Following a discussion among the ALAC Chair, the two Vice Chairs and myself, I am making a motion on behalf of the four of us that the Ex-Com be formalized (since it is not currently mentioned in our Rules of Procedure), and that it be expanded to include one member from each of the five ICANN regions. The motion has been added to our agenda for November 25 as an item for decision at that meeting - see https://st.icann.org/alac/index.cgi?25_november_2008. For your convenience, the background and motion are included here. ----------------------- Formalization of the Executive Committee The ALAC four elected officers, the Chair, the two Vice Chairs, and the Rapporteur. The four officers have been operating as a de facto Executive Committee (Ex-Com). During the last year, the four Officers happened to be from four of the five ICANN regions. Although this was not planned, it has proven to be a good way to ensure that Ex-Com discussions represent a wide variety of and points of view. To that end, it has been suggested that perhaps a way should be found to have all five regions represented. In order to formalize the Ex-Com and to address the regional representation issue, following a discussion among the ALAC Officers, I propose the motion below. Assuming that the motion is passed, there is still work to be done to put in place procedures to elect next year's officers. But since this year's officers are from different regions, we have until next year to fully define the process. This year, we will need to immediately fill the fifth Ex-Com position. ---------- Whereas the ALAC has had a de facto an Executive Committee composed of ALAC Officers for the past year; Whereas last year's executive included Officers from four or the five ICANN regions; Whereas this present year's Officers represent four of the five ICANN regions; Whereas in keeping with ALAC and ICANN principles, it is felt that there is a benefit in all five regions participating in an Executive Committee; Therefore I move that: 1. The ALAC create a 5-member Executive Committee with membership representing all five ICANN regions. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the four ALAC Officers and one additional ALAC member. Until such time as a more refined specification be defined, the Executive Committee shall have no powers other than those explicitly granted by the ALAC, save that in urgent situations, the Executive Committee may make decisions on behalf of the ALAC, such decisions to be ratified at the next ALAC meeting. 2. The ALAC redefine the the two positions of Vice-Chair and the position of Rapporteur, and the associated voting processes to ensure that the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, and the Rapporteur all represent different ICANN regions, the detailed Rules of Procedures to be approved prior to the 2009 Officer elections; 3. Following the election of the four officers, the ALAC shall nominate and elect an ALAC member from the as-yet un-represented ICANN region to the fifth Executive Committee position.