This is an updated version of the earlier request for out of region CROP that i sent earlier in January to Outreach Committee to provide further details about the opportunity for engagement during WSIS Forum. As an FYI and background, usually ICANN has a booth, one to two workshops, and CCWG-IG has organized a workshop in the last two WSIS Forums, as has NCUC and At Large. As our focus is both awareness of the BC broadly, but membership recruitment, I have also reached out to two business groups that are based in Geneva, to create additional opportunities to engage with additional business representatives. Please send any questions and I will try to provide any additional information. Request for Out of Region CROP support for Marilyn Cade, BC Outreach Committee Member to engage in business outreach activities during the WSIS Forum, Geneva, Switzerland, March 19-23, 2018 The WSIS Forum, conducted once a year, is a major event for the follow up to the WSIS and the Sustainable Development Goals. It is quite unique in that it attracts very senior attendance from governments and senior executives from companies in the High Level Panels. It offers an excellent opportunity for raising awareness about the BC, as well as selected recruitment of companies that normally the BC does not have an opportunity to engage with, as well as offering an opportunity to interact with senior governmental officials -- both Ministers and Deputy Ministers, in particular from developing countries. WSIS Forum, normally held in May, has been moved to March 19-23, and the open consultation process is still determining its full program and focus. However, during the WSIS Forum, there will be workshops conducted by ICANN; by the CCWG-IG at ICANN, and potentially the NCUC/At Large, as well as two unique opportunities to engage with business groups based in Geneva for Marilyn’s engagement opportunities described below: -Participation in the ICANN booth to distribute BC Newsletters and updated Fact Sheet regarding the BC@ICANN -Participation in the ICANN and CCWG-IG workshops as member of the BC Informal bi-laterals with attending high level business speakers and governmental officials -Scheduled briefing of the Rotary Club International/Geneva and invitation to become members of the BC -Briefing of the Geneva Business Network, organized by Kathryn Hagen, and including representatives from such companies as Nestles’, IBM, CISCO, Accenture, Dupont, among others. 4) As a former High Level Panel Facilitator for WSIS Forum 2016, Marilyn has also unique access to the planning process and can help to provide BC Outreach Committee input into the planning process. She is also invited to the high level opening day dinner hosted by the Polish Mission which is attended by all the high level business speakers and high level governmental speakers. Explanation about Rotary International: Rotary International has presence in 200 countries and 35,000 chapters. Marilyn has established a preliminary relationship with the co founder of Geneva Rotary, and gained an invitation to meet with the full Board/Members during the WSIS Forum to discuss ICANN, and BC engagement. Members of the Rotary Clubs are localized at the chapter level, so this could result in the opportunity to gain further the introductions into countries and regions with low business engagement in the BC. For instance, Marilyn is in discussion with Rotary to obtain an introduction for Puerto Rico, Panama, Spain, and 8 Eastern European countries which will provide additional opportunities to engage with companies that are from these countries. Costs: CROP will cover about 75% of the cost, but Marilyn will self fund the extra two days of hotel and per diem expenses and local transport to ensure full attendance at the full WSIS Forum. Submitted by Marilyn Cade