Friends,
I also "participated" in the telephone call earlier this month where a number of the reps and a number of the US ALS's voiced opinions against the meeting. For some strange reason whether technical or otherwise I could not get a word in edgewise on the call.
I wanted to express the importance of a face to face meeting - as a US applicant ALS - and I was frankly shocked at the disinterest in such a meeting or the sense that meeting face to face is unimportant.
If face to face meetings are not of use or import in these situations, by that logic I dont see why any ICANN or ICANN related meeting should be face to face.
That is not my position however. Face to Face meeting is critical at this juncture. And I strongly concur with the idea of freedom of the RALO to do as much as it can generate the energy to do.
Some of you may wonder - who is this speaking - and what stake does he have in this process, and more to the point, who is he to chime in at this late stage,
Well, isnt that the point? Arent we at a late stage? Shouldnt there have been more concerted effort for the North American RALO to have been formed by now, or at least for the NA ALS's to have been working together in a meaningful way?
I really dont think that ICANN/ICANN-ALAC mechanism or tools not being in place excuses the lack of such activity. Any number of the existing parties could have reached out for us (or the group here before some of our arrival) to start working together sooner towards our common mssion, let alone the actual formation of the RALO.
As to the lateness of the arrival of our particular group (AFCN) to this discussion - I wish to address this point right off the bat. (I know no one would raise this particular point, as ALS formation is open ended, and there is room for more ALS activity throughout our region, and we should be encouraging more groups that will share our burden to get on board -- (have we?))
We have followed this general space for some time. Our capacity is largely Volunteer, as I imagine is the case for a number of you (and my applause, and my sympathies, we know this work is important).
But the big point I wish to make in relation to this is how little awareness many relevant organizations and constituencies across the US have of this process. (Speaking only for my own country)
It seems to me wrongheaded to say that timing is not right, or that face to face meetings should be avoided.
Figuring out how to build Trust in a new organization is something the participants need to do for themselves.
It is time to generate energy on issues of Internet policy, and we must endeavor to educate the public through as much outreach as we can muster. As a RALO, we would be much better off building trust and coordinating our efforts.
Best Regards to those who wish for a vibrant RALO in North America
Michael Maranda
AFCN
On 2 Feb 2007 18:13:54 -0500,
John R Levine <johnl@iecc.com> wrote:
> If I understand well, you're telling us that Wendy Seltzer, John Levine
> and Alan Greenberg, the North American ALAC reps have decided that a
> NARALO formation meeting is not a good idea?
Yes, that is what we said. An in-person meeting would be
counterproductive and not a good use of ICANN's money.
> Given that their mandate includes -- at least for Wendy and John who
> have the NA interim seats -- "assist[ing] in the formation and
> qualification of At-Large Structures and Regional At-Large Organizations
> (RALOs)"
As I have said several times, a successful RALO has to operate on-line.
If we can't form it on-line, we're not going to be able to run it on-line.
If we want a RALO, We will continue to work on-line.
There are already several failed ICANN at-large organizations that planned
to have a complex structure and physical meetings. There is no point in
making another one.
Regards,
John Levine, johnl@iecc.com, Primary Perpetrator of "The Internet for Dummies",
Information Superhighwayman wanna-be,
http://www.johnlevine.com, Mayor
"More Wiener schnitzel, please", said Tom, revealingly.
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President, Association For Community Networking
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