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

Tue Apr 24 01:13:35 PDT 2012

I didn't say that 501(c)3 requires restricted membership rights.
In fact I don't know. What I said is that in my understanding
501(c)3 is used as an argument in defense of the by-laws draft
as it is.

Klaus

Michael Snell wrote on 2012-04-24 09:55:
> I've got to agree with John, but I have recently been involved in two
> 501(c)3 filings in the State of California (one for SF Bay ISOC itself, the
> other for a charitable non-profit for which I function as a non-voting
> Board member). Board members of both non-profits expressed the same concern
> to their legal counsels, and the feedback was that it was a groundless
> fear. Exercising First Amendment rights is not construed as influencing
> elections or legislation. Bribing a legislator, on the other hand... but
> that's not what we're about at all.
> 
> Mike Snell
> San Francisco Bay Area Chapter
> 
> On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 12:27 AM, JOHN MORE <morej1 at mac.com> wrote:
> 
>> 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
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Chapter-delegates mailing list
>>>> Chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org
>>>> 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>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Chapter-delegates mailing list
>>> Chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org
>>> https://elists.isoc.org/mailman/listinfo/chapter-delegates
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
> 

-- 
Klaus Birkenbihl
Internet Society German Chapter e.V. (ISOC.DE)
c/o ict-Media GmbH
http://www.isoc.de/
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