I have avoided commenting during this process but now that we seem to be in a level postilion, I do have a few comments to make. Please note that these comments are NOT in reference to ANY candidate but are in relation to the process. - In accordance with the ICANN Bylaws and the ALAC Rules of Procedure (RoP), the Nominating Committee delegates are selected by the ALAC. A consultation with the RALO is mandatory. - Any decision to accept a RALO recommendation or appoint someone else is a decision of the ALAC. The Chair may certainly make a recommendation, but ultimately it is an ALAC decision. Prior to a Chair making such a formal recommendation, if he or she is doing a reasonable job, there would have been discreet (that is private and confidential) discussion with some or all advisors and ALAC Members to make sure there is a strong consensus on how to proceed. That is the process that I have followed in a similar situation last year and it is my understanding is that this is exactly the process that Maureen has followed. - If a RALO candidate is not ratified (or recommended to not be ratified), there is no formal requirement to go back to the RALO or even the RALO Chair. - Since we regularly (over many years) seem to have various people not understanding the NomCom delegate selection process, perhaps it is time to clarify the ALAC RoP. - All of the above notwithstanding, there has been a distinct lack of communications in all directions in the current situation, and that is a problem that needs to be rectified - and it cannot be fixed with rules. - The proposal that Mohamed just made, to have an internal selection process is one I applaud. If I understood correctly Remmy Nweke had earlier made such a suggestion. In my opinion, we (and that is both the ALAC and all RALOs) have often focused more on "democratic" procedures and not sufficiently on making sure we select knowledgeable and capable people for all positions. It is not typically sufficient to simply ask for volunteers (who may or may not have ANY of the skills needed) and then have a vote that is really a popularity contest and not a true evaluation of the candidates. For the ALAC, the situation has been largely remedied with the ALAC Appointee Selection Committee that began 3 years ago. Alan