[Chapter-delegates] Recent Correspondence from the Cambodian Chapter

[Ali Almeshal]

+1
regards


Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 27, 2013, at 8:50 PM, "Maureen Hilyard" <hilyard at oyster.net.ck> wrote:

> +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____
>> 
>>    __ __
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 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
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 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