[Chapter-delegates] By-laws discussion during the Global INET

[JOHN MORE]

As a US Lawyer who has set up 501c3s that are "mission drive", I am unaware that US law prohibits or impedes membership having influence and control.  I wrote the bylaws for Washington Interfaith Network, a grassroots political organization. It has 55 member institutions, churches, mosques, synagogues, labor union local units, and citizen groups. It is non-partisan, but prepares scorecards for politicians on WIN's agenda and lobbies for affordable housing, jobs, etc. The agenda is developed through meetings of individual members organized by member institution. The members represent some 15,000 people. The member institutions vote for the five co-chairs, treasurer, secretary, and for the Board of Directors. ISOC's Chapters are the equivalent and can serve the same function.  US law should not be used as an excuse.

John More
Greater Washington DC Chapter
Geneva

Sent from my iPad

On Apr 24, 2012, at 8:48 AM, Klaus Birkenbihl <Klaus.Birkenbihl at Isoc.de> wrote:

> Not sure if I can make it here my 2pence for the discussion.
> we learned:
>  - ISOC is cause based
>  - funny enough according to some US legislation this can be used
>    as a reason to deny influence and control to the membership
> So the message we hear is (this applies to all earlier ISOC bylaws
> as well): we are allowed to do it this way therefore we do it this
> way.
> So ISOC took the easy way to bridge the gap between a - at least
> conceptually - huge membership and limiting the power and control
> to mostly a "knowledgeable" inner circle. This makes it easier
> to provide continuity and stability, but can also be the source
> of nepotism and cliquism.
> But what it doesn't reflect is the spirit of the Internet: openness,
> transparency and participation. Even the discussion that was set-up
> lacks this openness by separating the org members discussion from
> the personal members discussion. Divide et impera?
> Without getting to much in details: I would appreciate if ISOC
> would become an organization that does a better job in balancing
> pretension and reality. Wrt the bylaws this means that we should
> do a better shop in balancing competence, commitment and
> influence. This would much better serve our cause than using
> the cause as an excuse to continue to run a mostly closed shop.
> 
> Best, Klaus
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Ted Mooney wrote on 2012-04-21 15:48:
>> Dear ISOC Member, 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Tuesday, April 24 from 13:00 to 14:30 there will be an open meeting for
>> ISOC members to discuss the proposed changes to the by-laws.  Eric Burger,
>> Chairperson for the Board of Trustees Sub-committee on the By-laws with
>> other staff and trustees will be there for discussions and to answer
>> questions.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> The meeting will be held at the CICG Telecoms Center, between the RC and the
>> 
>> -1 levels.  Please look for the signs.   
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Best regards,
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Ted Mooney
>> 
>> Sr. Director, Membership & Services
>> 
>> The Internet Society
>> 
>> <http://www.isoc.org> www.isoc.org
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Direct Line: 703.439.2774
>> 
>> Cell:           301.980.6446
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
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>> https://elists.isoc.org/mailman/listinfo/chapter-delegates
> 
> -- 
> Klaus Birkenbihl
> Internet Society German Chapter e.V. (ISOC.DE)
> c/o ict-Media GmbH
> http://www.isoc.de/
> <Klaus_Birkenbihl.vcf>
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