[Chapter-delegates] [2021-2022-fincomm] Something to contemlate

Tue Nov 23 04:14:15 PST 2021

Ted

I will try to provide sensible reasons for you to come to a different
opinion. But not tonight.

On Tue, Nov 23, 2021 at 5:25 AM Ted Hardie via Chapter-delegates <
chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org> wrote:

> Hi Dave,
>
> Thanks for the quick reply.
>
> On Tue, Nov 23, 2021 at 10:03 AM Dave Burstein <daveb at dslprime.com> wrote:
>
>> Ted
>>
>> I am too tired to answer in depth right now.  Thank you for the courtesy
>> of a reply.
>>
>> I wrote to you, as Chair of the Board, because Andrew said he wanted the
>> board to decide about revealing our donors. I'm urging you to do that. I
>> believe that if you consider the issue for a few days you'll realize it's
>> wrong for a policy group to hide its sources of funds.
>>
>> I think our fundamental difference here is in the phrase "policy group".
>
> The Internet Society society's mission as a charitable organization is to
> promote the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet for the
> benefit of all people throughout the world.  Aspects of that mission mean
> we support the evolution of the Internet protocol suite (largely via the
> IETF), the deployment of networks to the unconnected or underserved (via
> the community networks projects, IXPs, and chapter activities), the
> development of operational best practices (e.g. via MANRS), and a suite of
> educational activities.  While there are projects to educate that should be
> of benefit to policy-makers, the majority of the work is to help folks
> understand how the Internet works and why specific technologies (like IPv6
> or encryption) are key parts of its evolution.
>
> The amount of effort ISOC spends making specific policy recommendations is
> strictly limited both by US law and by internal controls.  Some of those
> recommendations are important, certainly, as they call attention to
> activities like Internet shutdowns that clearly damage the Internet's
> ability to reach its full potential .  But those policy positions do not
> define ISOC; its mission does.
>
> I am glad that we have the support of our friends, and that so many
> individuals and companies share in the desire to further the society's
> mission.  I would be more than happy to give our donors  the option to be
> recognized.  But requiring it runs contrary to my experience of best
> practice for other charities.  If other trustees wish to bring the matter
> to the board I will, as chair, make sure that the matter is fairly
> considered.  Were it to come to a vote today, however, my own vote would be
> against.
>
> Thanks again for sharing your thoughts on this,
>
> regards,
>
> Ted Hardie
>
>
>
>
>> There is no doubt that best practice in policy work is to declare your
>> donors. I've spent 23 years reporting DC and have no doubt corporations
>> generally give money in the expectation of support.
>>
>> We're not talking about charitable contributions by someone like yourself
>> who might want to remain anonymous. I believe - but don't have the data to
>> prove - that a large share of ISOC donations come from companies interested
>> in the positions we take. I certainly have observed Verizon, Comcast, AT&T,
>> Google and other funders use their sway over non-profits that take their
>> money. The first three very publicly.
>>
>> As Eric Rabe of Verizon explained to me, "We support our friends."
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Nov 23, 2021 at 3:03 AM Ted Hardie via Chapter-delegates <
>> chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Dave,
>>>
>>> First, it's not clear to me to whom you wish this forwarded, and if you
>>> would like me to forward it, that would be helpful information.
>>>
>>> Second, it's common practice in the U.S. to permit donors to choose
>>> whether to have their names listed as benefactors of a specific non-profit
>>> or charity event.   The common reason for that is simple: to avoid being
>>> inundated with other requests for funds from non-profits who, seeing your
>>> support for a related organization, decide to explore whether you'd also
>>> support them.  I have personally made anonymous donations for exactly this
>>> reason.
>>>
>>> You appear to want this in part because of a belief that the donors are
>>> getting influence over the work of ISOC as a result of the donation.  I
>>> don't think that's a warranted conclusion, in part because the list of
>>> donors is not generally bruited about.  Since the board generally doesn't
>>> see the list of donors, to take one example, even an unconscious desire to
>>> modify the work of the society to satisfy the donors is not really
>>> possible.
>>>
>>> Your anecdote below is about a specific chapter which, as you know, are
>>> distinct organizations.  If you have concerns about their management of
>>> their donor rolls, it might be worth chatting with them about it directly.
>>>
>>> regards,
>>>
>>> Ted Hardie
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, Nov 23, 2021 at 3:03 AM Dave Burstein <daveb at dslprime.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Ted
>>>>
>>>> Any policy advocacy organization that hides its sources of funding
>>>> without a darn good reason resembles astroturf. There is no shame or likely
>>>> persecution for contributing to the Internet Society that should require
>>>> hiding our donors. We should always have been open about who pays our
>>>> bills.
>>>>
>>>> If anyone, board or member, objects to disclosing our contributors,
>>>> please speak publicly or write on this list within ten days. In particular,
>>>> if anyone on the chapters or organizations committees has an important
>>>> disagreement, please speak up within ten days.
>>>>
>>>> If there is no substantive objection, please circulate to the board a
>>>> simple resolution, perhaps
>>>> "The CEO shall periodically make publicly available a list of donors to
>>>> the Internet Society of over $5,000 with the amount they have donated."
>>>>
>>>> As everyone who has been active in the Internet Society knows, donor
>>>> influence has long been a concern. For example, David Vyorst, then Chair of
>>>> the DC Chapter, told me he agreed with me on a Net Neutrality proposal and
>>>> his chapter would like to support it. But, "We're looking to get Verizon to
>>>> fund our next event and we need them."  There are many other examples;
>>>> fundraising in DC policy circles is about influence.
>>>>
>>>> It's time for a strong leader. Some obvious, easy steps that could show
>>>> what side you are on:
>>>>
>>>> End your predecessor's gag order and allow (a moderate number) of
>>>> member comments at the next board meeting
>>>>
>>>> Do something about the increased imbalance of the board, totally
>>>> dominated by the US and allies. Two-thirds of the Internet is in the global
>>>> South. Until we adopt to that WWE will be increasingly ineffective. I'm
>>>> sure two or three board members would step aside to make room. If not, the
>>>> procedure for amending the bylaws for a larger board is straightforward and
>>>> can be done quickly.
>>>>
>>>> We can and should turn on comments on our website, which can be
>>>> moderated. We also can accept blogs from our members. ISOC suffers from
>>>> only allowing the "like-minded" to have a public say.
>>>>
>>>> Forward, please.
>>>>
>>>> Dave Burstein
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Nov 22, 2021 at 8:00 PM Andrew Sullivan via Chapter-delegates <
>>>> chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, Nov 22, 2021 at 07:53:48PM -0500, Dave Burstein wrote:
>>>>> >
>>>>> >Please make sure the report contains the details on all contributors
>>>>> of
>>>>> >$5,000 and more, including amounts, and all those paid $200,000 or
>>>>> more.
>>>>>
>>>>> Are you asking for the names/identities of such contributors?  That
>>>>> would be a change in practice (these are not historically included in the
>>>>> 990 that is released for inspection), so I think it probably requires a
>>>>> resolution by the board after a consultation with the relevant advisory
>>>>> committees.
>>>>>
>>>>> If that's not what you meant, please elucidate.
>>>>>
>>>>> Best regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> A
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Andrew Sullivan
>>>>> President & CEO, Internet Society
>>>>> sullivan at isoc.org
>>>>> +1 416 731 1261
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed
>>>>> to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet
>>>>> Society Chapter Portal (AMS):
>>>>> https://admin.internetsociety.org/622619/User/Login
>>>>> View the Internet Society Code of Conduct:
>>>>> https://www.internetsociety.org/become-a-member/code-of-conduct/
>>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>> As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed
>>> to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society
>>> Chapter Portal (AMS):
>>> https://admin.internetsociety.org/622619/User/Login
>>> View the Internet Society Code of Conduct:
>>> https://www.internetsociety.org/become-a-member/code-of-conduct/
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
> As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed
> to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society
> Chapter Portal (AMS):
> https://admin.internetsociety.org/622619/User/Login
> View the Internet Society Code of Conduct:
> https://www.internetsociety.org/become-a-member/code-of-conduct/
>
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