Councilors, see below. One of the challenges we will face in Johannesburg is an exceptionally tight timeframe for the GNSO to review/approve the changes coming out of the Community Forum. While the subject matter this time around is not very controversial, this might not always hold true for future issues. To participate effectively in the Empowered Community, the GNSO will have to become a bit more “nimble.” I’m looking forward to our discussion in a few weeks. Thanks— j. From: <soac-chairs-bounces@icann.org> on behalf of David Olive <david.olive@icann.org> Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at 4:28 Cc: Mary Wong <mary.wong@icann.org> Subject: [soac-chairs] SO/AC Leaders about pre-Joburg Submissions to the Empowered Community Dear SO/AC Chairs: As you know, ICANN59 will see the convening of the first-ever Community Forum for the new Empowered Community, as part of the Approval Action process outlined in the revised ICANN Bylaws concerning a proposed amendment to one of ICANN’s Fundamental Bylaws. This note is being sent to remind you and your community groups that, under the revised ICANN Bylaws, any SO or AC “may deliver to the EC Administration in writing its views and questions on the Approval Action prior to the convening of and during the Approval Action Community Forum” (Annex D, Section 1.3(f).) You may wish to note that the ability to provide written views is not limited to the five Decisional Participants that make up the Empowered Community, and all such views received will be posted publicly to the Empowered Community’s Correspondence page on the ICANN website. The Approval Action relates to the Board’s intention to re-designate the responsibility for handling Reconsideration Requests from the Board Governance Committee (BGC) to a new Board committee that will be specifically charged with oversight of ICANN accountability mechanisms, as the Board deems appropriate, with the BGC focusing on core governance activities: https://features.icann.org/proposed-fundamental-bylaws-change-move-board-gov.... The Board passed a resolution to this effect on 18 May 2017, and as this proposal will amount to an amendment of a Fundamental Bylaw, this triggered the current Approval Action process through which the Empowered Community can exercise its right to approve a Fundamental Bylaw amendment (see Annex D of the ICANN Bylaws:https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/governance/bylaws-en/#annexD). As the requisite ICANN Secretary notice was sent to the Empowered Community on 23 May 2017, the following timelines apply to this Approval Action process: * Community Forum phase: opened 23 May 2017, closing at 21:59 UTC on 29 June 2017 * Empowered Community decisional phase: opens at 22.00 UTC on 29 June 2017, closes at 06:59 UTC on 21 July 2017 Please see this page for an overview and graphical depiction of the process: https://www.icann.org/en/ec/proposed-fundamentals-bylaws-changes-move-gov-co.... If your respective community groups wish to provide written views on the proposed Fundamental Bylaw amendment, please be sure to send these to the Empowered Community Administration at ecadmin@icann.org<mailto:ecadmin@icann.org> before the close of the Community Forum phase. Thank you. Best regards, David Olive Senior Vice President, Policy Development Support ICANN David A. Olive Senior Vice President Policy Development Support Managing Director ICANN Regional Office –Istanbul Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)