[Chapter-delegates] [Fwd: Re: [isdf] Just anotherdisenfranchisement]

[David McAuley]

Franck:

This relates, I believe, to the issue that was heatedly discussed this past
spring. The ISOC Board had thought long and hard about making such a
membership level change, a poll had been conducted, and the change to the
membership level was made as was announced back then.

The reaction on this list was very intense and seemed to center (other than
on payment itself) on two issues more than others: one was with respect to
the nomenclature used for the membership classifications, and the other was
on the payment amount. There was a complete airing of comments and I recall
we apologized for the way the matter was handled.

With respect to the nomenclature, we asked for ideas and then we floated
some alternatives and the nomenclature was duly changed.

With respect to the amount, we asked for time to see if this single amount
would work. 

It was a difficult discussion with reasoned opinions on a number of sides
but we did not intend to create offense and I think we responded in
reasonable fashion. I personally think it will be unhelpful to start the
discussion over. The payment amount issue will be revisited after a
reasonable period of time.

As for some extreme conclusions, I would only ask people to judge ISOC by
our mission, goals, programs, and efforts as well as the contacts you have
with the ISOC personnel you deal with. We get some things wrong. We get much
right. If by these measures we are judged by some to be racist then I can
only state my strong disagreement from such a statement. 

Best regards,
David

David McAuley
Membership Director
Internet Society
703-326-9880, ext 104
703-963-5887 (mobile)
mcauley at isoc.org

-----Original Message-----
From: chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org
[mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org] On Behalf Of Gene Gaines
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2005 8:57 PM
To: Franck Martin
Cc: chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org; Picisocboard at lists.spc.int
Subject: Re: [Chapter-delegates] [Fwd: Re: [isdf] Just
anotherdisenfranchisement]

YOU BRING UP A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE.

PERHAPS IT IS TIME TO TAKE A HARD LOOK
AT THE WHOLE ISSUE OF FAIRNESS AND EQUITABLE
TREATMENT IN ISOC.

THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE.

I will reiterate the position I stated some time ago.

I will not pay $75 to be a member of ISOC so long as
there is no equitable consideration given the cost of
membership in other countries.

I will be pleased if the Indonesian ISOC chapter would
permit me to be a member, and would be pleased to send
them a check for $75 for that privilege.

But so long as a voting membership costs US$ 75 for a
person from Indonesia, or Nigeria, or Gabon, or any
country, then I judge ISOC to be an exclusionary and
racist organization, and I will not "go along".

Failing to protest such inequity is tantamount to
supporting it.

Gene Gaines
gene.gaines at gainesgroup.com

On Thursday, September 29, 2005, 6:39:01 PM, Franck wrote:

> Please confirm the news below.

> I think we were clear that non-paying members will not be second class
> citizens to ISOC. I hope it is only a mistake.

> Cheers


> On Fri, 23 Sep 2005, Stefan Probst wrote:

>> Howdy,
>>
>> just saw that ISOC is implementing yet another step of getting rid of any
>> influence from developing countries: 3 BoT seats for paying members.

>>
>> http://www.isoc.org/members/
>> <quote>
>> The Sustaining Member Level [SP: US $75.00 annual charge] will, in
>> addition, be able to participate in election for ISOC Board of Trustee
>> members as follows: once there are 500 such members together with 500
>> individuals joining under or Organizational Membership plan, this group
of
>> membership will elect one ISOC Trustee each such year (for up to three
such
>> Trustees overall).
>> </quote>
>>
>> My English is probably too poor to understand this sentence with the "500
>> individuals joining under or Organizational Membership plan",





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