[gnso-geo-dg] ICANN Board Motion on Geo Diversity

["Gomes, Chuck" <cgomes@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Please note the following exerpt from the ICANN Board Preliminary Report
of its meeting on 28 August.  It provides some increased flexibility in
applying geographical diversity requirements for the eight NomCom
appointed directors and John Jeffrey noted in the discussion that
"diversity calculations should be consistent for seats 9 though 14".  I
find this very relevant to the recommendation we made in our proposed
GNSO comments regarding the formation of a community wide WG on geo
regions; this approach would provide a little more flexibility with
regard to GNSO director selections if a similar motion changes the
Bylaws in that regard and it provides one exampe of how increased
flexibility could be provided in meeting geographic diversity
requirements on the GNSO Council.
 
Chuck
 
"Nominating Committee's Recommendation for ICANN Bylaws Change regarding
Criteria for Board Member Selection 

John Jeffrey presented a proposed Bylaws change and requested that the
Board permit Management to post the proposed changes for public
comments. 

Over the past several years, the Nominating Committee has expressed
concern that being required to count more than one country of
citizenship for diversity purposes often makes it difficult to select
the best candidates for the Board seats that the Nominating Committee is
mandated to fill. In carrying out its responsibilities to fill Seats 1
through 8, the Nominating Committee shall seek to ensure that the ICANN
Board is composed of members who in the aggregate display diversity in
geography, culture, skills, experience, and perspective, by applying the
criteria set forth in Bylaws. 

The Nominating Committee also noted that some of the candidates have
often lived in a country for many years, and thereby better represent
the interests of that country than any country of which the candidates
may be citizens. 

As the Nominating Committee requested, the General Counsel provided the
Nominating Committee with suggested Bylaws revisions to reflect the
Nominating Committee's stated goals. In the proposal, domicile, not just
citizenship, is to be considered in the diversity calculation. The
Nominating Committee members have unanimously agreed that the proposed
Bylaws revisions would alleviate the concerns. 

John Jeffrey noted that considering the possibility of revising the
method for calculating diversity for seats 1 through 8, staff determined
that such diversity calculations should be consistent for seats 9 though
14 and have proposed revisions accordingly. 

Bruce Tonkin moved and Harald Alvestrand seconded a motion that the
proposed changes to the bylaws be posted for public comment and then
considered again by the Board, via the following resolution: 

Whereas, the Nominating Committee has expressed concern that, pursuant
to the Bylaws mandated diversity requirements that no more than five
Board members be citizens of any one geographic region, the Nominating
Committee is required to count all countries of citizenship for each
candidate. 

Whereas, the Nominating Committee has noted that the requirement to
count all countries of citizenship has caused some selection
difficulties each year over the past several years. 

Whereas, the Nominating Committee has also expressed concern that the
calculation is presently limited to citizenship given that many people
have lived for long periods of time in, and represent the interests of,
countries in which they may not be citizens. 

Whereas, making a diversity calculation pursuant to the ICANN Bylaws as
it relates to Board member selection for seats 1 through 14 should be
consistent. 

It is hereby resolved (__.2008) that the following proposed revisions to
Article VI, Sections 2.2 and 2.3, shall be posted for public comment in
accordance with ICANN's normal process for proposed Bylaw revisions."