[ALSC-Forum] Membership

[DannyYounger]

The original Bylaws of the Corporation (Nov. 6, 1998) anticipated that ICANN 
would have a membership... hence, ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP:  (This Article is 
reserved for use when the Corporation has members.) 

Somewhere along the line this was changed to what we now have today:  "The 
Corporation shall not have members as defined in the California Nonprofit 
Public Benefit Corporation Law ("CNPBCL"), notwithstanding the use of the 
term "Member" in these bylaws, in a selection plan adopted by Board 
resolution, or in any other action of the Board."

The At-Large (as described by the ALSC) will not be members of ICANN.  They 
will be individuals and/or institutions within a Supporting Organization that 
is technically an internal working committee within a corporation with no 
members.

Is this what the Internet community either wants or expects?  I don't think 
so.  True membership fosters true accountability.  Perhaps the ALSC can 
clarify why , in their view, ICANN should continue to be a corporation 
without members, instead of a corporation with At-Large members.