Compensation for Board Members

["Rob Hall" <rob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Compensation for Board Members

 

I have always found it strange that ICANN does not compensate the
members of the Board for their time and efforts. 

 

I have been involved in ICANN since it's inception, and have often had
the pleasure of listening to Board members describe the amount of time
they put into keeping up with the vast amount of information that  is
required to grasp the complex issues the Board must deal with.

 

Given the immense responsibility of the Board, and the higher than
average time required to understand the issues, it would make sense to
me that the members of the Board should be compensated.

 

As a member of ICANN's Nominating Committee this year, I have often
found myself wondering what  type of candidates we would have access to
should the Board positions be compensated.  I believe we would have
access to an entirely new category of Candidates that would be
beneficial to ICANN.

 

I believe in the past we have been fortunate to find Board members who
were able to dedicate the time and effort needed, often at the expense
of their employers.  I think of the efforts that the past Chairman, Vint
Cerf, put in and wonder how we can expect that level of dedication to
continue uncompensated.   Surely Chairing the board, or some of the more
complex committees, is worthy of our recognition financially.

 

I can only imagine how strange it must seem that I personally am
advocating that ICANN spend more money.  As one of ICANN's largest
Registrar groups and hence funders, I believe that spending money in
this area is absolutely necessary and that funds should be allocated for
the 2009-2010 budget to this end.

 

 

Robert Hall

CEO

Momentous.ca Corp.