[Chapter-delegates] ChAC Decision Needed: Proposal for greater Chapter participation in developing position & policy briefs

Louis Houle louis.houle at oricom.ca
Fri Aug 26 14:23:46 PDT 2016


+1

Louis Houle
President
ISOC Quebec
Louis.Houle at isoc.quebec

Le 2016-08-22 à 14:12, Eduardo Diaz a écrit :
> John:
>
> I still believe that all chapters should be welcome to comment on 
> anything. As is in the recommendation - */"...Staff can choose the 
> most appropriate method to /*/consult the membership..." /it is 
> assumed that staff will do this the most effective way.
>
> With respect to removing the "ownership": my point there is that we 
> are just issuing comments not mandates. It is well understood that the 
> ChAC is just an advisory committee to the Board of Trustees and as 
> such it does not have the authority or responsibility of issuing any 
> mandates to the staff.
>
> Thanks.
>
> -ed
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 1:27 PM John More <morej1 at mac.com 
> <mailto:morej1 at mac.com>> wrote:
>
>     The understood structure of the ChAC is that it is to serve as a
>     way for Chapters to provide a more effective input in support of
>     the Trustees and the staff and as a means for the latter to
>     involve Chapters more fully. Providing input on papers is a
>     reasonable function as long as it does not end up bureaucratizing
>     further ISOC. In that light involving all the Chapters in a
>     country or region specific policy or initiative would seem
>     counterproductive.  Informing everyone on the other hand would be
>     a good idea (as well as seeing the membership bettie informed).
>     Richard’s proposed wording captures that.
>
>     On the other hand, I too would remove the “ownership” wording and
>     replace it with something more like that that staff under
>     delegated authority from the Trustees has responsibility for
>     issuing the official version."
>
>
>     John More
>
>>     On Aug 22, 2016, at 1:01 PM, Eduardo Diaz
>>     <eduardodiazrivera at gmail.com
>>     <mailto:eduardodiazrivera at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>
>>     I do not see how eliminating the statement will imply that we are
>>     recommending to change any ISOC structure or give members greater
>>     responsibility.
>>
>>     The way I read it, the recommendation is geared to give chapters
>>     the chance to comment on papers put out by ISOC before they are
>>     published. As far as I know comments are just comments. They can
>>     be taken into account or not.  I do not think they are mandates.
>>
>>     Please let me know if I am wrong.
>>
>>     -ed
>>
>>     On Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 12:49 PM Richard Hill <rhill at hill-a.ch
>>     <mailto:rhill at hill-a.ch>> wrote:
>>
>>         Dear Eduoardo,
>>
>>         OK for the first change, I understand the logic.
>>
>>
>>         Regarding the second change, as I stated in a previous
>>         message, it seems to me that in the current structure of ISOC
>>         it is the Board who has the authority to issue policy
>>         statements, and the Board delegates that authority to the
>>         staff. I fully understand that some people would like to give
>>         greater responsibility to the members: that topic will be
>>         discussed in the Chapters Advisory Council. But, for this
>>         recommendation, I think that we should stick to ISOC’s
>>         current structure. Otherwise it will get stuck into a big
>>         discussion about the structure of ISOC.
>>
>>
>>         Best,
>>
>>         Richard
>>
>>         *From:*Eduardo Diaz [mailto:eduardodiazrivera at gmail.com
>>         <mailto:eduardodiazrivera at gmail.com>]
>>         *Sent:* Monday, August 22, 2016 18:45
>>         *To:* Richard Hill
>>
>>
>>         *Subject:* Re: [Chapter-delegates] ChAC Decision Needed:
>>         Proposal for greater Chapter participation in developing
>>         position & policy briefs
>>
>>         I believe in including everyone. It promotes inclusiveness
>>         and transparency.
>>
>>         In reality and what most probably happens is that those
>>         affected will be the ones that will provide the
>>         feedback. However, the rest of the chapters will have the
>>         opportunity to be an active/passive participant in the
>>         discussion.
>>
>>         Also, I will eliminate the following: */"...with the
>>         understanding that staff retains full ownership/*
>>
>>         */for the final version"/*.
>>
>>         It has been stated in the recommendation that that chapters
>>         are providing just comments. In my very own personal opinion,
>>         I feel uneasy about this statement. It feels like a mandate
>>         from staff.
>>
>>         -ed
>>
>>         On Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 12:22 PM Richard Hill
>>         <rhill at hill-a.ch <mailto:rhill at hill-a.ch>> wrote:
>>
>>             Dear Eduardo,
>>
>>             Perhaps we are talking at cross purposes. The second
>>             recommendation refers to policies that apply globally.
>>             The first one is intended to refer to policies that apply
>>             only to a specific country/region.
>>
>>             So the idea was to consult only the chapters in the
>>             concerned country/region.
>>
>>             However, if you think that all chapters should be
>>             consulted even for policy that apply only to a specific
>>             country/region, that is fine with me, and I would be
>>             happy to accept your original proposed edit.
>>
>>             Thanks and best,
>>
>>             Richard
>>
>>             *From:*Eduardo Diaz [mailto:eduardodiazrivera at gmail.com
>>             <mailto:eduardodiazrivera at gmail.com>]
>>             *Sent:* Monday, August 22, 2016 18:19
>>             *To:* Richard Hill; Chapter Delegates
>>
>>
>>             *Subject:* Re: [Chapter-delegates] ChAC Decision Needed:
>>             Proposal for greater Chapter participation in developing
>>             position & policy briefs
>>
>>             Richard:
>>
>>             *ALL*chapters should be given the opportunity in getting
>>             involved in the process regardless of which
>>             country/region the policy statement is for. In the
>>             specific case, the chapters affected should be the most
>>             vociferous. So, I do not agree with the proposed change.
>>
>>             Others in the list may want to comment on this as well.
>>
>>             Kind regards,
>>
>>             -ed
>>
>>             On Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 11:43 AM Richard Hill
>>             <rhill at hill-a.ch <mailto:rhill at hill-a.ch>> wrote:
>>
>>                 Dear Eduardo,
>>
>>
>>                 Thank you for spotting this.
>>
>>                 The recommendation in question was intended to apply
>>                 to the situation where ISOC staff contacts national
>>                 policy makers.  I would propose to rephrase it as
>>                 follows:
>>
>>                 “When ISOC staff contacts national policy makers,
>>                 they should review with the relevant chapters policy
>>                 positions and alliances before
>>
>>                 they are made, and inform the chapters of meetings
>>                 with national policy
>>
>>                 makers, unless time constraints do not permit it. We
>>                 have active mailing
>>
>>                 lists that can make it quick and easy.”
>>
>>                 Best,
>>
>>                 Richard
>>
>>                 *From:*Chapter-delegates
>>                 [mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org
>>                 <mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org>]
>>                 *On Behalf Of *Eduardo Diaz
>>                 *Sent:* Monday, August 22, 2016 15:53
>>                 *To:* Chapter Delegates
>>
>>
>>                 *Subject:* Re: [Chapter-delegates] ChAC Decision
>>                 Needed: Proposal for greater Chapter participation in
>>                 developing position & policy briefs
>>
>>                 @All:
>>
>>                 I recommend to eliminate the word " relevant" in the
>>                 first paragraph in the reccomendation to read  as
>>                 follows: */"Review with the chapters, policy..." . /*
>>
>>                 The word "relevant" implies that some chapters will
>>                 be excluded from the discussion.
>>
>>                 The dictionary definition for this word is:
>>                 *"/closely connected or appropriate to the matter at
>>                 hand."/*
>>
>>                 -ed
>>
>>                 On Fri, Aug 19, 2016 at 3:12 PM avri doria
>>                 <avri at acm.org <mailto:avri at acm.org>> wrote:
>>
>>                     Dear ChAC delegates,
>>
>>                     The ChAC Steering Committee has reviewed "A
>>                     proposal for greater
>>                     involvement of Chapters in the position and
>>                     policy brief development
>>                     process" (below & attached) and is submitting it
>>                     to the Chapter Council
>>                     for approval.
>>
>>                     Decisions by the ChAC are governed by the Rules &
>>                     Procedure paragraph 6
>>
>>                     > Substantive decisions, in particular regarding
>>                     advice and
>>                     > recommendations, shall be made by the AC.
>>                     Decisions may be made by
>>                     > electronic means (e.g. E-Mail, electronic
>>                     voting systems, etc.) or
>>                     > during remote (audio/video conferencing) or
>>                     physical meetings.
>>                     > Decisions shall normally be taken by consensus
>>                     (meaning lack of formal
>>                     > opposition). If consensus cannot be achieved,
>>                     then the Chair of the AC
>>                     > Steering Committee shall organize a vote. In
>>                     case of voting, decisions
>>                     > shall be taken by a majority vote of the
>>                     delegates to the AC. The
>>                     > quorum shall be nineteen (19) delegates. In
>>                     case of tie, the matter
>>                     > will be resubmitted for discussion and a new
>>                     vote. Votes will be
>>                     > secret. The tally of votes (for, against,
>>                     abstain, did not vote) will
>>                     > be published. Abstentions will be counted
>>                     towards determining the quorum.
>>
>>                     At this point I would like to open discussion on
>>                     this proposal for the
>>                     next week - until 8/27 1200 UTC.  At that point I
>>                     will initiate a
>>                     consensus call on the document, including any
>>                     changes that may be
>>                     warranted as part of the discussion. This
>>                     consensus call will also be
>>                     scheduled for 1 week. Should the document not
>>                     meet with consensus, I
>>                     will then request that we continue discussion on
>>                     it and will bring it to
>>                     a vote.
>>
>>                     Thank you
>>
>>                     Avri Doria
>>
>>                     (for the ChAC SC)
>>
>>
>>                     -----
>>
>>                     *A proposal for greater involvement of Chapters
>>                     in the position and
>>                     policy brief development process*
>>
>>                     *Background*
>>
>>                     In the past, there have been occasions when ISOC
>>                     staff met with national
>>                     policy makers without involving the national
>>                     chapter in any way. Since
>>                     national chapters often have good relations with
>>                     national officials, it
>>                     would be preferable if the chapters are also
>>                     involved in meetings with
>>                     national officials. We propose a recommendation
>>                     below to that effect.
>>
>>                     At present, there does not seem to be a
>>                     consistent practice within ISOC
>>                     regarding the role of the membership in the
>>                     policy development
>>                     process and the preparation of background and
>>                     position papers that ISOC
>>                     puts forward. Specifically, some policy papers
>>                     are submitted to the
>>                     membership for comment, specifically the policy
>>                     briefs, while others
>>                     papers, such as position papers, are not. In one
>>                     case, the membership
>>                     was not informed of a specific submission. It
>>                     appears to us that
>>                     systematic consultation with the membership can
>>                     only improve the quality
>>                     of a policy, background paper, or position paper.
>>                     The intent is not to
>>                     change ISOC's current decision-making process for
>>                     such papers: staff
>>                     would remain fully responsible for the final
>>                     version of the paper. The
>>                     intent is to allow staff to benefit
>>                     systematically from the views of the
>>                     membership, and to decide whether or how to
>>                     incorporate comments from
>>                     the membership. We propose a recommendation below
>>                     to that effect.
>>
>>
>>                     *Recommendations*
>>
>>                     Review with the relevant chapters, policy
>>                     positions and alliances before
>>                     they are made, and inform them of meetings with
>>                     national policy
>>                     makers, unless time constraints do not permit it.
>>                     We have active mailing
>>                     lists that can make it quick and easy.
>>
>>                     In general, policy, background and position
>>                     papers, including policy
>>                     briefs should be submitted to the membership for
>>                     comment prior to
>>                     publication, with the understanding that staff
>>                     retains full ownership
>>                     for the final version. Staff can choose the most
>>                     appropriate method to
>>                     consult the membership, for example by asking for
>>                     volunteers to review
>>                     drafts, by posting a draft for comment to a
>>                     mailing list, by convening a
>>                     virtual meeting to discuss the issues, etc.
>>
>>                     Further, when papers are published and/or
>>                     submitted to some entity
>>                     outside ISOC, the membership should be informed
>>                     and a link to the paper
>>                     should be sent to the appropriate mailing list
>>                     and to the Chapter
>>                     Delegate's mailing list just prior to the
>>                     publication or submission.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>                     ---
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>
>
>
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