[Chapter-delegates] Revised Chapter Agreement

Tue Aug 15 14:26:52 PDT 2017

Grazie amico per i tuoi commentari chiarissimi!!!!!

Carlos Raúl GUTIERREZ
Apartado 1571-1000
San José COSTA RICA

On Aug 15, 2017 09:32, "Stefano Trumpy" <stefano at trumpy.eu> wrote:

> Following several comments in the list, regarding the proposed Charter of
> August 1st for the signature from the Internet Society chapters, I present
> my general comments before the Italian chapter, by end of August, sends our
> proposed amendments, elaborated by our Council, to the initial version of
> the Charter.
>
>  Chapters cannot be considered as subsidiaries of the Internet Society
> having headquarters in Virginia – US; they should represent Internet
> Society principles (I like more the term "Internet orthodoxy") in the
> territories they represent.
>
> In todays global society we observe that local governments tend to
> intervene more on policies regarding the Internet like: hate speech, fake
> news, populisms, privacy, antiterrorism and other aspects that impact on
> societal attitudes and influence on public voting in the countries.
>
> It is not by chance that, in the last two years or so, in the Internet
> community we started to launch messages regarding Internet fragmentation
> elements. The governments, in many cases, interpret Internet policy as the
> one that fits better with local equilibriums and their foreign policies. As
> a consequence, the chapters should represent the opinions coming from what
> I called Internet orthodoxy and will use arguments to interact with the
> local government that, in the end will act as decision maker. For
> governments including a multi-stakeholders approach before deciding on
> Internet issues, the task for the chapters is easier, but this happens only
> in a small fraction of territories/countries; last news concerning CGI
> Brazil are worrying and, in Italy, the expected process for a
> multi-stakeholder model is still undecided.
>
> With the approach I propose, the Internet Society will have the chance to
> evaluate, with the help of the chapters, how much recommended global
> principles will have the chance to be adopted globally and which variations
> should be elaborated.
>
> In substance the Internet Society should adopt an approach with the
> chapters more oriented to a bottom up philosophy rather than a top down
> approach; this should be articulated with appropriate language in order to
> render the Internet Society a global recognized organization.
>
> The initial ideals valid in early nineties, going back to the Larry
> Landweber approach, where to bring the Internet everywhere, including
> countries considered "bad guys" and this was easier because governments
> either ignored the existence of the Internet or simply didn’t care.
>
>  Final notes: several comments on the recommended Charter are referring
> to a role of the charters as lobbyists with local governments;  I hate this
> expression and I agree that the chapters should make their best effort in
> order to defend Internet orthodoxy as defined inside the Internet Society.
>
>  The language of the proposed Charter, in my opinion, looks to be not
> suited for many chapters that rely mainly on best effort achievements
> assured by voluntary work.  Also it could be defined in a clear way where
> Internet Society may deny the use Internet Society logo.
> Stefano
>
>
>
> *------------------------------------------------------*
> *Ing. Stefano Trumpy*
> *Presidente Internet Society Italy*
>
> Via del Poggio 27, Livorno, Italia
> phone: + 39 0586 579212 <+39%200586%20579212>
> mobile: +39 3488218618 <+39%20348%20821%208618>
> e-mail: stefano at trumpy.eu
> skype: stetru
>
>
>
>
> On 02/ago/2017, at 16:09, Brandt Dainow <brandt.dainow at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I would like to see the Irish chapter work in the same way, and it was my
> understanding that this is how ISOC chapters were meant to be - to develop
> activities responding to local needs and delivered in accord with local
> cultures, following the broad principles and aims of ISOC, but with
> considerable discretion about how and what.  This clause makes lobbying a
> condition of being an ISOC chapter.  The document is not clear on what will
> happen if an ISOC chapter does not lobby for central branch aims.  Will the
> chapter be closed?  Have all funding terminated?  Or will nothing happen?
> If nothing will happen, the clause shouldn't be there.  Personally, I think
> it is counter-productive.  It gives people an opportunity to accuse a local
>  chapter of being controlled by a US organisation.  It obliges chapters to
> do something, whether that suits their circumstances or not.  It adds
> nothing to local chapter abilities, and doesn't really help ISOC central.
> Right now, trying to get the Irish chapter started, lobbying would require
> time, effort and expertise we don't have.
>
> ISOC pre-approve every financial allocation.  Every year we submit plans
> for what we will do.  If ISOC want to see a chapter lobbying, or do
> anything different, they can withhold funding.  The clause should be
> withdrawn.
>
> I think this document mixes two things.  Part of it is to ensure a chapter
> is well-run - elections, constitutions, bank accounts, terms of office.
> These are all reasonable requirements to ensure any organisation is well
> run, and hold true in any part of the world.
>
> The other aim is to control what chapters do.  This needs to be much more
> carefully worded, or simply eliminated.  I'm not sure any detail about
> chapter activity is required, and may be counter-productive.  The more
> detail in the document, the more chance the details won't work in certain
> countries.  I think it sufficient to merely require a chapter's
> constitution support the aims of the Internet Society, then leave it to
> each chapter to work out how.  When I drafted the Irish constitution, I
> simply took the central website aims into the constitution, while also
> ensuring maximum freedom for the chapter.  I also ensured the central
> office could review the constitution and recommend changes before it was
> finalised.  This should be enough for ISOC.
>
> I took the aims from the website and added them to the Irish chapter
> constitution as follows:
> ------------------------
> 2. The main object for which the Company is established is to develop and
> operate an Irish Chapter of the Internet Society (hereafter referred to as
> “ISOC”) and to implement the policies and pursue the objectives of ISOC
> within the Republic of Ireland.
> 3. The following objects set out hereafter are exclusively subsidiary and
> ancillary to the main object set out above and these objects are to be used
> only for the attainment of that main object and any income generated
> therefrom is to be applied for the main object only.
> a. Facilitate and promote global, regional, and local policy environments
> that enable the continuing evolution of an open Internet.
> b. Increase the global relevance and recognition of collaborative,
> bottom-up, technical, consensus-based open standards development in order
> to protect permissionless innovation for the availability of the open
> Internet for current and future users; and increase development and use of
> security and resiliency technologies and best practices, shape the
> evolution of online identity infrastructures, and improve choice and
> consent in the handling of user data.
> c. Provide equal development opportunities for all people by promoting
> the relevance, deployment, and adoption of the open Internet.
> d. Increase the visibility and influence of ISOC as the recognized,
> trusted source on Internet issues
> e. To improve and develop the ISOC organization.
> f. Create an environment that allows ISOC to use the Internet to gather
> real data and experiences, and delivers messages and tools to our audiences.
> g. Mobilize and energize staff, emerging leaders, past and present ISOC
> Members, and other identified ISOC stakeholders to leverage and expand ISOC
> outreach on an inclusive local, regional, and global scale to advance our
> mission.
> h. Nurture a culture that mirrors the Internet attributes we wish to
> emulate—a team-oriented culture that values openness/inclusivity, global
> and cultural diversity, honesty, trust and collaboration. To be focused,
> forward thinking, flexible and dynamic within an environment where
> decision-making is transparent and accountability is maintained.
>
>
>
> Regards,
> Brandt Dainow
> brandt.dainow at gmail.com
>
> https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Brandt_Dainow
> http://www.imediaconnection.com/profiles/brandt.dainow
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sivasubramanian M [mailto:isolatedn at gmail.com]
> Sent: 02 August 2017 13:58
> To: brandt.dainow at gmail.com
> Cc: Alan Levin; Joyce Dogniez; ISOC Chapter Delegates;
> chapter-support at isoc.org
> Subject: Re: [Chapter-delegates] Revised Chapter Agreement
>
> A specific comment inline:
>
> On Wed, Aug 2, 2017 at 6:08 PM, Brandt Dainow <brandt.dainow at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> There is nothing in this document which offers more support to chapters.
> The only thing this document does is increase control over chapters by
> central office.  It obliges chapters to engage in additional activities as
> a condition of being funded, despite the fact all funding must be applied
> for in advance via detailed proposals and may be refused.  It offers
> nothing positive to the chapters.  It is merely an effort to restrict the
> independence of chapters and reduce their ability to adapt to local
> circumstance.  I am particularly concerned it demands on-going lobbying
> activity as a condition of being a chapter.
>
>
> I am fairly sure this will make some chapters illegal in some countries
> where lobbying by foreign-funded organisations is illegal.
>
>
> Very pertinent observation. In India, it would get Chapters in a dangerous
> situation. First of all, speaking for the India Chennai Chapter alone, I
> would NOT agree at all to any expectations of lobbying for any position by
> ISOC. What we do at Chennai is to broadly understand the Internet Society's
> mission, which we agree with fully, and work ON OUR OWN, in our own ways,
> independently on position and projects that would further the evolution of
> the Internet along the lines. Drop the idea of expecting Chapters to lobby
> for positions that invariably emerge mostly from Staff deliberations.
>
> --- Sivasubramanain M
>
>
> To be balanced, there should be some reciprocal reaching out by central
> office - such as better communication and listening to chapters.  For
> example, this document should have been put to the chapters as a discussion
> document for feedback months before it was finalised.  The fact it was not
> indicates ISOC is anti-democratic, and run by a small central group who, in
> my view, have failed to recognise ISOC is not the same type of organisation
> as it was 10-20 years ago.
>
> Regards,
> Brandt Dainow
> brandt.dainow at gmail.com
>
> https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Brandt_Dainow
> http://www.imediaconnection.com/profiles/brandt.dainow
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chapter-delegates
> [mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org] On Behalf Of Alan
> Levin
> Sent: 02 August 2017 08:56
> To: Joyce Dogniez; ISOC Chapter Delegates; chapter-support at isoc.org
> Subject: Re: [Chapter-delegates] Revised Chapter Agreement
>
> Hi all,
>
> On 31 Jul 2017, at 12:06 PM, Joyce Dogniez <dogniez at isoc.org> wrote:
> With the increased financial support to our Chapters we also have an
> increased responsibility and accountability towards our community. It is
> the responsibility of Internet Society s leadership to manage its funds in
> a responsible and transparent manner.
> This implies that the legal relationship between Internet Society and its
> Chapters needs to be well defined.
>
>
> Thanks for this. I think it s very good!  Well done Joyce and others
> :)
>
>  Purpose of Chapter.
> The purpose of the Chapter shall be to support the Internet Society s
> vision, mission, and operating principles in the Territory.
>
>
> I agree that this is one purpose of the Internet Society of South
> Africa, and the purpose of this agreement :)
>
> One of our primary purposes as an association of Internet Society members,
> is to participate in the ICT policy making processes in our country.
> Another purpose is to assist our colleagues in other countries with their
> policy making in that country.
>
> We have asked for over a decade for global support on national policy
> making activities. I have suggested that a policy analyst who can compare
> various trending policies to be able to provide us with important
> international data about other policies in other countries of similar
> nature. For example we have a Cybersecurity Bill in our Parliamentary
> process and it will be invaluable to see an analysis of it s components
> compared to other countries that have already been through that process,
> ideally not a US centric or  North  view, something neutral would be ideal.
>
> So regards this section:
>
> Internet Society Support.
> The Internet Society will provide the following support to the chapters in
> accordance with ISOC s annual business plan:
>
>
> I suggest again that we need support from ISOC Global to provide a global
> policy analyst to assist with support on National Policy Making activities.
> This should not be a local activity, it s not regional, it's a global
> policy analyst  activity need that we have had for decades. Please help !
>
> Sincerely
>
>
> Alan Levin
> ISOC-ZA
> _______________________________________________
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> _______________________________________________
> 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
>
>
>
>
> --
> Sivasubramanian M
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>
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