I want to remind everyone involved in constituency formation that, by decision of the ICANN Board, there is to be no election of DNSO Names Council members in Berlin, and certainly not before Berlin (see attached notice of Esther Dyson, in reply to my call for elections).
From: Michael Sondow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Mike Roberts <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Esther Dyson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, ICANN <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> CC: George Conrades <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Greg Crew <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Frank Fitzsimmons <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Hans Kraaijenbrink <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Professor Jun Marai <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Geraldine Capdeboscq <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Eugenio Triana <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Linda S. Wilson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Molly Shaffer Van Houweling <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Bret A. Fausett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Andrew Q. Kraft" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Barbara Dooley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Dr. Lisse" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Fay Howard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Jay Fenello <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Jon Englund <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Jonathan Zittrain <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Larry Lessig <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Shari Steele <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Theresa Amato <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Troy Davis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Erick Iriarte <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Marty Burack <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Michael Heltzer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Joop Teernstra <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Milton Mueller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Charles Nesson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Planning for Berlin (NC elections) Dear Mr. Roberts and Ms. Dyson- Is the ICANN Board planning to get the DNSO Names Council up and running in Berlin? If so, you must realize that this is going to be difficult logistically because it will require nominations and elections in each newly-formed constituency, for its three NC members, and if the manner of these elections is not carefully planned they probably won't take place, or not take place in a legitimate and sustainable way. These elections are of great significance because they are the very first elections conducted under the auspices of ICANN and because they will be a test of the ability of the Board and the membership-in-formation to discipline themselves to conduct the affairs of the DNSO in a coherent way. There are two major questions that, it seems to me, require attention and resolution before Berlin: 1) How can the agenda for the three days in Berlin be arranged so that the election of the constituencies' NC members is accomplished in a logical and prepared-for way; 2) How can those elections be done so that their outcome is not only legitimate but seen to be so by the members of ICANN, future as well as present. To be unassailable, the nominations and more especially the elections for NC seats will have to be done so that people not present in Berlin but who have signed up for the constituencies can participate. Although a complication, this is unavoidable in view of the openness and transparency requirements of ICANN and the DNSO. If the elections are to be legally sustainable, they must be conducted electronically as well as in person. However, despite this difficulty I believe that the elections can be done in Berlin, through careful planning, a rearrangement of the agenda, and an awareness on the part of everyone participating of the need for efficiency. The Board has asked constituency organizers to submit proposals for a definition of the constituency they are forming and a procedure for electing NC seats. This collection of proposals and discussion of them by the Board is all that can properly be accomplished by it before Berlin if a fair process is to be maintained, as I argued in my note on "No rewards for doing wrong". However, it should be sufficient if Berlin is well orquestrated. How can the Berlin agenda be arranged best? Here is the ICIIU's suggestion: 1. Eliminate the General Assembly planned for the afternoon of the 25th. No one will attend such an assembly who isn't in a constituency, for the simple reason that no one is going to go to Berlin without the intention of participating in the constituencies. There is no compelling reason for holding a combined meeting of all constituencies on the afternoon of the first day. That is something best left for after the NC elections. 2. Have the Board make a decision on the constituency proposals immediately after the morning meetings of the constituencies on the first day. There is no reason why the Board should not be able to make the necessary decisions since they will have had the various proposals for some time, and any problems that arise between organizers should be capable of being worked out at the morning meetings; that's what they're for. If the Board will do this, then the constituencies can meet again after lunch to nominate candidates for NC seats. 3. The election official or chairperson of each constituency should, immediately following the nomination of NC candidates on the afternoon of the 25th, communicate them, and those made prior to the berlin meeting by persons not attending, by email to all who have signed up for the constituency but aren't present, requesting that they return their vote by email within twelve hours. This will be made much easier and faster, indeed probably cannot be done otherwise, if someone in each organizing group takes the initiative, in the week leading up to Berlin, to prepare a list of adherents who won't be present and advise them of the time-schedule on the 25th. 4. Since the Board has planned an open meeting for the 26th, we propose that this meeting be done in two parts: from 9 A.M. til noon, an introductory open Board meeting as planned, followed by lunch until 1:00 P.M.; then, from 1:00 til 4:00 P.M., reconvening of the constituencies separately to hold NC elections. Three hours should be enough time for the elections if they have been prepared for as above. 5. After the elections, a break from 4:00 until 7:00 for supper, followed by a short general assembly of all constituencies plus the Board to officially recognize the Names Council. Let's run over this again briefly: - All proposals in to the board in advance of Berlin. First Day in Berlin (May 25th): - Constituency meetings the morning of the 25th. - Lunch. - Decisions by the Board on constituency definitions and election procedures early in the afternoon. - The rest of the afternoon for nomination of candidates in the constituencies. - Email candidates list to adherents not present, requesting an email ballot back from them within twelve hours. Second Day in Berlin (May 26th): - Open Board meeting all morning. - Lunch. - Elections of NC seats in the constituencies in the afternoon. - An early supper. - Reconvene briefly in general assembly with the Board to have the Names Council recognized. Third Day in Berlin (May 27th): - Meeting of the Names Council in the morning to choose a chairperson and set a tentative agenda and timetable. - Lunch. - General Assembly of the DNSO, presided over by the new Names Council, in the afternoon. This makes sense and can be done. It will be an important step forward for the DNSO and ICANN. If it isn't done, the Names Council and the work of the DNSO will have to be postponed for months, at least until the next meeting of ICANN, and that is simply too long to wait, as well as unnecessary. M.Sondow, for the ICIIU ============================================================ International Congress of Independent Internet Users (ICIIU) http://www.iciiu.org [EMAIL PROTECTED] ============================================================
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Esther Dyson) To: Michael Sondow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Planning for Berlin (NC elections) Date: Sun, 25 Apr 1999 20:24:22 -0400 Thanks for your commments, but I don't understand the reasoning for not holding the GA. Nor do I understand the need for the rush to get this all done. THe constituencies need time to organize properly, and I don't think it's proper to railroad them before they are ready. We are hoping to get some action, but this seems unduly rigid.