[At-Large] [ALAC] ELECTION CALL for ALAC Officers to serve from 22 October 2012 to ICANN AGM 2013

Wed Sep 19 00:50:04 UTC 2012

+1 
Not only have the immediate past excom members done a superb job... But it is important that we continue to have an excom comprised of very competent and experienced members given the current and ongoing environmental and strategic changes of ICANN.

I do agree that continuity and contingency planning is important for alac but to do so at this critical juncture will work to our disadvantage. 

Regards

Cintra Sooknanan
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device available from bmobile.

-----Original Message-----
From: Carlton Samuels <carlton.samuels at gmail.com>
Sender: at-large-bounces at atlarge-lists.icann.org
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2012 17:44:39 
To: Evan Leibovitch<evan at telly.org>
Reply-To: At-Large Worldwide <at-large at atlarge-lists.icann.org>
Cc: ALAC Working List<alac at atlarge-lists.icann.org>; At-Large Worldwide<at-large at atlarge-lists.icann.org>
Subject: Re: [At-Large] [ALAC] ELECTION CALL for ALAC Officers to serve from
 22 October 2012 to ICANN AGM 2013

I share Evan's sentiments...and offer the same mea culpa.

Let us be clear here.  I went to the Internal list before the call for
nominations with my perspective on Olivier's leadership because  I wished
to offer a view  - maybe a peculiar one - of what really makes the ALAC of
notice in ICANN affairs.

I truly believe that it takes gumption, a certain diplomatic skill, will
and the time to commit to do what Olivier has done.  And all for free.
 IMHO, these are major reasons -vested in the Chair - for what we have
collectively achieved.  Yes, all others of the Ex-Com, and indeed some
colleagues not of the Ex-Com, have played significant roles. Because once
the strategic framework is advised by the ALAC, the details of strategy and
how to put them in play are determined collectively.

I am a mere bit player with some knowledge, expertise and experience that
might be useful to advance the common endeavour.  I was asked to assume a
role and I accepted.  The role does not define who I am; I bring that to
it.  Neither is my sense of self - or value - entwined with the position.
 I am asked yet again. I have accepted, yet again. It is quite all right
for the electorate, in their wisdom, to make another  choice.

I second Evan's nomination.  Assuming acceptance of nominations of all, I
shall vote for the slate.

- Carlton

==============================
Carlton A Samuels
Mobile: 876-818-1799
*Strategy, Planning, Governance, Assessment & Turnaround*
=============================

On Tue, Sep 18, 2012 at 11:38 AM, Evan Leibovitch <evan at telly.org> wrote:

> On 18 September 2012 09:57, Carlos Vera Quintana <cveraq at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > +1 this is a very reasonable position. We have to have rotation and new
> > faces all the time in all positions.
> >
>
> As someone standing for re-election, I have an obvious bias in the
> discussion. However, even were I not, I would be intrigued -- and a little
> unsettled -- by the concept of "change for the sake of change".
>
> There are term limits for many positions within At-Large leadership -- I am
> in my last of two terms as ALAC member -- and I am curious to know the
> rationale behind "new faces all the time" in a manner that exceeds both the
> intent and the practice of these reasonable limits.
>
> This is now my sixth year within ICANN as a volunteer and I am only now
> finding a comfort level with the many layers and complexities of working
> within ICANN's policy development. That may just mean that I'm slow, but I
> would suggest that ICANN possesses a level of internal complexity rivalling
> that of a UN or government bureacuracy. It takes time just to learn.
>
> Insisting on rapid rotation -- for the sake of rapid rotation -- ensures
> that ALAC leadership will never have the depth necessary to deal with
> issues that matter to Internet end-users. Our adversaries -- those who
> dispense with the public interest because of financial gain -- have no such
> limits. Indeed there are many within the domain industry who have been
> involved with ICANN since its inception and are acutely aware of its inner
> workings and how to manipulate them for gain. Given our reasonable levels
> of term limits our people will never achieve the level of personal
> entrenchment enjoyed by industry, but I would suggest that the rapid
> rotation suggested by some here would be absolutely devastating to the
> ability of ICANN At-Large to assert itself in the corridors of power.
>
> If there are issues with the performance of individuals running for
> re-election, general complaints about leadership or direction, or the
> ascendency of people advocating fresh priorities or changes of strategy, by
> all means let's bring them forward and engage in useful debate and an
> informed election. I welcome such engagement. But I know that there are a
> number of issues that I personally am involved with and consider
> "unfinished business" -- unfinished because they just take so long to
> process through ICANN. The others running for re-election have their own
> priorities in this regard. I think it would be a shame -- and damaging to
> the At-Large cause -- if many of these efforts are forced to pause while
> being rebooted or re-learned simply because of an election based on theory
> that looks good on paper but works poorly in the negotiations room.
>
> Two years from now, because of term limits, I know for certain that I will
> be off not only the executive but my ALAC position. I will welcome my
> replacement. I fully understand and appreciate the need to share the load
> and encourage new voices, both as a matter of outreach and keeping At-Large
> constantly in touch. But I suggest that there is a balance to be struck
> between continuity and refreshment, and that the balance currently in place
> within ALAC is a good one. Going more narrowly than term limits to assert
> change for its own sake does a disservice to incumbents and all of
> At-Large.
>
> In most organizations of which I'm aware -- whether corporation, government
> or NPO -- frequent changes of leadership does not indicate stability or
> success.
>
> - Evan
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