July 2009 - ALAC - lists.icann.org

Call for Agenda Items for 30 July 2009 Board Meeting
by Wendy Seltzer July 15, 2009

July 15, 2009

Please note the July 20 deadline for items for the Board agenda. Let me know if there are things ALAC would like to recommend for the agenda. The Board resolved in Sydney that the item of ALAC Board members be moved there, and it's likely that IRT will be on the agenda. --Wendy -------- Original Message -------- Diane Schroeder writes: The next Board meeting is scheduled for 30 July 2009 at 19:00 UTC. The agenda and materials will be distributed 7 days before the meeting. If you have any items that you would like to be included on the agenda please send them to me by 20:00 UTC on Monday 20 July 2009. Items submitted will be considered by the Chairman, in discussion with the Vice Chair and CEO, at their agenda setting call before the meeting. Items that are completed, and ready for board action such as written Committee recommendations are likely to be given higher priority than unwritten materials. -- Wendy Seltzer -- wendy(a)seltzer.org Visiting Professor, American University Washington College of Law Fellow, Berkman Center for Internet & Society http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/seltzer.html http://www.chillingeffects.org/ https://www.torproject.org/

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Draft Agenda for ALAC ExCom meeting of 15th July
by At-Large Staff July 15, 2009

July 15, 2009

Dear Excom: We've taken the liberty of including a number of items for your agenda tomorrow, though of course it is a draft agenda until you adopt it. You'll recall mention of these items previously and that the Staff were asked to produce drafts in relation to items 3 and 4 at your meeting at the end of the Sydney meeting. The agenda may be reviewed at https://st.icann.org/alac-excomm/index.cgi?15_july_2009. ---- Regards, Nick Ashton-Hart, Heidi Ullrich, Matthias Langenegger, Gisella Gruber-White ICANN At-Large Staff email: staff(a)atlarge.icann.org

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Re: [ALAC] Draft Agenda for ALAC ExCom meeting of 15th July
by carlos aguirre July 15, 2009

July 15, 2009

Dear Alan. As I said, when talking with you, in Sidney. In relation with performance guidelines, I believe is neccesary to make a new rule (maybe a rule 21 bis) where we say the less as possible, because everybody knows what are his/her obligations. and make a new rule with a clear process. I insist with my work presented in Paris, and perhaps a previous step of dialogue with the "member in fault" .- Carlos Dionisio Aguirreabogado - Sarmiento 71 - 4to. 18 Cordoba - Argentina - *54-351-424-2123 / 423-5423 www.derechoytecnologia.com.ar http://ar.ageiadensi.org > Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:24:01 -0400 > To: alac(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org > From: alan.greenberg(a)mcgill.ca > Subject: Re: [ALAC] Draft Agenda for ALAC ExCom meeting of 15th July > > The issue of performance guidelines, which based on discussions prior > to and in Sydney led to the clear need for a Job Description, all > falls on my plate. > > Knowing that I would be rather busy with other matters for a few > weeks after Sydney, and that Cheryl would be out of commission for a > while, we asked staff to do the first draft of a job description. You > alluded to the last performance paper that crashed and burnt - I most > definitely did not want that to happen to this new document, so it > seemed wise for someone other than staff to look at it before opening > full comments. THAT is why it was on the agenda. How would you have > done it differently? > > I really would like someone to define "get rid of the ExCom". Does > that mean you don't want Vice-Chairs. Or don't want them working with > and talking to the Chair. Do you want the Chair to have sole > responsibility for Chair matters, rather than talking things through > with a representative of each region. Or do you want all of that to > happen, but just not have the title ExCom. What is it you really > want. No buzzwords - please be clear and succinct. > > Alan > > At 14/07/2009 03:22 PM, Thompson, Darlene wrote: > >Wow! > > > >Yes, I have to agree with this and I can certainly understand your > >exasperation, Alan. I *do* care about ALAC and At-Large. So, what can > >I do to change things? I'm not on the ALAC so am rather looking in from > >the outside. > > > >However, as soon as the whole ExComm thing came up, there was > >substantial push-back on it that seemed to me to be ignored. > > > >Please, if ALAC people think that they "deserve" travel funding, then > >they also should be "required" to participate. I can say this as being > >from the only region that has required our ALAC reps to perform and has > >cleaned house at least once. > > > >We need to strengthen those job descriptions (as Evan mentioned) to also > >have an "or else" clause. Also, yes, we definitely need to see those > >performance indicators at regular intervals (not just for ALAC but also > >for the Chairs and Secretariats). However, the numbers often just don't > >show what Alan is mentioning. If any ALAC member asks for input and > >comments and is only responded to by the same people, that is more of a > >judgment call (not shown in the numbers) but this somehow needs to be > >reported back to the regions (I'm not sure how). There was talk around > >ALAC to incorporate various performance indicators back in Cairo but for > >reasons that I will keep off-list, it crashed and burned. We need to go > >back to this, strengthen our ALAC, get rid of the chaff that is not > >performing and get rid of the ExComm. > > > >I hate the thought of the Chairs and Secretariats being the ex-officio > >"police" for this sort of thing but the regions really do need to weigh > >in here as well as the ALAC itself. Again, I'm not sure how this should > >be done but something needs to change. > > > >D > > > >Darlene A. Thompson > >Community Access Program Administrator > >Nunavut Dept. of Education / N-CAP > >P.O. Box 1000, Station 910 > >Iqaluit, NU X0A 0H0 > >Phone: (867) 975-5631 > >Fax: (867) 975-5610 > >E-mail: dthompson(a)gov.nu.ca > > > > > >-----Original Message----- > >From: alac-bounces(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org > >[mailto:alac-bounces@atlarge-lists.icann.org] On Behalf Of Alan > >Greenberg > >Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 1:39 PM > >To: ALAC Working List > >Subject: Re: [ALAC] Draft Agenda for ALAC ExCom meeting of 15th July > > > >At 14/07/2009 01:21 PM, Thompson, Darlene wrote: > > > > >This whole ExComm thing needs to be put out of its misery. If a group > > >of 15 cannot make timely decisions, then the whole structure of ALAC > > >needs to be reconsidered. (as scary as that is) > > > >Every time I post something asking for input and comments, I > >typically get one or two comments. From the rest of the committee, > >silence. And mostly from those members who comprise the evil ExCom > >(Adam being the one exception). > > > >If those who really care about ALAC and At-large were serious, there > >would be more action to get ALAC members to actually participate and > >not just criticize. > > > >Alan > > > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > >ALAC mailing list > >ALAC(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org > >http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac_atlarge-lists.icann > >.org > > > >At-Large Online: http://www.atlarge.icann.org > >ALAC Working Wiki: http://st.icann.org/alac > > > > > _______________________________________________ > ALAC mailing list > ALAC(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org > http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac_atlarge-lists.icann.org > > At-Large Online: http://www.atlarge.icann.org > ALAC Working Wiki: http://st.icann.org/alac _________________________________________________________________ Probá los mejores juegos online en MSN http://juegos.ar.msn.com/

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Re: [ALAC] Draft Agenda for ALAC ExCom meeting of 15th July
by Thompson, Darlene July 14, 2009

July 14, 2009

OK, I just took the time to read a couple of the documents that will be discussed at the next ExComm meeting and have the following comments and encourage others to weigh in here (and READ some of the documents!). 1. It was never my intention to "put down" those individual members of the ExComm. What we have in the ExComm is a truly motivated bunch of people that keeps everything going with ALAC. Were they to disappear from the face of the earth, ALAC would be non-functional. 2. The Position Description for ALAC Members and ALAC Liaisons states, under Time Commitment and Working Practice, that minimum participation includes (among other things): * Participate actively in policy issues and other working groups. Each ALAC member is expected to help lead at least one working group composed of members of At-Large working on policy issues. A current listing of working group and the remit of each may be found at http://st.icann.org/working-groups. * Reading and commenting in At-Large's mailing lists and other communications media. The participation in WGs includes: Additionally, each ALAC member leads, co-leads, or participates in one or more working groups on policy issues, which will involve an additional average 10 hours per month in reading documents, drafting proposed responses, and attending teleconferences and participating in email and other electronic correspondence related to those working groups. OK, so in addition to having parameters set on numbers of meetings attended and votes acted on, we also have the above. Could the performance metrics that we get from staff not also include: - How many policy statements have each ALAC member drafted or participated in drafting? - Haw many WGs have they chaired or have given substantive input into? - Attendance at face to face meetings Frankly, I, too, have witnessed the trends of: - In Sydney, some ALAC members that swanned in late to meetings, missed ALAC meetings and left early. During the rest of the sessions, these ones were completely missing and did not attend. Great Facebook pages on what they ACTUALLY did there, though! - ALAC members who we NEVER hear from between the face to face meetings. They don't bring any kind of policy work to the table and hardly any comments on list (and WGs??? - never) 3. Unfortunately, the regions don't see this lack of effort at the face to face meetings and may not be tuned into the other things that I have brought up. These NEED to be included in performance indicators. 4. Check out the voting procedures for the new Board Liaison. I heavily support the new means that are being suggested to actively bring in the RALOs into this decision rather than leaving it all up to ALAC. Hey, people, our ALAC reps are supposed to be bringing forward the opinions of the RALOs and, as some are not, this is the way we have direct influence. 5. In Cairo, Cheryl really tried to address some of these issues but got slammed from someone from North America who is no longer with us. I would like that whole thing dusted off and implemented. So, while I am totally against this whole ExComm thing, perhaps we need to really do some serious spring cleaning so that we can ENABLE a strong ALAC. Just my two cents (after about two hours of reading). D Darlene A. Thompson Community Access Program Administrator Nunavut Dept. of Education / N-CAP P.O. Box 1000, Station 910 Iqaluit, NU X0A 0H0 Phone: (867) 975-5631 Fax: (867) 975-5610 E-mail: dthompson(a)gov.nu.ca -----Original Message----- From: alac-bounces(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org [mailto:alac-bounces@atlarge-lists.icann.org] On Behalf Of Alan Greenberg Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 1:39 PM To: ALAC Working List Subject: Re: [ALAC] Draft Agenda for ALAC ExCom meeting of 15th July At 14/07/2009 01:21 PM, Thompson, Darlene wrote: >This whole ExComm thing needs to be put out of its misery. If a group >of 15 cannot make timely decisions, then the whole structure of ALAC >needs to be reconsidered. (as scary as that is) Every time I post something asking for input and comments, I typically get one or two comments. From the rest of the committee, silence. And mostly from those members who comprise the evil ExCom (Adam being the one exception). If those who really care about ALAC and At-large were serious, there would be more action to get ALAC members to actually participate and not just criticize. Alan _______________________________________________ ALAC mailing list ALAC(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac_atlarge-lists.icann .org At-Large Online: http://www.atlarge.icann.org ALAC Working Wiki: http://st.icann.org/alac

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Re: [ALAC] Draft Agenda for ALAC ExCom meeting of 15th July
by Evan Leibovitch July 14, 2009

July 14, 2009

Alan Greenberg wrote: > I really would like someone to define "get rid of the ExCom". Does > that mean you don't want Vice-Chairs. Or don't want them working with > and talking to the Chair. Do you want the Chair to have sole > responsibility for Chair matters, rather than talking things through > with a representative of each region. Or do you want all of that to > happen, but just not have the title ExCom. What is it you really want. > No buzzwords - please be clear and succinct. The definition of "get rid of the Excom" seems self-evident to me; I assume you are asking what would replace its current functions. But you've also asked for some ancillary questions related to Vice-Chairs etc so I'll offer my vision of it all. The Chair of ALAC has certain functions. It is reasonable to have a Vice-Chair in case the Chair is temporarily unable to function. Unless there are many instances in which both the Chair and Vice-Chair are unavailable, having more than one Vice-Chair position is redundant. Anything more than Chair, a single Vice-Chair and a Secretariat is sheer bloat driven by politics (ie, some kind of equity doctrine) rather than merit. These three people ought to have the authority to act in emergency measures -- that is, when unforeseen deadlines any other circumstances occur in which the ALAC cannot practically be consulted. However, these circumstances must be minimized and foreseen when possible, and all such emergency actions should be reported back to ALAC at the next opportunity (by email, not then next ALAC meeting) for subsequent action. Non-emergency matters of ANY kind should not be undertaken by any body other than ALAC or an open-membership At-Large working group created by ALAC. Such working groups require at least one ALAC member or RALO leader as chair/liaison who will report on its activities (and bring forward resolutions) to ALAC meetings; otherwise membership is open to any bonafide member of At-Large (an ALS or individual members according to appropriate regional policies). The working groups are to operate informally and by rough consensus of all involved. In the case of the two documents being discussed at the ExecComm tomorrow, these should both have been drafted by an administrative (standing) WG, open to participation by anyone in At-Large who is interest in actively helping. (Who knows? such an Admin WG might have the same people currently in the ExecCom... but the difference is that others are welcome to participate *as equals* and not just non-voting bystanders.) I would envision that the Admin WG would be chaired by the ALAC Secretary and have the participation of all RALO Secretariats and anyone else who is interested. The ALAC Chair should not chair any working group. That position has enough to do and others must be encouraged to share the load. Each ALAC member is expected, as a minimum, to be either - Chair, Vice-Chair or Secretary - Liaison to an ICANN committee or constituency - Chair of an At-Large Working Group RALO chairs and secretariats are also expected to be part of at least one working group, serving as chairs if no ALAC members are available (ie, the number of WGs exceeds the number of ALAC members not otherwise occupied) These should be part of the job descriptions. Any ALAC member or RALO leader incapable or unwilling to fulfil such responsibilities should resign, be recalled, or instructed not to stand for election or nomination. There. I don't know about succinct by I hope that this vision is clear enough. You wanted alternatives, here's one. - Evan

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Re: [ALAC] Draft Agenda for ALAC ExCom meeting of 15th July
by Alan Greenberg July 14, 2009

July 14, 2009

Darlene, I was actually trying to be helpful, although apparently not successfully. My request for further clarification was not targeted at you specifically, but asking all who were calling for the ExCom to disappear to explain what they meant, because I truly do not understand what they want instead. Again, if you felt my comments were inappropriate, I regret having made them. Alan At 14/07/2009 05:05 PM, Thompson, Darlene wrote: >Hey Alan, > >I was trying to be helpful - thank you SO much for your encouraging >words. > >See my next e-mail for succinctness that you obviously found lacking in >this one. > >D > >Darlene A. Thompson >Community Access Program Administrator >Nunavut Dept. of Education / N-CAP >P.O. Box 1000, Station 910 >Iqaluit, NU X0A 0H0 >Phone: (867) 975-5631 >Fax: (867) 975-5610 >E-mail: dthompson(a)gov.nu.ca > > >-----Original Message----- >From: alac-bounces(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org >[mailto:alac-bounces@atlarge-lists.icann.org] On Behalf Of Alan >Greenberg >Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 4:24 PM >To: ALAC Working List >Subject: Re: [ALAC] Draft Agenda for ALAC ExCom meeting of 15th July > >The issue of performance guidelines, which based on discussions prior >to and in Sydney led to the clear need for a Job Description, all >falls on my plate. > >Knowing that I would be rather busy with other matters for a few >weeks after Sydney, and that Cheryl would be out of commission for a >while, we asked staff to do the first draft of a job description. You >alluded to the last performance paper that crashed and burnt - I most >definitely did not want that to happen to this new document, so it >seemed wise for someone other than staff to look at it before opening >full comments. THAT is why it was on the agenda. How would you have >done it differently? > >I really would like someone to define "get rid of the ExCom". Does >that mean you don't want Vice-Chairs. Or don't want them working with >and talking to the Chair. Do you want the Chair to have sole >responsibility for Chair matters, rather than talking things through >with a representative of each region. Or do you want all of that to >happen, but just not have the title ExCom. What is it you really >want. No buzzwords - please be clear and succinct. > >Alan > >At 14/07/2009 03:22 PM, Thompson, Darlene wrote: > >Wow! > > > >Yes, I have to agree with this and I can certainly understand your > >exasperation, Alan. I *do* care about ALAC and At-Large. So, what can > >I do to change things? I'm not on the ALAC so am rather looking in >from > >the outside. > > > >However, as soon as the whole ExComm thing came up, there was > >substantial push-back on it that seemed to me to be ignored. > > > >Please, if ALAC people think that they "deserve" travel funding, then > >they also should be "required" to participate. I can say this as being > >from the only region that has required our ALAC reps to perform and has > >cleaned house at least once. > > > >We need to strengthen those job descriptions (as Evan mentioned) to >also > >have an "or else" clause. Also, yes, we definitely need to see those > >performance indicators at regular intervals (not just for ALAC but also > >for the Chairs and Secretariats). However, the numbers often just >don't > >show what Alan is mentioning. If any ALAC member asks for input and > >comments and is only responded to by the same people, that is more of a > >judgment call (not shown in the numbers) but this somehow needs to be > >reported back to the regions (I'm not sure how). There was talk around > >ALAC to incorporate various performance indicators back in Cairo but >for > >reasons that I will keep off-list, it crashed and burned. We need to >go > >back to this, strengthen our ALAC, get rid of the chaff that is not > >performing and get rid of the ExComm. > > > >I hate the thought of the Chairs and Secretariats being the ex-officio > >"police" for this sort of thing but the regions really do need to weigh > >in here as well as the ALAC itself. Again, I'm not sure how this >should > >be done but something needs to change. > > > >D > > > >Darlene A. Thompson > >Community Access Program Administrator > >Nunavut Dept. of Education / N-CAP > >P.O. Box 1000, Station 910 > >Iqaluit, NU X0A 0H0 > >Phone: (867) 975-5631 > >Fax: (867) 975-5610 > >E-mail: dthompson(a)gov.nu.ca > > > > > >-----Original Message----- > >From: alac-bounces(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org > >[mailto:alac-bounces@atlarge-lists.icann.org] On Behalf Of Alan > >Greenberg > >Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 1:39 PM > >To: ALAC Working List > >Subject: Re: [ALAC] Draft Agenda for ALAC ExCom meeting of 15th July > > > >At 14/07/2009 01:21 PM, Thompson, Darlene wrote: > > > > >This whole ExComm thing needs to be put out of its misery. If a >group > > >of 15 cannot make timely decisions, then the whole structure of ALAC > > >needs to be reconsidered. (as scary as that is) > > > >Every time I post something asking for input and comments, I > >typically get one or two comments. From the rest of the committee, > >silence. And mostly from those members who comprise the evil ExCom > >(Adam being the one exception). > > > >If those who really care about ALAC and At-large were serious, there > >would be more action to get ALAC members to actually participate and > >not just criticize. > > > >Alan > > > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > >ALAC mailing list > >ALAC(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org > >http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac_atlarge-lists.ican >n > >.org > > > >At-Large Online: http://www.atlarge.icann.org > >ALAC Working Wiki: http://st.icann.org/alac > > > > >_______________________________________________ >ALAC mailing list >ALAC(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org >http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac_atlarge-lists.icann >.org > >At-Large Online: http://www.atlarge.icann.org >ALAC Working Wiki: http://st.icann.org/alac

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Re: [ALAC] Draft Agenda for ALAC ExCom meeting of 15th July
by Thompson, Darlene July 14, 2009

July 14, 2009

Hey Alan, I was trying to be helpful - thank you SO much for your encouraging words. See my next e-mail for succinctness that you obviously found lacking in this one. D Darlene A. Thompson Community Access Program Administrator Nunavut Dept. of Education / N-CAP P.O. Box 1000, Station 910 Iqaluit, NU X0A 0H0 Phone: (867) 975-5631 Fax: (867) 975-5610 E-mail: dthompson(a)gov.nu.ca -----Original Message----- From: alac-bounces(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org [mailto:alac-bounces@atlarge-lists.icann.org] On Behalf Of Alan Greenberg Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 4:24 PM To: ALAC Working List Subject: Re: [ALAC] Draft Agenda for ALAC ExCom meeting of 15th July The issue of performance guidelines, which based on discussions prior to and in Sydney led to the clear need for a Job Description, all falls on my plate. Knowing that I would be rather busy with other matters for a few weeks after Sydney, and that Cheryl would be out of commission for a while, we asked staff to do the first draft of a job description. You alluded to the last performance paper that crashed and burnt - I most definitely did not want that to happen to this new document, so it seemed wise for someone other than staff to look at it before opening full comments. THAT is why it was on the agenda. How would you have done it differently? I really would like someone to define "get rid of the ExCom". Does that mean you don't want Vice-Chairs. Or don't want them working with and talking to the Chair. Do you want the Chair to have sole responsibility for Chair matters, rather than talking things through with a representative of each region. Or do you want all of that to happen, but just not have the title ExCom. What is it you really want. No buzzwords - please be clear and succinct. Alan At 14/07/2009 03:22 PM, Thompson, Darlene wrote: >Wow! > >Yes, I have to agree with this and I can certainly understand your >exasperation, Alan. I *do* care about ALAC and At-Large. So, what can >I do to change things? I'm not on the ALAC so am rather looking in from >the outside. > >However, as soon as the whole ExComm thing came up, there was >substantial push-back on it that seemed to me to be ignored. > >Please, if ALAC people think that they "deserve" travel funding, then >they also should be "required" to participate. I can say this as being >from the only region that has required our ALAC reps to perform and has >cleaned house at least once. > >We need to strengthen those job descriptions (as Evan mentioned) to also >have an "or else" clause. Also, yes, we definitely need to see those >performance indicators at regular intervals (not just for ALAC but also >for the Chairs and Secretariats). However, the numbers often just don't >show what Alan is mentioning. If any ALAC member asks for input and >comments and is only responded to by the same people, that is more of a >judgment call (not shown in the numbers) but this somehow needs to be >reported back to the regions (I'm not sure how). There was talk around >ALAC to incorporate various performance indicators back in Cairo but for >reasons that I will keep off-list, it crashed and burned. We need to go >back to this, strengthen our ALAC, get rid of the chaff that is not >performing and get rid of the ExComm. > >I hate the thought of the Chairs and Secretariats being the ex-officio >"police" for this sort of thing but the regions really do need to weigh >in here as well as the ALAC itself. Again, I'm not sure how this should >be done but something needs to change. > >D > >Darlene A. Thompson >Community Access Program Administrator >Nunavut Dept. of Education / N-CAP >P.O. Box 1000, Station 910 >Iqaluit, NU X0A 0H0 >Phone: (867) 975-5631 >Fax: (867) 975-5610 >E-mail: dthompson(a)gov.nu.ca > > >-----Original Message----- >From: alac-bounces(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org >[mailto:alac-bounces@atlarge-lists.icann.org] On Behalf Of Alan >Greenberg >Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 1:39 PM >To: ALAC Working List >Subject: Re: [ALAC] Draft Agenda for ALAC ExCom meeting of 15th July > >At 14/07/2009 01:21 PM, Thompson, Darlene wrote: > > >This whole ExComm thing needs to be put out of its misery. If a group > >of 15 cannot make timely decisions, then the whole structure of ALAC > >needs to be reconsidered. (as scary as that is) > >Every time I post something asking for input and comments, I >typically get one or two comments. From the rest of the committee, >silence. And mostly from those members who comprise the evil ExCom >(Adam being the one exception). > >If those who really care about ALAC and At-large were serious, there >would be more action to get ALAC members to actually participate and >not just criticize. > >Alan > > > > >_______________________________________________ >ALAC mailing list >ALAC(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org >http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac_atlarge-lists.ican n >.org > >At-Large Online: http://www.atlarge.icann.org >ALAC Working Wiki: http://st.icann.org/alac _______________________________________________ ALAC mailing list ALAC(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac_atlarge-lists.icann .org At-Large Online: http://www.atlarge.icann.org ALAC Working Wiki: http://st.icann.org/alac

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Re: [ALAC] Draft Agenda for ALAC ExCom meeting of 15th July
by Alan Greenberg July 14, 2009

July 14, 2009

The issue of performance guidelines, which based on discussions prior to and in Sydney led to the clear need for a Job Description, all falls on my plate. Knowing that I would be rather busy with other matters for a few weeks after Sydney, and that Cheryl would be out of commission for a while, we asked staff to do the first draft of a job description. You alluded to the last performance paper that crashed and burnt - I most definitely did not want that to happen to this new document, so it seemed wise for someone other than staff to look at it before opening full comments. THAT is why it was on the agenda. How would you have done it differently? I really would like someone to define "get rid of the ExCom". Does that mean you don't want Vice-Chairs. Or don't want them working with and talking to the Chair. Do you want the Chair to have sole responsibility for Chair matters, rather than talking things through with a representative of each region. Or do you want all of that to happen, but just not have the title ExCom. What is it you really want. No buzzwords - please be clear and succinct. Alan At 14/07/2009 03:22 PM, Thompson, Darlene wrote: >Wow! > >Yes, I have to agree with this and I can certainly understand your >exasperation, Alan. I *do* care about ALAC and At-Large. So, what can >I do to change things? I'm not on the ALAC so am rather looking in from >the outside. > >However, as soon as the whole ExComm thing came up, there was >substantial push-back on it that seemed to me to be ignored. > >Please, if ALAC people think that they "deserve" travel funding, then >they also should be "required" to participate. I can say this as being >from the only region that has required our ALAC reps to perform and has >cleaned house at least once. > >We need to strengthen those job descriptions (as Evan mentioned) to also >have an "or else" clause. Also, yes, we definitely need to see those >performance indicators at regular intervals (not just for ALAC but also >for the Chairs and Secretariats). However, the numbers often just don't >show what Alan is mentioning. If any ALAC member asks for input and >comments and is only responded to by the same people, that is more of a >judgment call (not shown in the numbers) but this somehow needs to be >reported back to the regions (I'm not sure how). There was talk around >ALAC to incorporate various performance indicators back in Cairo but for >reasons that I will keep off-list, it crashed and burned. We need to go >back to this, strengthen our ALAC, get rid of the chaff that is not >performing and get rid of the ExComm. > >I hate the thought of the Chairs and Secretariats being the ex-officio >"police" for this sort of thing but the regions really do need to weigh >in here as well as the ALAC itself. Again, I'm not sure how this should >be done but something needs to change. > >D > >Darlene A. Thompson >Community Access Program Administrator >Nunavut Dept. of Education / N-CAP >P.O. Box 1000, Station 910 >Iqaluit, NU X0A 0H0 >Phone: (867) 975-5631 >Fax: (867) 975-5610 >E-mail: dthompson(a)gov.nu.ca > > >-----Original Message----- >From: alac-bounces(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org >[mailto:alac-bounces@atlarge-lists.icann.org] On Behalf Of Alan >Greenberg >Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 1:39 PM >To: ALAC Working List >Subject: Re: [ALAC] Draft Agenda for ALAC ExCom meeting of 15th July > >At 14/07/2009 01:21 PM, Thompson, Darlene wrote: > > >This whole ExComm thing needs to be put out of its misery. If a group > >of 15 cannot make timely decisions, then the whole structure of ALAC > >needs to be reconsidered. (as scary as that is) > >Every time I post something asking for input and comments, I >typically get one or two comments. From the rest of the committee, >silence. And mostly from those members who comprise the evil ExCom >(Adam being the one exception). > >If those who really care about ALAC and At-large were serious, there >would be more action to get ALAC members to actually participate and >not just criticize. > >Alan > > > > >_______________________________________________ >ALAC mailing list >ALAC(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org >http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac_atlarge-lists.icann >.org > >At-Large Online: http://www.atlarge.icann.org >ALAC Working Wiki: http://st.icann.org/alac

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Re: [ALAC] Draft Agenda for ALAC ExCom meeting of 15th July
by Thompson, Darlene July 14, 2009

July 14, 2009

Wow! Yes, I have to agree with this and I can certainly understand your exasperation, Alan. I *do* care about ALAC and At-Large. So, what can I do to change things? I'm not on the ALAC so am rather looking in from the outside. However, as soon as the whole ExComm thing came up, there was substantial push-back on it that seemed to me to be ignored. Please, if ALAC people think that they "deserve" travel funding, then they also should be "required" to participate. I can say this as being from the only region that has required our ALAC reps to perform and has cleaned house at least once. We need to strengthen those job descriptions (as Evan mentioned) to also have an "or else" clause. Also, yes, we definitely need to see those performance indicators at regular intervals (not just for ALAC but also for the Chairs and Secretariats). However, the numbers often just don't show what Alan is mentioning. If any ALAC member asks for input and comments and is only responded to by the same people, that is more of a judgment call (not shown in the numbers) but this somehow needs to be reported back to the regions (I'm not sure how). There was talk around ALAC to incorporate various performance indicators back in Cairo but for reasons that I will keep off-list, it crashed and burned. We need to go back to this, strengthen our ALAC, get rid of the chaff that is not performing and get rid of the ExComm. I hate the thought of the Chairs and Secretariats being the ex-officio "police" for this sort of thing but the regions really do need to weigh in here as well as the ALAC itself. Again, I'm not sure how this should be done but something needs to change. D Darlene A. Thompson Community Access Program Administrator Nunavut Dept. of Education / N-CAP P.O. Box 1000, Station 910 Iqaluit, NU X0A 0H0 Phone: (867) 975-5631 Fax: (867) 975-5610 E-mail: dthompson(a)gov.nu.ca -----Original Message----- From: alac-bounces(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org [mailto:alac-bounces@atlarge-lists.icann.org] On Behalf Of Alan Greenberg Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 1:39 PM To: ALAC Working List Subject: Re: [ALAC] Draft Agenda for ALAC ExCom meeting of 15th July At 14/07/2009 01:21 PM, Thompson, Darlene wrote: >This whole ExComm thing needs to be put out of its misery. If a group >of 15 cannot make timely decisions, then the whole structure of ALAC >needs to be reconsidered. (as scary as that is) Every time I post something asking for input and comments, I typically get one or two comments. From the rest of the committee, silence. And mostly from those members who comprise the evil ExCom (Adam being the one exception). If those who really care about ALAC and At-large were serious, there would be more action to get ALAC members to actually participate and not just criticize. Alan _______________________________________________ ALAC mailing list ALAC(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac_atlarge-lists.icann .org At-Large Online: http://www.atlarge.icann.org ALAC Working Wiki: http://st.icann.org/alac

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Re: [ALAC] Draft Agenda for ALAC ExCom meeting of 15th July
by Alan Greenberg July 14, 2009

July 14, 2009

At 14/07/2009 01:21 PM, Thompson, Darlene wrote: >This whole ExComm thing needs to be put out of its misery. If a group >of 15 cannot make timely decisions, then the whole structure of ALAC >needs to be reconsidered. (as scary as that is) Every time I post something asking for input and comments, I typically get one or two comments. From the rest of the committee, silence. And mostly from those members who comprise the evil ExCom (Adam being the one exception). If those who really care about ALAC and At-large were serious, there would be more action to get ALAC members to actually participate and not just criticize. Alan

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