Reminder: The public comment forum closes today, 29 July 2009 http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/#gnso-restructure Explanation: Implementation of the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) Review/Improvements process requires the amendment of a substantial number of the ICANN Bylaws to reflect new GNSO structures, processes and mechanisms. In particular, a specific package of draft Bylaws and additional Staff recommendations has been developed for Public review and comment so that the ICANN Board can move forward with Bylaw amendments to seat the new GNSO Council by the annual ICANN meeting in Seoul, Korea. Approving the Bylaws amendments is a key step toward seating a newly structured Council consistent with the recommendations of the ICANN Board. The draft Bylaw amendments included in the package being posted for public comment are the work product of a GNSO Council Restructure Drafting Team (consisting of the entire GNSO Council and additional GNSO community members) which has been working on a set of Bylaws Amendments for the last several months. The version developed by the GNSO Drafting Team has not been approved by the GNSO Council, and is the subject of a pending motion for approval at the next GNSO Council meeting. The additional draft Staff recommendations included with the package are designed to address specific areas that are impacted by community discussions during the ICANN meeting in Sydney, Australia. The package consists of three documents. The first document is a comparison document [PDF, 122K] showing the existing Bylaws and comparing them to the amendments proposed by the GNSO Council deliberations so far. The second document is a clean version [PDF, 67K] of what the Bylaws would look like if those amendments were approved. The third document is a Staff list of additional amendment components [PDF, 17K] that have been necessitated by community discussion at the ICANN Sydney meeting and suggestions from the Board's Structural Improvements Committee. Staff Responsible: Robert Hoggarth Deadline and How to Submit Comments: The Staff is opening a 30-day public consultation forum, from 30 June 2009 through 29 July 2009, and invites community comments on this topic. To submit comments: Comments on the document are welcome via email at gnso-council-draft@icann.org. This public forum will be open through 29 July 2009. To view comments: An archive of all comments received will be publicly posted at http://forum.icann.org/lists/gnso-council-draft/. For a copy of the public Announcement of this forum please see http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-30jun09-en.htm. That Announcement provides inks to a number of documents that give some useful context and background regarding the issues in this forum. Glen de Saint Géry GNSO Secretariat gnso.secretariat@gnso.icann.org http://gnso.icann.org