[icann-europe] (Fwd) Re: [ALSC-Forum] ---> initial approach to self-galvanizing ALM

["Jeanette Hofmann" <jeanette@medea.wz-berlin.de>]

Dear all, I forward the mail below for all those who once took some interest in our 
discussions of the pros and cons of setting up a formal At Large membership organization, 
and who are not subscribed to the mailing list of the At Large Study Committee. There is 
some serious effort going on now on the ALSC mailing list to revive the motivation and 
energy that accompanied the At Large election period some 18 months ago. 

In addition to the general discussions there are also new proposals out that offer 
detailed implementation plans for an At Large Membership organization: 


http://www.naisproject.org/020220statement.pdf (NAIS)
http://www.atlargestudy.org/decision.shtml (ALSC) 

All those who are still interested, please, read the documents, join the debate and make 
practical suggestions on how to proceed. 

jeanette



------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date forwarded: 	Fri, 22 Feb 2002 08:12:58 -0500
Date sent:      	Fri, 22 Feb 2002 07:46:34 -0500
To:             	Christian.Ahlert@sowi.uni-giessen.de
From:           	Esther Dyson <edyson@edventure.com>
Subject:        	Re: [ALSC-Forum] Mistake in methodology  ---> initial approach
 	to self-galvanzing ALM 
Copies to:      	"Hans Klein" <hans.klein@pubpolicy.gatech.edu>,
  	"Pindar Wong" <pindar@pacific.net.hk>, <forum@atlargestudy.org>,
  	"Jeanette Hofmann" <jeanette@medea.wz-berlin.de>
Forwarded by:   	forum@www.atlargestudy.org


Christian -

some good points... But I think right now asking for some show of hands may 
get more traction... though I am trying to develop a more compelling 
message to send out.

Something along these lines:

The fact that the very future/structure  of ICANN seems to be in question 
right now makes it urgent for the potential At-Large to come together and 
show itself - if not united, then at least coherent and eager to work 
*with* ICANN rather than against it.  Now is the time to fix ICANN rather 
than to destroy it.

Despite all the questions and lack of agreement on its precise form, the 
ALM makes sense and is *necessary.*  Whatever the details, some form of 
public input - both into decision-making and into the selection of some 
subset of the board - is key to the vitality, legitimacy and accountability 
of the organization and its (limited) authority.

As you say, things are in disarray, and the Board in Ghana will likely 
choose whatever options look safest/easiest.

Accordingly, Pindar and I are overstepping our mandate as ALSC members but 
acting legally and I think appropriately as private individuals to 
galvanize the inchoate would-be At-Large members into some coherence and 
purpose and common mission, the better to present the Board with evidence 
rather than argument that such a thing is possible.  We are trying to make 
the ALM look *safer and easier,* as part of whatever restructuring they 
decide on.

Our belief:  If we at large can create the beginnings of such a group, then 
all the Board has to do is to give it some ICANN-official standing. It can 
then evolve, and because it will have some status, it will become more 
attractive to the heretofore marginalized and disengaged would-be members. 
meanwhile, those members will (I believe) self-organize more effectively 
and take care to engage constructively. Being taken seriously, they will 
*act* seriously.

We may fail, but it is worth the try.  We will await further orders from 
the Board for the ALSC, but meanwhile we will do what we can as 
individuals, bottom-up.

Esther
(speaking for myself so far, and I hope for Pindar)



At 05:04 AM 2/22/2002, Christian.Ahlert@sowi.uni-giessen.de wrote:

>Hi Pindar, hi all:
>
>Although I support your approach - and I pledge to volunteer to
>organize an At-Large (yes even political scientists can be of help;)-
>I want to point out a dangerous mistake in your and Mikes approach
>(although yours seems to have a different goal):
>
>There is and there has been interest around the globe in ICANN. But
>remember the At-Large was never allowed to start their own mailing
>list on the ICANN website. Hence many volunteered around the
>globe and started maling lists, websites, forums etc. to inform and
>dicsuss about ICANN. I just read on Bret Faussetts ICANN-blog that
>in the last 6 months over 13 000 unique IPs from over 78 countries
>have visited something obscure as a site devoted to news about
>ICANN. Do you get my point? People out there are frustrated with
>ICANN and to simply ask them "do you want to volunteer" will not get
>a huge response rate, instead the very limited number of people who
>still follow the dicsussion will ask: Volunteer for what?
>
>Remember also that in the biggest and greatest democracy of the
>world less than 50 % vote in presedential elections and much less
>are political active!
>
>BTW Mike: I never heard the argument before that you pay taxes for
>voting - even in your country. We had that concept ..... in the 19th
>century!
>
>Activism only happens when people have the feeling they can
>change something.
>
>What I mean is: When I will hear in Accra the argument that not
>many people seem to be interested in an At-Large, or ICANN and
>that the proof for this argument is low participation on the ALSC's
>mailing list and in the survey and therefore we need no At-Large IT
>IS WRONG : Simply posting a survey on a website does not proof
>anything!
>
>Remember Times magazine search for the man of the century?
>Somehow a journalist in Turkey became aware of the survey and
>wrote about it. End of the story was that Kemal Ataturk the founder
>of modern turkey dominated all categories. He became scientist,
>painter, actor etc. of the century. Public interest is a strange animal.
>
>Best
>Ch
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Date forwarded:         Thu, 21 Feb 2002 13:36:30 -0500
>From:                   "Jeanette Hofmann" <jeanette@medea.wz-berlin.de>
>Organization:           Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin
>To:                     "Hans Klein" <hans.klein@pubpolicy.gatech.edu>,
>         "Pindar Wong" <pindar@pacific.net.hk>, <forum@atlargestudy.org>
>Date sent:              Thu, 21 Feb 2002 19:36:02 +0100
>Subject:                Re: [ALSC-Forum] Re: Keeping score
>Forwarded by:           forum@www.atlargestudy.org
>
>
>On 21 Feb 2002, at 12:18, Hans Klein wrote:
>
>
> > Pindar,
> >
> > As I noted in an earlier Email to you, I am happy to help collect names.
> >
> > However, I have to express some skepticism or even surprise at this
> > approach.  ICANN needs to comply with its agreements with the US 
> Department
> > of Commerce,
>
>I think these agreements are not that much worth these days. It would be 
>naive for us to
>rely on them.
>
>
>and I think it is a matter of more than just people collecting
> > donations.
> >
> > I think we need to keep cognizant of the seriousness of this issue.
>
>To get the ball rolling right now might be the last chance for the At 
>Large. Remember,
>Hans, to keep the At Large alive needs a change of bylaws.
>That is why I support Esther's and Pindar's efforts.
>
>jeanette
> >
> > Hans
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > At 12:19 AM 2/22/2002 +0800, Pindar Wong wrote:
> > >Greetings!
> > >
> > >If sending an email out to thousands of  lurkers on the forum list has you
> > >slightly worried...
> > >If the prospect of getting burnt to a toast unnerves you ...
> > >
> > >Please  send your pledge of time, money etc. privately to HK
> > >
> > >[i.e. Hans Klein]
> > >
> > >We all like Hans don't we :)
> > >
> > >... *and* he's willing to keep track of the tally
> > >
> > >[...while those of us who feel the urge to post pursue our misguided sense
> > >of challenge ;)]
> > >
> > >He can be reached at
> > >
> > >hans.klein@pubpolicy.gatech.edu
> > >
> > >Hans:  ready ... steady ... GO!
> > >
> > >Thanks man,
> > >
> > >p.
> > >
> > >PS: For those of you don't want to post in English... please post in local
> > >language and we'll find a way to take it from there.
> > >For those of you who can't read English... Hmmm... talk with you friendly
> > >cctld administrator.
> >


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Esther Dyson			Always make new mistakes!
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writer, Release 3.0 (on Website below)
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