FW: [MPLS-MEMBERS] Important message regarding the MPLS Forum and Frame Relay Forum - please read

["Wijnen, Bert (Bert)" <bwijnen@lucent.com>]

FYI

Thanks,
Bert 

-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew G. Malis [mailto:Andy.Malis@vivacenetworks.com]
Sent: woensdag 29 januari 2003 0:29
To: mpls-members@mplsforum.org
Cc: Andy.Malis@vivacenetworks.com
Subject: [MPLS-MEMBERS] Important message regarding the MPLS Forum and
Frame Relay Forum - please read
Importance: High



It is my great pleasure to announce that the MPLS Forum and Frame Relay 
Forum Boards of Directors have unanimously agreed on an intention to merge 
the two organizations.

This has actually been informally in discussion for some time, as the 
leadership of both Forums recognized that Frame Relay access is a perfect 
compliment to MPLS at the network core. Indeed, there are already a number 
of deployed commercial public services that provide FR access to MPLS core 
networks.

The formal merger requires a vote of approval by the membership of both 
forums; it is our goal to have this completed by March 31st, which is the 
end of the Frame Relay Forum's fiscal year.

For the first year the combined organization will be known as the MPLS and 
Frame Relay Alliance. Leadership of the Marketing and Education Committee 
and Technical Committee will be shared between our two forums, and current 
Frame Relay Forum members will have two seats on the combined Board of 
Directors. Throughout 2003 we will move to combine all aspects of both 
groups; in 2004 we will be a unified organization, both internally and 
externally.

The public announcement of the proposed merger will take place tomorrow, 
Wednesday, in the early morning. And for those of you who are here in Santa 
Clara attending the Technical and Interoperability Committee meetings, I 
will be providing more details during the Opening Plenary.

On a personal note, as someone with a long history of involvement in both 
of these organizations - I was active in the FRF for 10 years, starting in 
its early days - I am very pleased to see this Frame Relay Forum/MPLS Forum 
alliance. I am confident that both forums, and the industry at large, will 
benefit tremendously as a result.

Regards,
Andy Malis
Chairman and President, MPLS Forum