Message From the Board Q4 2005

Hans Fenstermacher, GALA Board Chair

As I write my message to you for this issue of GALAxy, I realize that this is the last time I will be able to address you as Chairman of GALA. Many thoughts go through my mind at this time, but mainly they are thoughts of optimism and enthusiasm. My colleagues and I founded GALA in 2002 with that same spirit of optimism and enthusiasm to develop and grow our association into a leading force in the industry. I hope you agree that we -- all of us -- are succeeding in that effort!

Each year of GALA's growth brings new opportunities that demonstrate our collective strength. GALA, now over 10 times larger than when it started, is increasingly serving as the focal point for our industry. This year, for example, we have been approached from outside the industry by several organizations to co-develop initiatives that will bring visibility and progress to the field of localization. We are also very pleased to see that the buyer side of our industry increasingly views GALA as a strategic partner to help promote and develop localization and globalization. Leon Lee's article in this issue makes this point very well; GALA can act as a "super-schema" to help the industry mature and expand its model into one that customers fully embrace. We also see more dialog taking place among our various constituencies than ever before. Craig Myers's call to action for bloggers illustrates this by supporting an open exchange between tools developers and service providers. GALA provides an ideal environment for constituencies like these to get together and converge their thinking in the interest of better service of our end-customers. This has been one of GALA's fundamental goals all along, and we are thrilled to see it come to fruition.

There is much more going on within our ranks and our industry than can be listed here, but suffice it to say that in three short years GALA has grown strong and now stands firmly on its own two feet, ready to help lead the industry to greater maturity and prosperity. It has been one of the greatest pleasures and honors in my life to be a part of this success. I have every confidence that GALA will continue its momentum with wonderful new Board members, and Renée, Daniel and I will do everything we can to support them.

And so let me say not "adieu", but "au revoir," for we will surely continue to see and work with each other in the future!

Thank you.

Hans

Hans Fenstermacher
GALA Board Chair
 

Hans is chair of the GALA Board and president and founder of ArchiText Inc., a globalization and localization services company.