[governance] ICANN Wraps Up Prague Meeting on Thursday

[SAMUELS,Carlton A]

Here's my response to the announcement on an ICANN list:
- Carlton Samuels
====================================================

I'm sure I may be in the minority to bemoan the passing of the usual 'public' Friday morning ICANN Board meeting.

Let us be clear I'm not just hopped off the truck here. I'm familiar enough with these matters to recognize it for what it is principally intended; theatre.  But in the ICANN context, even crafted theatre has its role.

First, I truly believe that for a claimed multistakeholder organisation and while the 'public' board meeting may not have been all it could be, it was an important indicator or attribute of the MSM, especially having regard the global public interest.

Secondly, even if the votes are already taken, there existed an outside chance that one may witness truly revealing 'body language' of participants.  Maybe its because for most of my life I have always straddled several socio-political realities. But I am socialized to be ever mindful that one may 'feel the hand of Esau even as you hear the voice of Jacob'.

I can still hear Susan Crawford's cathartic farewell speech in 2008.  It was remarkable, the response in body language of several board members told a story.  I will concede it may not mean much, then and there.  Aferall, the deed is done and the die is cast. But when the 'fire next time' comes, it is instructive.

- Carlton Samuels
________________________________________
From: governance-request at lists.igcaucus.org [governance-request at lists.igcaucus.org] On Behalf Of Roland Perry [roland at internetpolicyagency.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 12:31 PM
To: governance at lists.igcaucus.org
Subject: Re: [governance] ICANN Wraps Up Prague Meeting on Thursday

In message <01f701cd27a5$41db4a70$c591df50$@palage.com>, at 10:18:17 on
Tue, 1 May 2012, Michael D. Palage <michael at palage.com> writes
>I am also for increased efficiency , but the concern is about a growing lack
>of transparency.  Do you know how many ICANN Board meetings took place in
>Costa Rica. You may be surprised to learn four. Two on March 14th
>(http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-2-14mar12-en.htm
>) and
>(http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-14mar12-en.htm)
>, one on March 15th
>(http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-15mar12-en.htm)
>and the ten minute joke of a meeting on March 16th
>(http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-16mar12-en.htm)
>
>How many people on this list would have liked to have had some insight on
>the Board discussion regarding conflicts of interest and the selection of
>new gTLD providers?
>
>If the ICANN Board wants to meet in private fine, however, in such
>circumstances transcripts for all Board meetings should be made available
>within 72 hours that should allow ICANN's army of attorneys to redact any
>sensitive information from the transcript.
>
>Thoughts comments?

It seems to me to be more transparent to publish a series of closely
consecutive board meetings than to indulge in what appeared to me, when
I first started attending ICANN meetings, a convenient fiction that the
Friday session was the first time that week the board had got together
to discuss the issues.

When you need to publish the minutes is a separate issue from the one of
"when/where are the real meetings".
--
Roland Perry

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