[bc-gnso] 1NET discuss and CCWG IG : Participation in the upcoming IGF Open Consultation and planning for IGF2015

[Marilyn Cade <marilynscade@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear colleagues, 

As both an  IGF MAG member and a member of the ICANN CCWG-IG, I wanted to note  
the upcoming IGF Open Consultation and remind colleagues to plan to attend in 
person, if you are in Geneva, Switzerland, and if not, to join us via remote 
participation.   December 1-3, 2015, hosted at the ITU Headquarters in Geneva, 
Switzerland.  The IGF Website is www.intgovforum.org.

As most on this list are veterans, feel free to skip the information provided 
below, which is intended as an overview for any newcomers.

As an overview, this is the kick off session, which opens with taking stock of 
2014, lessons learned and launches the planning process for IGF2015.   The 
first day allows us to glean any tips and improvements that deserve to be 
shared more broadly, or even incorporated into future host country 
expectations, or into MAG expectations. For instance, during last year's 
initial session, MAG members agreed by consensus to limit the role of the MAG 
members in submitting and designing workshops, as they are the evaluators of 
the workshops proposed, and to limit the number of speaking roles for MAG 
members, so that they can focus on recruitment of speakers, coaching, and 
supporting roles.  Those are examples of 'lessons learned' from past taking 
stock discussions.  Once we conclude discussing program issues and feedback 
about the program the MAG designed and approved for 2014, as well as 
organizational issues, we move into planning for 2015, including brainstorming 
themes, sub themes, discussion of program design, workshops, other sessions, 
etc. 

The information about the IGF Open Consultation and MAG meeting [which is also 
open to all interested participants] on the site will help you to prepare for 
the consultation, if you are new to this process. Many on this list are very 
experienced, and may also have suggestions to share on these two lists. 

If this is your first engagement with the IGF planning process: 
Some essentially useful background documents include the following, all of 
which are on the website:

-Chair's Report
-Individual contributions [18 were received] and the Secretariat Summary 
document
-Agenda
-Initial Participant List
-List of 2015 MAG [this is the MAG just announced by the UN Secretary General].
[Note, the usual term of MAG members is 3 years, with a rotation of 
approximately 1/3 of the MAG each year]  

This meeting includes outgoing MAG members and incoming MAG members.  You may 
see a number of names you recognize from 1NET discuss or CCWG-IG, but you will 
also find that there are a lot of new names and new faces in the MAG.  The MAG 
2015 had a very high number of rotations and incoming members, with a 
significant expansion in the number of female members appointed, and a growth 
in the number of participants from developing countries and emerging economies, 
from all stakeholder groups.  

The three days will be fast paced, and highly interactive. Fortunately, the IGF 
Secretariat provides not only remote access but also transcripts for the 
sessions, which are posted very rapidly. So, if you cannot join a particular 
session due to time constraints [or time zone constraints], you can quickly 
scan the transcript and 'catch up'.  The Remote Moderators will also provide a 
mechanism for you to make comments during the meetings. 

Needless to say, there are a lot of activities of relevance and implication for 
the IGF 2015 planning process, including NETmundial itself, held in April, 
2014; the UNESCO meeting in early March; the Cyber Event, to be hosted by the 
Netherlands in April, as well as NETmundial, and the WuZhen Summit are all 
undoubtedly of interest to consider for their contribution to Internet policy 
and governance discussions.  The CSTD Intercessional which takes place November 
26-28; UNGA considerations of the ICT4D Resolution, the recently concluded ITU 
Plenipot [just concluded in Busan].  And of recent interest, the WuZhen Summit, 
just ending in WuZhen, China.  

It is important to remember that Internet Governance, and the purpose of the 
IGF is far beyond addressing ICANN, which is only one example of IG at work; 
nevertheless, the  discussions about ICANN's role, and activities are of 
ongoing interest and relevance, and will be part of the discussions at the IGF 
planning sessions; such as the work underway on the IANA transition; the 
development of Accountability mechanisms at ICANN.  Other discussions about the 
"NETMundial Initiative" and the related WEF activities planned for January, and 
how these activities support and enhance and strengthen the IGF should also be 
expected to be discussed. 

As we begin the process of planning the IGF2015, hosted in Brazil, views and 
perspectives  about such activities and events are part of the ecosystem 
landscape that can contribute to help to inform the program development, while 
recognizing that the purpose of the IGF is still guided by the Tunis Agenda, 
which led to its creation by the UN Secretary General.  And that we have a lot 
of work to do at the IGF. 

Finally, there will be an update on the financial status of the IGF Trust Fund, 
and an update from the newly launched IGF Support Association [IGFSA], which 
was catalyzed by ISOC in 2014, launched during the IGF2014, in Istanbul, and is 
launching fund raising to support strengthening and supporting the IGF 
Secretariat and critical activities, described on the IGFSA website, at 
IGFSA,org. Others on these lists engaged in the Executive Committee include 
Avri Doria, Cheryl Miller, Raul Echeberria, Tarek Kamel, Edmon Chung, plus 
others.  The Secretary to the IGFSA is Markus Kummer, a name well known to all 
of us! 

As we are  only  a week away -- IGF Open Consultation and MAG meeting - Dec 
1-3,   I hope to see [or hear] many of those on these lists and look forward to 
your active contributions in the planning process for IGF2015.

I welcome hearing from any colleagues regarding your perspectives, or 
suggestions.

Marilyn Cade

Note, this is written on my ipad, so apologies for formatting, and spelling 
errors.

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