BC Outreach Strategic Plan

BC FY17 Outreach Strategy

August 19, 2016

Introduction

The Commercial and Business Users' Constituency (a.k.a ICANN GNSO Business Constituency (BC)) FY17 Outreach Strategy is premised on fulfilling the BC mission[1] as contained in its 2009 approved Charter. It is also aimed at aligning with ICANN strategic objectives one[2] and four[3].

Objectives

The BC Outreach objectives are:

1. To create awareness about the BC, how it works and about ICANN, particularly in low membership regions and industry sectors.
2. To grow the BC membership base thereby enriching its long term policy development efforts and at the same time addressing volunteer burn-out phenomenon
3. To advance the bottom-up multi-stakeholder model of ICANN by increasing input from a broad cross section of businesses.

Implementation Strategy

Implementing its Outreach Strategy is based on ICANN FY17 CROPP travel support for four (4) BC in-region travellers and BC's FY17 Budget provision for Outreach based on its established Outreach funding criteria.

The BC seeks to:

• Present information about ICANN and the BC at ICT related events around the globe, particularly in low membership regions. 
• Hold special events to inform the business community about ICANN and the BC.
• Provide travel support for potential members to attend relevant activities
• Provide financial support for BC members to attend outreach and recruitment events on behalf of the BC that they would not otherwise attend
• Provide mentorship and informal support to business representatives attending ICANN or BC meetings for the first time.

Specific Activities

• Create a one or two page “mini brief” on the BC, its role at ICANN and benefits of membership use at various events. 
• Translate into other languages where possible.
• Distribute at regional/national IGFs and at IGF2016 in Mexico and any other relevant ICT and Business events relevant to business.
• ICANN Newcomers desk support by volunteers from BC on ad hoc basis – goal two (2) hours per day at Newcomers Desk by BC members
  • Improve look and feel of website – continual updates.
  • Targeted outreach to registered attendees from private sector who are not in the BC. 
  • Establish responsibility and timing for assessing the registered attendee list for ICANN meetings to identify any private sector attendees
    • Establish partners/mentors for new people  - Identify a pool from current members who are willing to be matched with a newcomer:
    • Identify specific BC tasks or activities as suggestions for newcomers to be involved in.
    • ICANN Newcomers Desk.
    • Have those staffing the desk ask if people are with private sector and provide them with BC info, and perhaps get their contact info so BC can follow up directly. Invite relevant newcomers to the BC open sessions. Consider invitation to the “CSG breakfast” and other social events organized by the CSG with ICANN.
    • Distribute the mini brief on the BC
      • Fellowship and Next Gen Programs.
      • Work with ICANN to increase recruitment from private sector into these programs, including small business
      • Make personal contact with private sector participants to introduce them to BC
        • CROPP.
        • Explore how to coordinate that funding with BC funding and outreach efforts.
        • Support for four (4) in-region travellers to attend AfICTA Summit
          • Specific Hyderabad ICANN57 Meeting related activities:
            • Reach out to FICCI (through Virat Bhatia, AT&T) to leverage the pre ICANN57 event planned for Delhi, India/October. Chris Wilson, Chair, already invited and confirmed..
            • Coordinate with ICANN on any event they are doing to increase visibility of BC and make face to face contact with attending private sector members
            • Make sure all private sector attendees know about breakfast event (to be confirmed/re date and location).
            • Jimson Olufuye, Vice Chair of Finance and Operations, to contact regional IT association (ASOCIO, BC member) to see if there are any opportunities to increase local attendance at Hyderabad meeting. Marilyn Cade will also explore her contacts with NASSCOM.

Governance Framework

BC Outreach strategy is developed and administered by the BC Outreach Committee with the support of the BC Executive Committee and ICANN staff.

The Outreach Committee meets informally virtually two to three times between each ICANN Meeting, and strives to meet face-to-face during ICANN meetings with the BC membership in attendance. In addition, updates are provided to the full BC via the virtual BC working calls.

Events and travel support requests are considered and approved by the Outreach Committee. Report of activities are provided to the BC membership at large. 

Expected Outcomes

Through our outreach efforts, the BC expects to:

• Reach an in-person audience of some 500 potential members through attendance/speaking at various conferences. 
• Attract 10 new members by the end of FY2017: It is important to note that the BC attracted 10 new members in FY16, a 63% performance producing an 8.6% membership growth.
• Distribute more than 1,000 BC newsletters, business cards and factsheets:Distributed >700 in FY16.
• Attract more than 2,000 webpage views through leads from news channels across the world. 

BC Outreach Strategy Matrix