Comments in favor of diversity of participation

[Ross Rader <ross@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Speaking for myself...

As one of the original proponents of GNSO Council term limits, I  
thought it might be helpful to provide feedback in favor of moving  
forward with further enhancements to the diversity requirements that  
the community has employed in structuring the policy development body  
of the GNSO, i.e. currently called "the GNSO Council".
Diversity of participation is a core principle of ICANN. The GNSO  
generally strives to ensure that participants from a broad range of  
backgrounds, interests, geographies, political persuasion, etc. come  
together to undertake the work of the GNSO in accordance with ICANN's  
bylaws. However, the GNSO Council has not managed to fully diversify  
its composition. This is largely due to the number of Councillors whom  
are repeatedly appointed by their constituencies in seemingly endless  
cycles for years and years on end. While I am sure that they are  
reasonably competent and qualified to perform the tasks of their  
position, their endless participation does nothing to broaden the  
horizons of the Council, and in many ways limits the scope of the  
vision and imagination that the Council can employ when addressing the  
challenges it regularly faces.
Term limits for Councillors are a great and simple way to encourage  
the growth and maturity of the Council. This concept has been  
previously recognized by the Council itself in the recommendations it  
passed to the board on this subject, and then confirmed again by the  
independent reviewers.
Term limits bring many additional benefits to the Council and  
therefore the community. They will;
- increase competition at a constituency level so that the best people  
with the best ideas are brought forward.
- limit the development of "career politicians" and break ties special  
interests on a regular and predictable basis.
- ensure the regular introduction of "fresh bulls" who bring fresh  
ideas and new ways of doing things with them.
- regularly re-balance the concentration of individual political power  
within the council and help contain unnecessary bureaucracies and  
unduly influential lobbies.
I encourage the board to move forward with the original Council  
recommendations. Improving the diversity of participation in the GNSO  
is an important matter and further delay will only serve to further  
the interests of those seeking to extend their seat of power.
/ross