<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"><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_-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_-850957074793417457moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Judith@jhellerstein.com" target="_blank">Judith@jhellerstein.com</a>   Website: <a class="m_-850957074793417457moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.jhellerstein.com" target="_blank">www.jhellerstein.com</a>
Linked In: <a class="m_-850957074793417457moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/jhellerstein/" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/in/<wbr>jhellerstein/</a>
Opening Telecom & Technology Opportunities Worldwide

</pre><div><div class="h5">
    <div class="m_-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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                                                          <div><font size="2" face="arial,
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          <br>
          <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_-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_-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_-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_-850957074793417457m_8296212860582277476m_2557695552011343368m_-1199260305915778828m_769851796451404393moz-signature" cols="72">-- 
Jeremy Malcolm
Senior Global Policy Analyst
Electronic Frontier Foundation
<a class="m_-850957074793417457m_8296212860582277476m_2557695552011343368m_-1199260305915778828m_769851796451404393moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://eff.org" target="_blank">https://eff.org</a>
<a class="m_-850957074793417457m_8296212860582277476m_2557695552011343368m_-1199260305915778828m_769851796451404393moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:jmalcolm@eff.org" target="_blank">jmalcolm@eff.org</a>

Tel: <a href="tel:(415)%20436-9333" value="+14154369333" target="_blank">415.436.9333 ext 161</a>

:: Defending Your Rights in the Digital World ::

Public key: <a class="m_-850957074793417457m_8296212860582277476m_2557695552011343368m_-1199260305915778828m_769851796451404393moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.eff.org/files/2016/11/27/key_jmalcolm.txt" target="_blank">https://www.eff.org/files/2016<wbr>/11/27/key_jmalcolm.txt</a>
PGP fingerprint: 75D2 4C0D 35EA EA2F 8CA8 8F79 4911 EC4A EDDF 1122</pre>
                                  </div>
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                              </div>
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                            </blockquote>
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                        <br>
                        ______________________________<wbr>______________________________<br>
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                    </div>
                    <br>
                    <br clear="all">
                    <br>
                  </div>
                </div>
                -- <br>
                <div class="m_-850957074793417457m_8296212860582277476m_2557695552011343368gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">
                  <div dir="ltr">
                    <div>
                      <div dir="ltr">
                        <div>Poncelet O. Ileleji MBCS<br>
                          Coordinator<br>
                          The Gambia YMCAs Computer Training Centre
                          & Digital Studio<br>
                          MDI Road Kanifing South<br>
                          P. O. Box 421 Banjul<br>
                          The Gambia, West Africa<br>
                          Tel: <a href="tel:(220)%20437-0240" value="+12204370240" target="_blank">(220) 4370240</a><br>
                          Fax:<a href="tel:(220)%20439-0793" value="+12204390793" target="_blank">(220) 4390793</a><br>
                          Cell:<a href="tel:(220)%20991-2508" value="+12209912508" target="_blank">(220) 9912508</a><br>
                          Skype: pons_utd<br>
                          <i><span style="color:rgb(0,0,153)"><a href="http://www.ymca.gm" target="_blank">www.ymca.gm</a><br>
                              <a href="http://jokkolabs.net/en/" target="_blank">http://jokkolabs.net/en/</a><br>
                              <a href="http://www.waigf.org" target="_blank">www.waigf.org</a><br>
                              <a href="http://www.itag.gm" target="_blank">www,insistglobal.com</a><br>
                              <a href="http://www.npoc.org" target="_blank">www.npoc.org</a><br>
                              <a href="http://www.wsa-mobile.org/node/753" target="_blank">http://www.wsa-mobile.org/node<wbr>/753</a><br>
                            </span></i><cite><span style="color:rgb(0,0,153)"><a href="http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org" target="_blank">www.diplointernetgovernance.or<wbr>g</a><br>
                              <br>
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