Re: [ICANN-EU] A Proposal for an Open and Bottom-Up Self-Organization of the Membership

["Cameron Smith" <cameron_smith@mail.com>]

Vittorio's proposal looks well-thought out.

My only possible concern would be that the intermediate layer of 
ALCs could get in the way of people having a direct influence on 
ICANN.  But several things suggest that this isn't a problem:
1) 'Competition' between ALCs to effectively involve and represent 
their participants.  In many democratic and not-so-democratic 
countries, NGOs and civil society organizations do have to 
'compete' for recognition and popular involvement - those which 
'lose touch' also lose their membership.
2) Direct elections - we still have a direct voting influence on the 
ICANN board
3) Nothing to lose: ICANN has shown that it is not particularly keen 
to listen to individuals who ask it tough questions - however salient 
those questions may be.  Therefore we have nothing to lose by 
banding together in ALCs to try and make it pay more attention.

Therefore the next step, as Vittorio says, is to work out a 
'Constituent Assembly' (the ALOC) which can thrash out and 
legitimize the ALC approach.  

Vittorio, could you suggest a more detailed timetable for the 
ALOC's lifecycle: composition, drafting proposal, accepting 
comments, going to the vote, etc.?

If we do have a vote, who is going to pay for the voting system?  
Even if we persuade ICANN to provide a list of @large members 
under NDA, I doubt they will stump up the cash to pay for voting.

Anyway, a very constructive proposal, Vittorio, lets flesh it out.

Cameron Smith