For me the difference between the two groups was clearly illustrated by what the NCUC chose to respond to in the GNSO's report on new gTLDs. They focused narrowly on a free speech matter. In my organization's opinion, there were a whole range of consumer (i.e., end-user, not domain registrant) issues to be addressed.
 
Jean, I would be interested to hear you elaborate on your disappointments from the following paragraph:
 
I think that ALAC's performance has been disappointing. I wonder if
it should be replaced by something that looks more like a 15 person
Board Advisory Committee, with membership recruited by NomCom. Just a
thought.
The ALAC is trying to make some moves to reform itself and this might be a good time to make (specific) concerns heard.
 
Beau Brendler

From: Jean Armour Polly [mailto:mom@netmom.com]
Sent: Mon 11/26/2007 6:27 PM
To: alac@atlarge-lists.icann.org
Cc: Brendler, Beau; 'Jeanette Hofmann'
Subject: Re: [At-Large] [ALAC-Internal] Current Nominees / Volunteers List

Hi, just an important point or two in differentiating between ALAC and NCUC.

  ALAC has an official "advisory" role to the Board, at least in name.
http://www.icann.org/minutes/minutes-appa-31oct02.htm#XI-2.4
NCUC does not have this same path to the Board, although of course it
may "advise" of its own volition.

Also, the ALAC, as an official advisory body, may call for an issues
report, which is the first step in the Policy Development Process
(PDP). http://www.icann.org/general/bylaws.htm#AnnexA
NCUC, on its own, cannot call for an issues report.

The other main difference is that ALAC, as an advisory body, has a
substantial budget, while NCUC does not.

My understanding was always that NCUC's membership was noncommercial
organizations (that also could be made up of organizations.) For a
long time ALAC voted in ALS's that were organizations made up of
INDIVIDUAL members, not other organizations. I don't know if this
rule is still followed or not.

I think that ALAC's performance has been disappointing. I wonder if
it should be replaced by something that looks more like a 15 person
Board Advisory Committee, with membership recruited by NomCom. Just a
thought.

Jean Polly
Ex- Interim ALAC North America

At 2:09 PM -0400 11/26/07, Jacqueline A. Morris recently said:
>Really? How many of the 15?
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Evan Leibovitch [mailto:evan@telly.org]
>
>that so many within ALAC see At-Large as "NCUC-Light".
>
>
>
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