[Chapter-delegates] Doreen, please explain to IGF-USA that ITU won't take over the Internet & that ISOC members are welcome to have a big impact on ITU

[Dave Burstein]

Andrew

*The comparison with nation-states and the suggestion we could send many
delegates, was made by ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Toure, in a meeting
attended by our CEO. I was there and I believe there's a recording.*

It's easy to make sure misinterpretations of opinions are avoided. I
suggested we require those we accredit to preface any comment with,
"speaking for myself, not the Internet Society" to ease your concerns.

I believe the board protects ISOC more effectively if we don't require that
one person, our CEO, "direct delegation members," in ITU or in ISOC itself.
I know you don't believe ISOC should be a "bottom-up multistakeholder
organization," to quote your predecessor. But I can't believe the board
wants you to "direct" all expression by our members. Is that really what
you mean?

The ITU has not, as far as I know, ever expelled a section member for
someone expressing an opinion. So I don't think that's much of a concern.

Not long ago, ISOC's official policy was we wanted "like-minded
individuals." I thought you changed that. Didn't you?

Dave


On Tue, Jul 13, 2021 at 4:11 PM Andrew Sullivan <sullivan at isoc.org> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> On Tue, Jul 13, 2021 at 03:26:55PM -0400, Dave Burstein via
> Chapter-delegates wrote:
> >
> >ISOC has a free membership in ITU […]  (The US sends 100.)
>
> The Internet Society is a sector member, and on a reciprocal basis
> (effectively, we're guests).  Comparisons with nation-states in this
> context are not that helpful.
>
> >Currently. Andrew is blocking attendance by people […]
>
> I am doing no such thing.  As I think I pointed out, there is a legal
> difference between the Internet Society supporting its employees in
> attending ITU meetings, and supporting other people.  This is because we
> are in a position to direct employees but are not in a position to direct
> volunteers.  That is important because our sector membership is valuable to
> us.  I will be held responsible by the board for the performance of the
> organization in this respect.  For that reason, I need to be in a position
> to direct delegation members.
>
> Best regards,
>
> A
>
> --
> Andrew Sullivan
> President & CEO, Internet Society
> sullivan at isoc.org
> +1 416 731 1261
>
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