Let me clarify a key point for Council [and other readers] related to the organizing of the informational meeting on the WSIS. This is actually an endeavor that is supported by the At Large as well, and the intent is to have a widely attended meeting for the community.That makes its timing critical, since constituencies,At Large, GAC, ccTLDS, etc. have time obligations themselves already in their meetings. I do apologize for not being on Council's last call where I could have announced the objective of the meeting personally. Marilyn S. Cade AT&T Law & Government Affairs 1120 20th Street, NW, Suite 1000N Washington, DC 20036 202-457-2106v 281-664-9731 e-fax 202-360-1196 c mcade@att.com -----Original Message----- From: GNSO SECRETARIAT [mailto:gnso.secretariat@gnso.icann.org] Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 3:19 AM To: council Subject: TR: [council] ICANN Rome Schedule Posted by the GNSO Secretariat on behalf of Michael D. Palage. Michael D. Palage mercredi 4 février 2004 09:07 Michael D. Palage wrote: Grant: I feel your pain. ICANN should be posting a preliminary schedule shortly on the website. However, I have been able to piece together the following tea leaves which are by no means definitive. Monday - the Board Committee meetings are schedules - not aware of any other public events. Tuesday - Constituency meeting day Wednesday - PDP Day and NC meeting Thu - Afternoon public forum (no idea of specific topics yet) Friday - Morning public forum (no idea of specific topics yet) Saturday - Morning Board meeting I know that is not a lot, but that is all I have. I will speak with Kurt to see if he could speed up posting the agenda as I know this makes things difficult for people to plan their schedules. Regarding the spliting of the public session, I actually was a big supporter of this idea for the following reason. Historically, ICANN has left some of the more hot button topics until the end of the public forum sessions. When this happens, time is short or people are running low on energy. The idea of splitting the public forum session is so that all issues can have an adequate amount of discussion with people fully attentive. You have to admit 4-6 PM in the afternoon of the public forum is difficult for almost everyone to maintain 100% focus. I agree that a WSIS briefing would be productive, however, I would submit that this briefing should be given to the entire community not just the Council. Scheduled to speak with Alex on Thu, hopefully we can get an update from ICANN at that time. Best regards, Michael D. Palage -----Original Message----- From: owner-council@gnso.icann.org [mailto:owner-council@gnso.icann.org]On Behalf Of Grant Forsyth Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 2:39 AM To: 'Bruce Tonkin'; council@gnso.icann.org Subject: [council] ICANN Rome Schedule Dear Bruce and fellow Councillors It is now less than 4 weeks to the Rome ICANN meeting and I am unable to find any schedule of meetings - even provisional - up on the web site or distributed. While this has not stopped GNSO Constituencies and other interested ICANN parties organising their meetings, is it concerning not to be able to get a picture of how the 6 days are shaping up. Furthermore, it has come to my notice that the staff and Board may be contemplating holding an off-site private retreat for the Board and staff that would come in the middle of the usual whole day Public Forum - the time when the Board "officially" takes the time to listen to the community. If this were to eventuate, then the Public Forum would likely be split between the morning of Thursday 4th and the afternoon of Friday 5th. Such a move would disrupt the Public Forum and certainly lead to significantly fewer people staying around until the Friday afternoon to participate in the deferred Public Forum conclusion. Additionally, as you will know Marilyn Cade has been seeking to organise a meeting with presentations on issues raised at the recent WSIS meeting. Marilyn had hoped to be able to appraise the Council on these issues on our last call but was unable to make the call. Organising this meeting in Rome is proving to be impossible given the two problems noted above. I would like to ask for the Council's support in: 1) having the staff publish a provisional schedule; 2) confirm to this council any thoughts of deferring the conclusion of the Public Forum day and if this is a thought, to take immediate consultation on the matter; and 3) scheduling of the WSIS meeting I had planned to leave this to raise in AOB on the planned call in two days time, but on the cancellation of that call, thought it best to raise on the list. I suggest that if there is fellow Councillor support for my request, that Glen engage the staff in responding to the two requests above. Thank you for your consideration and hopefully, support of these matters. Grant Forsyth Manager Industry & Regulatory Affairs TelstraClear Cnr Taharoto & Northcote Roads Private Bag 92143 AUCKLAND ph +64 9 912 5759 fx + 64 9 912 4077 Mb 029 912 5759 - NOTE NEW Mobile Number