Mike:

I understand that some issues have to be discussed in private. But if the starting point was that all Board meetings were virtually open and closure was an exception it shouldn’t be a big issue to structure meetings so that matters held in confidence were dealt with at the beginning or end of each meeting.

Instead the new default position is that all Board meetings take place behind closed doors and no transcripts are made available, just condensed “minutes”. This is not transparency.

Fully agree that full transcripts with appropriate redactions should be made available – but I’d raise you one and also ask that mp3 recordings be made available, because that would best capture what really went on. And, yes, those three closed door meetings that took place in San Jose should have been open to public review – sunlight is the best disinfectant.

Best, Philip

Philip S. Corwin, Founding Principal

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From: owner-bc-gnso@icann.org [mailto:owner-bc-gnso@icann.org] On Behalf Of Michael D. Palage
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 10:26 AM
To: 'bc - GNSO list'
Subject: RE: [bc-gnso] ICANN Eliminates Board Meetings at ICANN Meetings

Phil,

Having served on the ICANN Board this is not really an option given that there are some materials that cannot be discussed in public (real time). 

I believe there is a much easier and transparent solution, require the publication of all transcripts and all supporting documentation with appropriate redactions by ICANN within 72 hours of the meeting.

We should be asking ourselves the following questions.  There were four board meeting held in Costa Rica, why are the transcripts from only one of those meetings now available?

Two of the other meetings held discussed conflicts of interests and the selection of gTLD providers.  Would anyone that attended the Costa Rica would have like to sit in on those meetings as oppose to the joke of a public meeting held on Friday?

Best regards,

Michael

P.S. Here are the four Board meetings that were held in Costa Rica:

March 14th (http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-2-14mar12-en.htm) and (http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-14mar12-en.htm)  , one on March 15th (http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-15mar12-en.htm) and the ten minute joke of a meeting on March 16th (http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-16mar12-en.htm).