[NA-Discuss] New Travel Policy - a symptom

[Jeffrey A. Williams]

Evan and all,

  Seems like alot of whining to me.  Seems rather obvious that
if we ( INEGroup ) can come up with funding for our members
whom wish to attend to do so, than it is no more difficult for the
ALAC to do so as well.  Frankly, I believe ICANN has in this
area been far to kind and considerate to even pay for staff members
traveling expenses.

Evan Leibovitch wrote:

> Alan Greenberg wrote:
> > There have been three business oriented constituencies in ICANN from
> > the start (that is, since constituencies came into being) -
> > Commercial and Business users, ISPs and Intellectual Property.
> I guess my point of view is that the BC and IPC really are one and the
> same. That they were allowed to form as two constituencies, regardless
> of the mechanics of how it happened, still serves to dilute the role of
> the public-interest groups.
>
> >> The fact remains that, even without funding, the business and contracted
> >> communities manage to show up in force at every ICANN meeting.
> >>
> >
> > Not quite accurate. In Delhi (admittedly an extreme case), the
> > business and contracted party constituencies of the GNSO Council were
> > missing 6 of their 15 Councillors. 1 Registry, 2 Registrar, and all
> > three IP. Perhaps one or two of these were for personal reasons, but
> > money was the driver.
> >
> And yet 60% oshowed up, under the most extreme case.
>
> At the other extreme, I'd be curious to know the attendee breakdown last
> year in L.A.
>
> By contrast, how much of At-Large could attend ICANN meetings -- even in
> L.A. -- without funding?
>
> > Surely many of those associated with Internet-driven businesses are
> > at ICANN funded by their employers. But there are others who pay
> > their own way, and who must make up the time away from their
> > businesses (particularly true for some lawyers with firms who worship
> > only billable hours).
> Sorry, but that's not a useful rebuttal. There are significant numbers
> of lawyers and consultants who come to meetings in the hope of landing
> new business, either directly through contacts or indirectly through
> building of career-related expertise. (Since registration is free,
> attending ICANN may be cheaper for some than attending a conventional
> business or academic conference.) Even though they may not be officially
> paid to affect policy, it is still in their direct financial interest
> (and a deductible business expense) to attend. And law firms have been
> known to cut slack to associates' time that, while not billable, can be
> directly attributed to landing new clients.
>
> The number of legal and business reps who attend ICANN without treating
> their trips as a business expense can probably be counted on one hand.
>
> In any case, to me this is more about cutting At-Large resources than it
> is about complaining about other constituencies. If ICANN staff chose to
> elevate the SOs level of travel funding without touching the vision of
> At-Large, I would hardly be so vocal.
>
> - Evan
>
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Regards,

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