[ga] Re: Travel to Stockholm

["M. Stuart Lynn" <lynn@icann.org>]

Dear Patrick:

Please do not enlarge the problem by ascribing motives to me that 
have nothing to do with what is a straightforward administrative 
issue. This has nothing to do with anyone's views of the GA, 
"concerted efforts to undermine the GA", potential Individual 
Constituencies, your qualifications, or whatever. It has nothing to 
do with whether or not I welcome "grass roots participation" -- in 
fact, I personally welcome all participation.

Frankly, you know nothing of my views on any of these issues. You 
have never spoken with me about any of them. To be quite candid, I 
have not been long enough in this position to have any well-formed 
views on these matters. My views will ultimately be formed by 
listening to reasoned and constructive discussions, and by reading 
what people have to say -- and I will try hard not to be influenced 
by those who ascribe all sorts of nasty motivations to people they do 
not even know. I understand there are lots of people out there who 
have nothing better to do than engage in those kinds of behaviors, 
but you I know are not one of them.

This, as I said, is a straightforward administrative matter. As I 
understand it, ICANN's budgets are not used for covering SO expenses. 
This does not single out the DNSO or the GA, but applies across the 
all SO's. Perhaps your opinion is that this should change, and the 
budget should be adapted to accommodate certain kinds of SO expenses. 
In which case, that is a matter to be pursued through process, 
ultimately requiring Board approval. We cannot make exceptions on an 
ad hoc basis and be fair to all constituencies.

My comment about expectations is equally simple. You apparently 
"assumed" that ICANN would cover your expenses, but never checked in 
advance. Apparently that approach fits within your framework of 
making decisions. I can tell you that it does not fit within my 
framework or those of most people that I know. If the acceptance of a 
volunteer position depended upon travel for which I have no sources 
of support, I would most certainly check in advance as to what is the 
relevant policy before agreeing to accept.

My comment about no time before Stockholm was intended to mean that 
the chance of a grant application being made and accepted in time is 
extremely unlikely. If you know of any possible source for which this 
is not the case, I would of course be delighted to write a letter of 
support.

So I suggest we focus on the matter at hand and not attribute all 
kinds of extraneous motivations. I repeat what I said earlier -- I do 
hope you, the GA, and the DNSO can find some way for you to come to 
Stockholm. Maybe then we meet and get to understand each other's 
views better. I am sure you have a lot to offer as co-chair of the 
GA, -- and that is why you have been elected -- and I would look 
forward to working with you.

Stuart

At 11:13 PM +1000 5/12/01, Alternate Chair, GA wrote:
>Dear Mr Lynn
>
>I speak here for myself alone.  My financial situation is very poor and I
>will be unable to attend any ICANN meetings without financial support.  The
>Chair and I have only just been appointed and have had no opportunity to
>establish any "self-funding".  The Salzburg Seminar has refused to help.
>
>Personally I am capable and competent.  My first degree, commenced in
>1979, is a Bachelor of Applied Science in Computing Science.  I also have
>a Masters degree in Accounting.  I am, or have been, a member of five
>professional bodies including the Australian Computer Society.  For two
>years I lectured in IT at the University of Technology, Sydney.
>
>You should also be aware that I am a Director of the Australian Domain
>Administration ("auDA") and the Top Level Domain Association ("TLDA").
>I am very familiar with all of the issues and could contribute a great deal
>in achieving useful outcomes.
>
>However, it is apparent to me, at least, that there has been a concerted
>effort to undermine the efforts of the General Assembly both internally and
>externally.  Any proposal, such as that for the Individuals Constituency,
>which has grass-roots support, is sidelined or ignored.  My expertise could
>be useful to draw these issues together in a constructive way.
>
>I am therefore astonished that you should wonder what my expectations were
>when I agreed to take on the position of Alternate Chair.  It is my view
>that the physical meetings are an integral part of the consensus process
>and, as such, should be funded by the DNSO with support from ICANN.
>
>Of course, I understand your explanation and consider your letter as the
>official ICANN response.  However, I would have thought that you would,
>at least, pretend to welcome genuine grass-roots participation.  Anything
>less simply turns ICANN into a joke.  You have also said:
>
>>  Occasionally we are successful in helping with travel grant applications,
>>  but mostly to fund travel from countries where travel support is
>>  impossible.  In any event, it is too late for Stockholm, but you may want
>>  to look into the possibility for future meetings.
>
>With genuine determination it is possible to overcome significant obstacles.
>It is therefore not to late to go to Stockholm.  The rest of this statement
>of yours is quite empty of content.  Travel support is impossible regardless
>of which country I am from.  ICANN will either fund the travel or not.
>
>I am truly very disappointed.  Not personally but for the failure of ICANN
>to establish a proper structure and strategy.
>
>Yours sincerely
>
>Patrick Corliss
>Alternate Chair
>DNSO GA
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: M. Stuart Lynn <lynn@icann.org>
>To: Danny Younger <webmaster@babybows.com>; Patrick Corliss
><patrick@corliss.net>
>Cc: vint cerf <vcerf@MCI.NET>; <philip.sheppard@aim.be>
>Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2001 10:00 PM
>Subject: Travel to Stockholm
>
>>  Danny and Patrick:
>>
>>  I know you are faced with a difficult problem regarding funding your
>>  travel to Stockholm.
>>
>>  I do, however, want to underscore what Vint has essentially mentioned
>>  to you. The ICANN SO's are intended to be self-funding. Their
>>  expenses are not included within the ICANN budget. Under the ICANN
>>  bylaws, as you know, the GA is advisory to the Names Council and it
>>  is most appropriate, therefore, that you approach the Names Council
>>  for travel support. I say this knowing that the Names Council is
>>  grappling with its own problems on how to fund the DNSO Secretariat.
>>
>>  I think you can appreciate that if I were to approve your request
>>  (which is not within my power to do so under the budgetary authority
>>  granted me by the Board), I could easily open up ICANN to many, many
>>  "worthy" requests from across all SO's.
>>
>>  I also wonder what were your expectations when you agreed to take on
>>  these positions? Did you consider how you would fund the travel
>>  expenses that would so obviously be part of the undertaking? I know
>>  that had you asked me in advance, I would have given you the same
>>  response as above.
>>
>>  Having said all that, I do hope you can find some way to fund your
>>  travel to Stockholm and other future ICANN meetings. Occasionally we
>>  are successful in helping with travel grant applications, but mostly
>>  to fund travel from countries where travel support is impossible. In
>>  any event, it is too late for Stockholm, but you may want to look
>>  into the possibility for future meetings.
>>
>>  With regards
>>
>>  Stuart
>>
>>  --
>>
>>  __________________
>>  Stuart Lynn
>>  President and CEO
>>  ICANN
>>  4676 Admiralty Way, Suite 330
>>  Marina del Rey, CA 90292
>>  Tel: 310-823-9358
>>  Fax: 310-823-8649
>>  Email: lynn@icann.org

-- 

__________________
Stuart Lynn
President and CEO
ICANN
4676 Admiralty Way, Suite 330
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
Tel: 310-823-9358
Fax: 310-823-8649
Email: lynn@icann.org
--
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