I haven't been funded to attend Fridays for years -- even going back to when I was in ALAC. As a regional leader, I agree with Evan, I don't care about board theatre, but I do think the extra time would be valuable. The one time I attended an ALAC ex com meeting (was in San Francisco and my homebound flight didn't leave until late) I thought the experience was worthwhile. -----Original Message-----
From: Evan Leibovitch <evan@telly.org> Sent: Mar 27, 2012 3:46 PM To: tijani.benjemaa@fmai.org Cc: ALAC Working List <alac@atlarge-lists.icann.org> Subject: Re: [ALAC] ICANN meeting on Fridays
I disagree with removing Friday, but for far different reasons than Tijani.
I may be well known for having zero interest in what I call the miserable "Board Theatre" that takes place Fridays. In Costa Rica I attended out of support for Olivier, who presented the ALAC report to a generally empty room early in the morning. I personally have little interest in events that are, by design, non-interactive, with the Board taking final votes (and speeches) on matters already decided previously. Real conflict rarely happens in the open meetings. The reports (and comments accompanying dissenting votes) could/should be done in the form of pre-recorded slideshows or videos which could be easily seen by anyone in the community at any time.
Having said that, I see first hand the absolute panic that At-Large staff has in advance of all meetings, cramming our various meetings into every possible available space. So I would argue that we still need the Friday -- but we need it for something more than Board threatre, we need it to reduce pressure on the rest of the week.
If I had my way I would have the Thursday At-Large "wrap up" meeting take place Friday morning, freeing Thursday up for other things, such as At-Large working groups which could use the time to write proposals for ALAC consideration on Friday and/or the public forum. These proposals could then be accepted or referred back to RALOs as necessary.
The tradition of an open ALAC executive meeting Friday afternoons works well and is worth preserving. And to those who want to blow off Friday afternoon for tourism after an exhausting week (and don't have to be at the ExCom meeting), you earned it. (Well, most of you ;-) .)
- Evan _______________________________________________ ALAC mailing list ALAC@atlarge-lists.icann.org https://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac
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