Re: [wg-review] 4. [GA] Comments

[Greg Burton <sidna@feedwriter.com>]

This apparently hasn't gone through on two previous tries....trying again. 
Apologies if you got it already. G

Dear WG members and GA members,

I'd like your comments on this before posting it to the TF review report 
comments.

Thanks in advance,
Greg
working chair, WG-Review

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Comments on Section D, General Assembly

Text:
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While the GA has extensive membership [GET EXACT NUMBERS]
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Comment: As of Mon 29 January 2001, 271 persons are registered in the
DNSO GA voting registry. Source: 
http://www.dnso.org/secretariat/rosterindex.html

Text:
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it appears to be handicapped by having no little participation or authority.
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Comments:

1. "no little" should be replaced with "little" - this appears to be a typo.
It would probably be more accurate to say that GA participation is sporadic,
depending on circumstances.

2. Thirteen WG-Review members responded to a poll on the Task Force question
"Is the GA properly defined?" Twelve answered "no", and one didn't know.
This perceived lack of definition probably contributes to both the
participation and authority issues. A better definition of the GA will
probably require changes to the ICANN bylaws.

3. The GA as a group appears to lack any authority whatsoever. It has no
mandated abilities beyond nominating ICANN BoD members.

Text:
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How to address the current structural problems to enhance the GA within
the DNSO has received much discussion, and should be further addressed.
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Comments:
***
1. The ICANN Bylaws state that "the NC shall elect the Chairman of the GA
annually."

As of February 1, 2001 the General Assembly lacks a chair, as Mr Roberto
Gaetano's term has expired. Mr. Gaetano brought this issue up in November
2000 at the Marina Del Rey meetings, well in advance of this circumstance.
Mr Gaetano indicated at that time that he would be willing to continue for
a few months, and recommended that the bylaws be amended to allow direct
vote for the GA chair by the GA itself. On January 30, 2001, Mr Gaetano
wrote to the GA (http://www.dnso.org/clubpublic/ga/Arc06/msg00087.html):

"...I have the impression that nothing moves, and that therefore we may found
ourselves at the next meeting at more or less the same point."

At this point in time, 10 weeeks later, it does not appear that the NC has
yet placed this item on it's agenda, or had substantive discussions on the
NC council list.
(http://www.dnso.org/dnso/notes/20010208.NCtelecon-agenda.html) Unless this
is addressed at the regularly-scheduled Names Council teleconference on
February 26, Mr Gaetano's statement appears correct. It should also be noted
that the NC has been unable to address all of it's agenda items in the
timeframe allocated to these items, and simply placing it on the agenda does
not mean that it will be dealt with promptly.

The NC may be waiting for nominations from the GA in order to have
candidates acceptable to the GA, and this would be desirable. The NC is not
currently constrained to do so, however.

RECOMMENDATION: The NC should elect the GA chair as soon as possible.

RECOMMENDATION: The NC should recommend to the ICANN Board of Directors that
the bylaws be amended by replacing "the NC shall elect the Chairman of the GA
annually." with "the GA shall elect the Chairman of the GA annually
according to the voting procedures adopted by the GA".
***
2. On the Task Force question "Should the GA be represented on the NC?",
WG-Review poll respondents answered 10 yes, 1 no, 1 don't know.

RECOMMENDATION: The NC should recommend to the ICANN Board of Directors that
the bylaws be changed to allow GA representation on the NC by amending
Article VI-B Section 2 (a) to read:

"The NC shall consist of representatives, selected in accordance with
Section 3(c) of this Article, from each Constituency recognized by the Board
pursuant to the criteria set forth in Section 3 of this Article, and three
members elected by the General Assembly according to the voting procedures
adopted by the GA."
***
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More comments will be forthcoming. 

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