Hello fellow NARALOers, As some of you may have seen by now from my social media messages and a post in the ALAC Skype chat, I have taken on a major career change. I am moving to Geneva and will be supervising a network of technology centres around the world for the United Nations High Commission er for Refugees. It's a fantastic opportunity that gives me the opportunity to help repair lives and give new skills. It's also much further away from Internet Governance than what I have been doing of late , and the nature of the work will make it increasing difficult for me to attend to the normal duties of At-Large leadership. As it turns out, the timing of this has worked well since Garth Bruen is returning from his leave of absence this Monday. And because of the ARIN meeting this weekend (which I am attending thanks to the CROPP program) I may not even be able to fully attend the entire NARALO call on Monday. As a result, I am tendering my resignation as NARALO Secretariat, effective immediately. With Garth back and Judith already in place as Interim Secretariat while I have filled in for Garth, I know that things are being left in good hands. I have already indicated to Constituency Travel that I will not be attending the Buenos Aires meeting. ... Now, as I move on I would like to address the selection of new leadership positions for the North American Region that will be opening very shortly. Specifically, I would like to recommend to the region some changes in advance of the coming selection process. I am proposing -- with their awareness and consent -- that: - Glenn leave his ALAC position and become a candidate for Chair of NARALO - Alan leave his Nominating Committee appointment on ALAC and be selected by NARALO to take over the remainder of Glenn's term on ALAC My rationale for this unusual request is as follows. In what I have seen of Glenn's capabilities within At-Large I believe that his talents -- which are extensive in the realms of outreach, inclusivity, an increasing community involvement -- are best focused by leading NARALO than from within ALAC. In the case of Alan, as you know he is Chair of ALAC, and he is phenomenal at the task. However, it is highly unlikely that the NomCom would choose him for a second straight ALAC term ; so I am concerned ab out Alan's ability to be ALAC Chair for multiple term s, which is hindered by following the NomCom path. The ALAC has benefited greatly from previous Chairs who have been able to serve multiple terms and then also stay on long enough to mentor their successor. I would like to give Alan the best possible opportunity to do this. So it is the combination of these two points -- NARALO's need for Glenn, and the ALAC's need for stability and continuity through Alan -- that has led me to suggest the above two changes, in addition to the various placements that need to be addressed in the coming weeks. It is my understanding that both Glenn and Alan are comfortable with the above proposal, and that Garth has indicated that he does not intend to stand again for Chair. So I ask for your support of them in advancing these changes, to supplement the regular leadership selection process that is to come. When the appropriate time comes I will be happy to make the appropriate formal nominations. ... So it's à bientôt, but not au revoir. I'll still be involved in some working groups, seeing through things I started, but not as Chair. I will continue to represent my ALS -- which recently was rechartered under Canada's new non-for-profit laws -- in calls, Skype and email to the extent I am able. So you're not wholly rid of me. Still, it's been a helluva run. Thank you for the opportunity to serve. -- Evan Leibovitch Toronto Canada (until the end of the month) Em: evan at telly dot org Sk: evanleibovitch Tw: el56 PS: If you'd like to keep a conversation about how to use the Internet to help refugees retrain, regroup and recover their lives, please stay in touch. That's my life right now.