All, You will recall from Durban that there is discussion going on within the Standing Committee on Improvements (SCI) regarding possible changes to the charter of the SCI. In order for the Council to be well-informed in any deliberations it may undertake with respect to changes to the charter of the SCI, Jeff kindly offered to provide some background information. As I understand it, the key questions being considered are: 1. Scope: Whether the scope of the SCI's work should be limited to a review of the procedures developed in the GNSO Implementations process, or whether the SCI should also address other procedural issues not related to the improvements process. 2. Duration: Should the SCI be considered the last in the series of committees that arose from the Board review and thus cease to exist when it has completed its review of that work? Or should the SCI continue indefinitely, as an ongoing body that considers procedural questions as raised by the GNSO Council or a group Chartered by the Council? 3. Decision making / Consensus: What the threshold for recommendations of the SCI? Full consensus (as is currently the case) or a change to Standard WG Methodology for Making Decisions. Jeff, if possible, please could you provide that background information next week i.e. ahead of the Council meeting the following week. Thanks for your giving attention to this. Jonathan