[Chapter-delegates] An Open Letter to all ISOC Chapter Members

[Christian de Larrinaga]

Dear Bob,

The main concern I have with the acknowledgement letter sent to chapters
is it asks for acknowledgement but it is not clear how such
acknowledgement will be interpreted.

What is being acknowledged?

a/ chapter received this letter
b/ received and read it and understand its contents
c/ agree contractually with the (all) contents in this letter.

These are very different meanings. On the basis that I expect various
interpretations to become a source of confusion for years if this is not
redrafted I have recommended it is withdrawn so it can be redrafted.
There are a few points in the letter which could also be interpreted as
layer violations. Chapters should manage their own self governance but
that does not mean of course that they can't agree to certain principles
pertinent to being a part of the ISOC family.

I understand there was a "Sphere project" which looked at chapter
governance for a few years. You may be referring to this in your note
today as the basis for the points made in the acknowledgement letter. 
I've been told that only very few people from chapters continued through
to the end of Sphere - maybe as few as three. That is not a basis to
derive a declaration of consensus across hundred or so individual
entities. 

Having said that most of the underlying rationale for the points in the
letter seem sensible and with a bit of redrafting involving chapters I
don't see why the community can't settle down rapidly.  But the will to
do that needs to come from you and the board.

The other points you raise concerning the role of ISOC trustees and
ISOC's mission orientation are not contentious. The role for individuals
now they formally have no governance role in ISOC is something chapters
will have to come to terms with as will ISOC. Somehow chapter trustees
will have to square that circle to meet the needs of local electoral
conventions, law and best practice.

best


Christian

 
> Bob Hinden <mailto:bob.hinden at gmail.com>
> 11 November 2013 23:17
> I am writing this email as the Chair of the Internet Society Board of
> Trustees on behalf of the Board. The Board listens closely to the
> views of Chapters and believe that Chapters bring a tremendous value
> to the Internet Society. We see Chapters as very important to
> implementing ISOC’s mission around the world. They give the Internet
> Society a voice on the ground in a way that ISOC staff cannot. The
> feedback all of ISOC gets from Chapters is an important part of
> developing the Internet Society's strategy and policy positions. We
> are very pleased to see new Chapters being formed and are, of course,
> saddened when a Chapter closes.
>
> As you know there are efforts underway to establish Chapter performance
> standards, finding new ways of providing assistance to Chapters, and
> establishing a Chapter Advisory Council. I think it is helpful to
> summarize the role of Chapters in the Internet Society.
>
> The Board has recently approved changes to the Internet Society's by
> laws that formally recognize Chapters, equalizes the number of Board
> members elected by all communities (including increasing the number
> elected by Chapters to four), and authorizes Chapters to establish an
> Advisory Council. This was the result of a two year process to consult
> and listen to the views of Chapters. At the request of Chapters, we
> suspended several staff efforts until the update to the by-laws was
> completed. Now that the by-laws have been approved, these efforts to
> increase the Chapters’ engagement in ISOC's strategic activities are
> underway. This is a work in progress and we ask your patience in these
> activities. The problems that are being addressed have a long history
> and can't be solved immediately. You will see changes rolled out in
> the upcoming months.
>
> The Board has given the ISOC President and staff clear and strong
> guidance to insure that there is strong engagement with the Chapters.
> ISOC staff is fully committed to this work and has the Board’s full
> support.
>
> I have two other points I would like to make. First, the governance of
> the Internet Society has been settled since the Internet Society was
> formed in 1992. The charter, legal, and operational structure of the
> Internet Society establish it as a cause-based, mission driven
> organization. It is governed by a Board of Trustees. Board of
> Trustees members are responsible for ensuring the overall success of
> the Internet Society. As such, they are not on the Board to represent
> only the community that elected them; they are to represent the whole
> Internet Society. Chapters, Org members, and the IETF are all
> encouraged to engage with ISOC as strong contributors to positions and
> strategic programs and directions. The decisions taken by the Board
> and staff will be ultimately formulated based on ISOC’s mission and
> governance structure.
>
> Second, we are all passionate about ISOC, its mission, and the
> Internet. The Board and I value this passion. However, I think it is
> unfortunate that some of the passion expressed on the Chapters email
> list has gone over the line into personal attacks on staff, Chapter
> members, and Board members. This behavior is unprofessional and does
> not create the open, respectful, and constructive environment that
> should exist. It will cause some people to withdraw from the
> discussion and does not create the collaborative open environment we
> need. Everyone who posts to the chapter list is expected to follow the
> ISOC elist Code of Conduct; See:
>
> http://www.internetsociety.org/elist-code-conduct
>
> The Board is committed to an ongoing dialog with the Chapters on the
> issues that face the Internet. We think the Chapters are an essential
> element of the Internet Society and are critical to meeting the
> challenges we are seeing every day on the Internet. I am sure we all
> agree that we want the Internet to be the open platform for worldwide
> communication among everyone in the world. We all need to work
> together toward that goal.
>
> Regards,
>
> Bob Hinden,
> Chair, Internet Society Board of Trustees
>
>
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