I have checked and there is no known plan for the U.S. to withdraw from the Convention du Metre. We are all paid up on that and continue as members of the CGPM, CIPM, and BIPM.
BIE is an urelated issue and I have no details on that. Either way, this will not affect us with supporting SI organizations. BIE may ore may not be a real story but the bit about the SI organizations appears to be an Urban Legend in the making or at least an erroneous extrapolation. Let's quench that ember of a rumor before there is fire on our hands. Jim On Thursday, 2002 February 28 0719, James Frysinger wrote: > Louis, I have heard nothing of the sort. I sat next to our representative > to the CCU during a meeting of an IEEE standards committee at the end of > November and he said nothing about this. > > Jim > > On Thursday, 2002 February 28 0148, Louis JOURDAN wrote: > > Has anybody heard rumors about a possible withdrawal of USA from BIPM ? > > > > The reason why I put this question is that I recently got this > > > > information (from another discussion group) : > > >During the past summer, the U.S., with the signature of Colin Powell > > >as Secretary of State, sent their official letter of withdrawal to > > >the BIE. > > > > > >Once received, it takes one year for the withdrawal to go into effect. > > > > > >This news came directly from those at the state department who were > > >in charge of U.S. > > >participation. This news was as of June. Certainly with the changing > > >international landscape > > >via September 11, this letter could have been rescinded. > > > > BIE stands for "Bureau International des Expositions", ie the > > international organization that regulates the Universal Expositions. > > Established in 1928 and located in Paris, it has currently 88 member > > states. > > > > A member of the discussion group gave the following explanation : > > > The U.S. has not paid its dues to the BIE in years (this despite a > > >relatively small $35,000 per year fee). However, our decision on > > >this is not truly monetary. For over a decade now, our > > >participation in world's fairs can not legally include any money > > >from the public treasury and must be fundraised from corporate > > >sponsors. > > > > Certainly this is not the case with BIPM, but who knows... > > > > Louis
