[ALSC-Forum] Re: a few questions

[Denise Michel ALSC]

The situation we find ourselves in clearly is not ideal.  I understand the
anger and frustration that underlies your posts.  And I guess I need to
remind you that I am not making the rules.  We don't have a clear, precise
mandate to create an At-Large with a pre-determined role in ICANN's decision
making structure.  We don't even know what ICANN's decision making structure
is going to be at the end of the year.  On top of that, ICANN currently has
no money to spend on At-Large and I have a couple months to help get
At-Large organizing underway.

What we have is an opportunity with no guarantees.  An opportunity to take
the challenge of creating bottom-up, self-organized Internet structures (or
using some existing organizations that are willing to fill this role) that
can engage in outreach and education, involve users, aggregate views and
make decisions, and work with other ICANN stakeholders to address issues and
develop positions on Internet user issues that fall within ICANN's mission.
If there are individuals and organizations that are willing to take up this
challenge, then I believe At-Large stands a much better chance of being
designed into the "reformed ICANN" decision making structure.

At-Large organizing in this context is a difficult endeavor, and I don't
have all the answers at my fingertips.  Rest assured, though, that I will
seek and listen to input of anyone interested in At-Large, and the public
will be kept apprised of my organizing efforts. I need a few more days to
think through processes and issues and to set-up a website, announce-list,
etc.  Thanks for your patience and support.

Denise

Denise Michel
dmichel@atlargestudy.org

----- Original Message -----
From: <DannyYounger@cs.com>
To: <dmichel@atlargestudy.org>
Cc: <forum@atlargestudy.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2002 8:28 PM
Subject: a few questions


> Denise,
>
> ... a few questions.  perhaps you can offer some clarification regarding
the
> terminologies being used.  What, for example, are At-Large "mechanisms"
that
> requires "nurturing"?  Whatever they are, how are they different from
> At-Large "structures", and what exactly do you mean by "structures"?  Are
> these entities that will be offered participation, but not representation,
in
> the ICANN process?  Whatever happened to either the membership
organization
> or the supporting organization concept as a single umbrella "structure"
> (singular, not plural) that allowed for representation?  In your outreach
are
> you telling these folks that a structure will be in place that will allow
for
> their representation?  Are they being advised that that they will have
> directors on the Board actually representing their interests?  What, in
fact,
> are you telling the folks with whom you are in contact?  Are you
indicating
> that ICANN seeks to establish regional organizations as contemplated in
the
> ALSC plan?  Are you representing yourself as a member of ICANN staff when
you
> communicate with these parties?  If ICANN isn't paying your salary, then
from
> where do you derive your authority to engage in these activities?  What,
> exactly, will the At-Large Organizing Committee that you are hosting
actually
> organize?  Is this new focus on structures (plural) a fancy way of
indicating
> that you seek to decentralize the At-Large?  Why do "structures" (plural)
> need to be created when there are a multitude of user organizations
already
> out there that have their own self-sustaining and open structures already
in
> place?
>
> ALM I could understand.  ALSO I could comprehend.  "Mechanisms" and a
> multitude of "structures" baffles me.  Could we try some plain English
please?