[Chapter-delegates] ISOC-DC bylaws - geographic restriction clause

[Marcin Cieslak]

On Wed, 10 Feb 2010, Joly MacFie wrote:

> The ISOC-DC chapter in formation are in the process of formulating a
> set of by-laws.
>
>
>
> James Galvin has questioned a geographic restriction to the effect
> that members must be from the local area.
>
> Drafter James More responded  that 1) other chapters have geographic
> boundaries, and 2) the restriction could be removed.
>
> Does any other chapter have such a restriction?

ISOC Poland bylaws (from 2000) say, that the chapter operates
on the territory of the Republic in Poland and *may* operate
outside of it. What this practically means that we need 
to travel to Brussels from time to time due to our EU activity.

Please have a look at the board resolution 97-17 "ISOC Chapter Policy"
(from 1997):

3. Scope of Chapters

  Chapters may be established on a non-exclusive basis to cater to
  the needs of any specific, cohesive community of interest. Generally
  this will be a regional community within national boundaries.

  Where a significant overlap of the defined communities arises from
  the proposed creation of a new chapter, a compelling reason must
  exist for such a redundancy. This does not preclude formation of
  City/State/Province/Department chapters where a chapter already
  extends to national boundaries.

http://www.isoc.org/isoc/general/trustees/mtg11.shtml

Basically, the rule is to avoid direct territorial competition.

--Marcin