[Chapter-delegates] Letter from the ISOC Elections Committee

[Maureen Hilyard]

As a regional organisation the logistics of collecting fees from our PICISOC members from 22 small Pacific island nations is not practical yet the availability of sponsorship opportunities within the region are hardly existent. Spreading information about ISOC and internet initiatives across the region is our reason for hosting PacINET in a different island each year. Limited resources means that host countries would not be able to organise our event if we could not offer the support of ISOC event funding, and the training and travel assistance that is provided by ICANN, APNIC and PIP. 

Governments are asked to provide a venue and local telecoms have been generous in their provision of their best internet service, but most of the load falls on the hosting committees and their small business communities. We rely on the generosity of employers and PIP (Pacific Internet Partners) to sponsor the attendance of members from other Pacific countries which is an expensive ask, as well as the willingness of presenters to participate in our programme at their own cost. This year's event is on my home island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands and I am having the same problems trying to get sponsorship. Unfortunately (?) we do not have corporations vying for our favour and creating dilemmas like conflict of interest, etc, but we know that the event is looked forward to by our members and, despite the difficulties, we continue to organise a PacINET to highlight important ISOC-related initiatives within our region.

 
-----Original Message-----
From: Chapter-delegates [mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org] On Behalf Of chester at soong.net
Sent: Sunday, 18 May 2014 12:06 a.m.
To: rhill at hill-a.ch; Gihan Dias; Chapter Delegates
Subject: Re: [Chapter-delegates] Letter from the ISOC Elections Committee

Hi Richard and other chapter leaders,

Honestly, I don't think any local chapter can even survive without corporate sponsorship. Membership fee cannot practically support both chapter operations and cost of organizing events at the same time. Members also have high expectation on their membership fees paid and benefits getting back from their chapter.

We have very clear guidelines here with the HK Chapter for even supporting industry or social events. The decision on supporting or organizing any events by the chapter must be run through the Board for possible conflict of interests or relationship to the chapter's or ISOC's missions in general.

Regards,


Chester



On Sun, 18 May 2014 11:42:07 +0200
  "Richard Hill" <rhill at hill-a.ch> wrote:
> Regarding funding from private companies, we are currently discussing 
>this within ISOC-CH, because some concerns have been expressed. 
>Personally, I don't see any problems with sponsorhip for specific 
>portions of specific events, e.g. providing lunch or coffee, but it is 
>important to avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest, because 
>sometimes an ISOC chapter might take a position that is not consistent 
>with that taken by some private companies.
> 
> Also, I think it is important to seek balanced contacts with private 
>companies and I note that indeed many different types of private 
>companies are corporate members of ISOC, see:
> 
>  
> http://www.internetsociety.org/get-involved/join-community/organisatio
> ns-and-corporations/list-members
> 
> Best,
> Richard
>  -----Original Message-----
>  From: Chapter-delegates
>[mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org]On
>Behalf Of Gihan Dias
>  Sent: dimanche, 18. mai 2014 03:28
>  To: Chapter Delegates
>  Subject: Re: [Chapter-delegates] Letter from the ISOC Elections 
>Committee
> 
> 
>  On 2014/05/17 ප.ව. 1:12, Charles Oloo wrote:
> 
>    Engaging local stakeholders is done at various levels and functions 
>depending on activity or event. The more engagement we have the more we 
>raise ISOC profile and visibility. In most cases, the involvement of 
>the media is paramount if at all one has to reach a wider audience.
>  Charles,
> 
>  Yes. I agree. Could you shre with us some the engagements you have 
>carried out or planning to do so.
>Also, how you are engaging the media?
> 
>    All these cannot be done without financial resources, and the 
>annual grant of 2000 USD is not adequate for this,
>  My suggestion, (not as a trustee, but based on my experience 
>elsewhere) is to first spend the USD 2000, and then discuss with 
>Christine/Anne about your additional requirements. Often, some funds 
>may be available somewhere.
> 
>    bearing in mind the other equally important events like the annual 
>IGFs.
> 
>  The IGF ambassadors program is separate from chapter funding. Not 
>sure about its status in 2014.
> 
> 
> 
>    If chapters cannot get or identify other financial resources, 
>increasing visibility and impact in local scenarios will take a little 
>longer, especially for young chapters. And this is a specific area the 
>ISOC BoT, and the Chapter Advisory need to look into.
> 
>  To develop your chapter, you need to get other funding. 
>Since the ISoc name is well known, it is often not difficult to get 
>funding, both from local companies and rom the local offices of places 
>like Google, Cisco and Microsoft. Please let me know what assistance 
>you need in this regard.
> 
>  Regards,
> 
>  Gihan

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