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<p>+1 Carlos, Hank, and Veni! </p>
<p>Like Hank, I would like to review the comments/submissions of the
other Chapters on this matter. Like Carlos, perhaps a public
discussion would be good. Such a discussion could take place on
this Chapter Delegates list (thank you for initiating it). [Though
am not sure if my email will make it through to the e-lists, I had
to change my email address registered with ISOC HQ a few months
ago as my email was not getting through, not to the lists, not
even directly to our Regional CEM or Christine herself ... long
story.]</p>
<p>Like the other Chapters, we also received the 1-on-1 follow-up by
Christine of Flávio's call for inputs. There was a rather short
discussion regarding this new Chapter Charter. Not because there
was no concern nor interest, but because before and since the 2018
Chapter Letter, all these issues had been discussed internally and
regionally, as well as with key people at ISOC HQ. Key issues
were, as always: legal registration and funding. </p>
<p>Many of you will recall that when Andrew Sullivan's 2018 Chapter
Letter was being discussed, concerns were raised about the
requirement for a bank account in the Chapter's (legally
registered corporate) name. Prior to the signing of the 2018
Chapter Letter, in order to address the concerns then raised,
Chapters were assured that alternative means of funding would be
provided by HQ. It has been 8 years since the 2018 Chapter Letter,
and instead it seems that even more requirements are being imposed
the Chapters. </p>
<p>I thus closely read and much appreciate Veni's email and the
points he has raised, including <i>i.a.</i>: </p>
<p>
<blockquote type="cite"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><font
face="Arial"><i>... it essential that any preliminary
analysis recognize that chapters are independent
organizations operating under very different legal
frameworks, legal structures, economic realities ,,,</i></font></span></blockquote>
Indeed. For example, here in the Philippines in order to mitigate
corruption enabled by politicians conniving with non-profit
entities, the government put in place very stringent regulation
and oversight of all non-profits. (A year ago I was trying to open
a simple ATM Savings account with a bank, but made the mistake of
mentioning my work with non-profits. As a result I was shuttled
from one bank officer to another for almost 4 hours. When I made
the off-hand remark that: "I should've just said that I'm
retired.", the bank officer in front of me said: "Oh, you're
retired, sir?", gave me a new form to fill-up, and I was done in
under 15 minutes.) </p>
<p>
<blockquote type="cite"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><font
face="Arial"><i>... it is not clear whether the current
agreement was previously evaluated, whether its positive
and negative outcomes were documented, or whether the full
ChAC determined that there were sufficient grounds to
initiate its amendment.</i></font></span></blockquote>
Indeed, it seems like the 2018 Chapter Letter's effects
(problems?) were not evaluated. Meantime, I'm sure Flávio and the
ChAC Steering Committee are doing as best as they can, this new
Chapter Charter and its new requirements wasn't their idea. I
particularly appreciate the effort made by our Asia Pacific
regional representative on ChAC -- Thilina, to bring important
matters to our attention. Moving forward, further discussion of
the Chapter Charter may perhaps also take place during the next
Full ChAC Call on Tuesday 22 September at 1400h UTC. </p>
<p>
<blockquote type="cite"><span><i>All proposed changes are made to
follow a US-based NGO space ...</i></span></blockquote>
This brings to mind then ISOC-CH representative Richard Hill's
concerns regarding I* orgs being headquartered/domiciled in the
US. Back then, we thought this was more-or-less okay. But given
the current (and possibly future?) US Administration, the chapters
or adjuncts of these orgs that are outside the US may find that
they are not in a "happy place". </p>
<p>... and Carlos: <br>
<blockquote type="cite"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><font
face="Arial">I propose that the discussion first focus on
determining whether there is an objective and shared
justification for amending the agreement. ... If such an
evaluation does not yet exist, I believe it should be
conducted before chapters are asked to validate or comment
on a new contractual text. ... determine whether the
agreement should be amended and, if necessary, how to do so
in a proportionate manner that respects their autonomy.</font></span></blockquote>
+1 Carlos</p>
<p>YMMV,</p>
<p>WYn<br>
ISOC-PH<br>
<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 9/17/2026 1:48 AM, Carlos Vera via
Chapter-delegates wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:6D676690-4CF2-411A-A658-C24450F54DF6@gmail.com">
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
<div dir="ltr">I see a serious lack of transparency here.. this
process through private email and no public discussion does not
sound transparent to me. </div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">I wrote to support and also to flavio and copy
here:</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"> <span style="font-family: Arial;">Sorry if I miss
some previous discussion on prior</span><span
style="font-family: Arial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Justification
for Reviewing the Chapter Charter Agreement</span></div>
<blockquote type="cite" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr">
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span
style="font-kerning: none;"><font face="Arial"><br>
</font></span></p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span
style="font-kerning: none;"><font face="Arial">Dear
Flávio,</font></span></p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span
style="font-kerning: none;"><font face="Arial">Thank
you for your message and for the invitation to
participate in the consultation on the proposed
update to the Chapter Charter Agreement.</font></span></p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span
style="font-kerning: none;"><font face="Arial">Before
analyzing the content of the draft, I believe it is
necessary to address a preliminary question: what is
the justification for amending the existing
agreement?</font></span></p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span
style="font-kerning: none;"><font face="Arial">According
to the information shared, the Steering Committee
and Internet Society staff have been working on a
proposal linked to the principles of the Chapter
DNA. However, it is not clear whether the current
agreement was previously evaluated, whether its
positive and negative outcomes were documented, or
whether the full ChAC determined that there were
sufficient grounds to initiate its amendment.</font></span></p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span
style="font-kerning: none;"><font face="Arial">The
fact that the agreement has been in place for
several years, or that general principles regarding
health, resilience, and impact have been defined,
does not in itself demonstrate that the current
instrument should be changed. Before discussing a
new text, it would be important to understand which
aspects of the existing agreement have worked, which
have not, what specific problems the proposed
changes seek to address, and whether those problems
actually arise from the agreement or from its
implementation, evaluation mechanisms, resource
availability, or institutional support for chapters.</font></span></p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span
style="font-kerning: none;"><font face="Arial">I also
consider it essential that any preliminary analysis
recognize that chapters are independent
organizations operating under very different legal
frameworks, legal structures, economic realities,
social conditions, and cultural contexts. A global
framework that does not adequately consider this
diversity could result in uniform standards that
distort local realities, complicate the work of
chapters, or create administrative obligations
incompatible with their capacities and
circumstances.</font></span></p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span
style="font-kerning: none;"><font face="Arial">Therefore,
I propose that the discussion first focus on
determining whether there is an objective and shared
justification for amending the agreement. If an
evaluation has already been conducted or a formal
decision has been adopted, I would appreciate it if
the relevant documents could be shared, including
the body that made that decision and the grounds
considered.</font></span></p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span
style="font-kerning: none;"><font face="Arial">If such
an evaluation does not yet exist, I believe it
should be conducted before chapters are asked to
validate or comment on a new contractual text. Only
on the basis of a well-founded assessment and a
genuine understanding of the diversity of chapters
will we be able to determine whether the agreement
should be amended and, if necessary, how to do so in
a proportionate manner that respects their autonomy.</font></span></p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span
style="font-kerning: none;"><font face="Arial">Kind
regards,</font></span></p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; font-width: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span
style="font-kerning: none;"><font face="Arial">Carlos
Ver</font><font face="Times New Roman"><span
style="font-size: 20px;">a</span></font></span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<div dir="ltr">
<blockquote type="cite">El sept 16, 2026, a la(s) 12:39, Hank
Nussbacher via Chapter-delegates
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:chapter-delegates@elists.isoc.org"><chapter-delegates@elists.isoc.org></a> escribió:</blockquote>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr"><span>Hi,</span><br>
<span></span><br>
<span>I submitted 3 submissions back on Aug 5 as I assume many
other ChAC reps have done.</span><br>
<span>What I have not seen is an archive of submissions and
the status of comments/changes requested.</span><br>
<span>Can someone point me to where that might be?</span><br>
<span></span><br>
<span>Regards,</span><br>
<span>Hank Nussbacher</span><br>
<span>ISOC-IL</span><br>
<span></span><br>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>On 16/09/2026 18:00, Veni
Markovski via Chapter-delegates wrote:<br>
<br>
We almost missed that.</span><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>Among the proposed changes,
there are texts that have been proposed in the pasts, and
have failed in one time or another.</span><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>Furthermore, the proposed "draft
feedback" is limited to preliminary populated answers,
which do not necessarily cover all situations. Even more
they tend to propose that the chapters have no choice,
but to accept the proposed changes.</span><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>We don't believe that some of
the changes are needed. ISOC tends to bring to the chapter
different requirements every few years, and we change
by-laws (where applicable), register the new by-laws in
court, etc. (all this costs money!).</span><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>All proposed changes are made to
follow a US-based NGO space, where they make sense, but
they do not take into account the cross-cultural
differences.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>The fact that such changes have
slipped through the cracks of our (ISOC-Bulgaria)
attention is something that we would be addressing at our
next Board meeting, but we see potential problems in
implementing some of these requirements, if they are
obligatory for each chapter.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>best,</span><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>v/</span><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>On Tue, Sep 8, 2026 at 11:46 AM
Christine Saegesser Baethge
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:chapter-support@isoc.org"><chapter-support@isoc.org></a> wrote:</span></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span> Please find below an
important reminder from Flávio Wagner. Your</span><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span> chapter’s input is
critical! ͏ ͏ </span></blockquote>
</div>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
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