[chapter-delegates] Re: Nomination of Veni Markovski

[veni markovski]

Dear Marty,

Thank you for your message.
I guess you've been thinking a lot about ISOC, and your proposal sounds 
pretty interesting. But perhaps we should give ISOC.org a chance to do such 
a survey? Or may be ask Mike Nelson what would be best?

As for the evaluation - I will think more about it. It makes sense - all of 
the things you said, and all of the things that are on my mind.

Thanks!

veni

At 11:17 30-01-2005 -0500, Martin Burack wrote:
>Well said (written), Veni.  You are a voice of reason and of vision, and 
>it will be to the benefit of the worldwide internet society as well as to 
>our Internet Society organization to have you re-elected to another term 
>on the ISOC BOD.
>
>I agree that it would be good to have some outsiders do an 
>evaluation.  But there are some difficulties.  The primary one is agreeing 
>beforehand on what ISOC is supposed to be doing (its priorities and 
>short/long term objectives), so the evaluators can say whether or not they 
>think ISOC has been effective.  The previous financial problems were a 
>tremendous deterrent to ISOC becoming a recognized force for 
>progress.  But factional fights on the Board over direction had a stronger 
>impact when I was E.D. and when I was on the B.O.D..  So, should 
>evaluators look at what ISOC has tried to do in the past few years, or 
>what it says it's trying to do now, or what someone says it should be doing?
>
>An alternative to a formal evaluation (if the Board won't go along with 
>your suggestion). would be to compile a list of the 100/300/500/whatever 
>or so most influential people in the Internet environment/industry.  Then, 
>if you can get contact information, send them a simple 10 question survey 
>asking about such things as:  1)Are you familiar with the workings of the 
>Internet Society?  If not, check "no" and return the survey.  2) 
>Otherwise, please check off which of the 10 items below you think ISOC is 
>involved in.   3) For those items you checked off, please check below how 
>effective ISOC has been in protecting the interests of the world wide 
>internet community (multiple choices).  4) Please number each of the items 
>in the overall list in the order in which you think it should be a 
>priority of ISOC; don't number anything you feel ISOC should not have 
>involvement.  Please add, in the space below, anything else you feel 
>should be a focus of ISOC.
>
>The survey could be via paper mail, or via email, or people could be sent 
>a URL with a unique (but not traceable) code.  If the list of people 
>includes (as it should) CEOs of major corporations, it would probably be 
>best to contact their assistants beforehand to get some help in ensuring 
>the survey will be filled out by the right people.  I would even ask the 
>Board members to fill out the survey, anonymously, indicating on their 
>responses that they are on the BOD.  There wouldn't be a high response 
>rate, but it could be meaningful.  Even ISOC membership surveys don't 
>generate more than a 2% response.
>
>Those few questions alone would tell you a lot about how ISOC is regarded, 
>and if there is a concurrence of opinions among those who are making 
>things happen (with or without ISOC) about what we should be doing.  There 
>are other questions that can be asked, and some respondent profiles should 
>be ascertained to put the responses in perspective; e.g. current/past ISOC 
>org/individual member; industry involvement; the job title of the person 
>actually doing the survey; etc.  The list of items would include the 
>things you mentioned and some others.
>
>The good thing about a survey is that anyone is allowed to do one, if ISOC 
>won't do it.  It would be acceptable (but not common) for a board member 
>of any organization (especially an NGO) to conduct such a survey to get a 
>feel for what he/she should be urging an organization to do.
>
>What I would like to see for ISOC are: 1) Continued strong support for the 
>IETF (and the IETF maintaining effectiveness, and continuing to be 
>recognized as an important standards body (not a given in today's 
>world).  2) A big increase in support for, and help in development of, 
>regional training workshops in developing/under developed countries (the 
>need may not be the same as eight years ago but enough is there for ISOC 
>to continue).  That might mean some Directors have to swallow their egos 
>and be willing to support working with organizations with which they've 
>had clashes in the past.  3) An increase in taking public policy positions 
>that support competition among service providers, open (not necessarily 
>free of charge) and available access to the Internet, minimal government 
>restrictions on what can be posted.  This will not only occasionally put 
>ISOC in conflict with some governments (including democracies in Western 
>Europe) but with some chapters that will walk in lockstep with their 
>governments or feel that only they are in a position to influence their 
>governments.  I would list this item as the highest priority if I thought 
>that would do more than just generate more divisiveness.  ISOC has been 
>too timid to stand up for what's right and take risks in the past.
>
>One simple project ISOC could undertake within those goals (with chapter 
>assistance) would be to coordinate, or work closely with other NGOs that 
>do, the donation and distribution of communications and computer equipment 
>(new and used; current and outdated but very usable).  For this to have 
>the best chance at success, the lead would have to come from ISOC itself 
>and not from any chapter.
>
>Regardless of what ISOC's goals/objectives/projects are, it needs to 
>significantly improve its public face or it will not garner the outside 
>support it requires in order to have a positive impact.
>
>Best wishes for your re-election and three more years of good service.
>
>Marty


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