[Chapter-delegates] Upcoming webminars

[Gonzalo Camarillo]

Dear Chapter Leaders,

I understand that a draft letter from the Chapter Advisory Council to the Internet Board of Trustees about the sale of PIR, is in the process of being finalized. 

On behalf of the of the Internet Society Board trustees, I would like to acknowledge the concerns of our community and the frustrations about not having been sufficiently consulted.

At our core, the Internet Society is a collaborative and consultative body. This is part of our DNA and will forever be part of it; however, time sensitivities, confidentiality, and complex legal requirements surrounding this deal have meant that we have not been able to involve our community as fully as we would have liked.

In late November, we hosted a conversation with all our members to help address community concerns. In addition, there have been several blog posts by the trustees and Andrew to explain what the deal means for the community, and how it will help us continue our work together in support of our common mission. The chapter-selected trustees also held a call with the ChAC where they responded to their questions. Beyond these touch points, PIR, ISOC, and Ethos Capital have set up a public website www.keypointsabout.org, to provide more clarity around the transaction and to address questions and concerns. In addition to this, we have been planning more touchpoints between the Board and the community, both in person and online. The Chapter AC letter further highlights the need for these touchpoints, so I would like to kick this off with a webinar for chapter leaders during February, followed by another online session in March. There will also be an opportunity for those in Cancun at ICANN67 to connect with some of the trustees in person. 

It remains important that the opinions we all form around this deal are based on an accurate view of the facts. A lot of misinformation has been circulated about the deal, and this has detracted significantly from an understanding of the value that the transaction will bring to the Internet Society, our chapters, the work of our members, and ultimately the Internet, a resource we all believe is for the greater good of society at large.  This deal will ensure ISOC's community efforts to build, promote, and defend the Internet can continue, with proper and sustained funding, at a time when user trust, government intervention, and walled gardens are making our work more important than ever. 

I want to assure all of you that all of us on the Board are listening. We are available to answer your questions, because we recognize the importance of having an open dialogue where concerns can be raised and opinions shared. We welcome what you have to say, and we hope that we can all move forward together toward a bigger, stronger Internet. 

In the meantime, please watch out for the invitation to the webinar session later this month which I very much hope you will be able to attend. 

Cheers,

Gonzalo
Chair - ISOC BoT