[Chapter-delegates] [European-chapters] ISOC 2022 Action Plan

[Veni Markovski]

Hi,
Thanks for response. Some comments below.

On 12/11/21 23:01, Andrew Sullivan wrote:
>
> I guess I think that "running community programs" is part of "building 
> local communities".  Perhaps you don't, in which case perhaps we can 
> set this aside as a terminological quibble.
Yep!

>
> I just thought that was what a society of like-minded people did with 
> their knowledge, but I'm glad we both agree it's great!
I see more agreement than disagreement between us personally; there are 
some disagreement between ISOC and ISOC - Bulgaria views on priorities 
and issues to address.

> ...we have identified this new vector where we think the Internet way 
> of building networks [IW(b)N - abbr. added by Veni] needs to be 
> defended, and we intend to take the argument there, too.  That's why 
> it's a highlight of the plan: it's new.

Got it. We believe that the IW(b)N needs to be defended at the 
intergovernmental level, where we see more threats than what we see in 
the US legal system. However, we are a chapter in Bulgaria, and it's 
normal that we may not know what might be coming in the US.

>
>> I wasn’t implying anything, just sharing a fact, which some chapters 
>> have
>> noticed, but others might have not.
>
> Well, then, I will re-iterate my observation that I believe the 
> _whole_ Internet Society engagement in Europe is positive,

We very much hope that is is going to be positive. I just want to make 
sure people don't think it has been a negative one.

> and I believe that is in part down to hard work by staff in Europe.
We have nothing but high praise for the European staff; we have worked 
with them on many issues, and we have high respect for what they are 
able to do. I use the opportunity to share both my personal, but also 
ISOC-Bulgaria Board observation about the ISOC staff in general, that 
they are dedicated and good people. We were also sorry to see some of 
them leaving ISOC this year - it's a loss for ISOC, and a loss for the 
chapters.

> We can always do better, of course, and if the Internet Society 
> Bulgaria Chapter does not believe that our engagement in Europe is 
> working we certainly want to know what the issues are.
That is a different issue, which does not deal with the staff, but the 
organization; we have spent quite some time talking between chapters and 
ISOC, and I believe there's not much (new) I could add here.

> I believe that we continue to have staff whose job it is to support 
> chapters, and I trust that you have raised any concerns you might have 
> about how we are not meeting your desires with the relevant staff.
I believe my praise for the staff above answers this question.

>
>> It is based on the facts from the ITU - eg, the WTPF will take place 
>> next
>> week. The IGF just finished yesterday.
>
> Yes, and we are engaged with the WTPF -- indeed, I am on the agenda on 
> Thursday.  Those particular examples seem strange complaints about a 
> 2022 plan, though, since they're happening this year.

Yes, of course, but the WTPF is happening in the future, and you were 
arguing about not being able to say if there will be conferences next 
year - WTSA, WTDC and the Plenipotentiary; I was pointing to the fact 
that these conferences are going to take place one way (face-to-face) or 
another (hybrid or virtual). Same goes for the different ITU Council 
Working Groups, where ISOC could be actively engaged, and could ask 
chapters to engage, too (and support them to do so).

> In any case, we continue our engagements as ever.
Not sure what "as ever" means here, given your skepticism about the 
possibility of having these conferences in the first place...



> If you cannot see our intent in this plan, then I will take that on 
> board as feedback for our future communication efforts.

Please, do so. One thing we have noticed is that the communication comes 
in ways, which often raise questions, which then are (sometimes?) faced 
with criticism from you. If the communication is done in a different 
way, perhaps that would save some of the questions, and also the criticism.

> But I think our intent in this plan is plain, and I think it is one 
> where we have made quite explicit and testable commitments to the 
> community and indeed the world.  I mean for you all to hold us to it, 
> so I feel a certain amount of chagrin that you do not see the 
> commitments you believe we should be making in it.

Same feelings on our side, as we don't see the priorities in the Action 
Plan addressing the potential threats to the Internet we see in Europe 
and at the intergovernmental level (ITU, UN, to name a few), but with 
the (probably not urgently needed?) stress on this new program in the US 
court system, to take one example.



-- 

Best regards,
Veni
https://www.isoc.bg
pgp:5BA1366Eveni at veni.com
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