Doug Brent has requested (see copy of the text from his message to me earlier today below) that I forward for community consultation that attached DRAFT document... Please ensure that your RALO's and ALS's take the time to begin their consideration and discussion of this document as soon as practical and bring to the Cairo meeting any early feedback that you may have collected and note that we will be requesting a post-Cairo telephonic briefing / discussion so the community can attend... As this document will have a critical impact on our own work and activities and here I draw your attention to the specific recommendations regarding planning outlined in the ALAC Review WG Posts Mid-Point Consultation Report posted earlier today (see http://www.icann.org/en/reviews/alac/midpoint-consultation-report-21oct08-en .pdf ) which will be a major topic of discussion at our Nov 2nd OneDay Workshop in Cairo as it appears from this that we as an AC will have a great deal of our future accountability linked specifically "...ALAC should develop strategic and operational plans (including performance criteria and cost information) as part of ICANNs planning process" (p4 point 5); 5.5 Recommendation 6 That the ALAC Chair negotiate an annual support agreement with ICANN staff, setting out agreed expectations and performance indicators.(p11) & 5.9 Recommendation 10 That the ALAC should develop: A simple annual Statement of Intent which specifies the current issues and priorities, objectives and activities for the next 12 months, and defines measures of success for each of the activities and objectives. This document should be strongly aligned to ICANNs Strategic and Operational Plans and be published on the ALAC website; Before the next ICANN annual planning cycle, the ALAC should develop a Strategic Plan of its own (complementing the broader ICANN Strategic Plan). Following the development of this Strategic Plan, the ALAC should then generate an annual Operating Plan which cites the activities and resources required to support the Strategic Plan during that year (also complementing the corresponding broader ICANN Strategic and Operating Plans and fitting the same planning cycle). (p13) All delegates and attendees at the Sunday workshop would be well advised to have prepared themselves well (preferably by outreach to their communities as well as formulating their own opinions) in advance as the content of both documents will be used as background and preparatory documentation for our discussions and activities on the day. To that end if the ALAC feel it is desirable for me to ask Doug to attend part of our Sunday session do let me know, and I will arrange... CLO <snip from Doug Brent's email>As you are aware, ICANN operates on an annual planning cycle; the strategic plan is developed in the second half of the calendar year and the operating plan is developed in the first half of the calendar year. Consistent with this timetable, we are posting a first draft of the strategic priorities that form the basis of the July 2009 June 2012 Strategic Plan for consultation with the ICANN community. Given the enormous volume of work that is happening in the community at the moment, we have decided to use an incremental approach to developing the Strategic Plan this year. When you read the plan, you will see that it is very much based on the current Strategic Plan. This is not surprising given that the Strategic Plan covers a three year timeframe. Although we have achieved much in the past year, there have been few major changes in ICANN¹s environment and primary objectives. The draft plan that is attached to this email is based on input from the Board and maintains the direction that was set in the current plan. In terms of top priorities, there are two additions from the plan developed last year: Strengthen processes for developing policy (which highlights the importance of policy development in ICANN) and Globalize ICANN¹s Operations (which addresses the challenges of dealing effectively with ICANN¹s global community). Could you please forward the attached plan to your Council or Committee for their review? I and other staff would be happy to meet with you during the Cairo meeting to get your feedback on these priorities. Additionally, at your request, there is opportunity for feedback in a telephonic meeting (post-Cairo), and, as always, written feedback is welcome. Please let me know if you would like to set up an in-person meeting in Cairo, and I will schedule it. The draft priorities will also be posted on the ICANN website and a public comment forum will be opened so that all members of the community can contribute. In parallel to seeking community input on these priorities, we are also developing the activities that sit below each of the priorities outlined in the document that you have in front of you now. We hope to be able to share these with you during the Cairo meeting and then to post them for public comment. As in past years, our objective is to have the Strategic Plan approved by the Board at its December meeting. <end Snip>