[Chapter-delegates] ISOC-NY President: Last Words, New Vision
Paul Brigner
paul at paulbrigner.com
Fri Apr 8 12:11:35 PDT 2016
David,
How about setting up a Kickstarter or other type of crowd funding campaign
to get this launched for the next year? I would be more than happy to
donate $100, and if about 1000 other ISOC supporters did, I think you would
be well funded to pursue this vision for the next year.
Best regards,
Paul Brigner
202-730-9733
On Apr 8, 2016 2:22 PM, "David Solomonoff" <president at isoc-ny.org> wrote:
I'm thrilled that my resignation has inspired such a robust conversation!
One of the benefits of being a lame duck President is that I can now say
whatever I want, not matter how outrageous - so I will.
I was disappointed that I wasn't offered the position of North American
Regional Bureau Director but as we'll see, that's been very fortunate.
Here's my vision for both empowering the Chapters and strengthening ISOC
overall.
It's true that ISOC is too centralized and beholden to special interests.
But it's also important to remember that it's a small organization with
limited resources and low visibility.
Asking ISOC for more funding, administrative support, etc. will never be
enough for the Chapters to realize their full potential.
The solution is an independent, bottoms-up, decentralized alliance of the
Chapters - and the many current and potential partners who share a vision
of open technology and Internet freedom.
Let's call this vision from a parallel universe "Alt-ISOC". Alt-ISOC is
based on many things ISOC-NY has already done or is currently working on.
Alt-ISOC is not just another nonprofit but multiple, loosely coupled
entities with different legal statuses that allow it to do much more. It
includes a forprofit that funds open technology and infrastructure
buildout. It also includes a 501c6 or SuperPAC which can directly engage in
political activities - and can partner with other groups to challenge
incumbents and special interests in elections.
Alt-ISOC provides administrative services to the Chapters through a central
Chapters Hub - a project ISOC-NY VP Carolina Coto is already working on.
Funding is provided in part by Alt-ISOC providing services - charging a
small administrative fee - and acting as a fiscal sponsor both to the
Chapters as well as smaller partners. This was suggested by ISOC-NY Board
member and Brooklyn Law professor Jonathan Askin. We're done this in the
past for HackNY and HICAP, and are currently negotiating with NYC Mesh, a
wireless community network.
One of services Alt-ISOC provides is a clearinghouse for every type of
funding, job or internship opportunity, etc. that would be of benefit to
it's members. Grants and investments include not just funding, but
administrative and project management services, documentation and reporting.
Alt-ISOC is a bottoms-up organization that allows its local affiliates to
challenge the status quo. It can provide research services such as Bruce
Kushnick's New Networks to investigate political corruption and corporate
malfeasance. It works with investigative journalists such as Carolina
Coto's mother, Giannina Segnini, who just started a data journalism program
at Columbia University and is looking for projects for her students.
Alt-ISOC shares ISOC's vision of an open Net accessible to all - but does
not have to share specific policy positions. Here in NYC we're currently
looking to engage the UN and local consulates - although we were warned off
by ISOC. That warning missed the tremendous opportunity to engage countries
that do not share the ISOC vision of multi-stakeholderism via a
back-channel.
Alt-ISOC has a bigger vision and scope than ISOC, addressing issues around
digital currencies and blockchain technologies, for example - as well as
using those technologies to share resources and raise funds. It partners
with libraries, schools and maker spaces so connectivity can empower
education and local economic development.
ISOC would only be one of Alt-ISOC's many partners and affiliates. It would
eventually dwarf ISOC but could empower in new ways as well.
After Monday I'll be available to help as soon as initial funding is
available.
--
David Solomonoff, CEO
Zoetic Networks
11 North Pearl Street
Suite 1412
Albany, New York 12207-2709
646 732 1224
david.solomonoff at zoeticnetworks.com
http://zoeticnetworks.com
twitter @dsolomonoff
skype dsolomonoff
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