Re: [atlarge-discuss] Latin America and Africa

[espresso@e-scape.net]

At 21:15 -0700 2002/08/07, Jeff Williams wrote:
>  Bret's suggestion is ONE possible method.  But it strikes me a less
>than democratic and/or representative of the members.  Hence
>such representation from Africa and Latin America is really up
>to those stakeholders/users from those regions and the membership
>as a whole.  Hence "Special Appointments" is a slippery slope
>to a number of problems that would certainly impact the
>growth of the membership of ICANNATLARGE.COM...
>
>  These folks need to be elected, not "Special Appointments"...

When it comes to the structure of the real, incorporated entity, I would agree completely. Although the officers and directors of a non-profit organization normally have the latitude to appoint people to chair ad hoc committees or perform specific tasks, that latitude does *not* extend to appointing extra people to the board.

That being said, it *is* normal for any kind of committee to invite anyone whose contribution seems valuable to attend its meetings or participate in its discussion list(s). This is especially true in organizations where everything must be done by volunteers.

At this point (that is, prior to incorporation or even agreement on what exactly will be incorporated), the elected Panel is essentially just a working committee charged with developing *proposals* on the nature and structure of the organization. While those proposals are being written, input from all parts of the world would be helpful -- since the resulting draft Constitution and bylaws must be ratified by a worldwide membership, it makes sense that advice from people who know the conditions in regions unrepresented on the Panel itself be included in the discussion.

Whatever the method chosen to select a Latin American and an African to provide that input, it is very important that we be clear: these people are not being "appointed to" the Panel, which is by definition made up of elected representatives. Instead, they would be invited to join its work as non-voting advisors to the Panel. I don't know the candidates who ran for those regions but there are certainly some excellent people there involved in the use of the ICTs to improve people's lives, and I can't see how having a couple of them help the Paanel formulate our aims and methods in writing could be detrimental to our efforts.

I sincerely hope that the organization-to-be will have clear, well-written bylaws specifying that its board of directors (or whatever we choose to call it) will include a seat for a representative from each region and that rules  will preclude the use of appointees as replacements for elected directors and officers. However, that means that we need a procedure for dealing with the situation where a position is vacated before the end of its term.

If anyone wants me to, I could certainly come up with the names of some women in those regions who could sensitize us to their Internet needs...

Regards,

Judyth la pomme

(finally rgeistered)

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Judyth Mermelstein     "cogito ergo lego ergo cogito..."
Montreal, QC           <espresso@e-scape.net>
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"History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once 
they have exhausted all other alternatives." (Abba Eban)
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