[Chapter-delegates] Application to form an InterPlanetary Networking Chapter

Paul Brooks paul.brooks at isoc-au.org.au
Tue Aug 20 20:20:14 PDT 2013


On 20/08/2013 12:37 AM, Urban, Mark (CDC/OCOO/OCIO/ITSO) wrote:
> The Disability and Special Needs Chapter shares the same concerns as ISOC.DE. As the only Global Chapter, we can recognize the occasional need for a unique Chapter environs.  However, in our case, the reasoning for the chapter was based upon unique societal needs, rather than a technical interest.  A nonvoting SIG (Special Interest Group) might be the more appropriate venue for consideration of these problems. 

Thankyou Mark.
One of the issues is that ISOC global does not have SIGs as part of its structure.
ISOC has only Members (individual and corporate) and Chapters. Searching the Internet
Society's website for the term "SIG" reveals several SIGs of individual chapters and
organizations, but no SIGs of ISOC. The IPNSIG doesn't appear at all.
This is precisely the structure that IPNSIG has now, as a SIG of the SF-Bay area
Chapter (a west-coast USA community locality covering a region of interest of
approximately 18k square kilometres).

We believe it is not appropriate that the IPN group have a geographically-constrained
structure. It clearly doesn't belong in any one particular country, state, or city.
Members should not be required to join a Chapter serving the other side of the planet
in order to join and support the IPN group.  A member is free to join two or more
Chapters if they wish, so having the IPN group as a recognised Chapter does not
detract resources from local geographically-based chapters.

Also, I'm not sure there is really all that much difference between a Chapter and a
SIG. Both still need to track, support, communicate with, and organise events for, the
members. Both need an organising/governing group to lead it.
One difference is in funding - a Chapter can raise its own funds to support the
movement, while a SIG tends to suck resources from the host body of which it is a SIG,
including administration, legals, accounting costs etc which in a SIG are borne by the
host body.

(Speaking as an individual, not speaking on behalf of ISOC-AU, but this is the email
address that is subscribed to chapter-delegates)

-- 
Paul Brooks
Board member
ISOC-AU - Internet Society of Australia




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