[Chapter-delegates] Recent Correspondence from the Cambodian Chapter

[Maureen Hilyard]

+1

-----Original Message-----
From: chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org
[mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org] On Behalf Of Winthrop Yu
Sent: Friday, 27 September 2013 6:50 a.m.
To: Talha Habib; ndonnang at nvconsulting.biz
Cc: ISOC Chapter Delegates; ISOC-PH Officers
Subject: Re: [Chapter-delegates] Recent Correspondence from the Cambodian
Chapter

   (y) Talha and (y)^2 Victor!

   I'd wanted to put in a few comments on this thread since it started, but
had been rather preoccupied.  In retrospect, perhaps it is good that i was
unable to post as Victor has articulated many of those points in a clear and
straightforward manner.  That was not a "long" post Victor, just about
right, methinks. :)

   If i may now share a few thoughts on this ...

a)  "National Bureaus" -- A very sharp observation and important point
Victor. 
There are nuances in each of the many issues that ISOC ("Global") is
involved in, and i do not think my fellow chapter members would be all too
happy if we felt an any obligation to "toe the party line" because the bulk
of our support was provided by ISOC "Global".  As a specific example -- some
time ago i asked an Asia Bureau officer what would happen if ISOC-PH (with
adequate consultation with its members) took a stance on many (or even most)
issues that was diametrically opposite that of ISOC "Global".  The answer i
received
(paraphrased) was that ISOC wouldn't be all that happy with that, but that
ISOC was in no position to dictate positions on issues, and that, instead,
any such "divergent" views would be seriously taken into consideration and
input into ISOC ("Global") policy formulation.  I was very much gratified by
that reply, as i don't think any Philippine group or org would affiliate or
assist in the work of an international organization otherwise.

b)  Chapter Local Engagement -- Naturally, each ISOC chapter exists and
acts/functions within a unique local (national and also regional)
environment. 
It's not so much a matter of which "badge" you wear (ISOC, At-Large, etc.),
but rather how the Chapter thru its individual members and group effort
engages with the various local players -- the Chapter membership itself,
academe, government, industry, CS, etc.  I do not believer it is a matter of
using an ISOC "accreditation" as a badge of office within a national
context, but rather engaging with other stakeholders within that local
context.  In the Philippines for example, ISOC-PH cooperates (often on
issues which are not strictly IG, ppolicy or tech related) with the
Assoication for Progressive Communications (specifically with apcwomen.org),
the local PH-CERT, ITAP (the local IT industry org), etc.  That is to say --
ISOC.PH not merely as the local presence of ISOC "Global", but as an
organization has a unique local identity and value, and that encourages its
members and (very informal) working groups in order to positively engages
with all these local stakeholders.

c)  ISOC-TNG  --  Regardless of how ISOC-PH has been doing, and we do have
serious problems similar to many other Chapters -- governmental red tape,
further inclusion and engagement of our membership, etc., we do very
seriously try to mentor the next generation of Internet leaders.  Yes, one
will often have some concerns about sending a younger officer off to
represent the local Chapter, and there is always the sense of -- "we can't
possible bring her/him up to speed in time", but i believe that we must take
tha chance and send our younger members and officers out to represent the
org.  Else, there will emege a critical gap in leadership and initiative
within the Chapter.

2-bits,

WYn



On 9/27/2013 10:31 PM, Talha Habib wrote:
> +1 Victor,
>
> Thank you
> --
> Warm Regards,
> Talha Habib
>
> * Sent from Galaxy Note
>
> On 27 Sep 2013 18:06, "Victor Ndonnang" <ndonnang at nvconsulting.biz
> <mailto:ndonnang at nvconsulting.biz>> wrote:
>
>     +1 Ted,____
>
>     __ __
>
>     I’m following with great attention this discussion initiated by the
>     Cambodian Chapter intention to leave the Internet society Great family
which
>     lead to the old debate about ISOC’s direct financial support to
Chapters.
>     Before I continue, I would like to clearly express my opposition to
that.
>     For me, It is important and better for ISOC HQ to empower Chapters
rather
>     than giving them money. Chapters are not “national bureau” of the
Internet
>     Society. ISOC Chapters and ISOC Global are partners who share the same
>     vision and the mission. The direct financial support to Chapters for
their
>     administrative and running costs will make the Chapters useless,
dependent
>     and non-sustainable. If we put in place the systematic direct
financial
>     support from ISOC HQ to Chapters, we will see many useless Chapters
flourish
>     around the world only to benefit to that direct financial support.
____
>
>     __ __
>
>     The belonging to the ISOC great family comes with advantages but also
>     responsibilities. The Internet Society is already supporting and
empowering
>     Chapters in many ways:____
>
>     __-__The community Grants programme gives priority to Chapters
projects____
>
>     __-__The Event funding programme which helps to keep the Chapter
active each
>     year____
>
>     __-__The Web presence support____
>
>     __-__The travel support ____
>
>     __-__Capacities Building and Leadership Program____
>
>     __-__International Handbook for Chapters____
>
>     __-__Management Tools ____
>
>     __-__Etc . You can read more on :
>     http://www.internetsociety.org/who-we-are/chapters/lead ____
>
>     All those programs are ways of “indirect” financial support of ISOC to
>     Chapters. Many will say it is not enough, but for me It is enough!
Chapters
>     should search for others sources of funding locally and International
using
>     the prestige and add-value of been part of ISOC. Chapters should think
to
>     create recurrent activities that can generate revenues and help them
be
>     independent financially and of course sustainable. I know Chapters are
>     non-profit organization or group, but been non-profit do not means
that we
>     cannot generate revenues or sell our expertise (gained from ISOC and
others
>     Chapters) and services locally. For example, when we organize
trainings, we
>     can ask participants for small participation fees and this can help us
>     overcome our administrative and running costs. But we can only do this
in a
>     sustainable way when we are registered as a legal entity in our
respective
>     country.____
>
>     __ __
>
>     Let come back to issue which brings this discussion live: Making ISOC
>     Cambodia Chapter a legal entity in Cambodia. ____
>
>     I know how It is difficult to establish a non-profit organization in
many
>     countries, especially in developing countries. When I started the
>     “re-formation” process of ISOC Cameroon Chapter, I made that goal my
N°1
>     priority and which the help (time and money) of others founding
members, we
>     achieved it. We had the choice at that time to legalize the Cameroon
Chapter
>     as a NGO or Association. The process to become an NGO was too
complicated,
>     so we choice to be registered as an Association (a sort of small NGO).
This
>     is very important because Chapters can only be respected locally and
>     interact freely with government, private sector and other groups when
they
>     are registered as a legal entity by the local administrative
authorities. ____
>
>     Based on that experience, I suggest to our Cambodia Chapter colleagues
to
>     explore all alternatives of legal recognition in their country. Be
>     registered as a NGO is not the only way to become a legal non-profit
>     organization or entity, I hope this is true in Cambodia too. ____
>
>     __ __
>
>     When the Chapter is registered as a legal entity (NGO, Association
)
in its
>     respective country, it can easily search or apply to local funding
>     opportunities (government grants, big national corporates grants
).
The
>     formation an ISOC Chapter is a process and Chapter founding members
are
>     aware during the process that ISOC HQ will not be the only source of
funding
>     for the Chapter (that’s why there is a mention about “Chapter
supporters” in
>     the application form and means of funding the draft By-Laws). Let’s
search
>     for others sources of funding and thanks the ISOC HQ for all It is
already
>     offering us rather than fighting for something which will make us
useless. ____
>
>     __ __
>
>     Sorry for the long email. ____
>
>     Best regards,____
>
>     Victor Ndonnang____
>
>     __ __

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