Hello all I'm joining this group a little later than most, but I've now read all the meeting transcripts and many of the email threads to catch up. And according to the GAC, I have plenty of time to contribute! I visualize the work of this group falling into 3 phases (this was probably described by Bret during the session in Los Angeles): Collecting, organizing, and framing the issues. Collecting issues has already gone well. I think we're almost done with the organizing phase. The mind map is great. I like that it has multiple levels so many issues can be grouped under a manageable number of headers. I'm concerned, though, that there are so many issues still to uncover that it could become overwhelming. I've also had trouble finding only one place for several of the issues. I'd like to suggest a different style of mind map: the wheel chart. It has more spaces and a logic that's easy to follow. The inner layer contains the stakeholders, and the outer layer contains the procedures. At the center of it all is the TLD string. The top half of the stakeholders circle are those who are seeking to obtain rights to the string. The bottom half of stakeholders are those who wish to block the string. The location of a procedure aligns with the stakeholders who can use it. For example, an applicant who wishes to obtain a string must undergo evaluation. A rights holder who wishes to block the string must bring an objection. Issues that concern the string itself, such as IDNs, would be grouped directly in the middle. I've noticed that most issues relate either to the string at the top level or strings at the second level. For example, a legal rights objection is about rights to the top level string, while the TMCH is about rights to second level domains. So I've created a different wheel for second level issues, with the same division of stakeholders (those seeking to obtain and those seeking to block). Between the two wheels, it's easy to sort all of the issues that will arise. I've found I can find a clear location for almost any issue by following the three steps in the diagram: 1. Is the issue about the top level string or domains at the second level? 1. Who is the proponent of the issue? Is the stakeholder seeking to obtain a string or block it? 3. Which procedure would that stakeholder currently use to do so? Like the current mind map, this one can unwrap into a standard outline. The two wheels become two pillars (or articles). The inner layer (stakeholders) would be the main headings and the outer layer (procedures) make up the subheadings. That will be more practical when we move beyond this discussion group. David