[tdwg-tag] Darwin Core Ratified as a TDWG Standard

[Lee Belbin]

The TDWG Executive Committee announces the official ratification of Darwin
Core (http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/index.htm) as a TDWG standard.  

Darwin Core joins four other TDWG standards- http://www.tdwg.org/standards/
that provide a reference for sharing information about biodiversity.  Lead
author, John Wieczorek, and his co-authors, Markus Döring, Renato de
Giovanni, Tim Robertson, and Dave Vieglais have done an amazing job in
writing, organizing, and dealing with feedback during the review process. We
can only have a small insight into the effort that John and his team have
invested in Darwin Core. 

We also appreciate the work that Gail Kampmeier has done as Review Manager
since her appointment in February 2009. There was an initial peer review
followed by two months of public review, punctuated by ongoing discussions
and periodic updating of the draft standard now being ratified by the TDWG
Executive Committee. 

John, Markus, Renato, Tim, Dave and Gail deserve contributions of good
French wine in Montpellier!  Thank you and congratulations to all who
contributed. 

Donald Hobern, Chairman, TDWG.