Dear Latin Script Diacritics Working Group member, Welcome to the Working Group (WG) tasked with developing policy for Latin Script Diacritics! The GNSO Support Staff (Saewon Lee, John Emery, Steve Chan) and I look forward to working with all of you on this PDP. Our first meeting will be at ICANN82 in person on Saturday, 08 March, at 13:15-14:30 (local time) (21:15 UTC). We look forward to seeing those attending in-person there! You should have received an email to complete a Doodle poll to help us schedule a 90-minute weekly meeting for the week of 24 March onwards. Please complete the Doodle poll by Monday, 03 March 2025, as requested via email. Any suggestions for future meeting times/duration can be discussed during Kick-off. In addition, I would like to open a Call for Volunteers for the Vice Chair position to this WG prior to the Kick-off Meeting. Please respond to this email if you would like to volunteer, or if you would like to nominate someone by the end of this month, Friday, 28 February. We will seek to finalize the Vice Chair role by the Kick-off meeting. In advance of our first meeting, I would like to share a few notes to help ensure that we can get through all of the start-up tasks for the WG in a timely manner. First, a wiki<https://community.icann.org/display/gnsolsdpdp/Latin+Script+Diacritics+PDP+H...> has been established to provide background and present the current members of the team, while also supporting this Team in its future endeavors. More background information and relevant materials can also be found on the GNSO Website Group Activities page<https://gnso.icann.org/en/group-activities/active/latin-script-diacritics>. Please take the time to begin familiarizing yourself with the following materials in preparation for our first meeting: · Working Group Charter<https://gnso.icann.org/sites/default/files/policy/2024/draft/draft-charter-p...> · Final Issue Report<https://gnso.icann.org/sites/default/files/policy/2024/draft/final-issue-rep...> · Latin RZ-LGR<https://www.icann.org/sites/default/files/lgr/rz-lgr-5-latin-script-26may22-...> · Consensus Playbook<https://gnso.icann.org/sites/default/files/file/field-file-attach/pdp-3-4-co...> · GNSO Working Group Guidelines<https://gnso.icann.org/sites/default/files/file/field-file-attach/annex-1-gn...> & PDP Manual<https://gnso.icann.org/sites/default/files/file/field-file-attach/annex-2-pd...> · ICANN78 GNSO Council Session providing an introduction to the topic<https://gnso.icann.org/sites/default/files/policy/2023/presentation/diacriti...> Once you have completed your document review, please confirm here<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pO6rjdu2rLtNeertT4sFg3QS8avqOA1-n3OfXR7S15c...>. The goal of this exercise is to ensure that everyone is starting off on the same page with the same foundation of information, which will enable us to be a more effective team. In addition, a document library is included on the WG workspace (see https://community.icann.org/display/gnsolsdpdp/3.+Background+Documents). An understanding of these documents and their contents will help to ensure your full and productive participation in WG deliberations. More materials will be added to this space as the PDP kicks off. The following items will be on the agenda for the first meeting: 1. Introductions: As standard practice during the first meeting of a PDP WG, members will do a round of verbal introductions so we can get to know each other. Please be prepared to speak briefly (no more than one minute) about your relevant experience/background and any objectives you have for participating. 2. Leadership Team and Liaison Roles: As mentioned above, we have an opportunity to select one Vice Chair for this WG, but we are not required to do so. If and when we have a volunteer for the Vice Chair position through the mailing list, we will confirm by non-objection during this time. If none, we would suggest that we proceed without a Vice Chair and revisit the topic if necessary in the future. The GNSO Council is to appoint one Liaison who is accountable to the Council. When we have a volunteer from the Council, this role will act as a part of the Leadership Team and be introduced during this time. Other Liaison roles, such as Org Liaisons and the Board Liaison, will be introduced if and when we have confirmation by this time. 1. Charter: It would be helpful if everyone could read through the Charter<https://gnso.icann.org/sites/default/files/policy/2024/draft/draft-charter-p...> before the first call. We will briefly go over some key points and answer any questions that members have. While we go over the Charter during our first meeting, we’ll talk about some of the logistical elements of how we will work, including the decision-making process for this WG. We’ll also review what is expected of those participating in this WG. From the outset, I would like to emphasize the importance of working towards developing consensus recommendations, which means working constructively and collaboratively to find outcomes that members can ultimately accept. To this end, the Consensus Playbook<https://gnso.icann.org/sites/default/files/file/field-file-attach/pdp-3-4-co...> is among the resources that you are being asked to read by the second meeting. We’ll be drawing on the methods and techniques in the playbook throughout the life of the PDP, so everyone should be familiar with it. 1. Project/Work Plan: On our first call, we will have an opportunity to speak a bit about the Project Plan/Work Plan and what can be expected in our first weeks of work on this PDP. As a preview, the initial areas of focus will be: * High-level review of the topic within the Charter * Requesting input from SO/AC/SG/Cs on the topic * Deliver Project Plan to the GNSO Council 1. Meeting Frequency and Schedule: Again coming back to housekeeping issues, we’ll have an opportunity to discuss the meeting frequency and the proposed day/time of the calls, if necessary. 2. GPI/HR Framework: The WG is expected to consider any recommendations that may have potential impact on Global Public Interest (GPI) and/or Human Rights (HR). A high-level overview will be provided on what needs to be considered during the PDP and how this will be reflected into the WG’s Work Plan. Welcome again to the Latin Script Diacritics PDP WG, and the GNSO Support Staff and I look forward to working with you all! Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you. With best regards, Saewon, John, and Steve on behalf of Michael Bauland, WG Chair for Latin Script Diacritics