ANASAC Telecon 27 June 2003.

Attending:  Wootten, Glenn, Blain, Crutcher, Mundy, Myers, Carilli


Wootten announced news from the AUI Board meeting--RG will retire 1 Oct 
2004; a search for the next AUI President commences immediately

Chairman Crutcher called for acceptance of the minutes of the last 
meeting. Minutes accepted.


Wootten gave a summary of ALMA Project News, including passage by the 
Chilean Senate of the permissions for ESO to operate the Observatory in 
Chile.  Construction on the site is expected to follow shortly.
France has changed its 'ad referendum' vote on the ALMA Bilateral 
Agreement to approval. A short summary of upcoming dates, as listed in 
the agenda, was given. Wootten then gave a short summary of
  calibration presentations at ALMA Week.


Glendenning next gave a report on ALMA Computing
Many software changes occurred after the aips++ technical review 
identified needs to concentrate on strategic issues.  The aips++ 
consortium disbanded as part of this effort to focus. Cornwell resigned 
so aips++ management now directly under Glendenning  and Ulvestad.  This
shortens the management line, improving efficiency.  Now aips++ is a 
direct part of the ALMA Computing IPT line essentially.  The project 
views this positively as the ALMA-aips++ connection is now much more 
direct.  Glenn asked how many full time equivalent people working on
aips++?  Glendenning replied that this was on the order of
seven at NRAO. There will in addition be two positions (one presently
filled) in Canada.   Others (e.g. in Australia) will continue to work 
on aips++ but these developers will not necessarily work toward ALMA 
goals.  One important ALMA milestone is a year from now, basically 
pass/fail.    Focus is established on this milestone now, and on meeting 
the benchmark which must be met for that.  This is Critical Design 
Review II.  aips++ is a direct part of the Computing IPT and we
want to make sure it meets the milestones.  Myers asked: "How big is 
ALMA Computing?"  Glendenning reolied that budgeted is currently 35 FTEs 
plus in kind contributions (e.g. aips++) for a total up to about 50.

Next the discussion turned to the next item on the agenda, dates for a 
face-to-face discussion. Although no date was satisfactory to all ANASAC 
members, the majority could meet on 25 August. By far the majority 
agreed that a meeting at an easy-to-reach place was the best for a one 
day meeting, and the Chicago O'Hare airport will be the site of the 
meeting.  Some members will be unable to attend; a telecon or videocon 
may accommodate those members

The discussion turned to the proposed agenda.  Some thought that the 
statements of interest from members could be too lengthy on the program. 
  The focus should be on operations.  A question was asked whether there 
is a specific charge to the committee; Mundy noted that the ALMA Board
was expected to address charges to the ASAC soon; advice would be sought 
from the ANASAC by the NA members of the ASAC as part of the development 
of a response to the Board charges.  The main focus of the ANASAC should 
remain on North American operations.  Crutcher said that he would
seek more detailed input from Director Lo on exactly what he wanted from 
this committee.