[lac-discuss-en] [ALAC-ExCom] ALAC/At-Large Improvements Project -- important update

[Carlton Samuels]

Dear Olivier:
I truly understand your perspective and even acknowledge that the
'fer-instance' you record, admittedly an extreme case, is possible.....and
troubling.    But I am convinced that "sanctions" talk is the wrong mindset
to address this.

Persons are appointed for a period.  That period can be adjusted by design
and in context of the appointive process.  That the least of it though.

When it comes to elected members, elections have a particular objective in
our at-large context; it presages the 'bottom up' process to which names and
numbers policy making is said to be committed. Persons are elected for a
period.  History absolves me; everyone knows that I am aware electorates
can, in fact, return 'unsuitable' persons.  However, because we must pay
more than lip service to this 'bottom up' ideal, the ALAC cannot adopt such
a cavalier attitude to the rejection of that quintessential 'bottom up'
action that nullification of that election will message.

Then there are the 'unintended consequences' one can anticipate.

I have consistently cautioned against this talk of 'sanctions', even when
well-respected colleagues have privately sought my views in circumstances
where ALAC members are judged to be 'lifting light' in ALAC work. I feel
equally strong that as this mindset remains with life and stalks the
framework, it is bad for our business.

So consistent with my own views and intuit, I shall oppose.

Best,
Carlton

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


On Tue, Oct 11, 2011 at 6:04 PM, Olivier MJ Crepin-Leblond <ocl at gih.com>wrote:

>  Carlton,
>
> On 11/10/2011 15:49, Carlton Samuels wrote :
>
> As I have already stated, I cannot vote for any report that recommends
> "sanctions" on volunteers, even if they are yet to be determined.  The state
> of mind that delivers this gem can only be repudiated for cause.
>
>
> Take imaginary example candidate A, ALAC member, does not attend calls,
> does not attend meetings, or when he travels, uses their time outside of the
> ALAC room. A does not get involved in ALAC & other working groups. A is
> basically using their affiliation to ALAC as something that looks good on
> their CV. Admittedly, this is an extreme, but Carlton, at the moment,
> nothing can be done about that person, and that imaginary person is
> occupying a seat on the ALAC, one of the only 15 seats of people supposed to
> act in the best interests of the 2.1Bn Internet users out there. That person
> is failing those 2.1Bn people. That person is not accountable.
>
> Yes, that person is a volunteer, but when you volunteer for ALAC, you're
> not doing it as a piece of fun. There is a deep responsibility that goes
> along with that. There is accountability to users in the rest of the world.
>
> But in any case, this debate is premature. We're at an intermediate stage,
> with more than 50 recommendations in this report, some of which are
> completed, some of which need to be taken to the next stage. The debate on
> sanctions/no sanctions will happen later. (and in Dakar we have a session on
> metric which might touch on that... or we might have to wait until after
> Dakar. In any case, there will be plenty of times to debate this)
>
> Warmest regards,
>
> Olivier
>
> --
> Olivier MJ Crépin-Leblond, PhDhttp://www.gih.com/ocl.html
>
>