Hi Jacqueline,
I do not think that we can say that an ALS is derelict in its duty if we haven't got the policy documents or statements translated in a timely manner, if we haven't got a primer written to explain the issue BEFORE we ask for comments on the policy statement. If they can't get this info out to their members, they cannot do what we ask of them. Exactly. Anyone who needs more information on this POV is invited to consult http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garbage_In%2C_Garbage_Out
So I think that if Staff has any time at all, one excellent thing to do would be to prepare a "backgrounder" for EVERY policy item up for discussion - a simple 2 pager that indicates the basic issue, that includes a glossary, and is in the major languages. So that ppl know what the background is to the document that is sent out for comment. And then they can try to comment.
Absolutely agreed. The status quo is for staff to tell us "there's a consultation on issue XYZ and you need to respond by ...". This approach may work for constituencies that have their own (paid) research resources and vested interests to protect. It fails miserably for the public, which is never going to read the current version of consultation documents and also has a far more complex (and thus slower) task of educating and soliciting input. Also consider that this level of information requirement, the reactive one, is only part of what is needed. There will be -- there ARE -- instances in which ALAC needs to initiate the development of backgrounders for issues of public interest that are not (yet) on ICANN's agenda -- front-running, to offer just the latest example.
And if after giving everyone the tools and supporting them over a period of time, there's no activity, then yeah we can do something about it. We're certainly nowhere near that level of readiness, and I can't think of any ALAC priority more important than getting there. There's lots of time to worry about non-performing ALSs because it will take many, many months before sane performance metrics can even exist. Right now, defining metrics is a premature distraction. It also sends a clear defeatist message that ALAC is more interested in assigning blame for failure than in achieving success.
I prefer not to convey such an attitude. - Evan