Dear African and Asia-Pacific ALSes: A query was raised in the RALO formation discussions amongst the North American ALSes about the possibility of the Nominating Committee having a potential role in the appointment of ALAC Reps. I wanted you to see the reply by Dan Halloran in respect of this point. The quotation is my question; his outdented text below is the reply. Please note that the query below that is in reference to when ALAC members must be elected post-RALO formation; I've included this here, as it may be of use, as there have been discussions related to the election of new ALAC members and when that would take place in both Asia Pacific and Africa: --------
If a region wishes to adopt a procedure to require consensus in choosing its two regional ALAC members whereby, if consensus cannot be reached, the decision is referred to an entity external to At- Large, can they do this? The NA region is discussing referring deadlocks to the Nominating Committee, instead of simply voting based upon a vote.
I think the Bylaws are clear that it is the responsibility of the RALO to select the two ALAC members. The RALO could maybe refer to an external source for guidance or suggestions, but the ultimate responsibility for making the selection rests with the RALO. I do not think it would be appropriate to allow the ICANN Nominating Committee to take over the responsibility for selecting ALAC members from the RALO. The Bylaws specify that the NomCom picks 5 out of 15 ALAC members, and it would not be appropriate to grant the NomCom more selections by ceding them from the RALOs. Also the ALAC is responsible for picking 5 out of 17 members for the NomCom, and we need to avoid any drift towards "circularity" in all these committees. (Perhaps something could be worked out with the NomCom where they would share information about willing and qualified but not-selected candidates? But that's a far stretch from directly allowing the NomCom to appoint the RALO's ALAC members ...)
Some regions are wondering if they should delay electing their ALAC representatives until the ICANN AGM each year. Of course LAC didn't choose to do this, and I have advised them that they are under no obligation to wait; they can elect new ALAC members (or re- elect the same people) to replace the Board appointees upon signature of the MoU.
RALOs don't have to wait until the AGM to elect their ALAC members. The terms of the two members coincide with the end of alternating AGMs, but the RALOs can (and probably should) hold their elections for those postions in advance of the actual AGM. On your further question on point 3, the Bylaws do explicitly provide that new RALO-selected ALAC members will immediately displace the Board-appointed Interim members: "Upon the entry of each RALO into such a Memorandum of Understanding, that entity shall be entitled to select two persons who are citizens and residents of that Region to be members of the At-Large Advisory Committee established by Article XI, Section 2(4) of the New Bylaws. Upon the entity's written notification to the ICANN Secretary of such selections, those persons shall immediately assume the seats held until that notification by the Interim At-Large Advisory Committee members previously selected by the Board from the RALO's region." <http://www.icann.org/general/bylaws.htm#XX-7.5 > -- -- Regards, Nick Ashton-Hart PO Box 32160 London N4 2XY United Kingdom UK Tel: +44 (20) 8800-1011 USA Tel: +1 (202) 657-5460 Fax: +44 (20) 7681-3135 mobile: +44 (7774) 932798 Win IM: ashtonhart@hotmail.com / AIM/iSight: nashtonhart@mac.com / Skype: nashtonhart Online Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashtonhart