Dear all, In preparation of tomorrow’s workshop, Please find included a note on the selection of the chair and vice-chair selection ( agenda item 3). Kind regards, Bart Term of the Chair and Vice-Chair(s) During the conference call of 14 February 2012 the question was raised whether the term for the Chair and Vice-Chair(s) should change. The alternatives are: - Maintain the current method, with Chair and Vice Chairs selection every year. - Introduce a term of 2 years for Council and Vice–Chair(s). According to the ICANN Bylaws Article IX section 3.10: “The ccNSO Council shall select from among its members the ccNSO Council Chair and such Vice Chair(s) as it deems appropriate. Selections of the ccNSO Council Chair and Vice Chair(s) shall be by written ballot or by action at a meeting; any such selection must have affirmative votes of a majority of all the members of the ccNSO Council then in office. The term of office of the ccNSO Council Chair and any Vice Chair(s) shall be as specified by the ccNSO Council at or before the time the selection is made. The ccNSO Council Chair or any Vice Chair(s) may be recalled from office by the same procedure as used for selection.” To date the Chair and Vice Chairs of the ccNSO Council have been selected at every first face-to face meeting of the calendar year. The term of the Chair and Vice-Chair is one (1) year. The reasons are: 1. To date the Chair and Vice Chair(s) of the ccNSO Council are selected from the 15 Council members appointed by the ccNSO Members. Note the Chair and Vice-Chair(s) are selected by all Council members (ccNSO Members and NomCom appointed). 2. Council members take their seat after conclusion of the first face-to face meeting ccNSO Council meeting at the first meeting of the calendar year. 3. The term of an elected Councillor is 3 years, however every year one of the Councillors from each Region steps down. Note that there are no term limits, neither for Councillors nor for the Chair or Vice-Chairs. By extending the duration of the Chair and Vice-Chairs appointment continuity appears to be better ensured. However, a term of 2 and particularly 3 years may easily overlap with the period a Councillor is elected by the ccNSO members from a Region. In such cases, it appears that the Council pre-empts on the re-election as Councillor or alternatively, a Chair or Vice-Chair needs to step down during her or his term. Secondly, time commitments of the Chair and Vice-Chairs to ccNSO related matters are considerable. By extending the term of the Chair and Vice-Chairs, the person willing to stand is expected to be able to commit time and efforts over an extended period (2 or 3 years). Experience has shown that this commitment cannot be easily made, either because of personal circumstance or changing roles and responsibilities, and People need to step down after one year. As a result potential candidates are not willing to stand at all or once selected step down after one year. Based on the arguments above it is advised to maintain the current method.