Dear GNSO PDP leadership teams, SG/C leaders and the GNSO community, ICANN61 is soon approaching, and the GNSO Council sees this meeting as a perfect opportunity to start a broader GNSO community discussion about the high volume of PDPs underway and how to optimise resources and improve effectiveness in this environment. Let's talk openly and critically about our PDPs and what changes can be made so that we're all working smarter, not harder or longer. At the first-ever GNSO Council Strategic Planning Session held 3 weeks ago, we saw the germination of some bold strategies for how to tackle the growing PDP workload and participant numbers. Marika and Emily (ICANN staff) fueled our discussion with their thought-provoking concept paper on "optimizing engagement" (attached). You'll find a summary of our discussions - at this stage just high-level ideas - in the report of our strategic planning session, a final version of which will be circulated this week. (In the meantime, you'll find the first draft posted on the Council list https://mm.icann.org/pipermail/council/2018-February/020925.html) One of the key action items to come out of the three-day strategic planning session was a decision to devote time in the ICANN61 Council schedule to broaden these strategic discussions to involve PDP leadership and the entire GNSO community. Individually and collectively, we have in a variety of ways and forums raised concerns about the benefit of improving efficiency and effectiveness in PDPs. There are certain PDP requirements that are set in stone, but at the same time, the PDP provides other areas of of flexibility in terms of the work can be carried out. Let's get together to discuss how we could better leverage the in-built flexibilities. We invite all PDP leadership team members, SG/C leaders and the wider GNSO community to join the Council on Sunday in San Juan for brainstorming possible ways and methods to make GNSO policy development more successful. We will devote the full morning of the GNSO weekend session (9am-12 noon local San Juan time) to this topic. Please participate and contribute your thoughts to help shape the future of PDPs. Attached to this message you'll find a briefing paper setting out specific thought-provoking questions to fuel the discussion. SG/C leaders, please circulate this invitation within your communities. Wishing everyone safe travels to San Juan, Heather Forrest, GNSO Council Chair Donna Austin, GNSO Council Vice Chair (CPH) Rafik Dammak, GNSO Council Vice Chair (NCPH)