[Chapter-delegates] Application to form an ISOC Chapter in Malta

[Sabrina Wilmot]

Dear Colleagues,

The following application for a Chapter in Malta has been received. It is being sent to this list for peer comment and review.
Please note that the Chapter is not yet formed and has not officially been recognised by the Internet Society.
If there are people on this list that know the individuals proposing to establish the Chapter, feedback is especially welcome.
The period allowed for comments is two weeks and the deadline is 18 September 2012.

Please do not hesitate to contact me on or off list.

Thanks,
Sabrina Wilmot
Manager, Chapter Formation
Internet Society

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Chapter Application

A. Proposed name of the Chapter
 
The Internet Society Malta Chapter
(Shorter version: ISOC Malta Chapter)
 
B. Community of Interest the Chapter will serve
 
The community of Interest is the Maltese community. Members of Maltese nationality living abroad, and members from neighbouring regions would also be welcome.
 
C. Purpose and scope of Chapter
In a manner consistent with the mission and principles of the Internet Society, ISOC Malta would have the following aims and principles:
1.     To provide reliable information about the Internet, its benefits, and positive use
2.     To support awareness building initiatives and outreach efforts concerning specific Internet-related areas
3.     To facilitate forums for discussion of issues that affect users in the community
4.     To foster the community’s participation in areas important to the evolution and further development of the Internet
 
The local Chapter is being established to further ISOC’s work in Malta for the benefit of users, for the benefit of those who are about, or are waiting for an opportunity, to embrace the exceptional world of ICTs and the Internet, and for the benefit of future generations. It therefore also commits itself to ISOC’s mission statement: The Internet is for everyone.
The local Chapter is to dedicate itself to educating and empowering the community it serves, including future Internet users.
 
D. Outline of key priorities for the first year of Chapter
 
The key priorities are:
-        To gain the status of ‘in formation’ and to work on the necessary documentation for its formal set up;
-        To generate interest in the Chapter, with the help of the founding members. Malta is a very small country, which makes membership a challenge. The success of a chapter is not determined by how many people sign up, but by how many remain interested and committed after it is set up.
-        To formulate and deliver a Plan of Activities, with the aim of giving the local chapter a strong and long-lasting foundation, based on commitment of members, and activities which serve the chapter’s purposes and aims.
 
Long-term priorities:
-        To promote ISOC Malta’s purposes (above)
-        To foster dialogue among Chapter members, and with other Chapters in close regional proximity (ex European Chapters)
-        To collaborate with strategic partners which can lend leadership and resources, and with whom the Chapter could share the same

 
E. Founding members of the Chapter
 
1.     Stephanie Borg Psaila
2.     Patrick Borg
3.     Lara Pace
4.     Joseph Tabone
5.     Sandro Gauci
6.     Steve Agius
7.     Jackie Scerri
8.     Jasper Schellekens
9.     Valentina Cassar
10.  Neville Bezzina
11.  Carmel Romano
12.  Jeffrey Romano
13.  Hanane Boujemi
14.  Tony Sammut
15.  David Briffa
 
 
F. List of supporters and partner organizations
 
DiploFoundation, Anutruf, Ground Floor, Triq il-Hriereb, Msida, Malta
Director: Dr Jovan Kurbalija
www.diplomacy.edu
 
G. Membership
Please outline how you propose to communicate, engage, and interact with the members of the proposed Chapter. A steady stream of new members and volunteers serves a Chapter with a regular pool of energy and talent as well as new leadership. Developing the “Next Generation of Leaders” is a strategic priority for the Internet Society.
Since local membership is a challenge, the local chapter would initially require the assistance of ISOC to announce the formation of the local chapter and invite interested individuals to sign up. Once the chapter is granted ‘in formation’ status, promotion can be carried out across several media, and outreach can be directed at different groups of people, with the help of the members who have already signed up. A few examples:
-        Professionals engaged in ICT/Internet (Some of the members are affiliated with the Malta Communications Authority and government agencies in the ICT sector
-        Students: Students following ICT-related courses at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) (Contacts with a number of lecturers at MCAST); students following courses at other educational institutions (a few of the members are lecturers at sixth form colleges and other educational centres)
-        Media: Articles on The Times of Malta/The Sunday Times of Malta (Contacts with journalists who are able to give publicity free of charge, as this may be of interest to the general reader)
-        Social media: several of the members have strong social media presence who can facilitate promotion via social media networks
 
H. List of requirements
Some countries, governments, or regulatory bodies have rules or regulations that must be followed by Chapters of organizations like the Internet Society. Examples include documentation or fees. It is important for you to check and to indicate here any requirements you find. If there are none please indicate with whom you checked. 
In Malta, an ISOC chapter would be categorized as a voluntary organisations. Under the Voluntary Organisations Act of the Laws of Malta, voluntary organisations may enroll with the Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations. Voluntary organisations are not legally obliged to do so, but enjoy a number of privileges and benefits once enrolled.
 
 
I. Additional information
Please find attached two documents:
1.)     Reasons for setting up a Malta ISOC Chapter, and
2.)     Setting up a Malta ISOC Chapter: Aims
The documents serve as background information for engaging potential chapter members.
 
J. Your contact information

Dr Stephanie Borg Psaila
c/o DiploFoundation, Anutruf, Ground Floor, Triq il-Hriereb, Msida, Malta
[…]



Additional Information

1.)  Setting up a Malta ISOC Chapter: why is it necessary?
 
1. Malta has a good Internet penetration rate. Yet, most users simply make use of the Internet without questioning what the rights, rules and obligations of Internet users are; making sure they are benefiting from the advantages of being connected, and taking precautions against online threats. As a consequence, users need to be more well-informed on Internet-related issues, so as to enable them to make better choices that influence their online behaviour, and consequently, the development of the Internet.
 
2. Rarely do users question how the Internet is managed, or whether (and how) our country is represented on a regional and/or international level in policy-making processes. Although there is plenty of opportunity to engage on a multistakeholder level, few people actually contribute or are active in the policy-making process or take part in any dialogue concerning the development of the Internet. Users can benefit in a substantial way by acquiring basic knowledge on common issues, and by following or participating in discussions (directly or indirectly).
 
3. Several ICT-related initiatives were launched in the recent past, such as, to increase the number of online users, to encourage adults in learning about ICTs and the Internet, and to foster the responsible use of Internet among young people. Although there were many positive results, much more can be done. As an organisation that aims at empowering people across various Internet-related areas, a local chapter would be in a very good position to make an impact at 'grass-root' level - which is where change is needed the most.
 
4. A local chapter could help - and benefit from - collaboration with potential partners, such as IGF Malta. For example, although the natural point of departure for IGF Malta would be Internet governance, and that for the local chapter would be ISOC's principles of promoting the open development and use of the Internet for the benefit of everyone in general, there is a lot of potential for collaboration. For example, the local chapter, having as one of its focuses the individual’s empowerment across various areas, could help IGF Malta raise awareness of IG issues among the public. On the other hand, IGF Malta might be able to help the local chapter in facilitating debates on specific issues. 
 

2.) Setting up a Malta ISOC Chapter: Aims

Aims and purposes of the Malta ISOC Chapter:

1.     To provide reliable information about the Internet, its benefits, and positive use

Such as:
-        Practical information on Internet legislation and regulation covering different areas such as online transactions, educational purposes including research;
-        The responsible and safe use of the Internet by children and parents;
-        Technical developments such as the transition to IPv6;
-        Internet governance and the role of the IGF
 
2.     To support awareness-building initiatives and outreach efforts concerning specific Internet-related areas

Examples of possible partnerships:

-        Supporting BeSmartOnline’s initiatives on teaching children and parents about child online safety;
-        Supporting MITC’s myWeb initiative to encourage adults to take up a basic ICT literacy course, and therefore to help narrow the digital divide

3.     To facilitate forums for discussion of issues that affect users in the community

Examples from recent developments:

-        Discussing SOPA and ACTA: what are the implications for local users?
-        Discussing the government’s recent plan to introduce four digital civil rights: is there a consultation process? How will these rights be incorporated into legislation?
-        Proper use of social networking sites, especially by young people: are parents aware of how their children behave on social networking sites? What can parents do to protect their children from online ‘predators’?

4.     To foster the community’s participation in areas important to the evolution and further development of the Internet

By educating the public (example, via local media) on governance models, international/regional forums engaged in policy-making, and civil society initiatives engaged in the process; by empowering individuals to contribute actively to the development of the Internet, such as, by participating in open consultations, by following policy-making processes, by adopting open source models. 


The local Chapter’s principles need to follow ISOC’s principles:

• Beneficial use of the Internet should be available and unencumbered.

• Content providers should be self-regulated without prior censorship of on-line communications.

• On-line free expression should not be restricted by other indirect means, such as excessively restrictive govern­mental or private controls over computer hardware or software or other essential components of the Internet such as telecommunications infrastructure.

• The Internet should be an open forum for the development of standards and technology.

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