[Chapter-delegates] Fwd: Renewal Internet Society Chapter Charter

Sat Oct 19 06:44:09 PDT 2013

+1 Christian (and sorry Christian for dubls).

I also don't foresee much change in practice if we sign the letter.
Nevertheless it is the wrong thing at the wrong time. During the
last years when chapters became more visible and active we
discussed so many beautiful things that could give support and
help to be more effective. E.g. Issue trackers to identify issues
and track their resolution, wikis to support collaboration and
many other things the Internet holds that other groups use
to do better work. So next thing we expected to see was some
progress here.

But instead of picking up e.g. the prototype that was provided
by Elena, we still lack reporting facilities for projects and
problems, collaboration tools, we stick to the old
work-intensive AMS to exchange our member data ...
But what we get is another version of the LoA.

Please keep in mind: it is effort, money and time that is
provided by chapters members that is used to do the work.
Financial support by ISOC is rather marginal. (Did you
e.g ever manage to organize an event for $2000? For our
last event even the fee for the room was higher.)
Knowing that ISOC lacks the budget to pay them, chapters
-though complaining once and a while- continue to work
on this base.

The LoA says ISOC wants you to perform such and such, wants
to define a maximum number of terms for office holders
[is this really a mission related concern?], and you
need ["we believe in numbers"] to have that many
individual members, [can it be summed-up with
corporations? - AMS still don't let me
report corporate members] and so forth. Read this
while keeping in mind that its chapters time,
chapters money, chapters effort. Doesn't it annoy
you?

I don't say we should be against again LoAs but given
the situation as it is - they should be the result of
negotiations and not a headquarters dictatorship.

Maybe the newly to be created Chapters Advisory would be
the group to develop a template that fulfills 2 criteria:
  - it is balanced in terms of responsibility and control,
    benefit and achievements
  - it allow to be adjusted to needs of individual chapters
    (e.g. those with a commercial branch, or with corporate
    members, or with a special focus like accessibility ...)
Such LoAs could have a real effect.

Klaus

Christian de Larrinaga wrote on 13.10.2013 12:44:
> Veni
> 
> I've done a quick analysis which has been forwarded on to the ISOC UK E
> team. Without going into details until the local chapter has had time to
> come to a considered view. My main concerns revolve around the
> boundaries of responsibilities and self governance in and between ISOC
> and chapters.
> 
> Therefore section 3 in particular apart from perhaps the first point,
> needs careful appraisal.
> 
> What is outlined is pretty specific model for chapter governance which
> is then described as the "minimum standard". Even though there is
> probably nothing binding about signing this letter I fear it comes with
> a set of expectations of it having some contractual status at ISOC which
> is likely to cause a lot of problems mainly due to confusion of people
> speaking across each other in 2014.
> 
> One further observation. It is interesting to note that ISOC for its new
> bylaws has been careful to describe itself as a mission led body not a
> membership one. However the model described does not see that
> possibility in chapters as well. The confusion as to the role and status
> of ISOC individual members in ISOC has been resolved in its internal
> governance but it continues for chapters.
> 
> I'm not saying chapters don't want these people. The UK chapter known in
> ISOC as ISOC UK England exists to get their voice and interests engaged.
> But quite how best to structure that engagement within a governance
> context really needs to be something for the local community to deal with.
> 
> Perhaps ISOC could have rephrased its approach to a more sophisticated
> one? Something like ISOC invites its chapters to support and engage with
> individual members, organisational members and participants in IETF,
> Regional Internet Registries etc .... and then offer to work with us to
> develop useful programs for each of those communities to make practical
> and sustainable activities?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Christian
> 
> Veni Markovski wrote:
>> Hi, guys.
>> I guess you have received similar letters?
>>
>> I already emailed Joyce that there are some issues with the
>> requirements, mainly in the responsibility of the chapters ;-)
>> Seems like ISOC is not concerned too much about the EU personal data
>> protection, or the fact that may be in some chapters you cannot be a
>> member of the global ISOC, or that in some cases the elections of the
>> Board may not take place every year, or every two years; or that the
>> number of terms may not be limited; or that filing updates with ISOC may
>> mean extra weight on the chapters to produce the documents from the
>> General Assembly in English; or that sharing information with the ISOC
>> staff may not be appropriate; or that promoting ISOC strategic positions
>> could be considered very inappropriate (what? considering the position
>> of a US-based non-profit???).
>>
>> Further than that, they are telling us that if do not meet "one or more"
>> of the "minimum standards", a process of "rejuvenation" will be initiated.
>>
>> Somehow I miss all these in the ISOC by-laws, but may be someone can
>> enlightern us?
>>
>> thanks, and have a great Sunday!
>>
>> v.
>>
>>  
>>
>>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: 	Renewal Internet Society Chapter Charter
>> Date: 	Fri, 11 Oct 2013 14:42:56 +0000
>> From: 	Joyce Dogniez <dogniez at isoc.org>
>> To: 	albena.arnaudova at gmail.com <albena.arnaudova at gmail.com>,
>> mitko at mitko.com <mitko at mitko.com>, dgreve at isoc.bg <dgreve at isoc.bg>,
>> veni at veni.com <veni at veni.com>, julia at isoc.bg <julia at isoc.bg>
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear Chapter Chair, 
>>
>> Dear Chapter Officers,
>>
>>
>> As previously announced and in accordance with article IV of the updated
>> Bylaws of the Internet Society on 22 July 2013, I am pleased to send you
>> the updated Chapter Charter letter for your Chapter, including the
>> chapter minimum standards as well as the outline of the support to be
>> expected from the Internet Society.  
>>
>> This letter reconfirms that the Chapter is chartered and approved as a
>> Chapter of the Internet Society.
>>
>>
>> These mutual standards were developed in collaboration and consultation
>> with the Chapters over the past couple of years prior to the Internet
>> Society Board of Trustees review.  Their implementation was placed on
>> hold until passage of the updated By-laws so that we could be certain
>> that they were conform with the amended and restated By-laws. The
>> performance standards herein reflect both the letter and the spirit of
>> the updated By-laws.
>>
>>
>> I would kindly ask you to sign the Renewal Chapter Charter letter and
>> return it to chapter-support at isoc.org <mailto:chapter-support at isoc.org>
>> before the 15th of December 2013.
>>
>>
>> Additionally, in accordance with Article VIII, Organisational Members
>> and Chapters shall each have the right to form an Advisory body for the
>> purpose of providing information and advice to the Board of Trustees and
>> the President of the Internet Society on matters of strategic importance
>> to that community. 
>>
>> As kindly requested by a number of Chapter Officers you will receive an
>> invitation next week to join an initial working group that will look at
>> the creation and governance of the Chapter Advisory body.
>>
>>
>> Should you wish to review the full revised By-laws
>> : http://www.internetsociety.org/who-we-are/governance-and-policies/amended-and-restated-laws-internet-society 
>>
>>  
>>
>> Please do not hesitate to contact me or any member of the Chapter
>> Development Team for any further information. 
>>
>> Naveed Haq (Chapter Development Manager Asia-Pacific) and myself will be
>> at the IGF in Bali as well, and have set up a calendar
>> at http://doodle.com/6iwta8yep3kkrrpf should you wish to meet there.  
>>
>>
>> I'd like to thank you for your continuous support and passion to advance
>> the Internet Society's mission in your region.
>>
>>
>> Kind regards
>>
>> Joyce
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Joyce Dogniez, CMM
>> Director of Chapters
>> Internet Society
>>
>> dogniez at isoc.org <mailto:dogniez at isoc.org>
>> tel: +352 621 266 189
>> Skype: joycedogniez
>>
>>
>> -- 
>>
>> Best, 
>> Veni Markovski
>> http://www.veni.com
>> https://www.facebook.com/venimarkovski
>> https://twitter.com/veni
>>
>> The opinions expressed above are those of the 
>> author, not of any organizations, associated 
>> with or related to him in any given way. 
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> Chapter Portal (AMS): https://portal.isoc.org
> _______________________________________________
> As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed
> to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society
> Chapter Portal (AMS): https://portal.isoc.org
> 

-- 
Klaus Birkenbihl
http://www.klaus-birkenbihl.de

-- 
Klaus Birkenbihl
Treasurer and Board member
Internet Society German Chapter e.V. (ISOC.DE)
c/o ict-Media GmbH
http://www.isoc.de/