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

[Avri Doria]

This is the response I sent on another list to the email below.

> Hi,
> 
> This was one of the conundrums, without some sort of structure, for example a Chapter Advisory Council, there was no mechanism for collective Chapter decisions on issues like chartering and de-chartering. And the bylaws committee was not the place for designing such a mechanism.  Doing that is something that the Charters need to do for themselves. That is part of the whole process of the Chapters developing the Chapter Advisory Council and designating its role and responsibilities.
> 
> Internet Society staff remains responsible for the process at this point, but I believe they need to work with the Chapters to figure out how this should be handled. And I understood that they were ready to do so.  I also beleive that once mechanisms have been developed, the Chapters will be able to ask for by-laws changes that might be necessary to enable the mechanisms.
> 
> avri

Additional note: So it makes sense to me to start figuring out how the chapters are going to create the Chapter Advisory Council.  The sooner that happens, the sooner the Chapters will be able to claim they have the necessary mechanisms for managing these process with the assistance of the staff instead of having the staff managing the processes consultation of the chapters.

I still think we will need an appeals mechanism even after the Chapter Advisory Council comes into existence for there is no assurance that self rule will be just rule in all cases.


avri


On 6 May 2013, at 02:16, 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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