[Chapter-delegates] What should ISOC's future goals be? How can we work toward achieving them as ISOC Chapters?

Mon Sep 27 12:23:02 PDT 2021

Thanks, Judith and all, who so far have contributed. Hopefully, others will
join soon!
If there’s an issue with chapters applying for funding, this maybe due to a
number of reasons. You and Alexander have stayed some, but I wonder why do
we need to guess (even if we make educated guesses, or share our own
experience), since this is a job for ISOC foundation, or maybe even ISOC to
research, and find out what the reasons are? George and Muhammad, here’s
another example of what ISOC could do better.
I can’t get rid of the feeling that each time we start a discussion like
this one (and there are already several dozen messages here!), we —
chapters — are being asked to either provide solutions (which, given the
heavy dependence on lawyers, is somewhat strange), or to be more active
(aren’t we? If we are not, has ISOC reached out to find out why?), etc.
So far in this thread I see several good ideas;  hopefully there will be
more. We could (yet again) give the benefit of the doubt to ISOC Trustees
and see what they can come up with? Or we (and you, Trustees) could ask
Andrew to tell us how he could (would?) use the shared observations and
experience to make things better?
There are requests for more data, so we can figure out what the level of
funding is — that would be a good start. There are facts shared about lack
or diversity — that’s a worrisome information, which the BoT could address
(and IMHO should).
And last, but not least, there should be some knowledge at the BoT level as
to why chapters (and how many?) are not actively engaged, what bothers
them, what they need from ISOC (and vice versa). And this is only after a
few days. I see a lot of positive energy here, would be great to see it
reflected in some positive follow up.

Hope this is useful?

On Mon, Sep 27, 2021 at 12:32 Judith Hellerstein via Chapter-delegates <
chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org> wrote:

> HI All,
>
> I know there has been a lot of work done on simplifying the Beyond the net
> program and I thank you for that.  I think that one of the issues that
> have led
> some chapters to not apply for them has been that if their program that
> they
> wanted to gain funding for was was not one of the types listed in the pull
> down
> tabs and so they gave up without using the Other tab and showcasing why
> their
> program was important to the chapter and met the chapter's goals and
> needs.  The
> programs were tied to the main topics within the ISOC Action plan for that
> year
> but sometimes those action items did not have a direct relationship to
> what that
> particular chapters were facing and so since they did not fit or explain
> how
> their program fit into the ISOC plan and issues for that year they gave up
> or
> they were not successful.  I think the addition of the other category in
> the
> Beyond the net applications and the ability to explain how this program
> that
> you are seeking funding for meets the goals and action items you set out
> in your
> own chapter action items and goals for this year has now allowed other
> chapters
> and SIGs to gain access to funding.
>
> I think the expansion of the topics drop down list in beyond the net has
> broadened the ability for chapters to gain funding has made a difference
> but
> perhaps others were not aware of this broadening of the issues that can be
> covered by a Small Beyond the Net Grant.  This is what allowed our SIG to
> get
> funding as Accessibility is not a topic or an issue but all encompassing
>
> On the issues of Attorneys I definitely agree on as the Accessibility SIG
> has
> had this issue over the years with ISOC and we have worked hard to find
> alternative arrangements that could work and allow us to function and put
> on
> programs.  The additional Flexibility now on the budget is a great help as
> often
> costs change from when you planned them to when they happened and good
> that
> these could be modified later.
>
> Best,
>
> Judith Hellerstein
>
> Accessibility SIG
>
> _________________________________________________________________________
> Judith Hellerstein, Founder & CEO
> Hellerstein & Associates
> 3001 Veazey Terrace NW, Washington DC 20008
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/3001+Veazey+Terrace+NW,+Washington+DC+20008?entry=gmail&source=g>
> Phone: (202) 362-5139  Skype ID: judithhellerstein
> Mobile/Whats app: +1202-333-6517
> E-mail: Judith at jhellerstein.com   Website: www.jhellerstein.com
> Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/jhellerstein/
> Opening Telecom & Technology Opportunities Worldwide
>
> On 9/27/2021 12:12 PM, Andrew Sullivan via Chapter-delegates wrote:
> > On Mon, Sep 27, 2021 at 11:59:03AM -0400, Veni Markovski via
> > Chapter-delegat>Question to ISOC staff (or you, if you know the answer):
> >> Is there a change between the time when ISOC was funding projects, and
> now,
> >> when the Foundation is doing it?
> >
> > The Beyond the Net grants program was moved in its entirety unchanged
> from the
> > Internet Society to the Foundation.  The program has been considerably
> > simplified recently in an effort to make it still easier for people to
> apply,
> > and the deadlines have been removed to make it possible to apply when it
> works
> > for the chapters.  Nevertheless, we _still_ have a shortage of
> applications:
> > the programme fund has not been tapped completely since I started in
> this job.
> >
> > Some chapters, meanwhile, not only apply for BtN grants but also for
> other
> > grant programmes, and are successful in their applications.  We have
> invested
> > significantly in training materials to try to make this process easy for
> grant
> > applicants. Please do apply.
> >
> > Best regards,
> >
> > A
> >
> _______________________________________________
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>
-- 

Best regards,
Veni Markovski
http://www.veni.com
pgp: 5BA1366E veni at veni.com
<http://www.veni.com/>

The opinions expressed above are those of the author,
not of any organizations, associated with or related to
the author in any given way.
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