[governance] [bestbits] IMPORTANT : Merging IGC with Best Bits

Fri Dec 21 11:50:50 EST 2018

Following on from Ian's point on merging versus re-integrating (which I agree with):

Why not, to show how welcome new/old-comers from Best Bits and/or Just Net Coalition are in helping reinvigorate IGC, we make clear that we (on governance list) hope one or more on other lists step up and run in the next IGC co-coordinator election?

And, that other folks whichever list they are on presently, and who are willing and able to actively engage, work to support/participate in the nomcom's etc. as may be called for in 2019.

And, that other folks willing and able to actively engage, plan to work to support/participate in drafting various responses and submissions as helpful to the wider cs community engaged in internet governance in 2019 and beyond?

Bottom line is the current division leaves us below critical mass of energy and focus.

But everyone is always welcome to come home! : )

________________________________
From: bestbits-request at lists.bestbits.net <bestbits-request at lists.bestbits.net> on behalf of ian.peter at ianpeter.com <ian.peter at ianpeter.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2018 9:44:35 PM
To: arsenebaguma at gmail.com; Mueller, Milton L
Cc: Farzaneh Badiei; governance at lists.riseup.net
Subject: Re[2]: [bestbits] [governance] IMPORTANT : Merging IGC with Best Bits

Hi Arsene,

Mergers are difficult and imagine that both sides are going to have to change structurally so that they can work together. Both organisations have working rules and practices, changing both sets will be complex and I think unnecessary.

My opinion is that, in this case, BB should just decide to fold - and in doing so, encourage its members to join IGC if they are not already involved.

That's a lot simpler and leaves IGC intact and continuing as an umbrella groups for civil society involvement in internet governance.

(Best Bits copied in). Just suggesting this because I think it is a lot easier.

Ian Peter

------ Original Message ------
From: "Arsène Tungali" <governance at lists.riseup.net<mailto:governance at lists.riseup.net>>
To: "Mueller, Milton L" <milton at gatech.edu<mailto:milton at gatech.edu>>
Cc: "Farzaneh Badiei" <farzaneh.badii at gmail.com<mailto:farzaneh.badii at gmail.com>>; "governance at lists.riseup.net" <governance at lists.riseup.net<mailto:governance at lists.riseup.net>>
Sent: 21/12/2018 9:12:28 AM
Subject: Re: [governance] IMPORTANT : Merging IGC with Best Bits

Milton, i think i tried to explain why i was suggesting that. Sorry if that was not clear. The reason is simple: we agreed to take time to discuss the merger issue within the two groups separately. So, if we Cc both lists that means to me we are not doing separately anymore. That’s my understanding and i may be wrong.

Sent from my iPhone

On 20 Dec 2018, at 23:32, Mueller, Milton L <milton at gatech.edu<mailto:milton at gatech.edu>> wrote:

Why segregate the discussions, Arsene?
I don't understand that. It merely perpetuates the problem of a fragmented and uncoordinated civil society!

--MM

-----Original Message-----
From: governance-request at lists.riseup.net<mailto:governance-request at lists.riseup.net> [mailto:governance-
request at lists.riseup.net<mailto:request at lists.riseup.net>] On Behalf Of Arsène Tungali
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2018 12:32 AM
To: Farzaneh Badiei <farzaneh.badii at gmail.com<mailto:farzaneh.badii at gmail.com>>
Cc: bestbits at lists.bestbits.net<mailto:bestbits at lists.bestbits.net>&gt &lt <bestbits at lists.bestbits.net<mailto:bestbits at lists.bestbits.net>>;
governance <governance at lists.riseup.net<mailto:governance at lists.riseup.net>>
Subject: Re: [governance] IMPORTANT : Merging IGC with Best Bits

Farzaneh, all,

While we are still discussing and I do appreciate the discussion, may I please
suggest we keep discussions separate in each specific group?
As I said in my original email, the issue of a merger should be discussed
SEPARATELY at the IGC and Best Bits lists.

Each group needs to have an internal discussion.

So, please do not Cc both groups when communicating. Some members are
on both lists and have posting rights on both but others don't, this may lead
to having fragmented pieces of emails when everyone is responding.

Hope this makes sense.

Thanks,
Arsene

2018-12-17 23:33 UTC+02:00, farzaneh badii <farzaneh.badii at gmail.com<mailto:farzaneh.badii at gmail.com>>:
Thanks Arsene.

We need to decide on merging IGC and BestBits. The suggestion comes
from the fact that we have not been active much during the past year.
Also fragmented efforts are a strain on resources. Having multiple
elections and multiple groups to coordinate (with really minimal
differences) and then not be active at all for a year is not really
recommendable.

De told us that apparently there is some kind of consensus method if I
am not mistaken. De, is there a documented approach?

I think the most important is to discuss why BestBits was created and
whether the reasons still stand and how BestBits members feel about
the merge. Maybe the ones with strong objections can be convinced,
maybe not.
Lets have the conversation. If we do not see a strong objection
(multiple organizations, individuals object and give reasons as to why
BestBits should remain even if dormant), then we can decide on the
merge. If there are strong objections, then we will not go with the merge.

From what I see from BestBits website, the following individuals are
at the steering committee of BestBits:

- Nighat Dad
- Poncelet Ileleji
- Renata Ribeiro
- Dave Burstein
- Imran Ahmed Shah [second term of election]
- Antonella Perini [co-opted by committee]

Besbits CSCG Representatives

- Claudio Lucena Neto (2018-2019)
- Sheetal Kumar (2017-2018)

Does this list still stand? Do the steering committee members of
BestBits and the reps on CSCG would like to weigh in?

I know Sheetal was on the call. Would be good to hear from others.

Farzaneh

On Mon, Dec 17, 2018 at 9:00 AM Arsène Tungali
<governance at lists.riseup.net<mailto:governance at lists.riseup.net>>
wrote:

Hi everyone,

You have probably seen this already on a different thread but thought
it well to have this discussion solely on the IGC list (as I expect
Best Bits to do the same), that's why i started this thread hoping to
hear from you on this important question.

This need for merging was raised by some IGC members during a civil
society call that had mostly IGC and Best Bits participants; many of
whom are both IGC and Best Bits (BB) members. The call happened last
week and Farzaneh offered to share the link to the recording.

I will not go into much details about the rationale but would welcome
anyone to weigh in and share their reasoning on whether or not we
should merge both lists. We will need to also answer the question on
how (who is doing what?) will this happen? Is the IGC going to become
BB or the latter becoming IGC? Or are we working towards a different
group where members of both groups will all be added?

This brings back to my memory the whole hassle we had to migrate
(SAVE?) this list and allow us to have this discussion list (which
hasn't been quite active for a few months but where many feel safe to
share IG related updates). So i hope we discuss and take into account
the technical cost of the merging process (should it happen).

I am also not sure how we will gauge consensus about this question on
this list? Should we vote? How long do we take to decide? Should we
consult IGC 'founders' or former Co-coordinators separately and ask
them what they think?

During the call, Bruna and I offered to have a decision by
mid-January and we hope this is realistic given the holiday season.
We will then report to the group.

I just wanted to throw this all here and would REALLY appreciate a
discussion that will help us move forward and come to a conclusion.

Best regards,
Arsene
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