[bestbits] Follow-on from survey on the future of Bestbits: next steps

Thu Mar 28 14:41:24 EDT 2019

Dear all

Thank you to those who filled out the doodle!

We will next meet at *1 PM UTC on April 10*.

I will follow up with meeting room. In the meantime, please find the agenda
below:

*Suggested agenda*
1) Responses to the survey: a discussion
2) Suggestion of concrete ways forward
3) Meeting at RightsCon

Best
Sheetal.

On Thu, 21 Mar 2019 at 18:11, Sheetal Kumar <sheetal at gp-digital.org> wrote:

> Dear all,
>
> It's been really great to see the level of engagement in these
> conversations about strengthening civil society coordination, and I know
> there's a lot of interest in not losing motivation. The conversations have
> been premised on a general interest in changing the current situation
> (namely Bestbits being inactive as a coordination network), and
> collectively finding ways to strengthen global civil society coordination
> on the issues we work on.
>
> Hopefully the conversations so far, and the survey which gathered a
> broader array of views, have been helpful. I attached a summary report of
> the survey in my last email. At the last IGF in Paris there was discussion
> of holding a meeting at RightsCon this year. Before we do that however, it
> would be good to discuss the responses to the survey and agree a way
> forward.
>
> I'm including a doodle below, with a suggested agenda. It would be great
> if you could fill it out by 29 March so I can confirm the date and set up a
> room.
>
> https://doodle.com/poll/vyfn2zdxzt8wqzis
>
> *Suggested agenda*
> 1) Responses to the survey: a discussion
> 2) Suggestion of concrete ways forward
> 3) Meeting at RightsCon?
>
> Looking forward to building on your energy and contributions so far!
>
> Best
> Sheetal.
>
> On Thu, 14 Mar 2019 at 13:43, Sheetal Kumar <sheetal at gp-digital.org>
> wrote:
>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> Thank you very much to those who completed the survey. I have attached
>> the anonymised results as a text document, with a summary included at the
>> top in case useful.
>>
>> As a next step I would suggest a split call, with the first half spent
>> discussing the results and suggesting a way forward (45 minutes-1 hour) and
>> the second half, if deemed necessary, with IGC founders and other key
>> members of IGC. We could arrange that as a separate call too.
>>
>> The aim of the calls so far and the survey have been to find a way to
>> promote *more* civil society coordination, and thus to change the
>> current state of affairs. I hope that they help in finding a way forward
>> which does this and in so doing, responds to the widest possible range of
>> opinion. Should you have any other suggestions on how to proceed, please do
>> chime in! Otherwise, I'll send around a doodle for a follow up call.
>>
>> Thanks again.
>>
>> Best
>> Sheetal.
>>
>> On Wed, 6 Mar 2019 at 15:02, Sheetal Kumar <sheetal at gp-digital.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Dear all,
>>>
>>> We've received a useful number of responses but it would be great to
>>> hear from more people about the future of Bestbits. If you could fill out
>>> the survey by COB this Friday that would be much appreciated.
>>>
>>> http://bestbits.net/
>>> <http://bestbits.net/limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=528319>
>>> limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/
>>> <http://bestbits.net/limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=528319>
>>> index&sid=528319
>>> <http://bestbits.net/limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=528319>
>>> I'll then likely send out a doodle for another call to decide next steps
>>> next week.
>>>
>>> Thank you!
>>>
>>> Best
>>> Sheetal.
>>>
>>> On Thu, 28 Feb 2019 at 11:58, Sheetal Kumar <sheetal at gp-digital.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Dear all,
>>>>
>>>> We've got some great responses to the survey so thank you to those who
>>>> have responded already.
>>>>
>>>> The survey is still open so please do lend your views if you can, by
>>>> using the link below. The survey responses will feed into the next set of
>>>> discussions on the future of Bestbits.
>>>>
>>>> http://bestbits.net/
>>>> <http://bestbits.net/limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=528319>
>>>> limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/
>>>> <http://bestbits.net/limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=528319>
>>>> index&sid=528319
>>>> <http://bestbits.net/limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=528319>
>>>> Best
>>>> Sheetal.
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, 21 Feb 2019 at 09:37, Sheetal Kumar <sheetal at gp-digital.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>
>>>>> Following a call and discussion on this thread, please see a survey
>>>>> below to gather your views on the future of Bestbits. Following a call on
>>>>> February 11 with members of Bestbits, as well as members of IGC, it was
>>>>> agreed that a survey would be circulated to gather views of all members.
>>>>>
>>>>> The survey is preceded by a background information note which includes
>>>>> a summary of the discussions so far, and links to the summaries of calls.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> http://bestbits.net/limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=528319&lang=en
>>>>>
>>>>> As a member of the Bestbits mailing list, you are invited to complete
>>>>> the survey. To inform future discussions in a timely way, please complete
>>>>> the survey *by 08 March*. Should you have any questions at all, don't
>>>>> hesitate to get in touch.
>>>>>
>>>>> Looking forward to hearing your views!
>>>>>
>>>>> Best
>>>>>
>>>>> Sheetal.
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, 12 Feb 2019 at 20:08, Sheetal Kumar <sheetal at gp-digital.org>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thank you to those who participated in the call yesterday. For those
>>>>>> who couldn't attend the call, you'll find the list of participants and
>>>>>> notes here:  https://etherpad.wikimedia.org/p/Bestbitscallfuture
>>>>>>
>>>>>> We had a rich discussion about the possible ways forward for
>>>>>> Bestbits, building on the previous conversation in December and the
>>>>>> discussion on this thread since.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> In essence, there was general agreement that both Bestbits and IGC
>>>>>> have been facing challenges in fulfilling their objectives, particularly
>>>>>> when it comes to coordination and we agreed to circulate a survey to both
>>>>>> lists to gather perspectives on four suggested ways forward which were
>>>>>> discussed on the call. It was suggested that this survey with the broader
>>>>>> communities feed into a decision on the future of the platforms. The survey
>>>>>> will be circulated shortly to both lists shortly,  and your participation
>>>>>> would be greatly appreciated.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Best
>>>>>> Sheetal.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Thu, 7 Feb 2019 at 16:47, Sheetal Kumar <sheetal at gp-digital.org>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> This is just a gentle reminder that the call on next steps is this
>>>>>>> coming Monday, 11 February from* 4- 6 PM UTC*. The full details are
>>>>>>> included in my previous email and I've updated the etherpad
>>>>>>> <https://etherpad.wikimedia.org/p/Bestbitscallfuture> with those
>>>>>>> planning to attend.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Looking forward to speaking to you then!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Best
>>>>>>> Sheetal.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Wed, 30 Jan 2019 at 10:07, Sheetal Kumar <sheetal at gp-digital.org>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thank you for filling out the doodle! It seems the best time for
>>>>>>>> the call is* 4-6 PM UTC on February 11*. The full details of the
>>>>>>>> call, including how to join, are below.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks to Farzaneh for setting up the room. Looking forward to
>>>>>>>> speaking to as many of you as possible on the 11th!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Best
>>>>>>>> Sheetal.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *Bestbits call: Future pathways *
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *Date and time: *
>>>>>>>> 11 February, 4:00-6:00 PM UTC <http://worldtimebuddy.com/>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *Online Meeting room: *
>>>>>>>> To join the Meeting:
>>>>>>>> https://bluejeans.com/819760256
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> To join via Room System:
>>>>>>>> Video Conferencing System: bjn.vc -or-199.48.152.152
>>>>>>>> Meeting ID : 819760256
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> To join via phone :
>>>>>>>> 1)  Dial:
>>>>>>>> +1.408.740.7256 (US (San Jose))
>>>>>>>> +1.888.240.2560 (US Toll Free)
>>>>>>>> +1.408.317.9253 (US (Primary, San Jose))
>>>>>>>> (see all numbers - http://bluejeans.com/numbers)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> 2)  Enter Conference ID : 819760256
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Please note that if you call in, your phone number will appear on
>>>>>>>> the Bluejeans room page. We would like to record and share the link with
>>>>>>>> the BestBits network on the mailing list. Please let us know if you do not
>>>>>>>> want the recording to be shared on an open mailing list if you call in.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *Proposed agenda: *
>>>>>>>> *Aim: *to discuss the future of the Bestbits and IGC lists,
>>>>>>>> including the possibility of a merger + other options
>>>>>>>> 1) Identification/agreement of challenges and issues faced in each
>>>>>>>> network
>>>>>>>> 2) Discussion of options, e.g merger of lists/establishment of
>>>>>>>> new/maintenance of status quo - using lists as information sharing devices:
>>>>>>>> pros and cons of each
>>>>>>>> 3) Discussion of next steps/agreement on process for decision
>>>>>>>> making regarding future of the lists
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *RSVP on etherpad*
>>>>>>>> I've put the agenda in this pad
>>>>>>>> <https://etherpad.wikimedia.org/p/Bestbitscallfuture>and I've also
>>>>>>>> added the names of those who indicated they were available for the call at
>>>>>>>> this time. Of course, as a Bestbits member you can join the call without
>>>>>>>> indicating that in the pad, this is just to have a vague idea of numbers.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Fri, 18 Jan 2019 at 14:13, Sheetal Kumar <sheetal at gp-digital.org>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Dear all
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> It's been great to see the engagement on this topic, and thanks to
>>>>>>>>> those who have shared their perspectives and the relevant documents too.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> In December when we had the call we agreed to touch base again in
>>>>>>>>> the middle of January to agree a way forward. The discussions here provide
>>>>>>>>> rich ground for the discussion, and Farzaneh has kindly offered to set up a
>>>>>>>>> conference call space for us.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I am circulating below a doodle for our second call to decide next
>>>>>>>>> steps. This is a suggested agenda:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> 1) Identification/agreement of challenges and issues faced in each
>>>>>>>>> network
>>>>>>>>> 2) Discussion of options, e.g merger of lists/establishment of
>>>>>>>>> new/maintenance of status quo, e.g using lists as information sharing
>>>>>>>>> devices: pros and cons of each approach
>>>>>>>>> 3) Discussion of next steps/agreement on process for decision
>>>>>>>>> making regarding future of Bestbits
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Having spoken to those who arranged the last call, we suggest only
>>>>>>>>> Bestbits members are invited but that we also reach out to some IGC folks
>>>>>>>>> to help provide some background and inform the discussion only.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> https://doodle.com/poll/yzmbvibwp6n4s976
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> If everyone could fill out the doodle by the end of next week
>>>>>>>>> (Friday, 25 Jan) we can set a time and send the conference room link too.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Best
>>>>>>>>> Sheetal.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Fri, 11 Jan 2019 at 13:10, Deirdre Williams <
>>>>>>>>> williams.deirdre at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Please excuse the cross-posting.
>>>>>>>>>> I've been following this discussion with care, and have a couple
>>>>>>>>>> of questions which seem to fall in line with what Nnenna and Jeremy are
>>>>>>>>>> saying.
>>>>>>>>>> 1. If we had more or less stopped sharing information/discussing
>>>>>>>>>> things/ working together within IGC and Bestbits separately, would merging
>>>>>>>>>> the two groups again really improve participation?
>>>>>>>>>> 2. Is there a way for us to look at what needs to be done, what
>>>>>>>>>> we want to do, how we want to do it?
>>>>>>>>>> 3. Who are "we"? Are we the same as the people who started IGC
>>>>>>>>>> and Bestbits - same objectives, same perceptions and perspectives, same
>>>>>>>>>> priorities?
>>>>>>>>>> Without answers to these questions it seems unlikely that we
>>>>>>>>>> would make much progress.
>>>>>>>>>> Purely as an illustration please consider IRPC (which many of us
>>>>>>>>>> also belong to) which is currently having some difficulty with identifying
>>>>>>>>>> volunteers to carry out management tasks for the group.
>>>>>>>>>> Civil society still needs a means to discuss issues and find a
>>>>>>>>>> common voice, but is this the right way to do that now or do we need to
>>>>>>>>>> devise something different?
>>>>>>>>>> Best wishes for 2019
>>>>>>>>>> Deirdre
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On Thu, 10 Jan 2019 at 14:09, Jeremy Malcolm <
>>>>>>>>>> jeremy at malcolm.id.au> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> On 1/10/19 2:01 AM, Sheetal Kumar wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> > For those who were part of the first Steering Committee of
>>>>>>>>>>> Bestbits -
>>>>>>>>>>> > could you share more information about how it was constituted
>>>>>>>>>>> and why?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> It was because IGC discourse had become toxic and dysfunctional,
>>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>>> people were dropping out. It had been a while since it had been
>>>>>>>>>>> able to
>>>>>>>>>>> agree on a joint statement. At the same time, the 2012 ITU WCIT
>>>>>>>>>>> was
>>>>>>>>>>> coming up, and being able to collaborate on joint action was
>>>>>>>>>>> important,
>>>>>>>>>>> so a few conversations between people both inside and outside of
>>>>>>>>>>> IGC
>>>>>>>>>>> resulted in them becoming the first volunteer steering committee.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> But then the same civil society politics that had driven the IGC
>>>>>>>>>>> into
>>>>>>>>>>> the ground started to disrupt Best Bits too. There were
>>>>>>>>>>> (misplaced but
>>>>>>>>>>> damaging) allegations about various participants having hidden
>>>>>>>>>>> agendas
>>>>>>>>>>> or not being transparent enough about their own funding. So
>>>>>>>>>>> whereas the
>>>>>>>>>>> original committee had been fairly lightweight and informal,
>>>>>>>>>>> pressure to
>>>>>>>>>>> adopt more formal mechanisms of accountability resulted in us
>>>>>>>>>>> investing
>>>>>>>>>>> a lot of time in creating a more elaborate set of rules and
>>>>>>>>>>> processes.
>>>>>>>>>>> As it turned out, this was too heavy and people weren't
>>>>>>>>>>> motivated to
>>>>>>>>>>> engage in these new processes, indicating that the more
>>>>>>>>>>> lightweight
>>>>>>>>>>> structure had probably been better.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> If there was a group of willing people who could resuscitate
>>>>>>>>>>> Best Bits,
>>>>>>>>>>> even without formal elections, I'd be all for that. But I don't
>>>>>>>>>>> think
>>>>>>>>>>> there is. I personally have given as much time to it as I'd like
>>>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>>>> give, because I'm focusing my energy on my new nonprofit
>>>>>>>>>>> Prostasia
>>>>>>>>>>> Foundation now.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>>> Jeremy Malcolm PhD LLB (Hons) B Com
>>>>>>>>>>> Internet lawyer, ICT policy advocate, geek
>>>>>>>>>>> echo "9EEAi^^;6C6]>J^=^>6"|tr '\!-~' 'P-~\!-O'|wget -q -i - -O -
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> ____________________________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>> You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
>>>>>>>>>>>      bestbits at lists.bestbits.net.
>>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe or change your settings, visit:
>>>>>>>>>>>      http://lists.bestbits.net/wws/info/bestbits
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>> “The fundamental cure for poverty is not money but knowledge" Sir
>>>>>>>>>> William Arthur Lewis, Nobel Prize Economics, 1979
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> *Sheetal Kumar*
>>>>>>>>> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
>>>>>>>>> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
>>>>>>>>> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
>>>>>>>>> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B E9E2
>>>>>>>>> 0603 DD7F E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> *Sheetal Kumar*
>>>>>>>> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
>>>>>>>> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
>>>>>>>> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
>>>>>>>> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B E9E2
>>>>>>>> 0603 DD7F E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> *Sheetal Kumar*
>>>>>>> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
>>>>>>> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
>>>>>>> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
>>>>>>> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B E9E2
>>>>>>> 0603 DD7F E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> *Sheetal Kumar*
>>>>>> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
>>>>>> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
>>>>>> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
>>>>>> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B E9E2
>>>>>> 0603 DD7F E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> *Sheetal Kumar*
>>>>> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
>>>>> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
>>>>> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
>>>>> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B E9E2 0603
>>>>> DD7F E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *Sheetal Kumar*
>>>> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
>>>> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
>>>> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
>>>> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B E9E2 0603
>>>> DD7F E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>>
>>> *Sheetal Kumar*
>>> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
>>> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
>>> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
>>> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B E9E2 0603
>>> DD7F E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
>>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> *Sheetal Kumar*
>> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
>> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
>> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
>> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B E9E2 0603
>> DD7F E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
>>
>>
>
> --
>
>
> *Sheetal Kumar*
> Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
> Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
> T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
> PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B E9E2 0603
> DD7F E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
>
>

-- 

*Sheetal Kumar*
Programme Lead | GLOBAL PARTNERS DIGITAL
Second Home, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5JL
T: +44 (0)20 3 818 3258| M: +44 (0)7739569514  |
PGP ID: E592EFBBEAB1CF31  | PGP Fingerprint: F5D5 114D 173B E9E2 0603 DD7F
E592 EFBB EAB1 CF31|
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