[At-Large] [ALAC] ExecComm Mission Creep (was Re: [NA-Discuss] ALAC Mid-point consultation report - Personal comments)

[Adam Peake]

I think now would also be a good time for someone 
to propose text describing the role of the 
ExCom/Executive Committee so we can vote on 
amending the rules of procedure.

But back to the current issue: I am confused by process.

The the document submitted to the mid-term 
consultation 
<http://forum.icann.org/lists/alac-mid-consult/msg00008.html> 
looks like a draft, it opens with

"This text for ALAC Response to BGC WG Report on ALAC Review has completed an At-Large 
Community comments period and is under ratification vote by the ALAC for the next 8 Days. "

But there is no note stating the document is draft.

Could the chair/ExCom (it is sent in both the 
Chair's and ALAC ExCom's name, which is also 
confusing) please explain.

2 questions.

If draft, is the document still open for amendments ? (some suggested below)

If not draft, but a document proposed for a vote, 
when will the vote begin (seems we are already 
eating into the 8 day period stated on the 
document.)


Thanks.

General comment: can we submit documents in MS 
Word, RTF or text.  The PDF format used for this 
document is awkward to manipulate.

Suggested amendments:

(a)  Organization, section 2.  Delete the following sentences

"From a purely current ALAC perspective it would 
also be important if in transition or in the 
longer term a clear connection with an appointee 
to the Board was  directly made from its 
Membership to maintain a clear nexus between the 
Advisory Committee  and the Board. Please note 
mechanisms of this process would need careful 
consideration and further discussed, but could 
take the form of either one of the two Board 
Seats being initially made by the ALAC per se or 
perhaps more preferably an ALAC to Board Liaison 
role being maintained where the Liaison is 
the ALAC Chair or nominee of the ALAC Executive."

If I understand what it's attempting to say, this 
statement needs much discussion. And as others 
have noted the ALAC Executive has no such powers.

Section 3.  (ingoing?  perhaps ongoing 
commitment?) Think the paragraph needs a re-write.

Section 5.  What is the sentence including 
"hither and yon" trying to say?  To the follows 
sentence about priorities being in concert with 
those of users, this would be a good place to add 
that one of the goals of the Summit is to 
identify user priorities.

Section 6.

Last sentence of the 2nd paragraph.  Delete 
reference to the ExCom, it has no such powers 
(and should try to be consistent in naming this 
committee).   Suggest changing the sentence to 
read

We also agree with the comments of BGC WG Report 
on the Recommendation 5 of the Independent Review 
Report referring to the preparation of an ALAC 
budget which best contributes to the achievement 
of ICANN¹s goals. We recommend that preparation 
of the budget for ALAC activities be undertaken 
through discussion and negotiation between the 
ALAC Chair and any appropriate committee of the 
ALAC and ICANN staff.

On sections 10 and 11, I support Wendy's proposal:

"Regarding points 10 and 11, I think the case is 
overstated. ALAC is /an/ appropriate channel for 
the voice and concerns of the individual Internet 
user, but because of its Advisory role, ALAC is 
not an effective route for participation in many 
policy-making processes. Opportunities for 
individuals and their representatives to 
participate in existing GNSO constituencies and 
new stakeholder groups are equally important. If 
other entities have the demonstrable support of 
representative groups of individuals, they are no 
less legitimate voices than the ALAC."

Best,

Adam