[APAC-Discuss] [Asia-Pacific-chapters] An update from the Internet Society - We continue to be here for you!

Thu Sep 28 03:21:03 UTC 2023

I have to voice my concern as well.  Raj and Rinalia are outstanding representatives both from an of the APAC region. ISOC was founded to be a global organization representing the global concerns from all the regions.

Holly

> On Sep 27, 2023, at 7:14 PM, Winthrop Yu via APAC-Discuss <apac-discuss at atlarge-lists.icann.org> wrote:
> 
> Good to hear from you Charles! 
> 
> As you mention Raj's assistance to ISOC-HK, i too recall with gratitude your assistance to ISOC-PH and its accession to APRALO. 
> 
> FYI, during the recent ISOC Chapters Advisory Council (ChAC) call, the question was raised as to whether to allow sitting Trustees to join the Regional email lists. I am in favor of this because a Trustee is still part of the greater ISOC community (both global and regional) and should be able to freely interact and exchange news and views with the members on the ground. This provides truth-grounding (i.e. what's it really like out there?) and minimizes the risk of Trustees being isolated within a Management bubble. 
> 
> Now, it's been said (often emphasized during the failed attempt to sell-off PIR) that Trustees are responsible for the whole of ISOC, not just the Chapters. This is partly true. But it is also true that there is a need to address the concern that Maureen raises as to who will represent the Chapters at HQ, particularly now that the Regional Bureaux have been arbitrarily eliminated. Surely geographical representation on the Board cannot just be for the sake of claiming that there is "diversity"? Thus with recent increasing centralization and control, there is, now more than ever, an urgent need for reasonable democratic space -- ongoing free and open communications between the Trustees and Chapters should be a given (particularly in view of the values that ISOC claims it espouses). Failing this, are Chapters then relegated to serve primarily as window dressing? 
> 
> Hoping that you, the Trustees, and Management have a productive discussion on these and overarching Internal Governance matters, moving forward, 
> 
> WYn
> PH
> 
> P.S.  Amrita -- ISOC HQ dismissed Rinalia too? That is so sad. 
> 
> 
> 
> On 27 Sep 2023 2:32 PM, Charles Mok (gmail) wrote:
>> I share fond memories working with Raj, when he also helped our chapter from our formation to hosting ISOC activities and the other AP activities he helped lead. It is really very, very sad for me to find out about his departure in this manner. I hope to see him again soon in other APAC IG events, as Winthrop said. As a current trustee, I cannot be involved in ISOC HR matters or management decisions as a matter of protocol, but it remains our duty to make sure that support for APAC is not going to be diminished. 
>> 
>> Charles
>> 
>> 
>> On Tue, Sep 26, 2023 at 10:55 PM Maureen Hilyard via APAC-Discuss <apac-discuss at atlarge-lists.icann.org <mailto:apac-discuss at atlarge-lists.icann.org>> wrote:
>> With the removal of some of our most influential contributors from the Asia Pacific region, who remains in ISOC to represent our interests as capably as they did? As you say Amrita, this is most disheartening for APAC.
>> 
>> Maureen
>> PICISOC
>> 
>> 
>> On Tue, Sep 26, 2023 at 7:49 PM Amrita Choudhury via APAC-Discuss <apac-discuss at atlarge-lists.icann.org <mailto:apac-discuss at atlarge-lists.icann.org>> wrote:
>> Indeep the recent developments in the Internet Society of removing valuable staff who worked with community members is very disheartening.
>> 
>> Raj's contribution in building the ISOC community in APAC and At large is invaluable. He has always been committed and working with community members and is well respected by all of us. Therefore his removal along with people like Rinalia is very shocking.
>> 
>> Its sad to see the people who worked with the community to build the ISOC brand and community in the region are being let go in this manner.
>> 
>> Regards,
>> 
>> Amrita
>> Delhi Chapter
>> 
>> 
>> On Wed, 27 Sept 2023 at 11:06, Winthrop Yu via APAC-Discuss <apac-discuss at atlarge-lists.icann.org <mailto:apac-discuss at atlarge-lists.icann.org>> wrote:
>> Thank you for making an official announcement Christine. I had emailed this email list twice last week to inquire why the APAC weekly update did not make any mention of ISOC's termination of Raj Singh; unfortunately both my emails were blocked as "spam". Perhaps something for IT/tech to look into, but be that as it may ... 
>> 
>> Raj will be sorely missed by the Chapters and the IG Community at large. Even as he entered the the IG space as PICISOC and then as one of the founders of APRALO [list cc'ed above] he already brought with him a wealth of professional expertise and experience; and Raj's decade and a half with ISOC can only have augmented this. But perhaps even more importantly,  Raj saw and interacted with us  (Chapters and individuals) as we were on the ground. Anyone could bring up any matter with Raj, ask him a straight question and you'd get a straight answer, no evasions, obfuscations or corpo-speak. When Raj made a commitment, you know he would go to bat for the Chapter.
>> 
>> Indeed a loss for ISOC. Yet perhaps we will see Raj again somewhere else in the IG space, hopefully sometime soon.
>> 
>> WYn
>> PH
>> 
>> 
>> On 27 Sep 2023 3:18 AM, Christine Saegesser wrote:
>>> Dear Colleagues, 
>>> 
>>> Earlier this month, the Internet Society made the difficult decision to reduce our workforce (across regions and teams). Most of you are probably following the related discussion on the chapter-delegates list on this. As mentioned by Andrew there, this decision was made, with careful consideration, to ensure the Internet Society remains on a solid financial footing as we increase our fundraising efforts to support our vital work around the world.
>>> 
>>> Through this period of transition, we remain committed to working closely with our community, including our chapters and special interest groups, to carry out our work to build, promote and defend the Internet. Our chapter support team is not impacted and we will continue to be there for all of you as usual to engage our community and provide the support it needs to work towards our vision of an Internet for everyone.
>>> 
>>> If you were working on any projects affected by these changes, please let us know by sending an e-mail to chapter-support at isoc.org <mailto:chapter-support at isoc.org> so we can together discuss the continuation of this work.
>>> 
>>> Best, 
>>> 
>>> Christine 
>>> 
>>> Christine Saegesser Baethge, Sr. Director Chapters and Special Interest Groups
>>> saegesser at isoc.org <mailto:saegesser at isoc.org> | Twitter: ch_saebae
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
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