Dear Council and Community Members,<br><br>Please join me in welcoming David Olive, our new VP Policy Development (&lt;<a href="http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/council/msg08215.html" target="_blank">http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/council/msg08215.html</a>&gt;).  He started this week and has been added to the Council email list and other requisite email lists.  Although I&#39;m assuming my new duties as Advisor to the CEO, I also am helping David get up-to-speed on ICANN and policy matters and, together with the Policy Staff, will help ensure a smooth transition.<br>


<br>For Item 6, &quot;Status Updates,&quot; on the Council&#39;s meeting agenda, I&#39;ve included highlights of the 4 Feb. ICANN Board meeting, below. The preliminary meeting report is posted at &lt;<a href="http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/minutes-04feb10-en.htm" target="_blank">http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/minutes-04feb10-en.htm</a>&gt;.  <br>


<br>Regards,<br>Denise<br><br><br>Denise Michel<br>Advisor to the CEO<br>ICANN<br><a href="mailto:denise.michel@icann.org" target="_blank">denise.michel@icann.org</a><br><br><ul><li>Approved the <i>Registry
Services Evaluation Policy </i>request to amend the .CAT<i> Registry
Agreements to allocate one and two-character domain names; in doing so noted the </i><i>recommendations of
the GNSO Reserved Names Working Group to permit the
release of one and two-character domain names. </i></li><li>Approved release of<i> $1.5 million from the existing FY10 budget contingency
line item for FY10 operating expenses, and directed Staff to undertake cost containment efforts while maintaining essential services.  </i></li><li>Approved a re-delegation of .IN (India)</li><li>Approved a July 2010 - June 2013 Strategic Plan, directed Staff to move forward with the community-based
Operational planning process, noted minor edits to the Strategic Plan will be provided by the Board by 8 Feb. and will be subject to the Chairman&#39;s approval (final Strategic Plan not posted as of this writing).  </li>


<li>Adopted an &quot;Event Security Risk, Contracts and Cancellation Management Policy,&quot; which was precipitated by the Nairobi meeting.</li><li>Received an update from Staff on work related to the &quot;Expressions of Interest in new gTLDs,&quot; deferred a decision on EOI until the Nairobi meetings, asked for a Staff summary and explanation of major issues raised in the public comment process, and directed Staff to schedule a forum on this topic in Nairobi.</li>


<li>Received a brief update on the final report on relaxing the 3-character requirement for gTLDs. </li><li>Received a brief update on the ICANN Proposed Security Initiatives</li><li>Asked the Board Governance Committee to develop a plan for research and analysis on Board Chairman remuneration. </li>


<li>Received an update on the ICANN CEO&#39;s media relations planning.</li><li>Briefly discussed an Ombudsman case report that focused on civility within ICANN and its effect on participation, affirmed &quot;<i>that all participants in ICANN are expected to adhere to
the Expected Standards of Behavior&quot; (&lt;<a href="http://www.icann.org/en/transparency/acct-trans-frameworks-principles-10jan08.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.icann.org/en/transparency/acct-trans-frameworks-principles-10jan08.pdf</a>&gt;), and asked Staff to consider the Ombudsman proposals to enhance civility.
</i></li><li>The Board received a brief update on Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) ccTLD Fast Track requests (four
requestors had successfully completed the string evaluation stage).</li><li>Discussed Vertical Integration (after two Directors and four Liaisons withdrew from participation in the discussion due to their conflicts of interest).</li>


<li>Received a brief update on the status of the Affirmation of Commitments reviews.<br></li></ul><br>