Page History
- Category: ICANN Structures
- Topic: At-Large voting Board Director
- Board meeting date: August 27 2009
- Resolution number: 2009.08.27.15
- URL for Board minutes/resolution: http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/minutes-27aug09-en.htm
- Status: Completed
Summary
Board approved in principle replacing the ALAC Board Liaison with Marco Lorenzoni provided an update to the Board on the work of the Board review Working Group related to the recommendation of the ALAC review Working Group for the inclusion of voting directors appointed from the At Large. Marco reported that the compromise position reached by the Board review Working Group, after working through multiple scenarios, is to recommend the inclusion of one voting director appointed from the At Large , and eliminating the ALAC Liaison from the Board. Marco reported that there are additional implementation issues still to be worked through by the Working Group.
Dennis Jennings noted that he understands what is being suggested, but counseled that it requires more careful consideration to be implemented in a way that is meaningful for the At Large community, as the current recommendation seems to indicate a sort of election that will not be properly defined or validated.
The Chair stated over a period of years, through the Regional At Large Organization structure, there is now a clearly defined set of members who organize among regional lines, and therefore the Chair took issue with that portion of Dennis' comment.
Harald Tveit Alvestrand noted that much time and consideration has gone into this recommendation, but also noted that there was a refusal to start working on the exact mechanism of any election prior to having a resolution in principle from the Board approving on the appointment of a voting director from the At Large, as the community has had expectations raised in the past that were not satisfied. Harald declared that he is very much in favor of making a declaration of principle, and work towards the mechanics of implementation.
Bruce Tonkin noted his support for Harald's comment.
Roberto Gaetano stated that this is recognition that the ALAC has come a long way, and that Dennis' objections reflect the past structure of ALAC. Now there is a well-established mechanism for representation – a situation that was not the case in 2000. Now the ALAC structure has gone through this effort, it will be useful to recognize that fact. Roberto also noted that the proposal is a compromise between many different views, including views similar to the one presented by Dennis.
Raymond Plzak raised the question of whether the ALAC will stop being an advisory committee if it may select a voting director? Will it be treated differently?
The Chair responded that a change to something like a supporting organization may be the next logical stop in ALAC's evolution, and that questions such as that are a reminder of Harald's point, that the Board should start with the principle and then allow the remaining consequential issues to be dealt with.
Wendy Seltzer noted that that having a statement in principle will go a long way to showing support for the At Large and encourage the At Large and ALAC to consider how the voting director would be elected, and how to make participation meaningful. Wendy noted her support for this resolution.
Dennis noted that the discussion has been helpful, but expressed some concern over the wording of the resolution to reflect what has been discussed. Dennis suggested some modification of the wording of the resolution to reflect that the Board is making a statement in principle and that additional work is required for implementation, and with those modifications he could support the resolution.
Steve Goldstein expressed that during his time on the Working Group, he continually requested that the voting director be from the ALAC, and noted that he received a lot of information from his colleagues on why such a limitation was not a wise decision. Steve noted that it's best to allow the At Large to determine the mechanics of appointing a voting director.
Community to the ICANN Board, and directed staff to identify implementation steps.
TextAfter the discussion, Steve Goldstein moved and Roberto Gaetano seconded the following resolution:
Whereas on 21 May 2009 the Board of Directors previously considered a recommendation from the Structural Improvements Committee (SIC) requesting approval in principle of the idea that voting directors should be appointed from the At Large, as recommended in the ALAC Review Working Group, and the Board requested the SIC to provide additional scenarios and recommendations for how such an addition of voting directors may be achieved;
...
Resolved (2009.08.27.15) that the recommendation of the BRWG to add one voting director appointed from the At Large Community to the ICANN Board of Directors, and removing the present ALAC Liaison to the Board, is approved in principle for implementation. Staff is directed to identify all steps required to achieve the implementation of this principle, after issuing of the BRWG Final Report.
All Board members present unanimously approved of this resolution.
Implementation Actions
- Issue Board Review Working Group Final Report
- Responsible entity: Board SIC and ICANN Organizational Review staff
- Due date: None specified
- Completion date: 26 January 2010
- Identify implementation steps required to achieve implementation of the principle
- Responsible entity: ICANN Policy (At-Large) staff and ICANN Organizational Review staff
- Due date: None specified
- Completion date: 10 February 2010
Other Related Resolutions
- 26 June 2009 Resolution on ALAC Working Group Final Report, at http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-26jun09.htm
Additional Information
- No additional funding provided.
- On 11 January 2010, ALAC, in consultation with At-Large, releases a White Paper <http://www.atlarge.icann.org/announcements/white-paper-2010-board-process-05feb09-en.pdf> entitled 'Call for community Comment on the Proposed process for the 2010 selection of an ICANN At-Large Board Member' which will be published for public comments.
- On 26 January 2010, the Board Review WG <http://www.icann.org/en/reviews/board/board-review-final-26jan10-en.pdf> releases its final report.
- The White Paper <http://www.atlarge.icann.org/announcements/white-paper-2010-board-process-05feb09-en.pdf> prepared by the ALAC/At-Large Community is posted for public comment <http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-05feb10-en.htm> between 5 February to 6 March 2010
- Following the closure of the public consultation, the ALAC submitted its ALAC Report to the ICANN Board Structural Improvements Committee on Processes to Be Used by the At-Large Community to Select an ICANN Director <https://st.icann.org/data/workspaces/working-groups/attachments/at_large_director_appointment_process:20100423212948-0-21681/original/SIC%20meeting%20re%20At-Large%20Director_ALAC%20report%20(revised).pdf>, containing its selection-process recommendations and incorporating both At-Large and public comments.
Explanatory text does not modify or override Resolutions. See Board Resolutions Page for more information.The Chair congratulated the Board in reaching this decision. He stated that it is "an extraordinary policy change that's taken a lot of work from a lot of people."
