You Are Here: About The Forum
Background
The New York State Forum is a network of state and local government organizations and information technology leaders and professionals concerned with information management, policy, and operations.
Information is a vital resource for New York state and local government. Government organizations have widely adopted information technologies to improve their abilities to meet their responsibilities. These technologies, the information they process, and the people who use and manage them are essential components of modern government. Together they support a wide variety of public services, contribute to economic health and development, help to manage the state's physical infrastructure and the natural environment, and foster educational and cultural development. Public managers in New York State have become increasingly aware of a need to articulate information policies and to improve the management of information resources which support state operations. The NYS Forum is a unique mechanism that supports the ongoing exchange of government and corporate professional and managerial knowledge and experiences, and coordinates efforts in support of state technology program priorities.
Mission
It is the mission of the New York State Forum to promote policies and practices for effective, equitable and secure use and management of information resources in New York State government at all levels.
Membership
Since its inception in 1987, The Forum's membership has grown to more than 5,000 information technology professionals and over 100 state and local government organizations. This includes virtually all the executive agencies and statewide public authorities, the court system, the state university, both houses of the Legislature and a wide variety of local governments. In 2001 The Forum created the IT Corporate Roundtable which now includes over 75 IT corporation members and nearly 200 active corporate representatives.
Fiscal Support
The Forum's core operating funds come from state and local government and IT corporate membership fees. Other support comes from grants, sponsorships or contracts which support specific projects. Sponsorship and co-sponsorship for specific educational program purposes is often provided by corporations, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and state agencies.
Governance & Operations
In accordance with the Bylaws, the Board of Directors sets the vision, direction and governance of the organization. The executive director directs and manages the Forum's programs and operations in collaboration with one full-time staff member, contractual personnel and on occasion graduate interns. The NYS Forum's programmatic goals and activities are carried out through projects and work groups under the leadership and engagement of state and local government and IT Corporate members of the organization. The NYS Forum's organizational chart is at: http://www.nysforum.org/about/orgchart.aspx