMERITUS MEMBERS
Duane Eilertson - Germany
TERMS OF REFERENCES OF THE STEMG
1.0 Introduction
ASD Simplified Technical English, Specification ASD-STE100 (STE), is an international specification for the preparation of technical documentation in a controlled language.
ASD-STE100 is maintained by the Simplified Technical English Maintenance Group (STEMG), a working group of ASD. The STEMG is a non-profit group.
2.0 Mission of the STEMG
The mission of the STEMG is to control, develop, and maintain the ASD-STE100 specification.
The STEMG has these tasks:
3.0 Membership
The STEMG consists of:
The STEMG can also have:
3.1 National representatives (primary)
The national representatives (also known as national coordinators) are mainly from the aerospace industry and are nominated by their national associations, companies, or organizations in the countries that are members of ASD, and also non-members of ASD.
The national representatives are the official “voice” of their countries in the STEMG. They are responsible for coordinating STE matters in their respective countries. The national representatives can be supported by in-country working groups, as necessary. These groups will report on their activites to the STEMG, but will not have authority over the specification.
The national representatives have full voting rights.
Only one national representative is permitted per country.
The national representatives of countries/national associations or organizations which are not ASD members can also be part of the STEMG. These national representatives have full membership and voting rights in the same way as those from the ASD member countries.
The total number of national representatives is at the discretion of the STEMG and must not be more than 12 (twelve). The number of national representatives from countries which are not ASD members must not be more than 4 (four). The minimum percentage of national representatives necessary to hold a meeting must not be less than 50%.
Each national representative must attend as many meetings as possible and a minimum of (1) one meeting out of (3) three consecutive meetings.
4 (four) consecutive absences without backup representation is grounds for termination of the membership.
3.2 Associate members
Associate members are nominated by companies or organizations representing users or producers of technical documentation written in STE.
Associate members are entitled to attend STEMG meetings and contribute to discussions and decisions.
Associate members do not have voting rights.
Only one associate member is permitted per country.
The number of associate members is at the discretion of the STEMG and must not be more than 4 (four). The attendance of associate members has no impact on the decision to hold a meeting.
Each associate member must attend as many meetings as possible and a minimum of one meeting out of 3 (three) consecutive meetings.
4 (four) consecutive absences is grounds for termination of the membership.
3.3 Emeritus members
Emeritus members are former members of the STEMG who have retired or left the group for other reasons. Emeritus membership is granted by the STEMG through an Intellectual Property (IP) agreement to be signed by the emeritus member and the chairperson of the STEMG. The IP agreement regulates emeritus membership duration, rights, and limitations.
Emeritus members must have been in the STEMG for a minimum of 5 (five) years and must have attended a minimum of 7 (seven) meetings in this 5-year period. In addition, they must show interest in continuing their active participation in the group activities and in attending meetings.
Emeritus members are entitled to attend STEMG meetings and contribute to discussions and decisions.
Emeritus members do not have voting rights.
Only one emeritus member is permitted per country.
The number of emeritus members is at the discretion of the STEMG and must not be more than 2 (two). The attendance of emeritus members has no impact on the decision to hold a meeting.
Each emeritus member must attend as many meetings as possible and a minimum of one out of 3 (three) consecutive meetings.
4 (four) consecutive absences is grounds for termination of the membership.
Emeritus members are not national representatives and even if their countries are not represented in the STEMG, they cannot take the role of national representatives.
3.4 Observers
External observers can be invited to attend STEMG meetings on a one-off basis. However, the number of these external observers in a meeting is at the discretion of the STEMG chairperson and must not be more than 4 (four) per meeting. Exceptions to this rule can be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
External observers do not have voting rights.
3.5 Secondary national representatives (backup)
Secondary national representatives (also known as backup representatives) are permitted to replace the primary national representatives who cannot attend all meetings.
There can be two types of secondary national representatives:
Permanent secondary national representatives are nominated by their national associations, companies, or organizations in the same way as the primary national representatives. They are considered part of the STEMG and are included in the official list of representatives. The secondary national representatives can also be nominated by the primary national representatives.
Temporary secondary national representatives are delegated by the primary national representatives to replace them in specific meetings only. They are not official members of the STEMG and will not be included in the official list of representatives.
Secondary national representatives have full voting rights but only in meetings when they replace the applicable national representative.
Only one secondary national representative is permitted per country.
In agreement with the STEMG chairperson, secondary national representatives can attend meetings together with the primary national representatives. In this case, only the primary national representatives will have voting rights.
3.5 Rules for membership
Requirements
The STEMG contains a good mix of engineering and linguistic expertise. Members must have enough time and energy to maintain the specification. They must be able to attend meetings and must cover their own expenses. In most cases, their companies or organizations support their expenses and their work.
To be an active member of the STEMG, a candidate must have:
National representatives
The procedure to become a national representative is as follows:
Associate members
The procedure to become an associate member is as follows:
Upon completion of the above, in both cases, national representatives or associate members, the STEMG will vote on whether to accept the new member. A two-thirds majority is required for approval.
If membership is approved, the new national representative or associate member will receive all correspondence and be invited to attend STEMG meetings and participate in the discussions. If membership is rejected, the STEMG chairperson will notify this decision to the potential member and explain the reasons for such rejection.
Emeritus members
The status of emeritus member is uniquely given by the STEMG and regulated by a specific Intellectual Property (IP) agreement, which is valid for 2 (two) years (renewable at the discretion of the STEMG).
4.0 Chairperson
The STEMG members elect a chairperson, who is then approved by the ASD PSSG. The term of office is not limited and is at the discretion of the STEMG. The STEMG also elects a vice-chairperson who supports the work of the chairperson. Because the STEMG is an ASD working group, the positions of chairperson and vice-chairperson must be held by national representatives from ASD member countries.
The role of the chairperson is to coordinate all STEMG activities and discussions, call meetings, prepare the associated meeting material, conduct the meetings, and write the minutes. The chairperson, supported by the members, is also the primary point of contact for STE users. The STEMG chairperson is a member of and reports to the ASD PSSG, and is the only contact person for the STEMG within ASD.
5.0 Operating Rules
Most of the STEMG work is done at the meetings.
STE users can ask for help in understanding STE principles and rules. They can send queries as necessary (usually through change forms) to the STEMG chairperson or to any of the national representatives.
The STEMG chairperson sends the change forms to the STEMG members and keeps a permanent log of all change forms received and processed.
At its meetings, the STEMG discusses the proposed changes and decides whether or how to implement them.
Periodically (from a minimum of two years to a maximum of four years), the STEMG releases a new issue of the ASD-STE100 specification which contains the agreed changes.
6.0 Frequency of STEMG Meetings
The STEMG usually meets twice a year (spring and fall). Most meetings last 4 (four) days. Each meeting is hosted by an STEMG member from one of the participating countries (on a rotational basis). Associate members can also host meetings.
In exceptional cases only, meetings can be held online using web facilities. The preferred working practice remains the face-to-face discussion in physical meetings.
These TOR were initially written in 2003, fully revised in 2017, and verified each year.
Last verification and revision, January 2023
The STEMG contains a good mix of engineering and linguistic expertise. Engineering experts take care of technical accuracy and linguistic experts take care of language accuracy of the STE specification.
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