[Chapter-delegates] How many members do we have?

[Adebunmi AKINBO]

+1.

On Wed, 12 Dec 2018, 4:12 am John More <morej1 at mac.com wrote:

> Akinbo
>
> Thanks for your thoughts.  I would assert that the current leadership of
> ISOC, especially Andrew, is fully aware of the need and are working on the
> right direction of supporting Chapters and their development and their
> being more accountable.
>
> There still needs to be additional work on what “membership” in ISOC means
> in addition to or as part of becoming and active member of a Chapter,
> especially where there is no Chapter operating.
>
> John
>
>
> On Dec 11, 2018, at 9:42 PM, Adebunmi AKINBO <akinbo.adebunmi at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> John,
> I agree to the need to have that angle looked at considering that we had
> discussions on the AMS.
>
> I believe that we need a Advocacy Director to sooth such a likely
> semblance of responsibility; communicating and advocating for resolutions
> on issues that affects countries in an advocacy approach.
>
> This may be the next step to address consistent engagement and updates. To
> address this issue you mentioned, ISOC must be ready to think outside New
> York and appoint a candidate that breaks boundary with passion for the job
> description.
>
> My 10kobo.
>
> Akinbo.
>
>
> On Wed, 12 Dec 2018, 3:26 am John More <morej1 at mac.com wrote:
>
>> Dave
>>
>> Much of what you say is correct. Even while working to strengthen the
>> Chapter structure and bringing more accountability, I have always taken the
>> position that ISOC should not claim to be a “membership” organization in
>> that it has never done anything to create an effective, connected
>> membership. I have been a member for years.  I have even given made the $75
>> contribution.  Nothing.  No regular communications are sent from ISOC, only
>> from the Chapter.  There is no solicitation of donations, there are no
>> calls to action, there are virtually no communications unless you sign onto
>> a specific e-list of project.
>>
>> Sharp contrast with international organizations, like Greenpeace, Amnesty
>> International, or Human Rights Watch.
>>
>> A friend who had been with the Physicians for Social Responsibility came
>> out of retirement to lead The Rachel Carson Council.  He has re-energized
>> and increased the membership by soliciting, sending newsletters, asking for
>> activism, creating intern training programs and college campus councils —
>> all to engage in environmental justice activism.
>>
>> ISOC needs more this.  And it does not require hiring consultants.
>>
>> The only caveat I have with what you say is that you love broadsides and
>> are rarely willing to admit where things are happening.
>>
>> But your point is well taken.
>>
>> John More
>>
>>
>>
>> On Dec 11, 2018, at 6:01 PM, Dave Burstein <daveb at dslprime.com> wrote:
>>
>> All
>>
>> Andrew notes, accurately, that ISOC's membership should not have been
>> claimed we had 110,000 members.
>>
>> *The figure was prominently on our home page, however. *Those closely
>> involved in ISOC always knew it was inaccurate, but refused to take it off
>> the home page even after it was brought up and discussed at the top. ISOC
>> used the claim in advocacy.
>>
>> The home page also said ISOC was "a trusted source." Trust needs to be
>> earned, not claimed.
>>
>> All of us want to be proud of what ISOC is accomplishing. We share the
>> powerful human trait of "confirmation bias." It is very hard for anyone to
>> listen to what disagrees with one's own beliefs, including that a group we
>> are part of is to be admired.
>>
>> ISOC, almost all of us agree, can and should be doing more to bring a
>> great Internet to everyone. (We disagree on how to do that, of course.)
>>
>> To be effective, we need to look honestly at what we are doing. In
>> practice, those raising problems were told, "you're shouldn't be so
>> negative," often attacked and shot down.
>>
>> I'm still here, because I believe ISOC, with a $30M/year subsidy from
>> .org, has the potential to be the most powerful *pro-consumer* force on
>> the net. But I've watched for several years as those who agreed, and
>> supported issues like more chapter funding got burned out and left.
>>
>> I knew Kathy for years as one of the most progressive in D.C. circles and
>> expected her to do much more. I know several of the board members to be
>> hardworking, articulate, concerned, and of good faith. I know the same is
>> true of Andrew.
>>
>> Can we be honest with ourselves and do better? 75% of the Internet is not
>> in the U.S., Western Europe, and allies. China alone is 40% and their
>> achievements remarkable. (344M have fiber home connections.) I am not naive
>> about the Chinese government, but we can never be truly effective
>> organizing the Internet without including them, as well as the many others
>> not well-represented here.
>> ------------
>>
>> Unfortunately, Andrew is wrong that we now have
>>
>> an admittedly smaller list of confirmed and clearly engaged members.
>>>
>>
>> I wish that were true. But I know in New York the majority of our
>> "members" are nothing more than people who have agreed to be on a mailing
>> list. I don't think we've had a meeting with even 75 of our "2,500" members
>> in at least the last 5 years. The maximum number of people who have done *anything
>> at all* is perhaps 400, and very few of them are "clearly engaged."
>>
>> Which I, Andrew, and many others are working to improve.
>>
>> Dave
>> (Who would much rather be discussing the right radios for rural Africa or
>> the unhyped prospects of 5G, rather than wasting time in what should be
>> unneeded organizational problems. If we become the "bottom-up
>> multi-stakeholder organization" Kathy wanted us to be, we would be doing a
>> much better job delivering what we all believe in.)
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>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>
>
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