Dear SCI members, Please see below the notes/actions captured from the SCI meeting held on 07 April. Please let us know if you have any questions or comments. Staff will separately send a notice for the consensus call as requested below. The GNSO Secretariat also will send a notice for a call in two weeks on Thursday, 21 April at the usual time of 1800 UTC. Kind regards, Julie Julie Hedlund, Policy Director Notes/Actions from 07 April SCI Meeting: 1. Process Relating to Motions & Amendments Notes: There was discussion on whether there should be a deadline for submitting amendments. The SCI members agreed that there would be no deadline. The SCI members asked staff to correct the footnote and then send out for a consensus call the proposed revision to the GNSO Operating Procedures to include the new text on submitting, seconding, and amending motions. ACTION ITEM: Staff will amend the footnote and send the proposed revisions to the SCI for a consensus call. 2. Chair/Vice Chair Elections Scenarios: Notes: There was discussion on the various options for the deadlines referenced in scenarios 2, 3, and 4. It appeared that no one had a problem with 14 calendar days. Amr proposed new language for scenario 3: Replace "which may include the voting NCAs" with "from within its respective House”. After the meeting Anne noted a new comment from IPC and requested that it should be added to the agenda for discussion on the next call: that even where a Vice Chair is continuing in his/her term, the relevant House should have the ability to appoint a different Interim Vice Chair that is otherwise eligible. ACTION ITEMS: 1. Affirm that the deadline of 14 calendar days is the preferred option for scenarios 2, 3, and 4. 2. Review the proposed new language for scenario 3: Replace "which may include the voting NCAs" with "from within its respective House”. 3. Consider the issue raised by IPC that even where a Vice Chair is continuing in his/her term, the relevant House should have the ability to appoint a different Interim Vice Chair that is otherwise eligible. ISSUE 2: Is there a gap to be addressed when the Vice Chairs' terms end at the same time as that of the Chair, and no Chair is conclusively elected by that time? SCENARIO 1: A new GNSO Council Chair is not elected, but both Vice Chairs are continuing on the Council. Suggestion: “In the case where no Chair is conclusively elected, the two Vice Chairs shall jointly oversee the Chair election and conduct Council business until such time as a new Chair is elected.” SCENARIO 2: A new GNSO Council Chair is not elected, but one Vice Chair is continuing on the Council, while the other Vice Chair’s term on the Council is ending. Suggestion: “In the case where one of Vice-Chair's terms on the Council ends at the same time as the Chair, and no Chair is conclusively elected, [OPTION 1: the remaining Vice Chair shall oversee the Chair election and conduct Council business until such time as a new Chair is elected] OR [OPTION 2: the House with a vacant Vice-Chair position shall designate an Interim Vice Chair to join the continuing Vice Chair to oversee the Chair election and conduct Council business. The deadline for the vacant House to designate its Interim Vice Chair is 10 calendar days following the Council meeting at which no Chair was conclusively elected [OR: 14 calendar days following the Council meeting at which no Chair was conclusively elected] [OR: 1 week prior to the next scheduled GNSO Council meeting.] SCENARIO 3: A new GNSO Council Chair is not elected in the first round, and neither of the two Vice Chairs is continuing on the Council. Suggestion: “In the case where both Vice-Chairs’ terms on the Council end at the same time as the Chair, and no Chair is conclusively elected, this procedure would apply: Each House should designate a new or continuing Councilor from within its respective House, which may include the voting and non-voting NCAs, to temporarily fill the role of Vice Chair on an interim basis, not as an elected Vice Chair. The deadline for each House to designate its Interim Vice Chair is 10 calendar days following the Council meeting at which no Chair was conclusively elected [OR: 14 calendar days following the Council meeting at which no Chair was conclusively elected] [OR: 1 week prior to the next scheduled GNSO Council meeting.] The Designated Interim Vice Chairs will co-chair the Chair election and conduct Council business until such time as a Chair is conclusively elected. Once the election is completed their service in those roles would end. Candidates for Chair will not be eligible to serve as Designated Interim Vice Chairs, to avoid potential conflicts of interest. [However, Interim Vice Chairs are not prohibited from being appointed as continuing Vice Chairs by their respective Houses following a successful Chair election.] SCENARIO 4: A new GNSO Council Chair is not elected, neither of the two Vice Chairs is continuing on the Council, and the Houses do not designate Interim Vice Chairs. Suggestion: “If both Houses should fail to temporarily fill the role of Vice Chair on an interim basis, [the] non-voting NCA will be designated Interim Chair to oversee the election and conduct Council business until such time as a Chair is conclusively elected. The deadline for each House to designate its Interim Vice Chair is 10 calendar days following the Council meeting at which no Chair was conclusively elected [OR: 14 calendar days following the Council meeting at which no Chair was conclusively elected] [OR: 1 week prior to the next scheduled GNSO Council meeting]"