[alac] FW: [Euralo-ml] General Assembly

["Roberto Gaetano" <roberto@xxxxxxxxx>]

I would like to start a wider debate on the role of individual internet
users in ALAC, and the role of a General Assembly, without that this would
be prejudice to a fast approval of the EURALO Bylaws.
My proposal of a large Internet User meeting in Athens is a real one, even
if I am not sure it can be feasible on this short notice.
 
Cheers,
Roberto Gaetano
ALAC
ICANN Board Liaison
 

  _____  

From: euralo-ml-bounces@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:euralo-ml-bounces@xxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Roberto Gaetano
Sent: 09 October 2006 00:02
To: 'EURALO Mailing-List'
Subject: [Euralo-ml] General Assembly


Dear friends,
 
It was my intention to write some notes related to the EURALO Bylaws, in
particular focused on the place of incorporation and the role of the GA.
I am convinced that, for a number of reasons, incorporation of EURALO in
Germany will be a big mistake, because of the signal it will give to the
other (minority) countries.
However, most of my thinking over the weekend has been on the other point,
the role and function of a General Assembly. And I would concentrate my
thoughts on that, postponing to a later discussion the matter, that I still
believe to be important, of place of incorporation.
 
The EURALO is the only Regional organization that, so far, has carved a role
for individual users, alongside the role for organizations. I don't want to
underestimate the role of user organizations (and some of you might remember
my statements in Frankfurt and Berlin in protection of the role of
organizations against a potential capture of individuals), but I don't want
to see the EURALO going the other way around, rendering irrelevant the
participation of the individuals to the life of the organization by severely
limiting their voting (via the voting mechanism and the assumption that
online activity is less valuable than in person attendance) and even their
contribution (by focusing on f2f meetings).
However, my biggest concern is the failure to provide for the GA a key role,
as the central body, the beating heart, of the organization, and liniting
its power to a formal, f2f, vote on the bureaucratic duties of the
association. I am sorry, I don't want to underestimate important things like
voting the budget, deciding on repairs of the roof, changing the janitor
contractor, agreeing on the date for turning the central heating on, but I
still think that the GA has to have (also) a different role, which cannot be
relegated to an anual f2f meeting, but has to take place in everyday's
policy making process, in discussing ideas, in evaluationg situations, in
proposing contribution to ALAC's policy making activity. To me the General
Assembly is not the body that convenes once per year to pontificate, but the
body that discusses online every day and every night on what happens that
affects the internet users of the region. It needs a permanent Chairperson,
that is independent from the EURALO Board (probably elected based on balance
of power of different components), as the facilitator above the parties of a
common debate on common issues.
 
A dream? Probably yes. Started a while ago, has co-dreamers within and
outside Europe, failed consistently over the years. It is not the dream of
giving electoral power to the people, so fashionable but so open to capture
under the current circumstances, but the dream of giving a voice to the
people.
EURALO is the closest body to have the chance to first achieve this, after
the lively but powerless DNSO GA. Are we willing to go this path? If I was
sure that the answer was "yes", I would continue arguing on this point.
Unfortunately, I do not believe that the current mainstream is heading
there.
Therefore, rather than keep EURALO foundation hostage of a fight on specific
articles, I will propose to start on what we have about Article 9, try to
improve it, but not lose time and delay EURALO's birth because of this.
However, I would also propose a larger discussion on the theme of an
Internet Users General Assembly to go on in parallel to the definition of
the EURALO incorporation.
 
What about an ALAC meeting in Athens at the end of the IGF, for instance
Friday (the IGF ends on Thursday), that will focus on individual users role
in Internet policy making, and in ALAC? Might be short of time, but might be
worth trying?
 
Regards,
Roberto Gaetano
ALAC
ICANN Board Liaison