Dear Darlene:

I'm very saddened to read some of these statements.

ICANN is, as you know, working on having a substantial amount of information prepared - at considerable expense - which is directly relevant to end users. I realise that for many, this information is needed "yesterday" but we are doing our best. 

Please see below.

On 19 Sep 2007, at 21:24, Thompson, Darlene wrote:

3.  In San Juan, ICANN was so concerned that the NARALO form up that we
all had to miss the meetings that would have given us a grounding in the
current ICANN issues and such.  So, great.  We've formed up and now I

I'm sorry but this is just not accurate. NARALO had a - single - meeting; it then decided, on its own, to have a second session. The agenda for both those meetings was entirely in the hands of the region to decide upon.

see this big discussion about the RAA and I am completely unable to give
the slightest opinion on it because I am just completely uninformed
about the issues and will likely stay this way until the next meeting.

I offered to arrange telephonic briefings related to this issue on more than one occasion, just like was done with respect to Domain Tasting. I have - repeatedly - offered to arrange briefings at any time on any subject that the regions would like. Not one call has been made for a single briefing.

If there were other ways to help the At-Large community to learn more about the issues, I would love to hear those suggestions. There seems to be a belief amongst some people that the only way for capacity to be built up on issues is for groups of people to attend face-to-face meetings.

Apparently, though, ICANN does not feel this way and would rather have
the "window dressing" of having a RALO, whether its effective or not.


I think any objective view of the situation would not bear this out even in part. Please see above for just a few examples. Would you like to spend your time making negative general statements of this sort - or would you like to learn something about the issues? I cannot really do much for the former except spend time reading the text. I can, however, do something about the former. 

--
Regards,
 
Nick Ashton-Hart
USA Tel: +1 (202) 657-5460
Fax: +41 (22) 595 85 44
mobile: +41 (79) 595 54 68

email: nashton@consensus.pro
Win IM: ashtonhart@hotmail.com / AIM/iSight: nashtonhart@mac.com / Skype: nashtonhart