<div dir="ltr">Hi everyone,<div><br></div><div>Thanks for the initiative Jeremy. </div><div><br></div><div>I'm newer than many of you in this list, but I have some second-hand knowledge and PK has been a member for long.</div><div><br></div><div>I think there is a middle ground between options 1 and 2. We can make the effort to meet in the different events that already exist and that many of us attend (like IGF, LACIGF, or RightsCon) and use those gatherings to coordinate strategy on specific issues. That would give us the opportunity to identify which are moments or issues on which we want to have common action. For example, I think that bestbits is going to be really useful for Plenipot 2018. I think that it is easier to coordinate through action, that to coordinate to have action.</div><div><br></div><div>So, we could start with the LACIGF. I will be attending, anyone else from bestbits going?</div><div><br></div><div>Those are my two-cents.</div><div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr">----<br><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="3" style="width:45pt;height:45pt;table-layout:fixed;color:rgb(197,194,197)"><tbody><tr style="line-height:0.5em"><td style="background-color:rgb(197,194,197);text-align:center;width:16px;height:15px">#</td><td style="background-color:rgb(197,194,197);text-align:center;width:16px;height:15px">#</td><td style="background-color:rgb(197,194,197);text-align:center;width:16px;height:15px">#</td></tr><tr style="line-height:0.5em"><td style="background-color:rgb(197,194,197);text-align:center;width:16px;height:15px">#</td><td style="color:rgb(223,52,28);text-align:center;width:16px;height:15px;background-color:rgb(223,52,28);border-radius:50%">•</td><td style="background-color:rgb(197,194,197);text-align:center;width:16px;height:15px">#</td></tr><tr style="line-height:0.5em"><td style="background-color:rgb(197,194,197);text-align:center;width:16px;height:15px">#</td><td style="background-color:rgb(197,194,197);text-align:center;width:16px;height:15px">#</td><td style="background-color:rgb(197,194,197);text-align:center;width:16px;height:15px"><br></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom:1em"><div><b><br>Gus Rossi</b></div><div>Global Policy Director <a href="tel:(202)%20861-0020" value="+12028610020" style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">(202) 861-0020</a><span style="font-size:12.8px"> (x123) | </span><a href="tel:(202)%651-1337" value="+12025249576" style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">(202) 651 1337</a> <span style="font-size:12.8px">(mobile) | </span><a href="https://twitter.com/agustinrs" style="font-size:12.8px;color:rgb(17,85,204);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">@agustinrs</a><b><br></b></div></div><div><b><font color="#ff0000">Public Knowledge</font></b> | <a href="https://twitter.com/publicknowledge" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">@publicknowledge</a> | <a href="http://www.publicknowledge.org/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">www.publicknowledge.org</a> <br>1818 N St. NW, Suite 410 | Washington, DC 20036 | CFC 12259</div><div><br></div><div><div><b>The IP3 Awards are September 28th!</b> RSVP at <a href="http://publicknowledge.org/IP32017" target="_blank">publicknowledge.org/IP32017</a>.</div></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Jul 26, 2017 at 12:53 PM, Sheetal Kumar <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:sheetal@gp-digital.org" target="_blank">sheetal@gp-digital.org</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><div><div>Dear Jeremy, all, <br><br></div>Thanks for this discussion and reflection, which is much welcome at this 5-year junction!<br><br></div>I
completely concur with the sentiments expressed so far about the value
of Bestbits as a platform to support and coordinate global CS action and
share information. Bestbits also seems to have the added or unique
value of not only being able to produce tangible actions or inputs but
also in doing this across a wider set of policy issues than other similar networks and facilitating a broader group of voices to input into discussions (like ITU, WSIS etc where its provided a stronger/more united and yet diverse CS voice than would otherwise have existed). At this
point, I agree we should be aiming to not only replicate previous
successes in that regard but improve and achieve more. <br><br></div>As
has been pointed out the attempt to do this though with a more
formalised structure like a SC and set of rules descended into
discussions that were counterproductive to the achievement of bestbits
objectives. Before re-instituting that structure, it'd be interesting to
hear more reflections on why that was counterproductive
previously. For example, the points made by others earlier about the need for clearer identification of purpose/more focused mission around what we're trying to achieve (beyond the general, common objectives listed) make sense. How would this be done? Via a strategy? And if so, how would that be developed/buy-in for
that be achieved?/who or how would the leadership for that to happen be provided? <br></div></div><div><br></div>Again, I really welcome this
discussion and opportunity to reflect on how we can leverage the
existing strengths & successes of this platform in the future. Interested in hearing others
thoughts!<br clear="all"><div><br></div><div>Best<br><br></div>Sheetal.</div><div class="gmail_extra"><div><div class="h5"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 26 July 2017 at 13:16, Judith Hellerstein <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:judith@jhellerstein.com" target="_blank">judith@jhellerstein.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<p>Hi Jeremy,</p>
<p>I concur with Renata and Poncelet and choose Option 2. I also
agree with Michael but I agree that we are duplicating resources
but not sure anything can be done about this as each group has
different views and I think people have tried and failed to put
the two together but it has not worked. However, the steering
group can help focus the mission of the group more and
differentiate it from the other groups<br>
</p>
<p>Best,</p>
<p>Judith<br>
</p>
<pre class="m_-798397124791335209m_-850957074793417457moz-signature" cols="80">______________________________<wbr>______________________________<wbr>_____________
Judith Hellerstein, Founder & CEO
Hellerstein & Associates
3001 Veazey Terrace NW, Washington DC 20008
Phone: <a href="tel:(202)%20362-5139" value="+12023625139" target="_blank">(202) 362-5139</a> Skype ID: judithhellerstein
Mobile/Whats app: <a href="tel:(202)%20333-6517" value="+12023336517" target="_blank">+1202-333-6517</a>
E-mail: <a class="m_-798397124791335209m_-850957074793417457moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Judith@jhellerstein.com" target="_blank">Judith@jhellerstein.com</a> Website: <a class="m_-798397124791335209m_-850957074793417457moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.jhellerstein.com" target="_blank">www.jhellerstein.com</a>
Linked In: <a class="m_-798397124791335209m_-850957074793417457moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/jhellerstein/" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/in/jhellerste<wbr>in/</a>
Opening Telecom & Technology Opportunities Worldwide
</pre><div><div class="m_-798397124791335209h5">
<div class="m_-798397124791335209m_-850957074793417457moz-cite-prefix">On 7/26/2017 7:29 AM, Michael Oghia
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">Hi all,
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Thanks for this Jeremy and your work with the group. While
I prefer option 2 in general, I must admit that I am slightly
confused at times about which group is best for what -- for
instance, if there's a civil society-related link, should it
be sent to this list, the IG Caucus list, CSCG list, or
another?</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>While the example is seemingly trivial, the point is that
it seems that there is a lot of unnecessary overlap in these
resources, so perhaps a bit more centralization would be
helpful (as far as the lists are concerned at least, not
necessarily the leadership). If we go with option 2, then I
also suggest we think about focusing the mission/mandate of
this group, and also differentiating it from the other civil
society-focused IG groups. </div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all">
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helvetica,
sans-serif">-Michael<br>
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<div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Jul 26, 2017 at 12:52 PM,
Poncelet Ileleji <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:pileleji@ymca.gm" target="_blank">pileleji@ymca.gm</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>
<div>
<div>Dear Jeremy,<br>
<br>
</div>
Thanks for your email, I definitely concur and
support Renata and will go with Option #2, I look
forward too in working with others towards this
process.<br>
<br>
</div>
Kind Regards<br>
<br>
</div>
Poncelet<br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra">
<div>
<div class="m_-798397124791335209m_-850957074793417457m_8296212860582277476h5"><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On 25 July 2017 at 23:26,
Renata Aquino Ribeiro <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:raquino@gmail.com" target="_blank">raquino@gmail.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">Hi Jeremy
<div><br>
</div>
<div>It is good to see the longevity of
Bestbits, in its 5 year-old run. </div>
<div>This is a space which has done a lot for
civil society and it will certainly continue
to do so. </div>
<div>There are many new groups and activists
in civil society looking forward to learn
from the steps taken here and to
collaborate.</div>
<div>I would like to help bring together the
experienced and the new participants here.</div>
<div>So my option would be #2 and I'd be glad
to work with others interested in thinking
of new ways for Bestbits.</div>
<div>I believe rebuilding the Steering
Committee (3 years old) is important but
also to bring in new voices who have ideas
for the shape of the platform and who are
interested in participating of internet
governance communities.</div>
<div>If we can broaden this search for new
members and collaborators among ISOC
Ambassadors, ICANN fellows, Youth IG
movements, grassroots internet freedom
initiatives, it would be great.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Best,</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Renata</div>
<div><br>
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div>
<div class="m_-798397124791335209m_-850957074793417457m_8296212860582277476m_2557695552011343368h5">On
Tue, Jul 25, 2017 at 7:23 PM, Jeremy
Malcolm <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jmalcolm@eff.org" target="_blank">jmalcolm@eff.org</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
</div>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div>
<div class="m_-798397124791335209m_-850957074793417457m_8296212860582277476m_2557695552011343368h5">
<div text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
15 new members have joined this list
since last week, and a new sign-on
statement has been posted on our
website, both of which mark an
uptick in interest in this civil
society network on Internet policy.
So I thought it would be a good time
to gather your thoughts on future
directions for Best Bits.<br>
<br>
For those who are new, this group
was originally formed in 2012
primarily to provide an
action-oriented network of CSOs that
could share information and
coordinate their response to various
current Internet threats, most
notably at that time various
proposals for the ITU World
Conference on International
Telecommunications.<br>
<br>
Since then it has been used as a
platform for communication (mainly
through this list, there have been
others from time to time but none
remain active), joint actions such
as the sign-on statements that we
host, coordination between people
involved in similar activities, and
an annual meeting held prior to the
IGF.<br>
<br>
Around 2014 calls for greater
accountability in the operation of
what had, until then, been a fairly
loosely and informally organised
group, led to the establishment of a
<a href="https://bestbits.net/about/steering-committee/" target="_blank">steering
committee</a> and agreement on <a href="https://bestbits.net/wiki/main/procedures/" target="_blank">a set of
rules</a>. But that turned out to
be counterproductive and so we have
regressed to being ad hoc and
informal again.<br>
<br>
This is fine, except that it means
that it's difficult to raise funding
for events, and that you have to
rely on a benevolent dictator (which
is, by default, me) to moderate the
list and and keep the server ticking
over. For now I'm OK with doing
this, and our server remains
functional and funded for the near
future.<br>
<br>
Last year we turned over our regular
pre-IGF meeting to co-ownership with
the other major civil society
networks working in Internet policy
spaces, viz. the groups that are
under the umbrella of the <a href="http://internetgov-cs.org/" target="_blank">Internet
Governance Civil Society
Coordination Group</a>. That went
pretty well, marking something of a
return to the original Best Bits
vision.<br>
<br>
At this point, I don't have a clear
personal vision for Best Bits going
forward, so I would like to turn
this question over to you, the
participants to find out what you
want to be done. To break it down
into a simple choice between two
options, we should collectively
choose between either one of these:<br>
<ol>
<li>Maintain the current low-key
status quo, and remove the
currently unused or underused
features of our web such as our
joint event calendar (which
currently doesn't have anyone to
maintain it), along with most of
the resources under the "Tools"
menu on our website. Rely on
other groups to pitch in on an
annual meeting.</li>
<li>Conversely, seek to
reestablish a steering committee
of people with time, energy and
vision to reinvigorate Best Bits
and re-establish a program of
activities, which could include
actively organizing and raising
funds for a broad annual civil
society meeting, and/or drafting
joint statements, supporting
fluid working groups, etc.</li>
</ol>
I look forward to hearing your
thoughts.<br>
<pre class="m_-798397124791335209m_-850957074793417457m_8296212860582277476m_2557695552011343368m_-1199260305915778828m_769851796451404393moz-signature" cols="72">--
Jeremy Malcolm
Senior Global Policy Analyst
Electronic Frontier Foundation
<a class="m_-798397124791335209m_-850957074793417457m_8296212860582277476m_2557695552011343368m_-1199260305915778828m_769851796451404393moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://eff.org" target="_blank">https://eff.org</a>
<a class="m_-798397124791335209m_-850957074793417457m_8296212860582277476m_2557695552011343368m_-1199260305915778828m_769851796451404393moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:jmalcolm@eff.org" target="_blank">jmalcolm@eff.org</a>
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