Just in case you are searching for this information in your inbox, and can't find it: I will be on the call. As all of you know, ATRT is one of three Review Teams established to date, in conformance with Affirmation of Commitments. It has 27 areas of improvements, many of which are based on the President's Strategy Committee recommendations. One area not addressed fully is an independent appeals process. Given recent questions about integrity and ethical safeguards within ICANN related to Board member decisions internal to their responsibilities when a Board member, and upon leaving, it is highly likely that this will be a 'hot' topic in Dakar, within the community, and within the GAC. I hope to see some of you on the webinar, if your schedules can permit. Marilyn Cade BC Chair +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-25aug11-en.htmAccountabil... & Transparency – "ATRT" Activities Webinar – Update31 August, 2011 14:00 -- 15:30 UTC 25 August 2011 Are you wondering how ICANN is progressing on its commitments to improve transparency and accountability, and how ATRT improvements will help you? Do you have an opinion to share on the changes made to date by ICANN's Board of Directors, Governmental Advisory Committee, Nominating Committee, and Staff? If so, join the ATRT Activities Webinar on Wednesday, 31 August 2011 from 14:00 -- 15:30 UTC. The webinar is open to all, and will be conducted in English. If participants find it useful, more sessions will be scheduled. The meeting will be run in Adobe Connect with a slide presentation along with a dial-in conference bridge for audio. No RSVPs are needed. Here's how to connect: * From the US dial Toll Free – 800-550-6865 and enter Participant Code 8752 * From other countries see a list of international numbers posted at http://www.adigo.com/icann/ * To join the Adobe Connect online "room" go to this URL: http://icann.adobeconnect.com/atrtimplementation/ Participants will have opportunities to ask questions after each agenda item presentation. During the course of the webinar, questions may be submitted using the chat function of Adobe Connect (in addition to joining the discussion queue on the conference bridge). The session will be recorded, and the slides and an MP3 will be publicly posted. The webinar agenda is included below. Staff will brief you on 27 ATRT implementation plans [PDF, 1.31 MB] that involve a wide cross-section of ICANN's community, and will discuss key deliverables, schedules, opportunities for public input, and end-goals. ICANN's Board directed that implementation move forward on the Accountability and Transparency Review Team's broad-ranging recommendations. Much has been accomplished and much work lies ahead. This webinar will help you get-up-to-speed on all of these efforts, and will enable you to share your input on completed and planned improvements. For example: * To provide better access to, and insight into, Board decisions, ICANN provides a wealth of Board meeting information online, including briefing materials, expanded minutes, and rationale statements for Board resolutions, as well as conditions for redaction of posted material. Are you finding these useful? * To help advance the effectiveness of the Governmental Advisory Committee and its interaction with the Board, ICANN increased funding to support government participation in the GAC and multilingual access, and the Board-GAC Joint Working Group recently issued proposed improvements for public comment. Do you have additional suggestions? * To improve the processes ICANN uses to gain public input and develop policy, ICANN's Bylaws have been translated into multiple languages, and ICANN's Public Comment Webpage has been redesigned. Is the new structure easier to use and more effective? These are just some examples of ATRT-related activities. You can find more detailed information on ICANN's Accountability & Transparency web page.Accountability & Transparency – "ATRT" Activities Webinar Agenda 1. Introduction and Overview – Denise Michel, Advisor to the President & CEO 2. Board Operations, Composition & Review of Decisions – Samantha Eisner, Senior Counsel Questions & Comments from participants 3. Governmental Advisory Committee Operations, Engagement, Interaction with Board – Jeannie Ellers, Executive Assistant Questions & Comments from participants 4. Public Input & Multi-lingual Access – Filiz Yilmaz, Senior Director, Participation & Engagement and Christina Rodriguez, Language Services Manager Questions & Comments from participants 5. Misc., and Measuring Success & Upcoming Activities – Denise Michel 6. General Comments & Questions From Participants