The first step on getting involved with a WG involves the following:
- decide what group you want to get involved in. In addition to the notices robin forwards to the list whenever a new group is initiated, you can find the list of open groups at: <https://community.icann.org/category/gnso> (third bullet on the left.) I will also try to keep the page at: <https://community.icann.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=40928134> relatively up to date.
- send email to "gnso-secs@icann.org Secretariats" <gnso-secs@icann.org> indicating that you want to be included on a specific working group.
- If you have not done a Statement of Interest form yet, you will be asked to. The GNSO Secretariat will guide you through that process. It mostly involves filling out a form on the ICANN wiki <https://community.icann.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=14713457>. Though they will help people, who may have wiki limitations, do it by email.
- If you are going into a new group read the Issues report and the charter.
- If you are going into an established group, read up on Issues report and charter as above. And then try to catch up on any other progress and discussions the group has done. This may involve reviewing the email archive of the group. Ask the chair or responsible staff member for recommendations on what to review. Knowing the policy support staff they will probably approach you before you think to ask, they are very helpful. But just in case they don't, feel free to ask.
- Start to attend the meetings. You don't need to talk, and in fact it might be best to just listen for a bit, at least until you are caught up. but ask questions any time you have one. If you can't make a meeting, send apologies, the attendance records take that in account in measuring the participation levels of the Stakeholder groups.
- if you miss a meeting, consider listening to the recording of the meeting. I find they are excellent for flights. Then again, what they sometimes do well is allow me to sleep - unless it is an issue I am passionate about.
- Let someone on the NCSG-PC know you joined the group, so we can try to track the work being done by the NCSG
- Ask me specific questions anytime. by email or IM. I will also give you my IM, including skype, contacts in case you need to ask a question during a meeting and I happen to be available. I am not always on line, but mostly never very far away.
- In fact it might be good on some platform to build a chat group of those working in WGs. I have been using skype and now google hang out for this purpose.
