Hello Philip,


My personal view of the current status is:

Under the ICANN By-laws on an ongoing basis:
- two reps each serving staggered two year terms

Under the transition article:
- one term for 2 years (end of annual meeting 2005)
- one term of one year  (end of annual meeting 2004)
- one term initially until end of annual meeting in 2004, and subject to
review next year

>From the point of view of the GNSO Council this means:
- - one term for 2 years, and two terms for 1 year
(ie this should be shown on the council members page)

At the constituency level however, depending on your by-laws etc - it
would seem to me (speaking personally) that you could internally elect
the third member for 2 years, but with the caveat that this will be
subject to review by the ICANN Board.  Ie you can stagger so that next
year you elect one or two members.  If the Board approves permanently
appointing 3 members, then the third member from the constituency would
automatically continue for another year (without the need for the
constituency to hold another election).

So in summary I think each constituency can make its own decision about
how they elect the third member to council, but from a by-law point of
view that person is currently only in office until the end of the annual
meeting 2004 (subject to review by the ICANN Board) as part of the
transition article.

With respect to registrars, the registrar by-laws refer to the main
ICANN by-laws and only allow for 2 GNSO reps.  The third rep is elected
as part of the recent change to the transition article allowing a third
member until the end of the annual meeting in 2004.  If the ICANN Board
permanently changes the by-laws, then the registrars constituency would
need to adjust their by-laws.

Hope that makes sense.  I think in summary it should be governed by the
constituencies by-laws and rules of procedure.

Regards,
Bruce
(speaking personally!)