On Jul 23, 2009, at 12:11 PM, Evan Leibovitch wrote:
I'd hoped that the Summit session on "ICANN 101" would have helped with that, perhaps we ought to turn that into a more permanent document. But as I recall even that took many hours to get through.
For any organization, there is the org chart on the wall and then there is the way things really work. One I mastered in a few minutes, the other is beyond hope.
IMO this has nothing to do with judging merit. Even if it's just perception it needs to be addressed.
Yes, this is where I'm coming from. What are some good options to do at this moment?
When I see these emails, I see an opportunity here to do outreach. If people are mad at ICANN let's bring them in as ALSs or individuals who can participate and make a difference. There *is* a mechanism for change, even if it's immature and sometimes unwieldy. Right now there appear to be a shortage of committed people to go around, and even much of ALAC isn't holding its weight. Sometimes I see meetings or calls stacked by special interests and feel that we just need to show that we won't be intimidated. Any time I read of someone ticked off I see an opportunity to invite them into At-Large and help to chance ICANN from within.
On one hand I don't want people coming in to change things ICANN cannot change -- that is an unhelpful distraction. But there is more than enough here to fix that requires an active and aware At-Large.
Ideally, there would be a spectrum of participatory options that fall between reaching out to existing representatives and becoming one yourself. Everyone who cares about how the internet shouldn't have to become an ICANN expert.
- Evan