Dear colleagues, A warm hello and hope this is a great beginning of the week for you all! As ICANN 49 is behind us and setting several important initiatives ahead, this is to share with you some* updates on the NomCom* related aspects and *a reminder:* 1. * NomCom meetings @ Singapore:* We had both opened and closed NomCom meetings in Singapore. The opened ones were very well attended and was great to feel interest for what does NomCom do, what are the current vacancies, etc. Participants could indeed attend smth that was a regular NomCom meeting during which we discussed aspects related to the NomCom Bylaws ... thus, this gave them a deeper view of the kind of work done this Committee does; The closed ones focused on regular NomCom related aspects particularly including the improvements made into the online SOI application process, as well as the Bylaws related aspects and possible improvements into that component as well; 2. *NomCom builds capacity of its members on interviewing techniques/tools:* We also had, as a committee, a half a day workshop dedicated to interviewing techniques which has been indeed a valuable exercise. We all come from different backgrounds with different experiences, and it is great to create some common understanding on the principles and procedures related to ways to interview candidates. Sharing the same vision and understanding of what is needed is indeed crucial. P.S. NomCom leadership has done a great job and there is a lot of positive dynamics and drive in the committee. It continues build on 2013 NomCom - and thus, create an enabling environment for everyone to contribute/participate and bring in their valuable input! 3.* NomCom reminds & encourages everyone!!!!* As the *deadline for submitting your SOI is April 1st, 2014* this is to remind everyone on the current vacancies we are looking forward to fill in: - Two members of the Board of Directors of ICANN - Two At Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) representatives (one each from the Europe, and North America regions) - One member of the Council of the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) - One member of the Council of the Country-Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) Wishing you all a fantastic week & April ahead and best of luck with all your initiatives! As ever, Veronica -- *Veronica Cretu * *President, Open Government Institute**Republic of Moldova - http://opengov.si.md/ <http://opengov.si.md/>* *Member of the Steering Committee, * *Open Government Partnership (OGP);* *http://www.opengovpartnership.org/about/steering-committee/role-and-current-... <http://www.opengovpartnership.org/about/steering-committee/role-and-current-membership>* *Member of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group* *To the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)* *http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/component/content/article/1549 <http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/>* *Member of the Nominating Committee of ICANN* *(Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbering)* *http://www.icann.org/en/groups/nomcom/2014/members <http://www.icann.org>* *Email: veronicacretu@gmail.com <veronicacretu@gmail.com> and/or veronica@cretu.md <veronica@cretu.md>Skype: veronicacretu Phone: 373 067435000*