[NA-Discuss] Global At-Large Summit

[Nick Ashton-Hart]

In the past there have been instances where something is proposed,  
and assumptions that just because it was proposed it will  
automatically happen were made. I don't believe that of this  
initiative but I have to make sure everyone knows where things stand...

As to being an advocate, FWIW, I am always an advocate for the  
community internally. This is easier at some times than at others ;)

On 4 Jul 2007, at 15:19, Evan Leibovitch wrote:

> Hello Nick,
>
>> Just FYI all, there is a real budgetary impact to doing this and also
>> some other issues. I don't want to be a wt blanket, but nobody should
>> assume that this is something that ICANN will provide travel or other
>> meeting support for.
>
> [ Note: I am speaking for myself as an ALS rep and one of the people
> proposing this. I do not claim to speak for anyone else, though I
> believe there is general agreement, amongst those I have spoken to, on
> the points below to which I ascribe the term 'we'. ]
>
> Nobody is assuming that ICANN would automatically open the chequebook
> for such a major undertaking. There is a certainly a convincing job to
> do, but I am confident that we can make the case for it given  
> sufficient
> opportunity.
>
>> We have received a request from you and I have already begun
>> discussing it internally. You will be the first to know but there are
>> some further costing issues that need to be done - additional meeting
>> staff would be required, several meeting rooms, etc in addition to
>> travel support, and the cost is variable depending upon which city  
>> the
>> meeting takes place in.
> All this is quite apparent. Indeed, part of the reason we chose the  
> June
> meeting as the target for this is that it would probably be the  
> easiest
> and least expensive region, of the locations being proposed for  
> 2008, to
> which to send such a large group of people.
>
> As for the staff requirement: please consider that there exists some
> significant expertise within the group proposing this Summit,  
> including
> people who have already done conference planning. Of course we would
> need to work with the ICANN staff regarding logistics, promotion, etc.
> It's our intention (well, those of the original proposers) to solidify
> all resource requirements at or before the Feb ICANN meeting. We  
> have, I
> believe, both the skill and drive to make this happen, coupled with a
> first-hand awareness of what ALSs and At-Large in general need from  
> the
> process.
>
>> This would be a major addition to an ICANN meeting on several  
>> levels -
>> which doesn't mean it can't happen, just that it must be thought
>> through carefully.
> On that we are in complete agreement -- which is why we are  
> starting so
> far in advance. I am personally quite aware of the potential
> significance of such an event, not only to the At-Large process but to
> ICANN itself. It needs to be done well, resulting in an At-Large
> community that is enlightened, effective, and forward-thinking.
>
> We are already starting the process of communicating with the other
> RALOs to determine interest, and what other skills and resources are
> available to help this effort from within the existing At-Large
> community. It is the intention at this time to create a working group
> which would be charged with developing the Summit and working closely
> with staff and other ICANN entities as appropriate.
>
> At this time I also make a personal request to you, Nick, and to  
> Jacob,
> the two ICANN staff people who have worked most closely with At-Large
> and with us. I would ask, to the extent possible, that you are our
> advocates to the rest of ICANN and not just conduits of data. We need
> your assistance in helping the rest of staff and ICANN understand the
> importance of such a project to us, and also the role it will play in
> helping the At-Large community take its rightful place as one of the
> vital components of ICANN.
>
> - Evan