[Chapter-delegates] Welcome again...

[Jeffrey Sherman]

Personally, I don't see what all the fuss is over a country name - and especially what country name is used in an ISOC chapter name.

After all, what a country is called depends on a number of factors, including the context and the language.

I mean, if someone asks what country I'm from, I don't usually say, "The United States of America"... I usually just say "US."

I've seen:

United States
United States of America
US
USA
US of A

and in French

Etats Unis

Germany is "Germany" in English but "Deutchland" in German.  Are either WRONG?  Someone named "Steven" in English is generally referred to as "Etienne" in French (sorry, I have no idea how to put in accents).

The chapter of which I'm a member is known as "ISOC Los Angeles" (or "ISOC Los Angeles Chapter" - I forget which technically).  Los Angeles is obviously not a country nor is it a state; it is simply a city.  So should our chapter be known as "ISOC City of Los Angeles"???  Or perhaps "ISOC City of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, State of California, United States of America"???

Note that ISOC and ISOC chapters are membership organizations that are separate from governments.  Perhaps in some parts of the world, the local governments (be it cities, states, or countries) might provide some sponsorship, but ISOC has never been about the interaction of governments nor is ISOC considered as representatives of any government (though part of ISOC's mission might be to INFLUENCE government action).

The name of a chapter is generally chosen to be indicative of the region where the chapter is based and where most members live and/or work.

Though honestly, most of us in the "US" haven't a clue where Macedonia is (sadly, most probably couldn't even pick out where France is - or even where most of our own states are - on a map), I think REGARDLESS of who considers whatever the country's official name to be, naming the chapter "ISOC Macedonia" lets the rest of the world know the general location of their members.

Jeffrey Sherman
Warever Computing, Inc.
530 S. Barrington Ave., Ste. 303
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Toll Free: 800-WAREVER
Local: 310-476-0335
FAX: 310-472-0699


-----Original Message-----
From: chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org [mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org] On Behalf Of Narelle Clark
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 5:19 PM
To: chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org
Subject: Re: [Chapter-delegates] Welcome again...


> From: borka at e5.ijs.si
> Sent: Thursday, 20 April 2006 7:13 PM
> 
> Would you please pass your discussion to a place
> that is more appropriate  and ready to listen 
> to your political standpoints. I doubt that
> ISOC list is the appropriate place.

I do consider it appropriate for Chapters to be aware of international disputes, and of the ways that the various chapters diplomatically handle issues regarding:
- country names
- human rights
- trade disputes
Etc (the common ones off the top of my head)

Indeed our ability to discuss relevant issues in a rational, consultative and basically humane way is essential to our function.

We frequently have meetings between chapters and chapter reprentatives, governments, business and other dignitaries, and surely it is essential that we do hear of, for example, the appropriate means of address for these representatives?

Please accept also, that I do agree that the debate on many political/diplomatic/intergovernment issues will be inappropriate to this list, and that we should set aside personal sensitivities wherever possible in the interest of constructive discussion over flame wars.

I didn't read our Greek (ha ha nearly typed 'Geek') colleague as trying to push a political point at all, perhaps I'm just naïve. I read it as quite conciliatory, actually.

> My comment was clarifying the situation
> as initiated and stated   by yourself  with a 
> real fact that U.S government is
> recognizing Republic of Macedonia
> under their constitutional name 
> and nothing else. 

Personally, I would have thought the EU's name for a European region  took precendence over the US' designation any time... [not recalling right now what the EU calls it]

And while I'm at it, surely the choice of name for a chapter reflects the culture of its people and is not necessarily tied to that of the nation within it resides?

I am more concerned that the size of corporations means that the culture within corporations is now [sadly] dominant over many traditional social groupings (ie nations). Nations are getting smaller, and corporations larger. That we don't have chapters from some of these larger "cultural groupings" is perhaps an oversight...


Regards


Narelle
VP ISOC-AU (Australia)


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