[ALAC] [At-Large] "placeholder" reps not placeholders?

[Nick Ashton-Hart]

Dear Danny, Beau, Roberto, Alan and other list members:
As many of you have recognized in recent posts on this list, the GNSO Improvements implementation process is not yet at a steady state.  Transition efforts are still ongoing, especially with respect to the GNSO Non-Commercial and Commercial Stakeholder Groups' (NCSG, CSG) charters. During the email conversation on this topic, it is clear that there's a desire to get together face-to-face to discuss, in particular, matters related to the appointment of the three GNSO Council members appointed by the Board. Me and my colleagues are happy to facilitate the face-to-face meeting in Seoul that you have requested between new constituency advocates and members of the Board's Structural Improvements Committee. We'll get back to you with proposed times and dates when this could take place (with as few conflicts as possible of course).
On the subject of Seoul meetings, you may have noted that a public session to discuss GNSO Improvements matters with Board members is now scheduled for Wednesday (28 October) at 1600 local time in the Crystal Ballroom. We encourage all of you traveling to Seoul who are interested in these issues to attend that session. If you are not traveling to Seoul, perhaps you would like to send specific questions to be asked at the Wednesday session to policy-staff at icann.org<mailto:policy-staff at icann.org>.  We will try to present a number of submitted questions at the session and will plan to have a transcript and recording of the session available soon after the meeting.
With respect to constituency formation, some of you may not have noticed the  recent letter from ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom and Chair Peter Dengate-Thrush to NCUC Chair Robin Gross that directly addresses the issue of new GNSO Constituencies that you have been discussing.  Among several requests, the NCUC had asked the Board to refrain from approving any new GNSO Constituencies for the two year Non Commercial Stakeholder Group Transition period.  In responding to the NCUC request, the Board advises the NCUC as follows:
"The Board is not in a position to refrain from approving new Constituencies assigned to the NCSG during the two year NCSG transition period.  The Board has committed to processing pending applications and has already indicated its intention to have new Constituencies formed with the assistance of the three GNSO Councilors from the NCSG appointed by the Board at its meeting on 30 September.  The Board believes that the addition of these new perspectives will broaden and deepen the structural discussions and, potentially, enable fresh new consensus to emerge.  We also note that the Board's decision to double the current number of non-commercial seats on the Council was predicated upon the creation of a NCSG in which other diverse, international Constituencies participate along with the current NCUC."
A copy of the letter can be found on the ICANN website's Board correspondence page at this link - http://www.icann.org/correspondence/beckstrom-to-gross-06oct09-en.pdf
Staff continues to be available to discuss new constituency formation matters with existing and prospective new constituency proponents to help them make the best use of their resources and to discuss potential recruiting and other support matters unique to prospective new constituencies.  Please send a note to Rob Hoggarth at robert.hoggarth at icann.org<mailto:robert.hoggarth at icann.org> if you would like to talk about that process.
Finally - for those coming to Seoul, I look forward to seeing you all soon.
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Regards,

Nick Ashton-Hart
Director for At-Large
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, Inc. (ICANN)
http://www.atlarge.icann.org
Tel: +33 450 40 46 88
Mobile: +41 79 595 5468
Fax: +41 22 594 85 44
Win IM: ashtonhart at hotmail.com / Skype: nashtonhart
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