This is a good question. With the EGOV society, we tried to become independent. The society did not materialize last year. So in 2009 we are again within DEXA. However, there may be a new attempt in 2010 or 2011.

Being within DEXA also has some advantages: the administration and local organization of the conference venue is fully being taken care of by the DEXA association. The financial risks to conclude with a larger deficit are currently with DEXA. If we become independent, we need to find an organization which takes over this liability.

These aspects have to be carefully assessed before we finally decide to get on our own feet.

We welcome further comments on this topic!

I can see the advantages of not bearing the financial risks and hot having to worry about administration etc. However, as I see it there are also a number of drawbacks on sticking to the Dexa framework. First of all it is more difficult to frame 'egov' as a separate conference. Organizing the conference independently would increase the possibilities for positioning the conference (in the same vein as dg.o does). Further, the most important drawback of the connection to dexa as I see it, is that it seems to suggest that Egov is an information systems conference, which it obviously is not. Finally, an independent organization would increase the flexibility in the organization of the conference.

Peter, you post some very valid questions which I think need further discussion in the community: what "face" and "image" should EGOV opt for in the future.

I think you should open a new thread where we start discussing this issue.

Probably we indeed need to discuss such matters. I'll open a thread soon