[Chapter-delegates] ISOC Bylaws Working Group (BLWG)

[Christian de Larrinaga]

Thank you Christopher for pointing this out. It is clearly not
acceptable for a constituency that is electing the ISOC Board to be
manipulated in the ByLaws (or outside them) by the Staff.

It is jaw dropping.

Chapters can liaise via a List and regular face to face meetings to
provide the Board with its consensus advice. Such activities could
become more formal.

The lack of a chapters advisory council today should not be used as an
excuse to establish circular self referential governance structures such
as this.

I hope the ByLaws provide that members in the sense of those who are
electors of the board speak to the board and vice versa. The staff
should not be placed in a position of defining nor determining agenda.
They can obviously have a view which they can put to the board via the
President's seat at the Board.

best


Christian



CW Mail wrote:
>>
>>
>> Good morning:
>>
>>> In the light of more than two years of past discussions of the
>>> revision of the ISOC Bylaws, allow me to draw your attention to the
>>> current work of the newly established Bylaws Working Group.
>>> The minutes of their meeting which took place on 14 March 2013 have
>>> been posted:
>>>
>>> http://www.internetsociety.org/sites/default/files/BLWGUpdate15MAR20131final.pdf
>>>
>>> It is good that these matters are finally being addressed in an
>>> operationally effective manner. I trust that the questions of  … 
>>>
>>> -Chapter Membership of ISOC,
>>>
>>> -balanced representation in the BoT, including regional diversity and
>>>
>>> -consultation of Chapters on policy development  
>>
>>> … will be satisfactorily resolved.
>>>
>>> I have noticed the following extract from the minutes of the 14 March
>>> meeting:
>>>
>>> /<<4.Staff has responsibility for chartering and de-chartering Chapters.
>>>
>>> BLWG suggested peer review appeal panel for de-charter appeal.
>>> Should Chapter wish further appeal, it could then bring issue to BoT.
>>> This will be further discussed.>> /
>>>
>>> I would have two comments:
>>>
>>> 1.It is entirely inappropriate for the ISOC staff to have sole
>>> responsibility for chartering and de-chartering Chapters.
>>> (Actually, chartering new chapters is currently presented to the BoT
>>> for approval.)
>>> De-chartering a Chapter may have local, national and regional,
>>> practical and political repercussions which go beyond the mandate of
>>> the staff.
>>>
>>> 2.A peer review panel should be an essential element of any decision
>>> to de-charter a Chapter and should not depend upon an 'appeal'.
>>>
>>> It would be appreciated if the BLWG could take these comments into
>>> account. Other Chapters may also wish to comment.
>>>
>>> Regards
>>>
>>> Christopher Wilkinson.
>>>
>>>
>>
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