[Chapter-delegates] Continuing our important work together

[Veni Markovski]

[ NOTE: This is not a farewell message, but a message of bringing people 
together, and expressing long due thanks for the time you have spent at 
ISOC. ]

Dear Lynn,
I'd like to thank you on behalf of ISOC-Bulgaria for your email*.
You took the stage in times, when ISOC has just started getting back on 
its legs, with the help of the PIR, and you managed to navigate it 
through turbulent waters for quite a while!
While we spend countless hours during Board meetings, I would treasure 
in my memories the conversations off the record, and the time during 
your visit <http://isoc.bg/it-delegation.html> to Bulgaria in 2006.
At the end of the day, I am sure that you (like everyone else, involved 
in ISOC!) did, and will continue to do what's best for ISOC, and for the 
global Internet.

It is exactly because of that commitment to ISOC, that I find it quite 
natural that you decided to alert the Board, and inform the chapters 
about your decision so well in advance.
This will allow ISOC to have time to find the right person(s) to replace 
you. I put plural, as it is not a must that the President should be a 
CEO, too.

I'd like to use the opportunity, and *
publicly thank you for choosing such great people to work for ISOC*.

I don't want to mention names, as I will probably miss someone, but I 
would like to express my sincere appreciation for your choices.

 From the COO down to the last person I've been working with, *I have 
been impressed with their utmost professionalism and care about ISOC*, 
about the global and open Internet.
I am saying this, because when sometimes chapters criticize one or 
another action, we would like to make sure you and your colleagues 
understand that we indeed value the staff contribution, and we believe 
that they are great professionals.

Last night we had a General Assembly at ISOC-DC, and we noted that there 
are several important issues, which will confront ISOC in the coming years.
Perhaps most important is what is going to happen around the global 
conversation on Internet governance. This year it already has started in 
Geneva, and will continue with the WTPF 
<http://www.itu.int/en/wtpf-13/Pages/default.aspx> in May, will go 
through a number of other events, and will culminate at the ITU 
Plenipotentiary Conference in 2014.
Hardly would anyone dispute that what is happening at the ITU is the 
biggest threat to the future of the Internet. My deepest belief is that 
ISOC is the organization that could take the lead in dealing with this 
threat. I say "dealing", and not "confronting", as I think this should 
not be war, but rather an educational effort - as discussed last night. 
The ITU member states are not bad or corrupt, they just need more 
education, and ISOC - through its chapters and with the budget it has in 
hand - is the ideal candidate to offer its expertise and resources.

I am hopeful that you will continue to engage with the chapters, the org 
and individual members around the globe in order to minimize the damages 
from the efforts of certain players to get rid of the multistakeholders 
model, but also to help chapters deal with their national issues, as 
many countries are moving towards fragmentation of the Internet, and 
establishment of national Internet controls.

Last, but not least, I'd like to remind everyone ISOC's


    Mission

To promote the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet for 
the benefit of all people throughout the world.

To help achieve our mission, the Internet Society:

  * Facilitates open development of standards, protocols,
    administration, and the technical infrastructure of the Internet.
  * Supports education in developing countries specifically, and
    wherever the need exists.
  * Promotes professional development and builds community to foster
    participation and leadership in areas important to the evolution of
    the Internet.
  * Provides reliable information about the Internet.
  * Provides forums for discussion of issues that affect Internet
    evolution, development and use in technical, commercial, societal,
    and other contexts.
  * Fosters an environment for international cooperation, community, and
    a culture that enables self-governance to work.
  * Serves as a focal point for cooperative efforts to promote the
    Internet as a positive tool to benefit all people throughout the world.
  * Provides management and coordination for on-strategy initiatives and
    outreach efforts in humanitarian, educational, societal, and other
    contexts.


Dear Lynn,
If you need any support in your last year ahead of ISOC, the Bulgarian 
chapters, and I am sure - all other  chapters - would be ready to help!

Best,
Veni

_________
* - I am not saying yet the formal and deserved "thank you" today,
as you have another year at the top of ISOC! I am using this email
to alert everyone that it is a very important task to follow ISOC's
mission, as it is of vital importance to all of us - chapters, ISOC
members, netizens, users.


Best,
Veni Markovski
Chairman of the Board
http://www.isoc.bg


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