[ICANN-EU] Next 4 At Large Directors

[Giampaolo Bonora <bnrb08k1@bo.nettuno.it>]

This subject could be an issue for Los Angeles CPSR-organized meeting.

The ICANN official timetable need a speedup: according Yokohama
minutes, now is the time for the At Large study, which results "should
be presented to the Board no later than the second quarterly meeting
of the Corporation in 2001". (Btw: "The study shall be structured so
as to allow and encourage the participation of organizations
worldwide" Are you ready?). After that:
"Any actions taken by the Board as a result of the study that require
the selection of any "At Large" Directors should be implemented on a
schedule that will allow any new "At Large" Directors to be seated no
later than the conclusion of the Annual Meeting of the Corporation in
2002 ". In both statement "no later than ..." could be tomorrow.

We all are aware of limitations of present elections, but two (or
three?) elected Directors are ready to ask for a substantial increase
of At Large voice inside ICANN. How to persuade other 16-17 ?

The real problem, in my opinion, is not the cooptation of a minority
of opponents to better pursue ordinary business, nor the lack of
formal legitimation for elected from these elections, but the small
figures whe had: 130 voters in Africa, but, this is worst, 3000 in all
North America.

So, the present At Large Members are requested to stay tuned, but this
will be not enough. Aside to reset the PIN system (I don't know how
good is the system that Jefsey suggest, but he's right on that), aside
to reopen membership on annual basis from 1/1/2001, there should be a
committment from organisations with less tecnhical-focused scope but
more voice than ICANN.
ISOC, i.e., probably cant'be the owner of ICANN, but if "Internet is
for everyone", how about "everyone can be an At Large member"?
Two European candidates with a strong Telco's background spent some
words in favor of At Large. Are they still online?

My major fear is bureaucracy. If we reproduce in each region, and
after in each country, things like the organizational chart of ICANN,
all our willingness and our time will be vanished.

Our opportunity is to become more global. The job of Andy and Karl is
not an European-North American job only. A close election of 4 At
Large directors on global basis could be a very important step.

Inside ICANN minutes I found:
"The other 4 At-Large Directors will be elected globally by all
eligible ICANN electors. The only geographic restriction on the Global
At-Large Directors is a rule that no more than 2 come from the same
region. " (Interim policy for geographic diversity, Communication to
GAC, Berlin, 25 May 1999).
I don't know if this is still valid (I think it's suspendend waiting
for the "study"), but I would be ready to accept it if this election
happens soon.
Otherwise, a new policy for geographic diversity could really state
that the President come from an high-rate growing region. So, the
election could be for 5, one elected for each area. Fine by me, if I
can vote for any candidate.
Perhaps also Mr. Katoh will be happy, the discussion must start.

Sorry for the long post,
	giampaolo