Attention NPOC Member and Citizen of the Internet:

Your NPOC membership in ICANN gives you a window on global Internet policy, and a door to participate in that policy development. Your ability to engage in policy development aligned with the mission of your organization depends on both your knowledge and awareness, and on the health of your organization’s relationship to the Internet Ecosystem itself.

Here is an opportunity to strengthen the health of that Internet Ecosystem relationship.

(See information below on the June 27, 2016 Helsinki event, to coincide with ICANN56)

Does your organization depend on the Internet to do its work and get its message across?
Does your organization depend on the Internet to communicate with its members?
Did someone cyber squat on your organization’s domain and demand a ransom for its release?
Has your organization’s good name and logo been used for fraudulent fund raising?
Do you ask yourself how to ensure your organization’s right to open and free expression?
Are you sure how many domain names do you need and how to keep them from expiring?
Do you wonder how to use and protect your organization’s good name in social media?

If you answered any of the questions above with “Yes!” you should get involved in Pathfinder

About Pathfinder

Civil Society and NGOs are the Internet's largest stakeholder group, and they are increasingly dependent on how the Internet operates in order to carry out their work. It is essential for civil society organizations to be aware of the opportunities the Internet affords and to acquire the capacities needed to make the best possible use of the Internet. For this reason the Pathfinder Initiative was created in 2014. The goals of the Pathfinder Initiative are to raise awareness and capacity to engage in strategic Internet planning, to promote organizational voices in areas of Internet policy formation and implementation, and to increase the role of civil society organizations as “Citizens of the Internet”.

Pathfinder Activities

Webinars + Dialogues: We host presentations by thought leaders, promote dialogue, and provide you with the knowledge, technologies and tools to succeed.

Research: We share quantitative and qualitative analysis on nonprofit, NGO and civil society use of the Internet in order to guide strategies & policy.

Events: We present live events to connect and engage organizations with the partners they need, so as to enhance your impact in your work and the pursuit of your mission.

Capacity building: This is where your input counts. Shared resources are available and a global community exists to support you, but only you fully understand the context in which you work.

(NEW) Pathfinder Direct: Over the last years the Pathfinder Initiative has successfully implemented capacity building seminars, webinars, dialogues, and research projects globally. We will continue and increase these activities. In addition we will add a new type of activity: Pathfinder Direct. It is the goal of Pathfinder to reach as many people as possible with its capacity and awareness building programs. We will bring Pathfinder to more people through holding Pathfinder events in conjunction with the existing meetings, conferences and events of Pathfinder Partner Organizations. Events will be tailored to the interests and needs of the host organizations and their specific event participants.

Become a Pathfinder Partner Organization

Internet Awareness and Capacity Building offer opportunities for Civil Society organizations such as yours to:

Access resources and services that enable you to make better use of the Internet.
Offer additional solutions and services to your members and supporters.
Develop and implement digital strategies, such as effective online communication, community engagement, and fund raising.
Increase your security and stay on top of Internet security best practices.

Gain a voice for your organization in how the Internet is run and governed!

Get involved: Please contact Klaus Stoll, klaus.stoll@gkpfoundation.org

Upcoming Helsinki Pathfinder Initiative Event: (June 27, 2016)

ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers <icann.org>) is the nonprofit multistakeholder organization responsible for global internet policy making. ICANN will hold its 56^th meeting (ICANN56) in Helsinki from June 27^th to 30^th. ICANN governs through multistakeholder consensus policy making. Civil Society and NGOs are the Internet's largest stakeholder group, and are increasingly dependent on how the Internet operates in order to carry out their work.

It is essential for civil society organizations to be aware of their opportunities for influencing Internet policy, be aware of the opportunities and challenges the Internet presents to their mission and work, and acquire the capacities needed to make the best possible uses of the Internet in pursuit of their mission and work.

Dedicated to these ends, The Pathfinder Initiative <www.pathfindershub.org> and its global partners are planning an awareness and capacity building event for Finnish Civil Society organizations in Helsinki during the ICANN meetings.

Please find details on the planned event and the Pathfinder Initiative below. We are seeking to engage with regional Civil Society organizations in the planning and execution of the event as much as possible. Therefor we would like to ask you and your organization to consider

Joining the planning for the event as an implementation partner
Participating as a presenting organization within the Finish context
Promoting participation the event to your membership and through your networks

Please let us know if you are interested in participating in this important event. We will be holding local planning and implementation meetings in May and June in Helsinki. The live event will be free, will be web cast, and will be available for download.

Draft Program: (to revised with local partners)

Civil Society and Internet Domain Name Use and Policy:

W ith an Internet presence, and with responsibilities as a “citizen of the Internet”, what are the opportunities, challenges, and obligations my organization faces as it pursues its mission and its work.

Date: June 27, 2016

Time: 10.00am -13.00pm

Venue: Finlandia Hall, Mannerheimintie 13e

Helsinki, Finland, (to be confirmed)

Program:

1. Introduction, (Lori Schulman, INTA, IPC, Moderator, 5 minutes)

2. Thematic Presentations: (15 minutes each)

2.1: Using my organization’s website for Impact and Sustainability. (Klaus Stoll, GKPF/NPOC)

2.3: Domain based organizational websites vs Social media. (Sam Lanfranco, NPOC)

3. Coffee Break

2.4 Website uses to be safe and secure on the Internet, (James Galvin, Afilias, tbc)

2.5 Having a voice in how the Internet is governed. (NCSG, NPOC, ICANN)

4. Showcases:

4.1. local NGO Best Practises, (tbc)

4.2 .ngo/.ong (PIR, tbc)

5. Networking lunch: Thematic tables

5.1 Impact and Sustainability

5.2 Safety and Security

5.3 Having a Voice

5.4 Showcases

The event is free, will be web cast, and will be available for download.