Dear Adam,
Again speaking for myself only, although I am not sure this
conversation about ISOC is of any interest for other members.
Adam Peake wrote:
ISOC's proposed budget for 2006 mentions $1.2 million for
chapters and membership. I realize a budget item "chapters and
membership" doesn't mean that money necessarily flows as cash to
chapters. But it surely means some benefit to the chapters, right?
Well, to be precise, this budget covers the 3 or 4 staff members who
handle relations with chapters, individual and organizational members.
There is about $100.000 used for small grants to members projects (not
only chapters). But again, the benefits we chapters get from this are
very limited. I do not think one can say that we "owe" something to HQ.
Actually, the reverse is more true. Without chapters and individual
members, ISOC would be yet another industrial lobbying group.
Whereas, seems to me the reason you're participating in
the RALO is because of your relationship with ISOC: the ALS you
represent is an ISOC chapter, ALS/Chapter is one in the same thing.
We are not participating in the RALO because of ISOC. We are
participating in both structures because we think they are both useful
tools to spread values we believe in.
Our local group has similar views as ISOC right now, and we think it is
a good environment for us to work with, just like we hope ALAC will be.
We signed an agreement, a franchise if you want, to use the ISOC name.
Should our values differ in the future, we would simply terminate the
agreement. Our legitimacy comes from our base, not from the top.
So my question was, given the obligation chapters seem to
have to follow ISOC policy (described here
<http://www.isoc.org/isoc/chapters/policy/> point 5), would the
representative of an ALS/ISOC Chapter, irrespective of ISOC policy on
an issue or ISOC's interests in an issue, be able at all times to
follow the wishes of the EU RALO and ALAC.
In the framework of this RALO, I am serving the people who trust me, ie
the members of ISOC Luxembourg ASBL, which happens to be also an ISOC
chapter at this point of time. If I am trusted by other RALOs to serve
on the ALAC, I would try my best to serve them, with a willingness to
work for the common interest.
With regard to ISOC, it is also my job to escalate my membership's
concerns to the board and management, especially when ISOC has
positions which the chapter might not agree with, and see how they can
be changed.
In summary, I think my legitimacy is based on the people who have
chosen me. If they think I am wrong, or wrongdoing, or serving other
interests than theirs, they can vote me out next year. As you see, I
have depicted a bottom-up approach, not a top-down one. And believe
me, I can live with an angry phone call, should I ever receive one from
ISOC.
I am not sure I have convinced you, but this is probably the best
answer I can give.
Warm regards,
Patrick