Marilyn: Although I can only speak for myself, I believe all Board members appreciate the importance of the Names Council. What you may not realize is that although many Board members (including myself) were not in physical attendance during the Tunisia meeting, we were monitoring the Names Council meeting via web cast from the Board meeting room. I believe the Board's appreciation of the Names Council's role was evident by the fact that many of us rearranged our schedules to attend the Names Council breakfast in Tunisia, as well as the fact that certain key issues were changed based upon the Names Council's feedback. I hope this helps. Best regards, Michael D. Palage -----Original Message----- From: owner-council@gnso.icann.org [mailto:owner-council@gnso.icann.org]On Behalf Of Cade,Marilyn S - LGCRP Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2004 9:33 PM To: GNSO Council (E-mail) Subject: [council] Rome meeting, and WSIS I know that our exact date for Council isn't set yet, but I assume it is to be announced for the next two weeks, therefore, I'd like to introduce three items for discussion on our upcoming agenda. : 1, Ensuring appropriate time available for dealing with Council's agenda at Rome 2. Attendance/invitation to the Board to attend Council's meeting 3. WSIS follow up 1. As we are beginning to plan for the Rome ICANN meeting, I'd like to suggest that Council consider the time frame for our meeting and our working agenda and adjust, IF needed, to ensure that we have time to address in detail the issues on our agenda. At our last meeting in Carthage, we had a number of issues to discuss and needed to extend our meeting accordingly. Fortunately, we were able to do so. However, we may not always be so fortunate with availability of rooms, staff, bridge, remote participants availability. I ask that Glen and Bruce look at our planned agenda and determine whether we may need a longer meeting than the two hours that are usually provided. After all, Council only meets in person approximately 3 times a year. We should plan ahead, if needed, for a longer meeting, so that we can fully address the issues on our agenda. 2. As I've participated in Council at ICANN's meetings, I've noticed a lack of attendance by the full Board. Since Council is one of the two important policy making bodies of ICANN, attendance at the Council meetings should be of interest and importance for all Board members. Bruce, perhaps we could discuss, briefly, at our next call, sending an invitation to both the Board and the GAC to attend the Council's meeting. 3. Finally, I'd like to add the topic of follow up to the WSIS to our Council agenda. ICANN is a sub-theme to the WSIS activities, but of course, we are all concerned that the larger set of activities of the private sector in addressing the WSIS, take into account and fully represent the views of ICANN's supporters. I'd like to report on the outcome of the WSIS, and suggest that Council continue to monitor the work underway by the private sector related to the WSIS, including, as appropriate, providing advice to the Board on the WSIS activities, and how ICANN might participate in the larger WSIS activities. Marilyn mcade@att.com