Hello Robin,
Is there even a rationale for why we currently don't allow proxy voting? Thank you.
It is currently not consistent with the bylaws for proxies at either the Board or GNSO Council. We can request that these be changed as part of an overhaul of the bylaws with respect to policy development. I believe that the rationale of the bylaws is that all members of a committee should be able to speak to and hear one another in a debate before making their final decision. Dan Halloran and others could probably give some background behind that requirement. I gather that it is currently considered best practice in the USA with respect to governance processes. In the past some non-profit Boards suffered from never having many of their members participate in Board meetings. If you give your vote in advance of a meeting, you may not be in possession of the same information as other people voting after the discussion during that meeting. The purpose of quorum is to ensure that no decision can be made unless there is a minimum number of Council members present. "Members entitled to cast a majority of the total number of votes of GNSO Council members then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and acts by a majority vote of the GNSO Council members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be acts of the GNSO Council, unless otherwise provided herein. " I don't think there is any issue with respect to recording the views of those not present by proxy as part of the minutes of a meeting, it is just that these votes can't count towards passing a motion. I would hope that if a Council member is not able to attend a meeting, that they would at least express their views prior to a meeting via this mailing list. Regards, Bruce Tonkin