[Chapter-delegates] Announcement : Global Chapter workshop alongside the Global INET

[Anne Lord]

[Apologies for any cross postings]

Dear Chapter Officers,

Please help us celebrate the 20th year anniversary of the Internet  
Society!

As many of you already know, the Internet Society is planning to  
celebrate its 20th anniversary with a Global INET, which will be held  
in Geneva from 22-24 April 2012.  Alongside this important and  
exciting event, we are planning to organise a two day Global Chapter  
Leaders Workshop on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22 April 2012.

This email contains important information regarding the Global Chapter  
workshop.

Travel fellowships

We are excited to inform you that Internet Society travel fellowships  
will be available to one Chapter representative per Chapter to attend  
both the Global INET and the Chapter workshop.  The decision on who  
attends will be a decision for each Chapter to make and subject to  
approval by Internet Society staff. When selecting a candidate to  
attend the workshop, preference should be given to candidates who meet  
one or more of the following criteria:

* Has been an active member of the Chapter in the last two years
* Can be identified as a potential future “Next Generation” leader  
of the Chapter (they may or may not be on the Board)
* Have not previously attended a Chapter workshop

We will be launching the travel fellowship programme on December 9th.

Visa Process

For those countries or economies who are not covered by the Schengen  
Agreement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Agreement) it will be  
necessary to obtain a visa prior to arrival:
http://www.mediavisa.net/schengen-visa-mandatory.php.   Obtaining a  
visa will be the responsibility of the travel fellowship awardee, but  
we will help support the process with formal letters of invitation.

Given the complexity of this process for some economies, the timeline  
for fellowship and visa processing must adhere to strict deadlines.

The key elements of the timeline are as follows:

* Dec 9 – Launch travel fellowship programme
* Jan 6 – Close travel fellowship programme
* Dec 6-Jan 20 – Review application period
* Jan 20-23 Mar – Fellows visa application period
* Mar 23-Apr 6 – Finalise all travel details

In order to take advantage of the cheaper flight prices, we will  
attempt to process applications for travel fellowship as quickly as  
possible. No flights must be purchased until the travel fellow has  
signed an MoU with ISOC.

Workshop Agenda

We will be working with a small volunteer programme committee to help  
design an agenda that suits the needs of the Chapter attendees. The  
programme committee will be reaching out to get your ideas and  
thoughts to help develop the workshop programme. Details will be made  
available as soon as they are known.

Remote participation

For those unable to attend the Global INET in person but interested to  
follow events, remote participation will be available.   We look  
forward to the wide participation of your Chapter leaders and members  
in what promises to be a truly global event.

Stay tuned for more information very soon!


Best wishes from
The Chapter Support Team.
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Anne Lord,                                 <lord at isoc.org>
Director of Chapters               http://www.isoc.org
Internet Society     "The Internet is for everyone"
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