[Chapter-delegates] Message from Internet Society Audit Committee Chair

[Andrew Sullivan]

On Fri, Nov 06, 2020 at 01:34:54PM +0000, Christian de Larrinaga wrote:
>
>I don't fully understand the interplay of the various pieces to help.

I don't think there's any help to be had.  I was just trying to
clarify that there is more than just the PIR-ICANN relationship that
can cause conflicts resulting from PIR.  I also want to be clear that
the case that inspired the current notice to the community does not
arise from anything to do with PIR.  Such conflicts are usually sorted
out by recusal.

>ideal. But I don't understand the parameters of how the situation is
>"unfortunate" in detail to start to think through how to make this work
>better.

I think it is unfortunate because I should think the community wants
the whole Board to be able to discuss anything related to PIR, since
PIR is at least currently the largest source of Internet Society
financial support by a long shot. But if a Trustee has an interest in
PIR, then the conflict occurs and recusal is necessary.  I will say
that I think the Board (at least during my tenure) has been extremely
scrupulous about this potential area for conflict, and I think they've
done a good job handling it.  I just think it's unfortunate that we
can't find more candidates for the Board who aren't even possibly in
such a conflict. That is something only the community can rectify.

>Incidentally Conflicts of Interest can also occur if ISOC determines how
>a Chapter represents itself - given the constituency role a chapter has
>in ISOC.

I don't understand what the conflict is there; could you say more?  

>I don't see ISOC telling its organisational members to do x y or z at a
>governance level. (as distinct from contractual)

Organizational Members are not Chapters, though.  Chapters are
independent organizations that have a direct affiliation with the
Internet Society, which is why Chapters are eligible for financial
support and certain programs, can use a derivative logo, and so on.
Organizational Members can't do any of that.  If an organization that
is a Chapter wished instead not to have to conform to the terms of a
Chapter Engagement Letter but still wanted an organizational
affiliation with the Internet Society, it would certainly be open to
that Chapter to stop being a Chapter and to join as an Organizational
Member.

Best regards,

A

-- 
Andrew Sullivan
President & CEO, Internet Society
sullivan at isoc.org
+1 416 731 1261