[NA-Discuss] Voting None of the Above Re: …

Fri Jul 20 16:12:03 UTC 2012

Yes, we need more of a front-facing presence but before we can publicize and 
recruit we need to have purpose and define meaning. Which is why I ask that 
the focus be placed on documenting positive achievements first.

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Kieren McCarthy" <kierenmccarthy at gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2012 11:36 AM
To: "NA-Discuss Discuss" <na-discuss at atlarge-lists.icann.org>
Subject: Re: [NA-Discuss]Voting None of the Above Re: …

> Hi Garth, all
>
> So here's the thing. If elected to a key post in a grassroots 
> organization,
> being asked questions like: how many members do you have, how many
> subscribers, what level of engagement -- should be an opportunity to
> demonstrate effectiveness (especially when seeking re-election) and the
> answers should be immediately accessible.
>
> If asked about a Facebook page, or a Twitter account, or a report of the
> recent meeting which is the organization's entire reason for existing, 
> then
> the answers should already be known and easily provided, perhaps with a
> certain amount of pride.
>
> This basic level of commitment by elected representatives is the 
> foundation
> on which other things can be built. If there is such a foundation and if
> questions from members are seen as a positive and useful form of
> engagement, then you will find that not only I but a lot of other people
> would be willing to help out, to do work (without insisting on being paid
> for it), and to promote the organization.
>
>
> Kieren
>
>
>
> On Fri, Jul 20, 2012 at 7:48 AM, Garth Bruen at Knujon.com <
> gbruen at knujon.com> wrote:
>
>> Kieren, I think your critique of what needs to be done is correct but
>> there is difference between saying "this must be done by you" and "this
>> must be done and I will do this part of it" among a group of volunteers.
>>
>> We're all aware of the weak volume of participation, and this can be 
>> fixed.
>>
>> What can't be denied is the quality of participation. The expertise and
>> dedication among this group is remarkable. Before joining At-Large I was
>> running my volunteer effort with success in specific areas. But since
>> working with At-Large that success has improved and I've had the honor of
>> helping others within the group with various efforts.
>>
>> We've made positive policy changes and gotten the attention of the board,
>> staff and "others." Registrars regularly lurk on this thread along with
>> anonymous (NON)At-Large support ICANN staff. That's pretty shocking and
>> wouldn't happen if we were not having an impact. No one inside the inner
>> circle would care what we said otherwise.
>>
>> If you can use your far-reaching voice to highlight the success of this
>> group it would help get new interest and support for existing 
>> initiatives.
>> Interview some members and document what they do, so then readers will 
>> see
>> how their Internet problems could also be addressed.
>>
>> -Garth
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------**--------------------
>> From: "Kieren McCarthy" <kierenmccarthy at gmail.com>
>> Sent: Friday, July 20, 2012 9:40 AM
>> To: "NA-Discuss Discuss" 
>> <na-discuss at atlarge-lists.**icann.org<na-discuss at atlarge-lists.icann.org>
>> >
>>
>> Subject: Re: [NA-Discuss] Voting None of the Above Re: …
>>
>>  Well I think you've both just answered the question as to why there are
>>> so few people engaged in NARALO.
>>>
>>> Kieren
>>>
>>> [from mobile device]
>>>
>>> On Jul 20, 2012, at 3:50 AM, "Thompson, Darlene" <DThompson1 at GOV.NU.CA>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>  +1
>>>>
>>>> Very well said.
>>>>
>>>> D
>>>>
>>>> Darlene A. Thompson
>>>> CAP Administrator
>>>> N-CAP/Department of Education
>>>> P.O. Box 1000, Station 910
>>>> Iqaluit, NU  X0A 0H0
>>>> Phone:  (867) 975-5631
>>>> Fax:  (867) 975-5610
>>>> dthompson at gov.nu.ca
>>>> ______________________________**__________
>>>> From: 
>>>> na-discuss-bounces at atlarge-**lists.icann.org<na-discuss-bounces at atlarge-lists.icann.org>[
>>>> na-discuss-bounces at atlarge-**lists.icann.org<na-discuss-bounces at atlarge-lists.icann.org>]
>>>> on behalf of Evan Leibovitch [evan at telly.org]
>>>> Sent: Friday, July 20, 2012 2:20 AM
>>>> To: Kieren McCarthy
>>>> Cc: NA-Discuss Discuss
>>>> Subject: Re: [NA-Discuss]       Voting None of the Above Re: …
>>>>
>>>> On 19 July 2012 12:39, Kieren McCarthy <kierenmccarthy at gmail.com> 
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> *At the risk at getting embroiled in pointless name-calling, John I 
>>>> think
>>>>
>>>>> you are demonstrating precisely the mindset that is behind the reason
>>>>> that
>>>>> only one person is standing for each of the four positions.*
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Kieren, you *are* getting embrolied in pointless name calling.
>>>>
>>>> Funny that you suddenly seem so interested in At-Large issues when it
>>>> comes
>>>> to our internals.  We've been active in promoting end-user 
>>>> sensibilities
>>>> in
>>>> WHOIS, gTLD, trademark, internationalization and other issues. I've
>>>> personally been trying -- practically begging, since before Prague --  
>>>> to
>>>> get you to even LOOK at the R3 white paper At-Large has produced, an
>>>> broadly-crafted attempt to make ICANN more representative of (and
>>>> accountable to) the world at large. You've been WAY too busy for that.
>>>> But
>>>> not too busy to gawk at an unfortunate personal issue, and pass 
>>>> judgement
>>>> on a consensus process that seems to work for most. Like most
>>>> decision-making systems, it's imperfect. But it does result in NARALO
>>>> members' initiating more than its share of ALAC policy initiatives, and
>>>> still being the one of the only regions with a formal acceptance of
>>>> participants who aren't part of an ALS.
>>>>
>>>> And yet... Rather than focus on the substance of what we're actually
>>>> trying
>>>> to say -- which you have completely ignored to date -- you seek to 
>>>> dwell
>>>> on
>>>> the "what gives you the right to say it?" approach.
>>>>
>>>> Sorry there wasn't any tabloid fodder for you on Monday (the first 
>>>> NARALO
>>>> call you've attended ... ever?). No meltdown. Not even raised voices.
>>>> Just
>>>> talk about policy, planning for the Toronto meeting, and ensuring the
>>>> everyone who had something to say on our internal issues was heard,
>>>> Smoothly run and ended on time. But judging from your takeaway 
>>>> comments,
>>>> Plan B appears to be focusing on why At-Large doesn't function more 
>>>> like
>>>> Amway.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *So here are some questions:*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Really? REALLY?
>>>> Are you really asking volunteers to provide the research that you will
>>>> then
>>>> turn around and sell to others?
>>>> And then complain that we don't have enough time for <insert your pet
>>>> issue
>>>> here>?
>>>>
>>>> If your questions are intended to discover holes in ICANN's At-Large
>>>> outreach strategies, you'll have an easy time of it once you do the
>>>> research. If your intentions are indeed constructive, you're welcome to
>>>> join us in advocating At-Large growth through anywhere near the kind of
>>>> resources that ICANN expends to grow its pool of registrars and TLDs. 
>>>> But
>>>> the tone just appears as building a case for diverting our limited
>>>> volunteer resources away from understanding and shaping the ICANN
>>>> labyrinth, and towards recruitment. No thanks.
>>>>
>>>> My ALS (and a number of others) was discovered and brought in by Jacob
>>>> Malthouse, an ICANN staffer whose job it was to go out and engage 
>>>> members
>>>> of the public who'd never heard of ICANN -- let alone cared about it --
>>>>  and
>>>> convince them to get them involved. Jacob's job was difficult; too bad
>>>> you
>>>> can't ask him about it because his position no longer exists, so it's 
>>>> no
>>>> surprise the job isn't being done anymore. NARALO has made proposals to
>>>> duplicate this task using volunteers instead of staff, but our request 
>>>> to
>>>> get even basic expenses covered for this project has been turned down 
>>>> for
>>>> two (or it it three?) years in a row.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *These are basic questions, basic steps for a grassroots organization.
>>>>
>>>>> And they all cost $0.*
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> How sad that you consider volunteer time to be worthless. Mine isn't.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> - Evan
>>>> ------
>>>> NA-Discuss mailing list
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>>>> https://atlarge-lists.icann.**org/mailman/listinfo/na-**discuss<https://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/na-discuss>
>>>>
>>>> Visit the NARALO online at http://www.naralo.org
>>>> ------
>>>>
>>>
>>> ------
>>> NA-Discuss mailing list
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>>>
>>> Visit the NARALO online at http://www.naralo.org
>>> ------
>>>
>>
>>
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