[governance] Innovation

[Adam Peake]

Pretty much agree with Bret and Avri. It's taken along time to get 
all the ALAC structures in place, now's time to see if they work. 
Right now they are not working, information's not flowing down (from 
ICANN, ALAC etc) and generally there's no mechanism for users to 
contribute back.  These's no means for "bottom-up" to happen.  But 
that might be fixed (I know there are people trying to fix it...) 
(Jacqueline, if you read this... I know a few of the 100+ ALS do 
distribute information, 90% or more do not.)  Anyway, ALAC's not dead 
yet.

The elections did not work.
North America was OK (if we ignore the massive imbalance in voting 
pool. Likely permanent US seat, Canada and a few other 
disenfranchised.)
Asia Pacific was a a nationalistic mess. It was not a fair election 
in the AP region.
Latin America dominated by a national campaign in the country with 
the largest population (significantly largest population). Others 
didn't stand a chance.
Europe, the person elected seems to have been strongly supported by a 
special interest campaign.
Africa, the voting pool was so small as to make the election almost irrelevant.

And I mean no disrespect to those elected, some left a good legacy, 
most seemed to work hard at their tasks.

Karl, you were a Director, but you had no constituency and you didn't 
make any attempt to communicate with the "at large".  Or perhaps I'm 
wrong and you'll show a set of mailing lists archives where you and 
the other 4 at large directors solicited comments on the issues you 
were discussing and voting on. We had a vote and no voice, not your 
fault, you weren't given the right tools.  ALAC might do better, 
*might*.

Had ICANN listened to At-Large Study Committee (Chuck Costello was 
right) and tried elections again following an improved process 
--pretty much the conclusion of both the ICANN at large study and 
NAIS group (I was also a member)-- then things might have worked out. 
I believe elections were worth trying to get right. But that was 
then, suspect over time annual elections would have been too much of 
a drain on ICANN resources and on the community.  Only have to look 
at how any group (this caucus, ALAC) obsesses over selecting people 
and as a result doesn't get any real work done.  Also perhaps too 
expensive for ICANN to do properly.

Also very much agree with Avri -- ALAC should look to the GAC as a 
model for its power. Worry less about having a couple of board 
members, instead have the bylaws say your opinions must be taken into 
account, see <http://www.icann.org/general/bylaws.htm#XI-2.1h> h 
through k.

Shame this discussion's not happening on the ALAC mailing list, subscribe:

<http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac_atlarge-lists.icann.org>,
<mailto:alac-request at atlarge-lists.icann.org?subject=subscribe>

Adam



>Karl Auerbach wrote:
>>I claim (and firmly believe) that the ALAC is a failure. Disprove me.
>
>This is a fair question. If I had to answer it, I'd say that two 
>significant contributions of the ALAC are:
>
>(1) the ALAC appointments to the Nominating Committee. The ALAC 
>appoints 5 members of the NomComm, and the Directors and SO 
>appointees from the NomComm have been, by and large, quite good for 
>ICANN, and,
>
>(2) involvement of new organizations and individuals in ICANN via 
>the ALS and RALO structures. The recent outreach efforts over the 
>last 18 months have been quite good and resulted in an infusion of 
>new blood into the ICANN community.
>
>Is that enough to say it's been a "success"? I don't think so, but 
>it may keep it out of "failure" territory.
>
>          Bret
>
>____________________________________________________________
>You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
>     governance at lists.cpsr.org
>To be removed from the list, send any message to:
>     governance-unsubscribe at lists.cpsr.org
>
>For all list information and functions, see:
>     http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance

____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
     governance at lists.cpsr.org
To be removed from the list, send any message to:
     governance-unsubscribe at lists.cpsr.org

For all list information and functions, see:
     http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance