Dear All, In the request from LACRALO to ICANN for funding of LACRALO events in Costa Rica ( https://community.icann.org/x/2ZzbAQ ), we specified two key objectives: * Educate LACRALO ALS representatives about ICANN, At-Large and its activities and policy issues. * Improve the involvement and participation of LACRALO ALS representatives in At-Large and in ICANN Policy Development Process for the end-users in the Latin American and Caribbean Region. These objectives were not only anticipated for the Costa Rica meeting but more importantly, afterwards and following on Costa Rica. The ALAC's letter to LACRALO ( see https://community.icann.org/x/2ZzbAQ ) announcing the approval of funding from ICANN for LACRALO events in Costa Rica was careful to emphasize these objectives as paramount deliverables for the event. So that we have a fair chance to achieve these objectives, several LACRALO working sessions or workshops were planned or proposed, in addition to the General Assemblies. The tentative schedule (subject to change) for these events are as follows: * Working Session / Workshop from Monday March 12 2012 from 13:00 to 15:00 with a working lunch from 12:00 to 13:00 * Working Session / Workshop from Wednesday March 14 2012 from 10:30 to 12:30 * 3 hours for a first LACRALO GA session on Wednesday March 14 2012. Currently, we have 17:00 to 19:00 and we are investigating how to add another hour. * 3 hours for a second LACRALO GA session from Thursday March 15 2012 from 10:30 – 13:30. Time is of the essence here. We should be aware that this is the first F2F meeting for ALS representatives in LACRALO since the 2009 At-Large Summit in Mexico City. For those members admitted since that time, this would be the first ICANN meeting they have ever attended. The working sessions or workshops are for ALL of us, the ALS representatives from LACRALO can make progress on the ability of LACRALO to work together much more effectively in LACRALO and in ICANN At-Large. As such, the working sessions or workshops rather than just identifying the different problems (perceived or otherwise) in LACRALO, the working sessions or workshops would attempt for ALS representatives to: * strive to agree on a goal to find the right way for LACRALO to work very effectively and for everyone to feel that they have full participation and able to influence the outcome of LACRALO meetings. * ask ourselves what do we want LACRALO to be in the future? * suggest and discuss implementable ideas and solutions to realise the desired future for LACRALO in the shortest possible time. In keeping with existing LACRALO Operating Instruments regarding General Assemblies (see https://community.icann.org/x/Oo0i), we have the following deadlines: Per Rule 8.1 - the agenda for the various LACRALO working sessions and GA in Costa Rica will be posted on March 5 2012, which is 7 days before the first LACRALO Working session in Costa Rica (March 12, 2012). ALL ALSes should suggest specific agenda topics for discussion *by March 5 2012* so that an agenda can be finalised before Costa Rica. As per Rule 11.1 and 11.2, Draft resolutions and amendments may be proposed by any ALS in writing to the Secretariat two weeks before the Wednesday March 14, 2012 GA session. This would mean the deadline is February 29 2012, however the LACRALO chair and secretariat requests that if no ALS objects, such draft resolutions and amendments can be proposed by any ALS in writing to the Secretariat *by March 5 2012*. PLEASE include a brief explanation for the proposed resolution or amendment by March 5 2012 so that all ALSes can understand the proposal. The Secretariat will collect all proposed draft resolutions and amendments on a wiki page and ensure proper translation of submitted draft resolutions and amendments and circulate to all ALSes via the mailing list. All draft resolutions and amendments would be passed by consensus or by vote on the Wednesday or Thursday GA sessions Kind Regards, Jose Arce LACRALO President Dev Anand Teelucksingh LACRALO Secretariat