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

Barrack Otieno otieno.barrack at gmail.com
Tue Sep 4 00:33:05 PDT 2012 

Dear Sabrina,

I also support the formation of the Malta Chapter.

Thank you

Best Regards

On 9/3/12, khaled koubaa <khaled.koubaa at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi
> This seems a good pool of people
> I know Hanane she is a Moroccan active person living in Malta
> Khaled
> On Sep 3, 2012 11:42 AM, "Sabrina Wilmot" <wilmot at isoc.org> wrote:
>
>> 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
>>
>> -------------------------------
>>
>> *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.
>>
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed
>> to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society
>> Chapter Portal (AMS): https://portal.isoc.org
>>
>


-- 
Barrack O. Otieno
+254721325277
+254-20-2498789
Skype: barrack.otieno
http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/

More information about the Chapter-delegates mailing list