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

[Richard Hill]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chapter-delegates [mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org]
On
> Behalf Of 'Andrew Sullivan' via Chapter-delegates
> Sent: Monday, 9 November, 2020 15:45
> To: chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org
> Subject: Re: [Chapter-delegates] Message from Internet Society Audit
Committee
> Chair
> 
> On Mon, Nov 09, 2020 at 03:33:45PM +0100, Richard Hill wrote:
> >
> >From time to time, when the laws change in either the US or the chapter's
> >country. In the case of Switzerland, the law in question has been stable
for
> >decades.
> 
> But it isn't just the laws.  The IRS issues interpretations about the tax
code
> all the time, and they can also have an effect.  And in case it is not
> obvious, they don't provide a list of cases that might have been affected.
> You are proposing a large potential cost for a benefit that literally
nobody
> has so far in this thread has even attempted to describe, as near as I can
> tell.  

I disagree, but maybe my memory is incorrect: I recall that more than one
person stated (or implied) that the Board could benefit from the knowledge
and experience of people who are Chapter officers.

>There is nothing that prevents someone who is actually sitting as a
> member of the formal leadership of a Chapter from being appointed as a
> Trustee, but if they accept that appointment they have to give the other
one
> up.  

I think that we all understand that that's what the new policy says. But
some of us don't think that that is appropriate, so we are trying to find
alternatives.

>If any Chapter is so pressed for volunteers that there is nobody to step
> in under those circumstances, it raises doubts about the viability of the
> Chapter, surely?
> 
> In any case, I think I have provided all the information I am able to
provide
> on this topic.  I recommend that people who want a change to the policy
take
> it up with the Board's Governance Reform Working Group when that gets off
the
> ground.

Agreed. It may be that it would be better if ISOC were not under the
jurisdiction of US tax law.

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