Hi,
I agree with Tim and Mary.
When meetings are organized, there should be a commitment made by organizers and local partners  to allow everyone in the ICANN community to participating in social events including the Gala dinner.
It is extremely disappointing to have difficulties in getting one of the invitations for those not part of a SO or AC, even when they volunteer time and effort in different working groups or are just part of the community attending the meeting.
As new rules are being established for ICANN meetings organization, I suggest that we address this comment to those in charge of preparing them.
Regards
Olga

2010/6/22 <HughesDeb@usa.redcross.org>

I strongly agree with Mary.

Debbie

Debra Y. Hughes l Senior Counsel
American Red Cross

Office of the General Counsel 
2025 E Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20006
Phone: (202) 303-5356
Fax: (202) 303-0143
HughesDeb@usa.redcross.org

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From: owner-council@gnso.icann.org [mailto:owner-council@gnso.icann.org] On Behalf Of Mary Wong
Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 10:34 AM
To: GNSO Council
Subject: Re: [council] Gala tickets and volunteers...

 

I agree with Tim that it seems to defeat the purpose if the most active volunteers at ICANN don't get an equal chance to attend the main event.

 

More broadly, I find it troubling that these events are listed as "networking events" on the schedule, but occasionally (usually at meetings where there are very many attendees, e.g. Paris and now Brussels) an "ordinary" member of the community (e.g. not a Board or Council member) is told, after traveling to the meeting and after he/she has been asked to name his/her hotel for transport to the gala, that he/she needs a ticket on a "first come first served" basis (BTW the meeting website merely hints vaguely at this, saying that "Invitations will be available ... starting on Tuesday etc.") 

 

I appreciate that this kind of decision is made by the host/sponsor for logistical reasons, and not ICANN, but to me it could - and probably will - be taken as a poor reflection of ICANN (especially when so much volunteer time is being asked of the community). I also appreciate that as a Council member I get a ticket and in advance (thank you Glen!!!!) but if I were a non-Council but active WG member, I might be troubled by that too.

 

It seems to me that if the host/sponsor cannot hold a splashy event that can accommodate as many members of the community as wish to attend (some of whom may be here for the first time or who may be funding themselves), then either hold a less fancy/ambitious event so that more can attend, or don't hold one at all (or at least don't advertise it as a gala open to all).

 

All right, now someone tell me this is "outside the scope of Council" :)

 

Have a good day of meetings, everyone!

Mary

 

Mary W S Wong

Professor of Law & Chair, Graduate IP Programs

Franklin Pierce Law Center

Two White Street

Concord, NH 03301

USA

Email: mwong@piercelaw.edu

Phone: 1-603-513-5143

Webpage: http://www.piercelaw.edu/marywong/index.php

Selected writings available on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) at: http://ssrn.com/author=437584

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From: "Tim Ruiz" <tim@godaddy.com> To: "GNSO Council " <council@gnso.icann.org> Date: 6/22/2010 3:00 AM Subject: [council] Gala tickets and volunteers... I learned this morning that the ATRT members do not get Gala tickets similar to the way the Council received them. It seems to me that if the primary social event at these meetings is going to have limited availability that active volunteers in current working groups, work teams, etc. of the ACs and SOs should have some preference.   I'm not sure if there is anything we can do about it at this point, but Glen, is there any way that at least the ATRT members can be sure to get tickets if any of them want them?  And going forward, this is something that should be given some thought. It may even serve as an incentive for participation in the work of the ACs and SOs.   Tim